2003 Various – A Very Special Acoustic Christmas
A Very Special Acoustic Christmas is the sixth in the A Very Special Christmas series of Christmas music-themed compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics. The album was released in 2003 by Lost Highway Records. As opposed to earlier editions that contained a wide variety of musical styles, this edition of A Very Special Christmas featured primarily country and bluegrass artists. It also uses cover art unique to the series, minimizing the Keith Haring artwork that serves as the series trademark. It peaked at #159 on December 2003 Billboard album chart.
Tracks
1 Silent Night (Franz Gruber; Joseph Mohr) 03:35
2 Frosty The Snowman (Jack Rollins; Steve Nelson) 02:20
3 Please Come Home For Christmas (Charles Brown; Gene Redd) 03:19
4 Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair (Donald Huber; Charles Hoss Burns) 03:27
5 Only You Can Bring Me Cheer (Gentleman’s Lady) (Alison Krauss; Viktor Krauss) 03:36
6 Even Santa Claus Gets The Blues (Marty Stewart) 03:31
7 Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpont) 02:44
8 Christmas Is Near (Ralph Stanley) 02:24
9 O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional) 02:33
10 O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam) 04:07
11 Winter Wonderland (Dick Smith; Felix Bernard) 02:35
12 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Sammy Cahn; Jule Styne) 04:10
13 Away In A Manger (William Kirkpatrick; James Ramsey Murray) 03:03
14 Christmas Time At Home (Rhonda Vincent) 02:45
15 I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Buck Ram; Kim Gannon; Walter Kent) 03:06
16 Peace (Horace Silver) 04:19
Musicians
1 Silent Night
| Upright Bass | Kevin Grantt |
| Acoustic Guitar | Larry Paxton |
| Acoustic Guitar | Bartholomew James Lowry |
| Piano | Randy McCormick |
| Synthesizer | Randy McCormick |
| Background Vocals | Bergen White |
| Background Vocals | Lisa Cochran |
| Background Vocals | Louis Nunley |
| Background Vocals | Marabeth Jordan |
| Vocals | Reba McEntire |
2 Frosty The Snowman
| Double Bass | Barry Bales |
| Guitar | Ron Block |
| Mandolin | Dan Tyminski |
| Bells | Dan Tyminski |
| Percussion | Larry Atamanuik |
| Background Vocals | James Knobloch |
| Background Vocals | Julia Knobloch |
| Background Vocals | Sadie Paczosa |
| Vocals | Dan Tyminski |
3 Please Come Home For Christmas
| Bass | Tony Garnier |
| Drums | Joe Mardin |
| Guitar | Willie Nelson |
| Pedal Steel Guitar | Larry Campbell |
| Piano | Rob Schwimmer |
| Fiddle | Kenny Kosek |
| Tubular Bells | Joe Mardin |
| Vocals | Willie Nelson |
4 Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair
| Acoustic Guitar | Bruce Watkins |
| Piano | Greenwood Hart |
| Fiddle | Jonathan Yudkin |
| Background Vocals | John Wesley Ryles |
| Vocals | Alan Jackson |
5 Only You Can Bring Me Cheer (Gentleman’s Lady)
| Bass | Viktor Krauss |
| Drums | Shannon Forrest |
| Guitar | Kenny Vaughn |
| Keyboards | Gabe Dixon |
| Flugelhorn | Vinnie Ciesielski |
| Trombone | Roy Agee |
| Trumpet | Vinnie Ciesielski |
| Background Vocals | Carmella Ramsey |
| Background Vocals | Cheryl White |
| Vocals | Alison Krauss |
6 Even Santa Claus Gets The Blues
| Double Bass | Mark Fain |
| Acoustic Guitar | Marty Stewart |
| Acoustic Guitar | Kenny Vaughn |
| Mandolin | Marty Stewart |
| Organ | Tony Harrell |
| Fiddle | Shad Cobb |
| Background Vocals | Brian Glenn |
| Background Vocals | Harry Stinson |
| Vocals | Marty Stewart |
7 Jingle Bells
| Bass | Gary Scruggs |
| Acoustic Guitar | Randy Scruggs |
| Acoustic Guitar | Jon Randall |
| Banjo | Earl Scruggs |
| Dobro | Rob Ickes |
| Mandolin | Glen Duncan |
| Fiddle | Glen Duncan |
8 Christmas Is Near
| Bass | Emory Gordy |
| Acoustic Guitar | Emory Gordy |
| Banjo | Stuart Duncan |
| Mandolin | Stuart Duncan |
| Fiddle | Stuart Duncan |
| Background Vocals | Stuart Duncan |
| Background Vocals | Patty Loveless |
| Vocals | Ralph Stanley |
9 O Come All Ye Faithful
| Bass | Emory Gordy |
| Acoustic Guitar | Emory Gordy |
| Mandolin | Stuart Duncan |
| Background Vocals | Jon Randall |
| Background Vocals | Liana Manis |
| Vocals | Patty Loveless |
10 O Holy Night
| Bass | Mike Brignardello |
| Drums | Shannon Forrest |
| Acoustic Guitar | Dann Huff |
| Acoustic Guitar | JT Corenflos |
| Acoustic Guitar | Larry Beaird |
| Steel Guitar | Bruce Bouton |
| Keyboards | Mike Rojas |
| Fiddle | Jonathan Yudkin |
| Percussion | Eric Darken |
| Background Vocals | Kim Fleming |
| Background Vocals | Vicki Hampton |
| Vocals | Wynonna Judd |
11 Winter Wonderland
| Bass | Michael Tarabay |
| Drums | Justin Pollard |
| Acoustic Guitar | Chris Tondre |
| Acoustic Guitar | Jondan McBride |
| Mandolin | Jondan McBride |
| Violin | Brendon Anthony |
| Percussion | Justin Pollard |
| Background Vocals | Jondan McBride |
| Vocals | Pat Green |
12 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
| Bass | Byron House |
| Drums | Chris Brown |
| Guitar | John Jorgenson |
| Mandocello | Sam Bush |
| Mandola | Sam Bush |
| Mandolin | Sam Bush |
13 Away In A Manger
| Double Bass | Mark Fain |
| Acoustic Guitar | Cody Kilby |
| Mandolin | Ricky Skaggs |
| Fiddle | Andy Leftwich |
| Background Vocals | Darrin Vincent |
| Background Vocals | Paul Brewster |
| Vocals | Ricky Skaggs |
14 Christmas Time At Home
| Acoustic Bass | Kevin Grantt |
| Acoustic Guitar | Bryan Sutton |
| Acoustic Guitar | Cody Kilby |
| Banjo | Ronnie Stewart |
| Dobro | Randy Kohrs |
| Mandolin | Stuart Duncan |
| Mandolin | Mike Compton |
| Fiddle | Stuart Duncan |
| Background Vocals | Alison Krauss |
| Background Vocals | Darrin Vincent |
| Vocals | Rhonda Vincent |
15 I’ll Be Home For Christmas
| Bass | Jay Brown |
| Drums | Zeke Hutchins |
| Guitar | David Wilson |
| Wurlitzer | Brandon Bush |
| Glockenspiel | Brandon Bush |
| Organ | Greg Readling |
| Vocals | Tift Merritt |
16 Peace
| Piano | Norah Jones |
| Vocals | Norah Jones |
Liner Notes
Producer – Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson, Reba McEntire (Track 1)
Producer – Dan Tyminski (Track 2)
Producer – Arif Mardin (Track 3)
Producer – Keith Stegall (Track 4)
Producer – Alison Krauss, Viktor Krauss (Track 5)
Producer – Randy Scruggs (Track 7)
Producer – Emory Gordy Jr (Tracks 8, 9)
Producer – Dann Huff (Track 10)
Producer – Justin Pollard (Track 11)
Producer – Sam Bush (Track 12)
Producer – Ricky Skaggs (Track 13)
Producer – Darrin Vincent, Rhonda Vincent (Track 14)
Producer – Peter Collins (Track 15)
Producer (Assistant) – Bridgett Petraitis, Louise Scruggs (Track 7)
Producer (Assistant) – Ken Tondre (Track 11)
Producer (Executive) – Bobby Shriver, Brian Phillips, Jeff Pollack, Luke Lewis, Seth Lichtenstein
Arranged By – Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson, Reba McEntire (Track 1)
Arranged By – Emory Gordy Jr, Patty Loveless (Track 9)
Coordinator – Shannon Finnegan Scott (Track 1)
Coordinator – Mike Griffith, The Sessions Agency (Track 10)
Engineer – Gary Paczosa (Track 5)
Engineer – Jay Newland (Track 16)
Engineer (Assistant) – Jason Stasium (Track 3)
Engineer (Assistant) – Steve Mabee, Thomas Johnson (Track 5)
Engineer (Second) – Lee Groitzsch (Track 13)
Mastered By – Benny Quinn
Mixed By – John Guess (Track 1)
Mixed By – Gary Paczosa (Tracks 2, 5, 12)
Mixed By – Michael O’Reilly (Track 3)
Mixed By – John Kelton (Track 4)
Mixed By – Brent King (Track 6)
Mixed By – Ron Reynolds (Track 7)
Mixed By – Justin Niebank (Tracks 8, 9)
Mixed By – Mark Hagen (Track 10)
Mixed By – Ken Tondre (Track 11)
Mixed By – Brent King (Track 13)
Mixed By – Bil Vorndick (Track 14)
Mixed By – Ray Kennedy (Track 15)
Mixed By – Jay Newland (Track 16)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Juan Rodriguez (Track 1)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Thomas Johnson (Tracks 2, 12)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Lee Groitzsch (Track 6)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Drew Bollman (Tracks 8, 9)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Justin Pollard (Track 11)
Recorded By – Billy Sherrill (Track 1)
Recorded By – Gary Paczosa (Tracks 2, 5, 12)
Recorded By – Michael O’Reilly (Track 3)
Recorded By – John Kelton (Track 4)
Recorded By – Brent King (Track 6)
Recorded By – Ron Reynolds (Track 7)
Recorded By – Emory Gordy Jr (Tracks 8, 9)
Recorded By – Derek Bason, Mark Hagen (Track 10)
Recorded By – Ken Tondre (Track 11)
Recorded By – Brent King (Track 13)
Recorded By – Luke Wooten (Track 14)
Recorded By – Ray Kennedy (Track 15)
Recorded By (Additional) – Tony Castle (Track 1)
Recorded By (Additional) – Jason Lehning (Track 5)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Todd Tidwell (Track 1)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Thomas Johnson (Tracks 2, 12)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Lee Groitzsch (Track 6)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Drew Bollman (Tracks 8, 9)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Scott Kidd (Track 10)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Justin Pollard (Track 11)
Art Direction, Design – Craig Allen
Artwork – Keith Haring
Photography – Erik Asla
Engineered At Sound Emporium
Engineered At Sorcerer Sound
Mastered At Masterfonics
Mixed At Starstruck Studios
Mixed At Seventeen Grand Recording
Mixed At Minutia Studios
Mixed At Right Track Recording
Mixed At The Sound Station
Mixed At Skaggs Place Studios
Mixed At Scruggs Sound Studio
Mixed At Emerald Sound Studios
Mixed At Emerald Entertainment
Mixed At Room & Board Recording
Mixed At Sorcerer Sound
Recorded At Starstruck Studios
Recorded At Seventeen Grand Recording
Recorded At Minutia Studios
Recorded At Right Track Recording
Recorded At The Sound Station
Recorded At Skaggs Place Studios
Recorded At Scruggs Sound Studio
Recorded At Emerald Sound Studios
Recorded At Emerald Entertainment
Recorded At Station West
Recorded At Music City Studios, Gallatin, TN
Recorded At Room & Board Recording
Phonographic Copyright Special Olympics Inc
Copyright Special Olympics Inc
Copyright The Estate Of Keith Haring