Zabagabee: Best of Barnes & Barnes
Artist: Barnes & Barnes

It will naturally always be the case that most people can get by just fine either never hearing Barnes and Barnes or stopping with "Fish Heads," the Chipmunk-voiced, easy listening freakout that forever marked Billy Muny as much more than the kid on Lost in Space. Take a chance, though, and Zabagabee, drawn from just about everything the band... Read More

Little Christmas Music
Artist: King's Singers
Community Score: 10.00

Little Christmas Music features the King's Singers performing a variety of holiday favorites. Featured performances include "Here We Come A-Wassailing," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Little Drummer Boy," and "I Wonder As I Wander," in addition to 17 others. Those who appreciate choral music should find this a pleasant addition to the holiday... Read More

Ferrante & Kris Kringle (Wish You a Merry Christmas)
Artist: Art Ferrante
Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity
Artist: The Cambridge Singers

The Cambridge Singers, under the direction of conductor and composer John Rutter, are justly famous for their Christmas recordings. Other artists and ensembles make Christmas albums that have more swing, more charm, more energy -- but if you want pure, unadulterated, tear-in-the-eye Christmas Eve devotional spirit, there's nothing that compares... Read More

Classic Bluegrass
Artist: Larry Sparks

Classic Bluegrass collects the highlights of Larry Sparks '70s and '80s albums, which were recorded for a variety of different labels. The compilation hits all the high points of the records, providing a definitive retrospective of his career, as well as an excellent, concise introduction to one of bluegrass' best singers. ~ Thom Owens, All... Read More

You Can Feel It in Your Soul
Artist: Flatt & Scruggs

You Can Feel It in Your Soul contains 13 gospel songs that Flatt & Scruggs recorded during the '50s. Though it is brief, the compilation acts as a nice complement to the numerous collections of the duo's secular material, and the group sounds fantastic on each track here. Several cuts also benefit from the appearance of guitarist Chet Atkins. ~... Read More

A Tribute to the Comedian Harmonists
Artist: King's Singers
Community Score: 6.00
The Essential Paul Robeson - VANGUARD
Artist: Paul Robeson

The Essential Paul Robeson is an excellent 30-track collection that contains many of his best performances for Vanguard Records. Everything from folk and gospel songs to Shakespearean readings are featured on the disc, making this a great collection of the extraordinarily talented and diverse vocalist. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide Read More

The Phil Salazar Band
Artist: Phil Salazar
It Takes a Lot of People ...
Artist: Larry Long

It Takes a Lot of People (Tribute to Woody Guthrie) was recorded by Long and his young friends at the Crystal Theater in Okemah, OK, Guthrie's hometown. When they are singing Guthrie songs or reading from Guthrie's works, the tribute works beautifully. Long's own children's material is somewhat less successful. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide Read More

Mardi Gras Mambo
Artist: Zachary Richard

Zachary Richard blended Cajun with classic R&B on this set, paying homage to the link between Louisiana's Mardi Gras heritage and its other musical styles. He did spirited and convincing versions of "Iko Iko," "Big Chief," and "Down On Second Street," while also including "Creole Lullaby" and scoring with "Moi Connais Pas" and "Ton Ton... Read More

The Best of Seldom Scene, Vol. 1
Artist: The Seldom Scene

The Best of Seldom Scene, Vol. 1 contains a sampling of the progressive bluegrass band's first four albums on Rebel Records. Among the 16 tracks are several cover versions, including "Sing Me Back Home" by Merle Haggard; "City of New Orleans" by Steve Goodman; "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor; "Paradise" by John Prine; and they even manage to... Read More

To Be His Child
Artist: The Nashville Bluegrass Band

To Be His Child is an affecting sampling of the Nashville Bluegrass Band's gospel material, featuring both their string work and several tracks that feature an a capella quartet. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide Read More

At the Old Schoolhouse
Artist: The Johnson Mountain Boys

At the Old Schoolhouse was recorded on the Johnson Mountain Boys' intended "farewell tour" of the late '80s. The group later decided to stick together, perhaps because they knew they were giving performances as good as this. Throughout At the Old Schoolhouse, the group gives lively, invigorating performances that prove traditional bluegrass... Read More

Can't Stand Too Tall
Artist: Rick Cua

This hard-rock message music has a couple of ballads. ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide Read More

Christmas with the Cambridge Singers
Artist: The Cambridge Singers

Divided into two sections, "The Joy of Christmas" and "The Peace of Christmas," this recording offers a nice mix of a cappella and accompanied sections. Twenty-one carols, motets and oratorio choruses were chosen from the many seasonal favorites sung by The Cambridge singers, and by choirs all over the world. They are grouped in two contrasting... Read More