Light of the Stable (album)
Encyclopedia
Light of the Stable is a Christmas
album
by Emmylou Harris
. It was originally released in 1979 by Warner Bros. Records
, but has since gone through several intervening releases. The 1992 Warner release was a remastered version of the original with a different album cover. The latest edition was released in 2004 by Rhino Records. It contains three newly recorded tracks in addition to remastered versions of the ten original tracks. Its cover came from the record sleeve
of the original 45-rpm single
version of "Light of the Stable" that was released in 1975. The title song featured harmony vocals from Neil Young
, Dolly Parton
and Linda Ronstadt
.
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
. It was originally released in 1979 by Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, but has since gone through several intervening releases. The 1992 Warner release was a remastered version of the original with a different album cover. The latest edition was released in 2004 by Rhino Records. It contains three newly recorded tracks in addition to remastered versions of the ten original tracks. Its cover came from the record sleeve
Record sleeve
A record sleeve is the outer covering of a vinyl recording. The sleeve is technically the paper covering that is closest in contact to the surface of the recording, as in "dust sleeve", "liner" and "album liner". The term has come to be synonymous with "record jacket" and "album jacket", which is...
of the original 45-rpm single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
version of "Light of the Stable" that was released in 1975. The title song featured harmony vocals from Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
.
Side one
- "Christmas Time's a-Coming" (Tex Logan) - 2:51
- "O Little Town of BethlehemO Little Town of Bethlehem"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his...
" (Phillips BrooksPhillips BrooksPhillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
/Lewis H. RednerLewis RednerLewis Henry Redner was an American musician, best known as the composer of the popular Christmas carol "St...
) - 3:40 - "Away in a MangerAway in a Manger"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in 1885 in Philadelphia and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain it is one of the most popular carols, a 1996 Gallup Poll ranking it joint second.-History of the lyrics:...
" [with Nancy Ahern] (Martin LutherMartin LutherMartin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
/arr. Jonathan E. Spillman) - 2:37 - "Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes)" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) - 3:18 - "The First Noel" (Traditional) - 2:40
Side two
- "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" (Arthur L. PhippsPhipps family (Country music group)The Phipps family was a country music group who consisted mainly of Arthur Leroy Phipps and Kathleen Norris Helton with the addition of various children...
) - 3:05 - "Little Drummer BoyLittle Drummer Boy"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
" (Katherine Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry SimeoneHarry SimeoneHarry Moses Simeone was a distinguished music arranger, conductor and composer, best known for arranging the famous Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy", for which he received co-writing credit.-Early years:Harry grew up listening to stars performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City,...
) - 4:02 - "Golden Cradle" [with Nancy Ahern] (Traditional/arr. Nancy Ahern) - 2:05
- "Silent NightSilent Night"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
" (Josef MohrJosef MohrJoseph Mohr, sometimes spelt Josef was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and composer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night".-Biography:...
/Franz Gruber/arr. Brian AhernBrian AhernBrian Ahern , is a former Scottish football midfielder.Ahern is best known for his time at Clyde, where he holds the current record for most league appearances in the history of the club, at 420 appearances. He made 504 appearances in all competitions...
) - 3:33 - "Light of the StableLight of the Stable (song)"Light of the Stable" is a Christmas song, which was first released in 1975. It was written by Steve Rhymer and Elizabeth Rhymer.This song was originally recorded by Emmylou Harris in 1975 with Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Neil Young providing harmony, and it became the title track of her 1979...
" (Steven Rhymer/Elizabeth Rhymer) - 2:29
2004 expanded version
- "Christmas Time's a-Coming" (Tex Logan) - 2:51
- "O Little Town of BethlehemO Little Town of Bethlehem"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his...
" (Phillips BrooksPhillips BrooksPhillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
/Lewis H. RednerLewis RednerLewis Henry Redner was an American musician, best known as the composer of the popular Christmas carol "St...
) - 3:40 - "Away in a MangerAway in a Manger"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in 1885 in Philadelphia and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain it is one of the most popular carols, a 1996 Gallup Poll ranking it joint second.-History of the lyrics:...
" [with Nancy Ahern] (Martin LutherMartin LutherMartin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
/arr. Jonathan E. Spillman) - 2:37 - "Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes)" (Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
) - 3:18 - "The First Noel" (Traditional) - 2:40
- "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" (Arthur L. PhippsPhipps family (Country music group)The Phipps family was a country music group who consisted mainly of Arthur Leroy Phipps and Kathleen Norris Helton with the addition of various children...
) - 3:05 - "Little Drummer BoyLittle Drummer Boy"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
" (Katherine Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry SimeoneHarry SimeoneHarry Moses Simeone was a distinguished music arranger, conductor and composer, best known for arranging the famous Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy", for which he received co-writing credit.-Early years:Harry grew up listening to stars performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City,...
) - 4:02 - "There's a Light" [new track] (Beth Nielsen ChapmanBeth Nielsen ChapmanBeth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, mostly known for her numerous hits recorded by country and pop music performers.-Early history:...
) - "Cherry Tree Carol" [new track] (Traditional/arr. Kate McGarrigleKate McGarrigleKate McGarrigle, CM was a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter, who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister Anna McGarrigle....
/Anna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigleAnna McGarrigle, CM is a Canadian folk music singer/songwriter who wrote and performed as a duo with her sister, Kate McGarrigle, until Kate's death in 2010.-Musical career:...
) - "Golden Cradle" [with Nancy Ahern] (Traditional/arr. Nancy Ahern) - 2:05
- "Silent NightSilent Night"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
" (Josef MohrJosef MohrJoseph Mohr, sometimes spelt Josef was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and composer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night".-Biography:...
/Franz Gruber/arr. Brian AhernBrian AhernBrian Ahern , is a former Scottish football midfielder.Ahern is best known for his time at Clyde, where he holds the current record for most league appearances in the history of the club, at 420 appearances. He made 504 appearances in all competitions...
) - 3:33 - "Man Is an Island" [new track] (Kate McGarrigle/Anna McGarrigle/Jane McGarrigleJane McGarrigleJane McGarrigle is a Canadian songwriter and musician.She is the elder sister of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and has written and performed several songs with the duo. She produced their album Love Over and Over. Songs she co-wrote have been recorded by Nana Mouskouri and by Emmylou Harris...
) - "Light of the StableLight of the Stable (song)"Light of the Stable" is a Christmas song, which was first released in 1975. It was written by Steve Rhymer and Elizabeth Rhymer.This song was originally recorded by Emmylou Harris in 1975 with Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Neil Young providing harmony, and it became the title track of her 1979...
" (Steven Rhymer/Elizabeth Rhymer) - 2:29