“Winter Wonderland” — Mandy Barnett

Mandy Barnett “Winter Wonderland”

A new Christmas CD is out, and it’s destined to become a classic.

In this day of rush and hurry, and “too much month and not enough money,” Mandy Barnett’s “Winter Wonderland” Christmas CD is a welcome change, a refreshing listen to the Christmas classics celebrated with the serenity and clarity so commonly associated with the season, yet so often omitted.

Mandy’s voice is, and I seldom say this, “pitch perfect.” Her decade or so of performing and recording have led her to earn numerous awards, including the “Rolling Stones” magazine’s 1999 best country album selection for her CD “I’ve Got A Right To Cry.”

Christmas CDs seldom, if ever, make those awards lists, and that’s a dirty rotten shame. This volume is packed with simple, not over-produced, instrumentals and Barnett’s crystal-clear voice on her selection of classic, tried-and-true seasonal songs, including the ever-favorites “White Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

This CD is available only at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores or off their Web site, cbmusic.crackerbarrel.com, and at a kindly reasonable price. You can also go to that Web site and give a quick listen to all the songs on the CD, try before you buy. Bet you’ll buy after you try.

Mandy Barnett, a native of Crossville, Tennessee, started singing at five years-old.  She has been singing since. As a teenager, Mandy starred as country music legend Patsy Cline in the stage show “Always . . . Patsy Cline” at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  The performances were sold out nightly and received rave reviews across the country.  Mandy, in her role as Patsy, appears on the Decca Records cast recording.

In addition to her own albums, Mandy has been featured on movie soundtracks, including “A Walk On the Moon,” “Traveller,” “Space Cowboys,” “Election,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” and “Crazy.”  Mandy also sang on the Spongebob Squarepants album “The Best Day Ever,” sharing the spotlight with Brian Wilson, Tommy Ramone, Flaco Jimenez, and NRBQ. Mandy tours regularly and is a frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry.

In case you’re wondering, this is the same Mandy Barnett with a Christmas video airing now on CMT.

Category: - CD Reviews