Description
Good News is a Christmas album by the American singer and songwriter Kathy Mattea, released on Mercury Records in 1993, manufactured and marketed by PolyGram Records.
Though not entirely familiar with Mattea’s past efforts, this Christmas album has become one I would listen to again and again. Released last Christmas, ‘Good News’ is now being made available through Christian bookstores. With a voie that draws comparisons to Kim Hill, Mattea interprets 10 beautiful songs that revolve around the birth of Christ. One tune that’s already familiar to the CCM audience, «Mary Did You Know?» (originally recorded by Michael English) receives an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable treatment this time around as it is sung from a woman’s perspective. Two standout tunes include «There’s a New Kid in Town» and «The Star» (“Just another homeless family/ Hoping for a stranger’s charity/ Just one night in one safe place to stay/ Underneath the star so far away/ …And somewhere in the night her child was born/ Into every heart so tired and torn.”)
The adaptation of «Christ Child’s Lullabye» is both moving and tender as it lovingly captures a few of the thoughts that must have floated through young Mary’s mind as she looked upon the Christ child: “King of Kings, Most Holy One/ God the Son, Eternal One/ You are my God and helpless son/ High Ruler of Mankind/ Alleluia.” The album closer and title cut sums up the album and the Christmas message in a manner that encourages as it reminds us all of what this season is all about – the «Good News» of the Gospel (“Why? Oh why are you afraid/ Has this world stripped you of your faith?/ Close your eyes and on bended knee/ Listen to an angel pray… Good news, Good news, and angel pray… good news”). Simple acoustic guitars and piano melodies are the musical centerpiece for this album with varying amounts of percussion thrown in for good measure, as well as a dash of great background vocals due to the assistance of Donna McElroy and Vicki Hampton on two cuts. Though there’s always a plethora of Christmas albums to be found, Mattea’s ‘Good News’ is one that truly focuses on not what the season is all about, but who, and that’s a reminder we all need to hear. [April Hefner, CCM, December 1994]
CD tracklist:
01. What A Wonderful Beginning – 3:49
02. There’s A New Kid In Town – 4:04
03. Brightest And Best – 3:33
04. Mary, Did You Know? – 3:13
05. The Star – 3:51
06. Emmanuel – 2:54
07. Somebody Talkin’ About Jesus – 2:23
08. Nothing But A Child – 4:08
09. Christ Child’s Lullabye – 4:26
10. Good News – 5:38
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Mercury Records.
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