Unheard Randy Travis Songs Accompany Christmas Reissue
Any time we have news of unheard tracks coming from Randy Travis, it’s cause for celebration. Ever since his health issues in 2013 led to a loss of his speech, or aphasia, he’s been unable to record new material. But like many artists with extended careers such as Randy, there are often unreleased tracks left over from recording sessions to unearth.
We already received three such tracks on the 35th Anniversary reissue of Randy’s debut album Storms of Life released on September 24th of this year. Now a deluxe edition of Randy’s Gold-certified 1989 Holiday album An Old Time Christmas is being issued on November 19th, and it will include three unheard tracks as well: “Little Toy Trains,” “There’s A New Kid In Town,” and “White Christmas.”
An Old Time Christmas has always been considered one of the better bets for Christmas albums from country legends. That is how it achieved its Certified Gold status by the RIAA—something many of Randy’s 90’s and early 2000’s studio albums didn’t achieve. The album includes a great cast of contributors, including Jerry Douglas on dobro, Mark O’Connor on fiddle, Brent Mason on electric guitar, and fellow Country Music Hall of Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano/keyboards.
READ: Randy Travis “Definitely” Has More Unheard Music Coming
On December 11th, Randy Travis will also be celebrating his 35th Anniversary of being a Grand Ole Opry member. Travis will be making a special appearance at the Opry, with performers Jon Pardi, Old Crow Medicine Show, Carly Pearce and Don Schlitz scheduled to appear. Randy Travis was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on December 20, 1986 at the age of 27.
An Old Time Christmas (Deluxe Edition) will be available for pre-order November 12. Saving Country Music will have a full roundup of 2021’s country Christmas releases after Thanksgiving.
An Old Time Christmas (Deluxe Edition) Track List:
1. Old Time Christmas (2021 Remaster)
2. Winter Wonderland (2021 Remaster)
3. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (2021 Remaster)
4. White Christmas Makes Me Blue (2021 Remaster)
5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (2021 Remaster)
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2021 Remaster)
7. Pretty Paper (2021 Remaster)
8. Oh, What a Silent Night (2021 Remaster)
9. How Do I Wrap My Heart Up for Christmas (2021 Remaster)
10. The Christmas Song (2021 Remaster)
11. Little Toy Trains (From The Vault)
12. There’s a New Kid In Town (From The Vault)
13. White Christmas (From The Vault)
November 7, 2021 @ 10:11 am
Yep, I wholeheartedly agree that this is one of the best Country Christmas albums ever released. Although there are stellar musicians on the recordings, it’s most definitely the selection of songs, ranging from new originals like “How Do I Wrap My Heart Up for Christmas” and “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe” to Willie Nelson’s classic “Pretty Paper,” that offer the listener a wonderful and warm holiday feeling, and make this album a compelling favorite. Now, with the addition of Roger Miller’s “Old Toy Trains” and two other unreleased songs, this will be a cherished holiday record for another hundred years. This is on my buy-it-now list. Thanks for the review.
November 7, 2021 @ 12:32 pm
Another classic from a true legend cannot wait to get this album as well.
November 7, 2021 @ 6:22 pm
Slightly off topic, I found Randy singing Your Cheatin’ Hard on a television program from the 80s on a foreign video site. Very good. https://my.mail.ru/mail/monstera53/video/_myvideo/62668.html
November 7, 2021 @ 6:58 pm
One of my all time favorite country Christmas albums, along with Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas, Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Christmas, George Strait’s Merry Christmas Strait To You, and Trisha Yearwood’s The Sweetest Gift.
Randy’s voice, traditional country style, and Kyle Lehning’s production was an absolute perfect match for Christmas music, making it one of the most timeless sounding Christmas albums, imo. I love the originals like “White Christmas Makes Me Blue” and “How Do I Wrap My Heart Up For Christmas,” and the standards he covered are some of my most favorite renditions of those songs.
I’m looking forward to hearing those bonus cuts and adding them to my 80’s and early 90’s country Fall/Winter playlist this coming Holiday season!
November 7, 2021 @ 8:45 pm
These songs from the vault have not disappointed. Keith Whitley kills it on There’s a New Kid in Town and IMO nobody comes close so really looking forward to hear Randy’s version.