Connie Smith's Joy To The World came at the apex of the country-pop movement in the middle 1970's that Charlie Rich, Glen Campbell and Eddy Arnold had foreshadowed with their richly produced records that often featured lush strings and velvety background singers like the Jordanaires and the Holladay singers, both featured on this stellar Christmas album by the Country Music Hall Of Famer best known for her eight week number one running single Once A Day.
Her Joy To The World Album would not be quite as lush as the aforementioned albums by the above legends, but it would feature some of the greatest rhythm players to ever grace a Nashville studio. Hargus "Pig" Robbins, the blind genius piano player that played the signature intro on Charlie Rich's Behind Closed Doors classic as well as Roger Miller's King Of The Road Grammy winning single, would play his beautiful ivories throughout the session and Grady Martin, known for his Flamenco guitar on Marty Robbins standard, El Paso, would do the same with his instrument for Connie's classic Christmas album. Bass virtuoso Bob Moore had played on dozens and dozens of hit records for Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton and Eddy Arnold among many others.
Joy To The World did not feature an orchestra as was often the case with these Nashville Christmas albums from these times, but the fantastic session aces mentioned above gave this traditional Christmas album a full and rich sound with Connie's strong, sincere and impeccable vocals never sounding better.
The remastering by Maria Triana was done at Battery Studios in New York and could not be cleaner or richer sounding. A very welcome edition to Connie's great catalogue during her later Columbia phase. Highly recommended to add to your Christmas country collection! This Expanded Edition includes her duet of Silent Night with Willie Nelson and features the great Chet Atkins on guitar as well.