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There's no denying people who seek fame by placing their own obscurity right out front, which seems to be one of the primary tactics of the engaging and super-Texas-friendly Greater Than That: The Best Christmas Songs You Never Heard. I contest their claim, primarily on the basis of long experience listening to holiday songs nobody has ever heard (such as this year's top pick, Lords a Leaping. Nevertheless, Greater Than That still has a lot to offer.

Though I was not captivated by every song on this disc, I enjoyed several. The Mary Dawson/Bruce Greer song Christmastime In Texas was entertaining and ably performed in classic Texas Swing style by The Crawfish Band. Geographically situating this music as coming from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Christmas Time Again At Neiman Marcus (written by Steve Lovett and Beverly E Houston) skewers the regionally ubiquitous Neiman Marcus catalog. This tasty kabob was served up in fine broadway style by Jeff Oxley. Finally, there was the cleverly-written Red Christmas, written and performed by Jeanie Perkins. This had the apt (for me, anyway) "The Carol of the Bills". Har!

Performed in a variety of musical styles, Greater Than That is at heart a theatrical production, performed in a Broadway style by an ensemble cast of folks obviously at home on the theatre stage. And it should be enjoyed by listeners who tune in to that sort of fare, particularly since there's a chance they might agree these are The Best Christmas Songs You Never Heard.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Elvis Has Been Sighted At The North Pole
written by Jeanie Perkins

Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men
written by Jeanie Perkins
Holiday Love written by David Egan, John Howe and Kix Brooks Careers

Silent Night Without You
written by Jeanie Perkins

Greater Than That
lyrics by Mary Dawson and Beverly E. Houston
music by Beverly E. Houston

Christmastime In Texas
lyrics by Mary Dawson
music by Bruce Greer I'm Going To Love Christmas
written by Jasmine Egan

Give Myself Away
lyrics by Mary Dawson
music by Beverly Houston

Christmas Time Again At Neiman Marcus
lyrics by Steve Lovett
music by Beverly Egan Houston

Long Distance Christmas
lurics by Mary Dawson
music by Bruce Greer

Red Christmas
written by Jeanie Perkins

Another Christmas With You
lurics by ann Cornelius and Beverly E. Houston
music by Beverly E. Houston & Kathy Kersey

My Favorite Christmas Story
lurics by Michael Roth, Beverly E. Houston & Lara Roth
music by Beverly E. Houston

My Top Ten
written by Beverly E. Houston From the promotional materials:

Eye-catching Cover Art (by a Pulitzer Prize winner) says, "Buy Me!"

Remarkable, new holiday songs that touch you and amuse you. All with that comfortable, holiday feel!

Great Variety of Styles -- The ones you begged Santa for last year. Adult Contemporary, Blues, Jazz, Novelty, Rock & Roll, Inspirational, Pop, Texas Swing

Fabulous Artists & Songwriters: seen on The Grammy Awards, Broadway, the Grand Ol' Opry, Kerrville Folk Festival & the Oprah Show.

Radio campaign by Bill Wence
billwence@earthlink.net

Various Artists

Greater Than That: The Best Christmas Songs You Never Heard

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Track List