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The more I listened to it, the more I liked Paul Kampen's I'll Hang This Star. Performed in a bluesy, singer-songwriter style reminiscent of James Taylor, it is Kampen's compositions, along with his romantic, sentimental guitar arrangements that make this a unique, must-have holiday CD.

Interspersed among the five new songs by Kampen (The Christmas Night was co-written with Sara Kampen, whose featured vocals on this cut add another unique dimension) are a few carefully selected traditional favorites. My favorite of these was Little Drummer Boy (a song I don't like all that well), because Kampen does some really nifty picking on it. Even though this CD comes in a bit short at 31 minutes, I appreciate that fact that Kampen chose not to load up on public domain songs and instead used only what was needed to highlight his original work.

I enjoyed all of his originals and particularly the title cut, which is distinguished by its nostalgic reference to a childhood memory of decorating the tree.

Paul Kampen's I'll Hang This Star played better the second time than it did the first. If I had the time, I expect it would have sounded even better on third listen. But when all the hoopla dies down in late November, I am sure this is a CD I will rediscover all over again.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the Liner Notes:

It's Time For Christmas, When The Messiah Comes, I'll Hang This Star, and Come Together Again written by Paul Kampen

The Christmas Night written by Sara Kampen and Paul Kampen

Paul Kampen, vocals acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, drum programming and keyboards
Charles Arms, bass guitar
Ovid Bilderback, drums
Katy Schaefer, violin
Sara Kampen, vocals

Paul Kampen

I'll Hang This Star

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Track List