Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Once Upon a Christmas

A year after "Islands in the Stream" made them country's most beloved duo, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton reunited in 1984 for a full Christmas album. Produced by David Foster, Once Upon a Christmas was paired with a television special of the same name, and it quickly became one of the best-loved holiday records in country music.

The chemistry that made their pop hits work is all over this record. The two trade lines and harmonies on the title track, "I Believe in Santa Claus" and "The Greatest Gift of All," while "A Christmas to Remember" and "With Bells On" bring an easy, sentimental glow. Dolly reaches back to her own catalog for "Hard Candy Christmas," originally written for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Kenny's "Christmas Without You" adds a touch of heartache. A "Winter Wonderland / Sleigh Ride" medley and "White Christmas" round out the standards.

Four decades on, it still sounds like the warmest possible version of an '80s country Christmas, sung by two voices that were simply made to be heard together.

This RCA/Legacy reissue presents the original album on black vinyl.