Christmas in the Stars
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| Christmas in the Stars | ||
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| Studio album by Meco Monardo | ||
| Released | November, 1980 | |
| Recorded | 1980 | |
| Genre | Christmas music | |
| Length | 33:52 | |
| Label | RSO Records | |
| Producer | Meco Monardo | |
| Professional reviews | ||
Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album is a record album produced in 1980 by RSO Records. It features recordings of Star Wars-themed Christmas songs and stories about a droid factory where the robots make toys year-round for "S. Claus".
Much of the album is sung and narrated by British actor Anthony Daniels, reprising his role as C-3PO from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Sound designer Ben Burtt also provided sound effects for R2-D2 and Chewbacca.
Contents |
[edit] Production
The album was produced by Meco Monardo (who had previously recorded Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk), with the hope that this would be the first in a series of annual Star Wars Christmas albums. The majority of the album's original songs were written by Maury Yeston, a Yale University music professor who went on to become a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical composer.
The album is notable for featuring the first professional recording of Jon Bon Jovi (credited as John Bongiovi), who sings lead vocals on the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Jon's cousin Tony Bongiovi co-produced the album and ran the recording studio, where Jon was working sweeping floors at the time.[1]
After the first printing of 150,000 copies, Meco was asked to allow George Lucas' name to be credited beside his under "Concept by". Due to the success of the album, the studios were ready to do a second printing, which would give Lucas credit. But before the second record printing could be done, RSO Records shut down due to an unrelated lawsuit.[2]
Christmas in the Stars was recorded two years after The Star Wars Holiday Special aired, and they have no connection other than the fact that they were both marketed in conjunction with the Christmas holidays.
[edit] Track listing
- "Christmas in the Stars" – 3:17
- "Bells, Bells, Bells" – 3:15
- "The Odds Against Christmas" – 3:04
- "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)" – 3:24
- "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" – 3:16
- "Sleigh Ride" – 3:36
- "Merry, Merry Christmas" – 2:09
- "A Christmas Sighting ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)" – 3:43
- "The Meaning of Christmas" – 8:08
[edit] Release
[edit] LP and tape
The complete album was released by RSO records on LP and cassette in November of 1980, to cash in on the increasingly popular Star Wars saga. This original printing featured cover art by the Star Wars film's production artist, Ralph McQuarrie.
Also in 1980, RSO released a 45 of "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb)" (credited to The Star Wars Intergalactic Droid Choir and Chorale) b/w "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" with a picture sleeve. In late 1983, a second 45 from the album was released by Polygram on the RSO label, "R2-D2's Sleigh Ride" b/w "Christmas in the Stars", also with a picture sleeve.
This album was one of the industry's first non-classical-or-jazz projects to be recorded and mixed digitally, and when "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb)" reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1980 it was only the third digitally recorded single in chart history.
[edit] CD
The album made its CD debut in 1994 as an unheralded budget-label release by JFC/Polygram Special Markets (catalog # 314 520 216-2), with all artwork and references to Star Wars (except for those in the song titles) removed from the packaging. The only credit on the package was "Meco," and it featured a generic cover photo of spacey looking Christmas boxes and decorations.
It was released on CD again, with Ralph McQuarrie's cover art restored, on October 15, 1996, this time by Rhino records, during the popularity of the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire project.
