Before I get to the 80′s or BUST post, I’d like to thank all of you for participating in the Contest Giveaway Contest! I hope you had fun playing!!! The winners will be announced tomorrow (I know I originally said the 18th… sorry!). We here at TheFrontloader.com look forward to more contests and giveaways in the upcoming year. Thanks again!!!!
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As a kid, I was never a fan of Christmas music compilations. I think this was due to the fact that every Christmas, my parents would play songs from artists THEY loved: Johnny Mathis, Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams, and Jim Nabors. Now, I’m not saying that these artists aren’t any good, I’m just saying that I wasn’t into their music quite as much as I was into… say… something cool.
It wasn’t until I was a strapping young lad did I discover a Christmas compilation that I could relate to.
My brother bought me the A Very Special Christmas cd when it first came out in 1987. I didn’t have a clue as to what it was… I remember my brother trying to explain it to me as I sat there looking at the track listing. The names “Bruce Springsteen” and “U2” jumped out… I can’t recall a thing my brother said to me after seeing that… all I remember is thinking to myself, “Self? I’m SOLD!”
Anyhow, I tore the plastic wrapping off and threw the cd it in the family stereo for all to hear. FINALLY!!!! Christmas music that I could rock out to!!!! Even my MOM liked the music. We all continued opening our presents to the wonderful sounds brought to us by some of the biggest names of the 80’s.
I mean, check OUT this lineup for the first installment of the series: Bruce Springsteen, U2, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Pretenders, Sting, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks, lions, tigers, bears, OH MY!!!!
VERY cool.
The entire A Very Special Christmas series has been a major contributor to The Special Olympics, having raised over $100 million in the past twenty years. Regarding the inception of the project, the official website states:
The part about “without taking any royalties” is pretty amazing. Throughout the years, six albums have been released under the A Very Special Christmas moniker, without an even larger number of artists contributing their time, talents, and energy into this worthy cause.
But it all started with this first amazing collection.
There are some absolute treasures in volume one. The performances are all wonderful to hear, as it’s always fun to hear some of your favorite rock/pop singers lend their voices to seasonal music. It was cool to see how well their styles fit their chosen songs: “Run Rudolph Run” suited Bryan Adams perfectly, as it’s an all-out rocker with the “Summer of ‘69” vibe… Whitney Houston’s larger-than-life vocals brought out the hugeness of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band’s roadhouse-ready style gave life to “Merry Christmas Baby,” and Madonna’s sexuality fit “Santa Baby” to a “T” like fishnet stockings on carp.
Some of the arrangements are really quite stellar as well. Take Sting’s rendition of “Gabriel’s Message.” At that time, I had never heard vocals like that from Sting, therefore I never realized just how well his voice suits choir work. The harmonies, the production, and the minimalistic instrumentation made for a most freaky sound… freaky, but gorgeous, nonetheless.
I remember being completely blown away by Sting’s performance. Because of the production, “Gabriel’s Message” stands as the highlight of the album for me. (Gasp!!! You mean you liked someone BETTER than Springsteen OR U2???) Yes, it’s true. Believe it or not.
Here’s the accompanying music video:
And now here’s a choir performing the same piece:
I’d say Sting did a bang-up job, wouldn’t you agree?
Another notable performance is The Pretenders‘ “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Chrissie Hynde’s voice is so smooth here… I honestly didn’t hear this quality in her vocals again until their 1994 hit “Stand By You.”
Take a listen to both these selections in the Dig-It section below.
There really isn’t a single track on this collection that doesn’t stand up to the others. I look forward to playing this album every Christmas season, and have even found myself spinning it during the other seasons. Great music should never be confined to a certain time of year.
Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the A Very Special Christmas series. This moment was celebrated by the release of a DVD that featured many of the artists found on all six albums, and as before, the proceeds go to help The Special Olympics. One amazing thing I learned from the official website was that, as explained by The Special Olympics CEO Timothy Shriver, “the series has enabled us to implement programs in countries like Russia, China, Uganda, and Brazil.”
I did not even know that The Special Olympics reached outside of the US borders.
So it’s Christmastime… go pick up this album either for yourself or as a gift to someone special. There are six to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that suits yours or someone else’s liking.
I’ve had this first volume now for over twenty years, and it still has yet to sound old or outdated. That’s a true testament to not only the hard work of the artists, but the efforts of Jimmy Iovine as well. Jimmy’s memorial to his father has stood the test of time and has become something greater than anyone could have imagined.
See? Music IS good for the body, mind and soul. But you already knew that, didn’t you? ;-)
Your Dig-It Downloads:
Download: Gabriel’s Message (Sting)
Buy Sting on Amazon
Buy Sting on iTunes
Download: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (The Pretenders)
Buy Pretenders on Amazon
Buy Pretenders on iTunes
Download: Run Rudolph Run (Bryan Adams)
Buy Bryan Adams on Amazon
Buy Bryan Adams on iTunes
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Thanks for writing about this, Tommy. Yes – I love these collections, too. I have fond memories of this first one because it was the only Christmas music anyone owned in college and we would play it in our dorm and decorate our rooms for the holidays. That’s a nice little memory.
Sting’s song is one of my favorites from those collections – it’s so beautiful. And thank you very much for the download of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Bittersweet song.
The artwork is also worth noting – the iconic Keith Haring image was used for each collection.
“Johnny Mathis, Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams, and Jim Nabors?” Dude, throw in some Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and you have my childhood Christmas music!
Dude… you did not mention that Run D.M.C. is a part of this compilation!! Loved them back in the day!! :) What a cool CD. I recognize the album cover but have never heard the CD. And the fact that it benefits the Special Olympics is a wonderful thing. I’ve got quite a few Christmas compilation CDs (although I don’t remember buying a single one of them), but nothing with U2, Springsteen, Madonna, AND Run D.M.C. all in one package!
Gabriel’s Message is just gorgeous. Makes me want to go to church and listen to the choir sing. Christmas is my favorite time of year to go to church…nothing like the sound of a choir filling the room with all sorts of beautiful Christmas music. That’ll shoo the bah humbug’s right out of you.
Thanks for the tunes! :)
I once did a story on a Special Olympics athlete. Wonderful kid and family. You think you might be uncomfortable around the kids, until you go to a meet and see that it’s all about giving, affection, positive self-image and positive energy. They taught me a lot. The Shriver family has been instrumental in developing the program and bringing it to attention. The “big” Special Olympics, held after the traditional Olympics, is a worldwide event.
So even if I didn’t like ANY of the music offered, I’d say get it anyway and help a great cause.
Back when I was a wee baby and used to work in a record store, this was the only Christmas compilation I could stand.
btw – Christmas in a record store is guaranteed to strip all joy from anything Christmas-related for the rest of your damn life. How many different ways could I find to say ‘No, there is no such thing as a ‘Best of U2′? how many different times would people come in and say “I want this song … I don’t know what it’s called but it’s got the word ‘love’ in it.” Or worse – they would start singing!!!
Christmas will never be my favorite time of year and this is why.
Merry Christmas my friend and brother!
We love ya lots and miss ya !
Springsteen, U2, and Sting – that’s a fine holy trinity of artists to love….no shame there…
Anyway, regarding this comp….someone beat me to it slightly above in the comments, but for me, all I need to say about this comp can be summed in three words – Christmas in Hollis!
Thank you for the Christmas tunes!!! usually, by this time of year i am sick of christmas tunes…but these haven’t been played where i work so BONUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if i don’t get to say it again, MERRY CHRISTMAS, TOMMY!!!!!!!
Volume 3 was good as well – Smashing Pumpkins, Blues Traveler, and Chris Cornell :) but the first volume was the best. U2′s “Baby please come home” was most excellent.
Merry Christmas.
Thanks for the tunes! I love Christmas music, but have hit burnout on Tony Bennett and continue to hate Jingle Bell Rock. Never heard these particular versions before, though.
That said, and hearkening back to another blog, for the first time I noticed the depressing song about the shoes for dying mama as it played from our receptionist’s desk stereo this week. I actually stopped in my tracks and screamed aloud, which got me a peculiar look from her since as far as she could tell I was mad at a ficus.
Good stuff! I agree with you about Sting’s Gabriel’s Message, not what you’d expect and haunting. I’m a Sting fan, and some of my favorites aren’t his “hits”. He has a “country” song on Brand New Day, called Fill R Up, love the message, lyrics. Also “Ghost Story” on that one, I love what ever instrument is being played and the building of the song and the key changes. I need to go listen NOW! LOL!!
OK, got Sting playing in the background. Now back to the “Special Christmas” stuff. My MOST PLAYED tune on my ipod is the Tracy Chapman/Eric Clapton version of “Give Me One Good Resaon”. I downloaded it and it says it’s from A Very Special Christmas, but it’s not a Christmas song, so I’m a bit confused. Yesterday, after I first glanced thru your blog, I was reminded about that and was looking to see if I could figure it out. I haven’t, but I did find a version of the performance on YouTube which makes me very happy. I think maybe there was a concert/show to go along with the album and that’s why Tracy and Eric were together for this song?? You got the scoop on that? Oh Obi Wan Jedi Master of Google?
Yep. I have this cd too. Love all of the songs. Mine’s faves are those of Bruce, U2 and Sting’s. My two boys love love love Sting’s Gabriel song. Thanks for writing about this.
Happy New Year!