Performer: Various
Title: A Very Special Christmas ~ The Story And The Music
Country: US
Released: 2013
Style: Pop Rap, Pop Rock
Rating: 4.2
Votes: 731
Other formats: AUD AU AA AC3 AIFF VQF WMA
A Very Special Christmas is the first in the A Very Special Christmas series of Christmas-themed compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics. The album was released in mid-October 1987, and production was overseen by Jimmy Iovine for A&M Records. A Very Special Christmas has raised millions of dollars for the Special Olympics. The cover artwork was designed by Keith Haring.
Outstanding tracks include the Pretenders "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," with Chrissie Hynde giving a touching performance. s topical "Christmas in Hollis" relies heavily on sampling "Back Door Santa," and may head you toward the dance floor. Alison Moyet's stately version of "The Coventry Carol" is beautifully haunting.
Exclusive discount for Prime members. Sample this album Artist - Artist (Sample). Enyas rendition of Silent Night is fair. And Mary J. Blige's Christmas in the City" would be a must for those living in New York or those that just love the city of New York. While I didn't really care for the No Doubt original "Oi to the World", it might be just what the ex punk rocker turned parent might like to play as an alternative to the Christmas fluff.
Album · 2012 · 18 Songs. A Christmas Story - The Musical Various Artists. Listen on Apple Music.
Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at Last. fm, compilation album tracks appear under the name of Various Artists erroneously because the individual artist is not listed in the album's ID3 information. Warning! Deleting this artist may remove other artists and scrobbles from your library - please handle with caution!
Various Artists, ‘A Very Special Christmas’. For this charity album in 1987 – the first in a long series benefiting the Special Olympics – producer Jimmy Iovine pulled in an all-star lineup, including Madonna, Sting, Whitney Houston, and John Cougar Mellencamp. Standout performers included Bruce Springsteen ("Merry Christmas Baby"), U2 ("Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," and the Pretenders ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"), but nobody could top Run-D. If modern Christmas music is basically an appendix to the Great American Songbook, then who better to sing it than the foremost interpreter of Cole Porter and the Gershwins?
Listening to Christmas music can be like eating your grandma's holiday fruitcake. a little bit goes a long way. Between all the shopping, visiting relatives, and bell-ringing Santas on every street corner, we've got enough on our minds at this time of the year without having our ears assaulted by the music of Andy Williams and a chorus of singing Chipmunks. Sure there are certain Christmas songs and albums that cut through all the crap and commercialism and remind us what this season is all about. That's why you should get familiar with Complex 's Best Christmas Albums of All Time. They're not limited any particular era or genre. Some would be considered classic, others are very much outside the box, but all are records we keep coming back to again and again-just because we like the way they make us feel. And they never get annoying, even when the holidays put you in a daze.
Original Volume 1 CD | |||
CD-1 | –Pointer Sisters | Santa Claus Is Coming To TownBass – T.M. StevensDrums – Steve JordanEngineer [Assistant] – Dan Nash, Mark McKenna, Michael Morongell, Rob JacobsGuitar – David Freeman, Michael LandauMixed By – Bob ClearmountainPiano – Roy BittanProducer – Jimmy Iovine, Roy BittanRecorded By – Don Smith, Shelly YakusSaxophone – Clarence ClemonsWritten-By – H. Gillespie*, J. F. Coots* |
3:21 |
CD-2 | –Eurythmics | Winter WonderlandDrum Programming – David A. Stewart, Richard FeldmanEngineer [Assistant] – Tom BanghartKeyboards – Annie Lennox, John Van Tongerin*, Richard FeldmanMixed By – Humberto GaticaProducer – Eurythmics, Richard FeldmanRecorded By – Richard FeldmanWritten-By – R. Smith*, F. Bernard* |
3:34 |
CD-3 | –Whitney Houston | Do You Hear What I Hear?Backing Vocals – Darlene Love, Edna Wright PerryBass – Jimmy Johnson Drums – Ritchie Hayward*Engineer [Assistant] – Mark McKennaGuitar – Steve LukatherMixed By – Bob ClearmountainPercussion – Bobbye HallPiano – Jay Winding*Producer – Jimmy IovineRecorded By – Scott Litt, Thom PanunzioSynthesizer, Arranged By [Strings] – Charles JudgeWritten-By – G. Shayne*, N. Regney* |
3:31 |
CD-4 | –Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band | Merry Christmas BabyMastered By [Originally] – Bob LudwigMixed By – Bob ClearmountainProducer – Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin, Jon LandauRecorded By – Toby ScottWritten By – L. Baxter / J. Moore |
4:51 |
CD-5 | –The Pretenders | Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasBass – T.M. StevensDrums – Blair CunninghamEngineer [Assistant] – Steve BoyerGuitar – Robbie McIntoshKeyboards – Rupert BlackMixed By – Bob Clearmountain, Bruce LampcovProducer – Bob Clearmountain, Jimmy IovineRecorded By – Bruce Lampcov, Scott LittWritten-By – H. Martin*, R. Blane* |
4:40 |
CD-6 | –John Cougar Mellencamp | I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa ClausAccordion – John CascellaBacking Vocals – Crystal Taleifero*, Pat PetersonBass – Coby Myers*Drums – Kenny AronoffFiddle – Lisa GermanoGuitar – Larry Crane, Mike WanchicMixed By – Bob ClearmountainProducer – Don Gehman, John Mellencamp*Recorded By – David LeonardWritten-By – T. Connor* |
2:38 |
CD-7 | –Sting | Gabriel's MessageArranged By – David WillcocksProducer – Pete Smith, StingRecorded By, Mixed By – Pete SmithWritten By [Words] – Sabine Banng GouldWritten-By – Traditional |
2:10 |
CD-8 | –Run-DMC | Christmas In HollisCo-producer – Rick Rubin, Steve EttProducer – Run-DMCRecorded By, Mixed By – Steve EttWritten By – J. Simmons / D. McDaniels / J. Mizell |
2:59 |
CD-9 | –U2 | Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)Backing Vocals – Darlene LoveMixed By – Bob ClearmountainProducer – Jimmy IovineRecorded By – Scott Litt, Thom PanunzioWritten-By – E. Greenwich*, J. Barry*, P. Spector* |
2:19 |
CD-10 | –Madonna | Santa BabyArranged By – Jeremy LubbockEngineer [Assistant] – Peter Droll, Rob JacobsProducer – Jimmy IovineRecorded By, Mixed By – Shelly YakusWritten By – J. Javits / P. Springer |
2:34 |
CD-11 | –Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band* | The Little Drummer BoyBacking Vocals – Andrea Robinson, Darryl Phinnessee, Donny Gerrard, Dorian Holley, John Townsend, Laura Creamer, Rosemary ButlerBass – Chris CampbellDrums – Don BrewerEngineer [Assistant] – Mark DeSisto*, Mark McKennaGuitar – Nils Lofgren, Rick VitoKeyboards – David ErvinMixed By – Joe ChiccarelliPercussion – Crystal Taleifero*Piano – Craig FrostProducer – Bob Seger, Jimmy IovineRecorded By – Don Smith, Shelly YakusSaxophone – Alto ReedWritten-By – H. Simone*, H. Onorati*, K. Davis* |
3:29 |
CD-12 | –Bryan Adams | Run Rudolph RunBass – Dave Taylor Drums – Mickey CurryGuitar – Bryan AdamsGuitar [Additional], Keyboards [Additional] – Keith ScottKeyboards – Johnny BlitzMixed By – Bob ClearmountainProducer – Bryan AdamsRecorded By – Smudger Written By – M. BrodieWritten-By – J. Marks* |
2:42 |
CD-13 | –Bon Jovi | I Wish Every Day Could Be Like ChristmasProducer – Bob Rock |
4:26 |
CD-14 | –Alison Moyet | The Coventry CarolProducer, Mixed By, Arranged By – Alison Moyet, Peter OxendaleRecorded By – John FryerWritten-By – Traditional |
3:24 |
CD-15 | –Stevie Nicks | Silent NightArranged By – Richard Warren Backing Vocals – Robbie Nevil, Sharon CelaniEngineer [Assistant] – Dan NashGuitar – Waddy WachtelMixed By – Bob ClearmountainPiano – Roy BittanProducer – Jimmy Iovine, Roy BittanRecorded By – Shelly Yakus, Thom PanunzioWritten-By – Traditional |
4:36 |
DVD | |||
DVD-1 | –Vanessa Williams | A Very Special Christmas: 25 Years Of Bringing Joy To The World (Documentary) |
Category | Artist | Title (Format) | Label | Category | Country | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SP-3911 | Various | A Very Special Christmas (LP, Comp, Bla) | A&M Records | SP-3911 | US | 1987 |
393 911-4 | Various | A Very Special Christmas (Cass, Comp) | A&M Records, Polydor | 393 911-4 | Italy | 1987 |
393 911-4 | Various | A Very Special Christmas (Cass, Comp) | A&M Records | 393 911-4 | Spain | 1987 |
393 911-2 | Various | A Very Special Christmas (CD, Comp, RP) | A&M Records | 393 911-2 | Europe | Unknown |
LPR 73033 | Various | A Very Special Christmas (LP, Comp) | A&M Records | LPR 73033 | Mexico | 1987 |