Sunday, December 19, 2010

MECO - CHRISTMAS IN THE STARS





















Updated file - http://hotfile.com/dl/86547060/0089cef/Star_Wars_Christmas_in_the_Stars.rar.html

Track 1 - Christmas In The Stars
Track 2 - Bells, Bells, Bells
Track 3 - The Odds Against Christmas
Track 4 - What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas?
Track 5 - R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Track 6 - Sleigh Ride
Track 7 - Merry, Merry Christmas
Track 8 - A Christmas Sighting
Track 9 - The Meaning Of Christmas

The album's story takes place in a droid factory where robots trudge away building toys year round for S. Claus. However they don't understand the meaning of Christmas until C-3PO and R2-D2 show them how to appreciate the holiday spirit. Even R2 adds to the season festivities by learning how to whistle the catchy Christmas ditty, "Sleigh Ride." Later we learn who gets what from their wish list: a scarf for Luke Skywalker, perfume for Princess Leia and earmuffs for Han Solo.

Recorded in 1980, many of the album's songs were written by Maury Yeston, a Yale University music professor and composer. Producer Meco Monardo, who already topped the charts with his best-selling disco albums Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk and Encounters of Every Kind, envisioned and supervised the unusual project.

British actor Anthony Daniels lent his voice to reprise his role as C-3PO and Lucasfilm's sound artist Ben Burtt provided the sound effects of R2-D2 and Chewbacca.

However, the most trivia-worthy album liner note is the debut of a then 18-year-old Jon Bon Jovi, who sings with a high school choir on "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." At the time the album was in production, Jon Bon Jovi , then known as John Bongiovi, swept floors and did odd jobs at the famous New York City recording studio Power Station, run by Jon's cousin Tony Bongiovi. As Meco auditioned singers for Christmas in the Stars, Tony suggested Jon for one of the lead vocal parts, and the rest is caroling history. Soon after Jon's singing debut, he recorded his own demo at the Power Station which included a hit song called "Runaway." The single eventually lead to a deal with Mercury in 1983.

Even though Christmas in the Stars did not lead to a series of additional Star Wars holiday-themed albums as Meco initially had planned, the album still remains a favourite among movie and music collectors alike.

2 comments:

Zepp said...

"We'll set you by the fire - and warm your little wire." The song is one of those "ear worms" that stays with me until Easter.

What a trip about Jon Bon Jovi -- Thank you for the info and the Post!

Tex said...

Aaand, another one...

"This file is either removed due to copyright claim or is deleted by the uploader."

No need to post my notes to you. I'm just letting you know what's happening in the older portions of the Frolic.

Tex
(who had this back when it was new)