Christmas in the Stars Attribution information Author(s) Meco Monardo Publication information Release date November 1980 [Source]

"What do you call a seasonal novelty album with an unusual concept that also features the first commercial recording of a hot rock star-to-be? Try Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album. How can you beat a lyric like 'Everyone will have a cookie, I bought extra for the Wookiee?'" ―StarWars.com

Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album is an album produced in 1980 by RSO records. It features Star Wars–themed Christmas songs. The album was produced by Meco Monardo, the man who recorded the infamous disco version of A New Hope's main theme. Anthony Daniels voiced C-3PO, and Ben Burtt provided the sounds for R2-D2 and Chewbacca. Christmas in the Stars was recorded in 1980, two years after the much maligned Star Wars Holiday Special aired. Though they share similar themes, they have no connections to one another other than the fact that they were both marketed in conjunction with major holidays (the Holiday Special being tied to the American Thanksgiving holiday).

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Production Edit

Album creator Meco wrote a nine-page letter to George Lucas asking if he could produce this type of album for the Star Wars saga. The album was one of the industry's first non-classical-or-jazz projects to be recorded and mixed digitally. The majority of this album's original songs were written by Maury Yeston, a Yale University music professor who later wrote several successful Broadway musicals.

Jon Bon Jovi (credited as John Bongiovi) made his recording debut on this album, singing lead vocals on "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Bon Jovi did it as a favor to his cousin Tony Bongiovi, one of the producers of the album.

The album cover utilized a Ralph McQuarrie painting which was also used for Lucasfilm's 1980 Christmas card.[1]

Release Edit

Christmas in the Stars was released by RSO records on LP and cassette in November of 1980.

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. It reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1980. It was the third digitally recorded single in chart history.

After the album's first printing, Meco was asked to credit George Lucas on the front cover. Due to the success of the album, the studios were ready to do a second printing, giving Lucas credit. Just before a second record printing was to happen, RSO records shut down due to an unrelated lawsuit.[2]

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. In November 1990, Polydor Records Japan released a 3-inch CD single featuring two tracks from the album.

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 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 space-themed Christmas boxes and decorations. On October 15, 1996, Rhino Records released a CD with the original cover art restored. This release included liner notes by Stephen J. Sansweet.[3]

Legacy Edit

The song "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas" was referenced in the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, when Zaalbar responds to Mission's suggestion that he get groomed by saying, «Wookiees do not brush their teeth, Mission! It... It just isn't done! What humiliation will you use on me next? A comb?»

Track listing Edit

"Christmas in the Stars" "Bells, Bells, Bells" "The Odds Against Christmas" "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb)?" "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" "Sleigh Ride" This track samples "Silent Night", the original "Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bells" "Merry, Merry Christmas" "A Christmas Sighting" This track is a Star Wars version of "The Night Before Christmas" "The Meaning of Christmas"

Credits Edit

By type Cast Crew Crew Storyline & Dialogue by: Maury Yeston, Denny Randell & Meco Monardo

Guitar: Don Arnone & Lance Quinn

Keyboards: Pat Rebiollot, Derek Smith & Harold Wheeler

Bass: Jay Leonhart

Drums: Allen Schwartzberg & Jimmy Young

Percussion: Tony Bingo, Dave Carey, George Devins & Maury Yeston

Trumpet: Danny Cahn, John Gatchell & Bob Millikin

Trombone: Wayne Andre, Paul Faulise, Tony Studd & Dave Taylor

Reeds: Phil Bodner, John Campo, Eddie Daniels, George Marge, Romeo Penque, Al Regni & Anne Sheedy

French Horn: Jim Buffington, John Clark & Peter Gordon

Violin: Sanford Allen, Walter Brewus, Harry Cykman, Lou Eley, Paul Gershman, Guy Lumina, Joe Malignaggi, Marvin Morgenstern, Tony Posk, Matthew Raimondi, Aaron Rosand & Gerald Tarack

Viola: Harold Coletta, Olivia Koppell, Richard Maximoff & Harry Zaratzian

Cello: Seymour Barab, John Beal, Avron Coleman, Jesse Levy & Homer Mensch

Harp: Margaret Ross

Lead Vocals: John Bongiovi, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Rod McBrien & Maury Yeston

Background Vocals: Janet Burnham, Bill Marine, Ron Marshall & The Bridgewater Raritan High School West Advanced Choir, Arlene Martell, Phil McAlpine, Rod McBrien, Lennie Roberts, Annette Saunders, Fred Stark & Marlene VerPlanck

R2's Christmas Message Sung By: Marney & Ivy Alexenburg; Arthur Boller; Stacy & Dori Greenberg; Ricky Haayen; Roddy McBrien; Donald Oriolo Jr.; Russell Poses; Scot Randell; Jessica Taylor & Jake Yeston

Concept for R2's Sleigh Ride: Meco Monardo & Maury Yeston

Sound effects: Ben Burtt, courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

Produced by: Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi & Lance Quinn

Appearances Edit





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