Description
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, this has some of the biggest names in contemporary music, most covering seasonal favorites with mixed success. Outstanding tracks include the Pretenders “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” with Chrissie Hynde giving a touching performance. Run-D.M.C.‘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. Only the Material Girl, Madonna, embarrasses herself with an overly campy “Santa Baby.”
On January 16, 1998, the album was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of four million copies in the United States.
- First pressings of the album contain a spoken introduction on The Pretenders’ “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, presumably by a child. This introduction was later omitted, shortening the track by about 13 seconds.
- Starting in 1992, “Back Door Santa” was replaced by another Bon Jovi song, “I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas”, which originally appeared as a B-side on their single “Keep the Faith“.
Video: Winter Wonderland – Eurythmics (1987)
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