Christmas Together, A - John Denver & The Muppets

...collaboration which rivals most other Christmas compilations.

I am a bit of a sucker for buying Christmas albums, it has to be said. I always need some festive music on in the background while I am wrapping up all those presents. It also helps to have beside me some mince pies and a glass of wine! This combo always gets me feeling that warm glow, that would pass you by any other time of year.

One particular Christmas ...
...DENVER & THE MUPPETS, A Christmas together.

Inside cover reads:
"Through the genius of the programme's creators, the late Jim Henson and Frank Oz, 'The Muppet Show' has become one of the most successful children's TV programmes of all time.
On December 5th 1979, one of the most popular of all the Muppets programmes was first broadcast on American Network Television, featuring John Denver as the star guest. The show ... more

A truly ingenious collaboration which rivals most other Christmas compilations.

I am a bit of a sucker for buying Christmas albums, it has to be said. I always need some festive music on in the background while I am wrapping up all those presents. It also helps to have beside me some mince pies and a glass of wine! This combo always gets me feeling that warm glow, that would pass you by any other time of year.

One particular Christmas about three years ago I asked my husband to get some new festive music for me as I was fed up of hearing the same old mix of 'songs'. ("Now that's what I call the best money making at Xmas, in the world, ever!", was getting on my nerves.) In my childhood we would always put up the decorations to the sounds of Johnny Mathis 'When a Child is born' and I had a real urge to relive that experience. My poor hubby is a good sort and went out on a quest for Johnny Mathis! He was unable to find Johnny, but came back with a handful of Muppets and a big grin. We both grew up watching the 'Muppet Show' so this CD took us on a trip down Memory Lane, even though neither of us had much exposure to the sounds of John Denver.

JOHN DENVER & THE MUPPETS, A Christmas together.

Inside cover reads:
"Through the genius of the programme's creators, the late Jim Henson and Frank Oz, 'The Muppet Show' has become one of the most successful children's TV programmes of all time.
On December 5th 1979, one of the most popular of all the Muppets programmes was first broadcast on American Network Television, featuring John Denver as the star guest. The show was a Christmas spectacular, with John joining Kermit, Miss Piggy and Co. in a jamboree of Yuletide songs and festive fun and it has since enjoyed consistent re-runs in the USA on the Disney Channel and in countless other countries around the world at Christmas time.
Here, then, are all the songs from the programme on one great album, including a selection of traditional carols alongside compositions by John Denver himself."

This choice of CD promised to be just the lift I needed. I was looking forward to listening to traditional carols with a 'twist' instead of the mundane, overplayed department store songs that rattle around in the brain over the season! I was also interested to get a chance to experience an artist not too well known to me, John Denver. ( I realise, since the album was produced that John Denver had also passed away)

The Muppet performers on this CD are:
Frank Oz as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Animal
Jerry Nelson as Robin, Floyd and Lew Zealand
Richard Hunt as Scooter, Janice, Statler and Beaker
Dave Goelz as the Great Gonzo, Zoot, Beauregard and Dr Bunsen Honeydew
Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Waldorf and Dr Teeth
Also featuring Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen and Steve Whitmire.

The Musicians are:
John Denver: Vocals, 6 & 12-string guitars
Hal Blaine: Drums, percussion
James Burton: Electric & Acoustic guitars, Dobro
Emory Gordy, Jr: Bass
Glen D Hardin: Keyboards
Jim Horn: Reeds
Herb Pederson: Banjo, Electric & Acoustic guitars
Denny Brooks: Acoustic guitar
Danny Wheetman: Mandolin, Harmonica
Vocal Arrangements & conductor: Ray Charles

The Tracks:

1: Twelve Days of Christmas.
I am not normally a fan of this song because it is so repetitive, however, the Muppets are entertaining. I particularly like Beaker singing his part, "Mee, me me me me" and you will not be able to resist singing along with him. A great sing-along song for children.
2: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
A really well known sentimental track. The musical arrangement on the piano and the vocals by John Denver are beautiful, as the song deserves. I think this works exeptionally well because you do not expect the conflicting styles of Muppet quirkiness and 'good old fashioned' yuletide crooning to mix. They seem to blend strangely well.
3: The Peace Carol.
A folk/Country style as you may expect from John Denver. The meaning of Christmas and various Christmas imagary explored in this song. Sung by John Denver and enhanced by various Muppet voices in harmony. Easy to pick up tune. I find myself swaying to this one!
4: Christmas is Coming
More upbeat now. Starring Miss Piggy with Scooter and two others singing in a round. Very simple, short and sweet but fabulously effective.
5: A Baby Just like You
Back to the sentimentality of Christmas time. A John Denver song that my Granny would be in heaven listening to. This sounds like a very personal song to him. You could imagine this being sung on 'Songs of Praise' or the like.
6: Deck The Halls
This is sung entirely by the Muppets. Jolly good fun to sing along to the fa-la-las's in the car.
7: When the River meets the Sea
An 'Amazing Grace' feel to this with a Country element. Gosh, I'm swaying to this one as well!
8: Little Saint Nick
Another well known, jolly Santa song to lift the mood again. Still has the Beach Boys feeling. A variety of Muppets have a part on this, with Animal making his mark in his own distinctive way.
9: Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913
Bringing the mood back to that Denver storytelling thoughtfulness. Lovely to listen to. More grown up. John Denver on his own.
10: The Christmas Wish
Ah, good old Kermit.. unmistakable. You can just picture him with his little stick arms and keyhole eyes, sitting on his lily-pad, all the Muppets swaying together. "I reach out my hand to the Family of Man to share the joy I feel at Christmas time". Ahh, this is what it's all about!
11: Medley
:Alfie: The Christmas Tree.
A story of a little boy called Alfie, spoken and by John Denver. A little like a mini-sermon.
:Carol for a Christmas Tree
: It's in Every One of us
Sung by John Denver and all the Muppets. The really sloshy bit!
12: Silent Night, Holy Night
Very nicely sung in German and English by the Muppets and John Denver. John Denver tells the story of this carol which adds a nice little touch. Luckily it is quite short as you may be tiring of the soppiness of it all by now!
13: We wish you a Merry Christmas
Ending on a true Muppets style comedy take on the song. Short and entertaining... what the Muppets are known for.

This CD was about £5.00 which is great value for money. I don't think you can go wrong for a feel-good, sing-along Christmas CD which is just a bit different to all the rest out there. Obvoiusly you would not want to listen to the CD all year round so it is more likely to be played every year instead of being thrown to the back of the shelf.

I would recommended it to all those 70's children with fond memories of The Muppet Show, especially those with children of their own now. Our son is 3 and enjoys watching our Muppets DVD as much as we do. It is a great feeling to enjoy the funny characters together and we can sing along to the CD in the car.

I believe that Jim Henson was a genius. His characters are adored by people young and old all over the world. His creations and those of his family and production company are still fresh now. My son really enjoys Bear in the Big Blue House, as one example. He was born on 24th September 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA and died on 16th May 1990 in New York, USA of bacterial pneumonia.

John Denver earned international acclaim as a songwriter, performer, actor, environmentalist and humanitarian. He was devoted to his music and love for a global community. He really meant the lyrics he wrote. He was born on 31st December 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico. He died when he crashed his experimental plane into Monterey Bay, Canada on 13th October 1997.

I see this album as a fitting tribute to both Jim Henson and John Denver. It encapsulates each personality and shows that a mix of different styles do work. The values of both are the same. You really get the feeling of joy that is being portrayed. This album works on whatever level you wish it to work on. I think it is very uplifting.

All in all, a jolly good buy. It may be out of season when you read this, but Christmas is always just around the corner!

 

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