Maps of Music

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)

Where the lyrics of John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together take you, and where it was really made.

The soundtrack came out in October 1979, about two months before the TV special it was named after aired on ABC.

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Soundtrack album of the 1979 Christmas TV special John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
13 tracks of traditional Christmas carols and original songs
Originally released by RCA Records in October 1979
Every release contains an alternate recording of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" from the special, plus a rendition of "Christmas Is Coming"

The TV special starred Jim Henson's Muppets and singer-songwriter John Denver
The special first aired on ABC on December 5, 1979
Its plot centers on creating a Christmas special and a musical number for Miss Piggy

John Denver sings lead and harmony vocals and plays acoustic and 12-string guitar, and also arranged
Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Kathryn Mullen, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, and Steve Whitmire contribute vocals
Session drummer Hal Blaine plays drums and percussion and also arranged
Lee Holdridge serves as orchestra arranger
Glen D. Hardin plays piano, electric piano, electric organ, and celesta, and also arranged

1	Twelve Days of Christmas	4:24
2	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	1:51
3	The Peace Carol	2:47
4	Christmas Is Coming	1:15
5	A Baby Just Like You	2:54
6	Deck the Halls	1:37
7	When the River Meets the Sea	2:44
8	Little Saint Nick	2:24
9	Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913	2:54
10	The Christmas Wish	3:29
11	Medley: Alfie the Christmas Tree / Carol for a Christmas Tree / It's in Every One of Us	4:37
12	Silent Night, Holy Night	3:11
13	We Wish You a Merry Christmas	1:05

Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico; took the name John Denver on the advice of Randy Sparks, founder of the New Christy Minstrels.
Attended Texas Tech University and sang in the folk group "The Alpine Trio" before dropping out in 1963 and moving to Los Angeles.
Joined The Chad Mitchell Trio in 1965, replacing Chad Mitchell; the trio later became "Denver, Boise, and Johnson".

Solo artist; worked closely with producer Milt Okun early on and later with manager Jerry Weintraub.
Collaborated with friends Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, who later formed the Starland Vocal Band.

Left the trio in 1969 for a solo career; first album Rhymes & Reasons on RCA Records.
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" became a number one hit for Peter, Paul and Mary.
Breakthrough with Poems, Prayers & Promises (1971) and "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which reached number 2 on the Billboard charts.
Reached number 1 with "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry" in 1974–1975.
Named Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 1975.
Starred in the 1977 film Oh, God! with George Burns.
Co-founded The Hunger Project and worked for environmental causes through the Windstar Foundation.
Died in a plane crash off Pacific Grove, California, on October 12, 1997.

Originally released by RCA Records in October 1979
A red vinyl 45 rpm single (RCA PB-11767) was released from the album, with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "A Baby Just Like You"
A radio-only promo single (RCA PB-9463) carried "The Peace Carol", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "Deck the Halls"

The album is documented through its RCA release and the two singles issued from it
No critical reviews are cited in the source
The album's sales and chart figures are not given in the source

A sheet music edition contains most of the songs and the musical scores.
Mike Love was added to the credits for "Little Saint Nick" after a 1994 court case.
LaserLight issued the album once again in 2001, this time as an abridged 10-track version.
The TV special first aired on ABC on December 5, 1979.