A Christmas Together (album)

A Christmas Together is an album of Christmas music by John Denver and the Muppets released in October of 1979.The Honolulu Advertiser October 12, 1979The San Francisco Examiner October 13, 1979
Recording for the album began in Britain on June 29, 1979.Jim Henson's Red Book 6/29/1979 – ‘Begin recording Christmas Album with John Denver.’ Some of the songs, with alterations, were used in the TV special of the same name which was taped five months later in November.Jim Henson's Red Book 12/5/1979 – ‘San Diego Museum of Art – Muppet Exhibit. Air John Denver Christmas Special.’
The original album reached #26 on Billboard’s Top LPs and Tapes chart in early 1980, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It also spawned a 45rpm single with a cover taken from the same photo shoot.
==Track listing==
Side One
#The Twelve Days of Christmas - Cast
#Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Rowlf the Dog and John
#The Peace Carol - John, Scooter and the Cast
#Christmas is Coming - Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Scooter and Robin the Frog
#A Baby Just Like You - John
#Deck the Halls - Cast
#When the River Meets the Sea - Robin and John with the Cast
Side Two
#Little Saint Nick - Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem
#Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 - John
#The Christmas Wish - Kermit the Frog
#Medley: Alfie the Christmas Tree / Carol for a Christmas Tree / It's in Every One of Us - Cast
#Silent Night, Holy Night - Cast
#We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Cast
==Notes==
*Some of the songs Denver proposed for the album but were ultimately passed on included "Keep Christmas with You" (from Sesame Street), "I Wonder As I Wander," "Carol of the Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal, page 122 
==Reviews==
Writing for the New York Daily News, Bill Carlton predicted that A Christmas Together would become "the Christmas album, guaranteed to be played and displayed everywhere. It should make your Christmas a whole lot merrier, in the special way that Alvin and the Chipmunks did 20 years ago. Even a Scrooge would open his heart to this music." Carlton called the album a "lavish production" and made note to "congratulate Michael K. Frith for his splendid album art".New York Daily News "Dever & Muppets a Yule team" by Bill Carlton, November 12, 1979
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina's Daily Tar Heel, Brad Kutrow wrote his review under the guise of a self-professed "Muppet fan" and took care to point out vocal and instrumental performances of the Muppet characters with special attention to Rowlf's "growly voice", Janice's "strong lead guitar", and Animal's drums "providing a driving rhythm". Kutrow supposes that the album "will surely join Bing, Perry, Frank, and Elvis on holiday turntables everywhere" and called the combination of Denver and the Muppets "hard to beat" as a "good pre-Christmas present for any under-10 type or any Muppet fan" since "the two are often difficult to tell apart, particularly around Yuletide."Daily Tar Heel "John Denver teams up with the Muppets gang" by Brad Kutrow, December 6, 1979
==Release History==
* 1979 - Released on LP, cassette and 8-track by RCA Records. Some early LP releases are numbered AFL1-3451 on the label and sleeve, with a sticker pasted on the spine with AQL1-3451. The sleeve includes a fold-out photograph of sheet music with art by Michael Frith atop a brown grand piano at which Rowlf was sitting, and a full group photo spanning across the front and back covers.
* 1990 - Rereleased on CD and cassette by Windstar Records. None of the original album art is reproduced. The cover photo is replaced with a similar photo to that used on the front half of the LP version, mostly likely from the same photoshoot. The back cover and inside fold-out are not included, and so far have not reappeared on any subsequent releases.
* 1996 - Rereleased on CD and cassette by Laserlight Digital. This version includes an added note from John Denver.
* 1997 - LaserLight In 1997, a release charted as the 15th best-selling country album in the United States.SoundScan, "Detroit's Top 10", 7 December 1997, page 5J.
* 1999 - Rogers & Webster.Advertisement, Parade Magazine (as included with The Pantagraph of Bloomi0ngton IL), 3 October 1999, page 25.
* 2000 - A cutout bin edition appears, omitting tracks A2, A7, and B1.
* December 20, 2005 - Windstar Records released all 13 tracks of the album for digital download via the iTunes Store.
* July 25, 2006 - A new "limited collectors edition" CD was released by Laserlight featuring remastered tracks of all 13 songs.
* In 2011, Urban Outfitters offered an exclusive reissue of the LP in "Kermit-green vinyl". The original gatefold is included as well as a code to redeem the album as a digital download. This album was also available on John Denver's official website, as well as other vinyl retailers.
* In 2012, the album was reissued on LP again as a Record Store Day exclusive, once again on green vinyl, but with a slightly different back cover. A new corresponding issue on CD was also released to retailers. 
* In 2013, the album was reissued on vinyl yet again, as another Record Store Day exclusive, for the first time as a picture disc, in a clear plastic sleeve. The pictures on the disc are the front and back covers of the album.
* In 2017, Newbury Comics carried an exclusive red and white colored vinyl print.
* In 2020, Windstar Records released the album on vinyl. VMP sold a "Miss Piggy Pink" swirl design, Bull Moose sold a "Gonzo Blue" swirl, while independent record stores carried "Kermit Green"."It's the most wonderful time of the year..." post, John Denver on Facebook, 4 December 2020. Windstar also released the album on CD, which features a yellow border around the front and back cover image. This CD release uses the original front, back, and inside photography.
==The Muppet Performers==
* 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
* with Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, Steve Whitmire
==Credits==
* Producer: Milton Okun
* Concept by: Jim Henson and John Denver
* 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 Pedersen (banjo, electric & acoustic guitars), Denny Brooks (acoustic guitar), Danny Wheetman (mandolin, harmonica)
* Tracks arranged by: Hal Blaine, James Burton, Emory Gordy, Jr., Glen D. Hardin, Jim Horn, Herb Pedersen, Denny Brooks, Danny Wheetman, and John Denver
* Orchestral arrangements: Lee Holdridge
* Vocal arrangements & conductor: Ray Charles
* Art direction and illustrations: Michael K. Frith
* Photography: Nancy Moran, Donal Holway
* Special thanks to: Calista Hendrickson, Kathryn Mullen, Martin Baker, Anne Gayler, and Barney Wyckoff (for tea & glee)
* Recording engineer: Ed Barton
* Assistant engineers: Ralph Osborn, Thad Blake, Andrew Clarke, Andy Todd, Randy Pipes
* A&R coordination: Lynne Morse
* Additional art coordination: Suzanna Kotnik
==Other releases==
File:RCAJDMuppsAFK13451.jpg|1979RCA RecordsAFK1-3451
File:JDMuppsXmasTogetherRCACassAQK13451.jpg|1979RCA RecordsAQK1-3451
File:Jdmup8trk.JPG|1979RCA RecordsAFS1-3451
File:RCAJDMuppXmasTogetherAQS1-3451.jpg|1979RCA RecordsAQS1-3451
File:noimage-big.png|1988Windstar RecordsD1-72870
File:Album-XmasTogether-1990s.jpg|1990Windstar RecordsWR-53337-2
File:WindstarXmasTogetherCass.jpg|1990Windstar RecordsWR-53337-4
File:Album-XmasTogether-1990s.jpg|1996LaserLight12 761
File:Laserlight72761JDMupp.jpg|1996LaserLight72 761
File:Album.xmastogether.jpg|2005Windstar RecordsiTunes
File:Christmas Together Collector's Edition.jpg|2006LaserLight32 831
File:Xmas-together-greenLP.jpg|2011Urban Outfitters exclusive reissueWindstar RecordsProduct ID 23486269
File:noimage-big.png|2012Windstar RecordsAFL1-3451
File:JohnDenverMuppetsChristmasTogetherWindstarCD.jpg|2012Windstar RecordsWIN001
File:Xmas together 2013 LP.jpg|2013Windstar RecordsWIN002LPRecord Store Day exclusive 
File:Xmas together 2013 picture disc 01.jpg|2013Windstar RecordsWIN002LPRecord Store Day exclusivePicture disc Side 1
File:Xmas together 2013 picture disc 02.jpg|2013Windstar RecordsWIN002LPRecord Store Day exclusivePicture disc Side 2
File:Xmas together lp 2017 newbury comics.jpg|2017Windstar ProductionsWIN0004VNCNewbury Comics exclusive
File:xmastogetherLP 2020 mint.jpg|2020Windstar101LP-C12
File:xmastogetherLP 2020 'Gonzo Blue' Bullmoose.jpg|2020Windstar"Gonzo Blue"Bull Moose exclusive
File:xmastogetherLP 2020 'Miss Pigy Pink' vinylmeplease.png|2020Windstar"Miss Piggy Pink"vinylmeplease exclusive
==International releases==
File:ChristmasTogetherAustraliaAPK13451Cassette.jpg|Australia, 1979RCA RecordsAPK1-3451
File:RCA1979JDMupp8trkStereoCanada.jpg|Canada, 1979RCA Records
File:RCA1979PL13451GermanJDMupp.jpg|Germany/Netherlands, 1979RCA RecordsPL 13451
File:RCAGermanyXmasTogetherCassette.jpg|Germany, 1979RCA RecordsPK 13451
File:A Christmas Together Japan LP.jpg|Japan, 1979RCA RecordsRVP-6429
File:JapanJDMuppetsC4.jpg|JapanC 4
File:noimage-big.png|Mexico, 1979RCA RecordsMILS-4432Una Navidad Juntos
File:noimage-big.png|Spain, 1979RCA RecordsPL-13451
File:LP A Christmas Together.jpg|UK, 1979RCA RecordsPL 13451
File:PK_13451.jpg|UK, 1979RCA RecordsPK 13451
==Sources==
==See also==
* A Christmas Together (special)
* A Christmas Together (music book)
* Muppet discography
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Category:Muppet Albums
Category:Christmas Albums