Various Artists
“A Very Special Christmas”
(A&M)
In 1990 a number of rock stars were given a chance to record their favorite Christmas songs for an album that would benefit the Special Olympics called “A Very Special Christmas.” Among the memorable tunes were U2’s brilliant take on the rousing Darlene Love classic, “Christmas (Please Come Home);” Madonna’s tribute to Eartha Kitt on “Santa Baby;” Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy.” Also included was a RUN-D.M.C. original, “Christmas In Hollis.” Two years later a sequel album was released.
This holiday season has a new “Very Special Christmas” album on the market. It is a less ambitious, 11-song CD that includes such well-known fare as Elvis Presley’s clever use of colors to describe his holiday heartbreak in “Blue Christmas”; John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over”) and Wham’s “Last Christmas.” Rod Stewart channels his inner Dean Martin on “Let It Snow” while Sheryl Crow does justice to Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run.” Making a repeat appearance from “A Very Special Christmas 2″ is Bon Jovi’s “Please Come Home For Christmas.” No artist will ever top the Eagles’ 1978 hit version of that Charles Brown tune but Bon Jovi gets the job done.