John Denver & The Muppets A
Christmas Together
Louise Gold featured as a Muppet Performer providing
background vocals, recorded in
Catalogue number: (RCA
Records, LP) AFL1-3451, (RCA Records, Cassette) AFK1-3451, (Laserlight, 1996, Cassette) 72 761, (Music Club,
1990, CD) MCCDX007, (Laserlight
Digital, 1996 CD) 12 761, (Laserlight, 1998 CD) 12 761,
(Laserlight 2001 CD) 12 761, (Laserlight Digital 2002, CD) 12 761,
(Laserlight Limited Edition, 2006, CD) 32 831
Cast
Cast (Muppet)
Miss Piggy,
Fozzie Bear, and, Animal - Frank Oz
Robin,
Floyd, and, Lew Zealand - Jerry Nelson
Scooter,
Janice, Staler, and, Beaker - Richard Hunt
The Great
Gonzo, Zoot, Beauregard, and, Dr Bunsen Honeydew - Dave Goelz
Kermit The Frog,
Waldorf, and, Dr Teeth - Jim Henson
Also
featuring The Muppet Performers - Louise
Gold, Kathryn Mullen, and, Steve Whitmire
Solo’s In The Twelve Days Of
Christmas
1.
John Denver - John Denver
2. Fozzie Bear - Frank Oz
3. Gonzo - Dave Goelz
4. Robin - Jerry Nelson
5. Miss Piggy - Frank Oz
6. Scooter - Richard Hunt
7. Lew Zealand - Jerry Nelson
8. Rowlf - Jim Henson
9. Bunsen and Beaker - Dave Goelz
and Richard Hunt
10. Stadler and Waldof - Richard Hunt
and Jim Henson
11. Beauregaurd - Dave Goelz
12.
Kermit The Frog - Jim Henson
Musicians
Vocals,
6 & 12-string guitars - John Denver
Drums, and,
Percussion - Hal Blaine
Electric
& Acoustic Guitars, and, Dobro - James Burton
Bass - Emory
Gordy Jr
Keyboards - Glen
D Hardin
Reeds - Jim
Horn
Banjo,
Electric & Acoustic Guitars - Herb Pederson
Acoustic
Guitar - Denny Brooks
Mandolin,
and, Harmonica - Danny Wheetman
Production Team
Produced
by - Milton Okun
Concept by -
Jim Henson, and, John Denver
Tracks
arranged by - Hal Blaine, James Burton, Emory Gordy Jr, Glen
D Hardin, Jim Horn, Herb Pederson, Denny Brooks, Danny
Wheetman, and, John Denver
Orchestral
arrangements - Lee Holdridge
Vocal
arrangements & conductor - Ray Charles
Art
Direction -
Photography
- Nancy Moran, and, Donal Holway
Special
Thanks to (“for tea and glee”) - Calista Hendrickson, Kathryn Mullen,
Martin Baker, Anne Gayler, and, Barney Wyckoff
Recording
Engineer - Ed Barton
Track Listing
Note: ‘Cast’ in the listing below refers to the Muppet cast
above.
CD: Music
Club (1990) MCCDX007, Laserlight Digital (1996) & Laserlight Limited Edition
(2006) 32 831, Laserlight (1998), and probably also Laserlight Digital 2001.
1. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
- John and The Cast (John Denver and The Cast)
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- John and Rowlf (John Denver and Jim Henson)
3. The Peace Carol
- John, Scooter, and the cast (John Denver, Richard Hunt, and,
The Cast (definitely includes Dave Goelz and probably includes the rest
of The Eight)
4. Christmas Is Coming
- Miss Piggy, The Great Gonzo, Scooter, and, Robin (Frank Oz, Dave
Goelz, Richard Hunt, and, Jerry Nelson)
5. A Baby Just Like You
- John (John Denver)
6. Deck The Halls
- The cast (The Cast (includes: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen, probably includes Steve
Whitmire))
7. When The River Meets The Sea
- John, Robin, and the cast (John Denver, Jerry Nelson, and The
Cast (not sure if it includes all of The Eight, but possibly)
8. Little St Nick
- Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (Jim Henson with Richard Hunt,
Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, and, Dave Goelz)
9. Noel: Christmas Eve 1913
- John (John Denver)
10. The Christmas Wish
- Kermit The Frog (Jim Henson)
11. Medley
Alfie: The Christmas Tree - John (John
Denver)
Carol For A Christmas Tree - The
cast (The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn
Mullen))
It’s In Every One Of Us - John
and the cast (John Denver and The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz,
Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire,
Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen))
12. Silent Night, Holy Night
- John and The cast (John Denver and The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve
Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen))
13. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
- John, Miss Piggy, Animal, The Great Gonzo, Kermit, and, Floyd and the cast (John
Denver, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jim Henson and Jerry
Nelson, with Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold,
and, Kathryn Mullen)
CD: Laserlight Digital (2002) 12 761
1. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
- John and The Cast (John Denver and The Cast)
2. The Peace Carol
- John, Scooter, and the cast (John Denver, Richard Hunt, and,
The Cast (definitely includes Dave Goelz and probably includes the rest
of The Eight)
3. Christmas Is Coming
- Miss Piggy, The Great Gonzo, Scooter, and, Robin (Frank Oz, Dave
Goelz, Richard Hunt, and, Jerry Nelson)
4. A Baby Just Like You
- John (John Denver)
5. Deck The Halls
- The cast (The Cast (includes: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen, probably includes Steve
Whitmire))
6. Noel: Christmas Eve 1913
- John (John Denver)
7. The Christmas Wish
- Kermit The Frog (Jim Henson)
8. Medley
Alfie: The Christmas Tree - John (John
Denver)
Carol For A Christmas Tree - The
cast (The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn
Mullen))
It’s In Every One Of Us - John
and the cast (John Denver and The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz,
Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire,
Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen))
9. Silent Night, Holy Night
- John and The cast (John Denver and The Cast (Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve
Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen))
10. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
- John, Miss Piggy, Animal, The Great Gonzo, Kermit, and, Floyd and the cast (John
Denver, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jim Henson and Jerry
Nelson, with Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold,
and, Kathryn Mullen)
The Cassette (Laserlight, 1996) 72 671 and
the LP (RCA Records) AFL1-3451, follow the same listing as the CD (Music Club, 1990) MCCDX007,
with tracks 1 to 7 on Side A, and tracks 8 to 13 on Side B. Cassette (RCA Records) AFK1-3451 also
follows this listing, but some of the tracks (notably: Silent Night, and,. We
Wish You A Merry Christmas) have cuts made to the actual tracks to shorten
them.
This album, John Denver & The
Muppets A Christmas Together, was actually made in England the year
before the TV special of the same name was made in America. Although the TV
show and the album were similar, they were not exactly the same, some of the
arrangements of the songs were varied, and a number of additional performers
brought in to do the TV show. Also, because the TV show was made in the United
States, one important Muppet singing talent featured on the album was not
involved with the TV show, namely the British performer Louise Gold.
All of the cast, and, musicians, and ten
of the tracks from the album have since found their way onto the compilations Christmas
For Kids, and, John Denver Christmas.
Three
tracks from the album, using all of the cast, were released on a 45rpm single John Denver & The
Muppets Merry Christmas 45RPM, which was also produced by Milton Okun.
The album features the eight main puppeteers from The Muppet Show, which John Denver had been a guest star on;
And on which Calista Hendrickson, Michael K. Frith, Ray Charles, and, Martin
Baker also worked.
The Muppet Show Eight (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire,
Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen)’s singing talents are
also to be found on the albums Favorite Songs From Jim
Henson’s Muppets (which includes another version of When The River
Meets The Sea), Muppet Hits 1 , Muppet Hits 2, Muppet
Music Sampler, Muppet Music Mix
(although Louise Gold seems to be uncredited) and Music Mayhem And More (although Jerry
Nelson, Louise Gold and Kathryn Mullen seem to be uncredited)
Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve
Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen also star on Muppet Show Music Album which Ray Charles
was also involved with.
Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire,
Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen all puppeteered on The Muppets Go To The Movies, on
which Calista Hendrickson also
worked.
Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, and Louise
Gold are also featured on: The Muppet
Show Music Hall, The Muppet Show 2, For What It’s Worth, and Jim Henson Presents Silly Songs,
they also appeared on The
Royal Variety Performance (1977).
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave
Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen
puppeteered on The Dark Crystal, for which Jerry
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave
Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen puppeteered on Labyrinth.
Frank Oz, Jerry
Frank Oz, Jerry
Nelson, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, and Steve Whitmire went on to puppeteer on Sesame Street (in the early 1990s).
Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold,
and, Steve Whitmire went on to sing on The Muppet Christmas Carol
(Soundtrack album).
Frank Oz, Jerry
Nelson, Richard Hunt and Louise Gold went on to sing on Born To Add.
Jim Henson, Frank
Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold went
on to sing on Elmo’s Lowdown Hoedown.
Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Richard
Hunt, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen
appeared in “a burlesque show with some of the
Muppet-company”.
Jerry
Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise
Gold went on to puppeteer on The Animal Show,
on which Frank Oz did a guest
puppeteering appearance.
Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, and, Steve
Whitmire puppeteered on Tale Of The Bunny Picnic,
on which Martin G. Baker also
worked.
Jerry Nelson, and, Dave Goelz (besides puppeteering on Fraggle
Rock itself) went on to do voice-work on the UK Co-Production of Fraggle Rock, on which Louise Gold puppeteered.
Martin G Baker went on to be
involved with the German Co-Production of
Fraggle Rock, on which Louise Gold also puppeteered.
Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Richard Hunt, Kathy Mullen,
Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Steve Whitmire,
and,
Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, and, Steve
Whitmire’s recording credits include A
Green And Red Christmas. It is not clear whether the guitarist Denny Brooks was also the songwriter D Brooks credited on that album.
However, interestingly Kermit (now performed by Steve Whitmire) sang Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Louise Gold, and, Richard Hunt went on to puppeteer on The Ghost Of Faffner Hall.
Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on The Secret Life Of Toys.
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt,
Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold,
Kathryn Mullen, and, Martin Baker all featured on the
television documentary Of Muppets And Men.
Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold’s recording credits include The Count’s Countdown, however there has
been some debate as to whether Louise
Gold actually sang on it.
A proportion of the proceeds from the sale of he 2001
issue of the album, Laserlight 12 761, went to the charity Plant-It
2000, which has been founded by John
Denver.
Review
by Emma Shane
This
is one of those albums that will appeal to two groups of people, John
Denver fans and Muppet fans alike. It starts off with a jolly Muppet version of The
Twelve Days Of Christmas, sung amusingly by various Muppet characters.
Another very funny number is Frank Oz (as Miss Piggy)’s version of Christmas
Is Coming, accompanied by Dave Goelz, and those excellent muppet
vocalists Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson.
The
album covers a wide range of songs, some are just light hearted Christmas
cheers such as the Muppet cast singing Deck The Halls, some are
funny such as Electric Mayhem singing a bizarre rock number Little Saint
Nick. Meanwhile others are very moving.
One
of the most beautiful and touching numbers on the whole album is Jim Henson
(as who else but Kermit) singing The Christmas Wish, it is a
lovely song, not least because it really encompasses the spirit of love, peace,
Christmas, puppets, The Muppets, Kermit, and Jim Henson! It doesn’t
matter what race creed or colour you belong to, if you believe in love and
peace you can celebrate the season of goodwill with this song. A similar spirit
of harmony is also echoed by John Denver and the cast in It’s In
Every One Of Us.
I
very much enjoyed this albums recording of Silent Night, Holy Night.
Although I’m not usually that keen on the song (especially not in English) the
Muppets sing it so beautifully, that I could not help but admire it. I
particularly like it when they sung it in German, where the vocals seemed to be
dominated particularly by two performers voices, one, a man, is probably Frank
Oz, although it could be Dave Goelz; the other, is the beautiful,
rich, strong, powerful voice of that doyenne of Muppet musical numbers, Louise
Gold.
The
album concludes with a song which has always been one of my favourite Christmas
carols, it is another jolly song, and indeed another song where race creed and
colour do not matter, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, sung by the
entire cast, with some very Muppet twists. All in all a fun, and sometimes
moving album, quite suitable for playing in the background at Christmas time.
Critics Comments
.
Links about John
Denver & The Muppets A Christmas Together
Muppet
Wiki page for this album: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/A_Christmas_Together
Plant-It 2000’s website (now
known as Plant-It 2020): http://www.plantit2020.org/
