I think of The Muppets whenever I hear the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas". As soon as I hear the singers get to number nine, "Nine ladies dancing", I can't help but think "Mee mee mee mee mee" because that's how Beaker sings the line on my all-time favorite Christmas soundtrack, John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together.The Muppets holiday special originally aired in 1979. It's probably been two decades since I've seen it, since it never airs. I don't remember much about the special and, unfortunately, it's not on DVD. But, at age 30, the soundtrack is the first Christmas-related item I pull out of storage during this time of year.
The most popular song, according to the Wikipedia entry about the soundtrack, is Dr. Teeth and Electric Mayhem's rendition of "Little Saint Nick". It's a hoppin' tune, complete with Animal freaking out about reindeer. Unfortunately, this song isn't on the updated version of A Christmas Together soundtrack. For some dumb reason, when the soundtrack was re-released, the record company inexplicably left off the best songs, including "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", performed by Johnny D and Rowlf, "Where the River Meets the Sea", performed by Denver. I have both copies of the soundtrack, but the original one is on cassette and is currently in heavy rotation in my car. I'm treating it as if it is a collector's item.
What's so special about this soundtrack? The songs are so meaningful. A Christmas Together was actually a soundtrack before it was a television special. Denver and Jim Henson collaborated on original songs and traditional Christmas carols. The message of the album was peace. Denver writes "It was a unique and immensely creative project from beginning to end."
If you know anything about John Denver, or if you grew up listening to him as I did, you will immediately recognize which songs he wrote on this soundtrack. His songs are about peace, love and conservation. John Denver incorporates his environmental values into Christmas with the song "Alfie", about a Christmas tree that lives in the woods and celebrates Christmas every day. He gives thanks for the wind and the critters surrounding him. It became the inspiration for the television special that sprang out of the album. The "Alfie" song transitions into the anthem, "It's In Everyone of Us", about opening your eyes to the world around you and doing something meaningful with your life.
My favorite song on the album is another Denver tune, "A Baby Just Like You". It's a love song for his son, Zachary, and it compares the birth of Jesus to the birth of his own son. "Oh little angel of shining light, you set my soul to dreaming/You've given back my joy of life and filled me with new meaning." It's a beautiful Christmas lullaby.
And I can't help but sing out loud to Miss Piggy's version of "Christmas is Coming" and, of course, "Little Saint Nick".
I'm curious to know whether anyone else cherishes this soundtrack as much as I do. My childhood had a lot of The Muppets and John Denver, so this was a perfect storm for me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-04-2006 @ 12:43PM
Grdmonkey said...
This is my favorite christmas album of all time. I have it on vinyl, cassette and the original CD release. I love every song on it but my absolute favorite moment is the five gold rings ba dum bum bum in the twelve days of christmas. I love this album and have already started playing it for my 8 month old son and hope he cherishes it too.
Grdmonkey
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12-04-2006 @ 11:53AM
Terri Mauro said...
Yes, yes! I love it too. I have it on an album, and now that you've mentioned it I'm going to have to dig it out and play it or else buy it from iTunes (the whole original line-up's available there). My favorite song is "The Christmas Wish," with Kermit's sweet and simple voice.
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12-04-2006 @ 11:56AM
Dani said...
A collector's edition is available on Amazon.com that includes the tracks you mentioned. A Christmas Together [COLLECTOR'S EDITION] [EXTRA TRACKS]
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12-04-2006 @ 12:14PM
shawn said...
Brilliance. Absolute Brilliance.
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12-04-2006 @ 12:12PM
Charlee said...
Yes! This is the Christmas album my family listens to every year! Same goes for me about the Twelve Days of Christmas. Listening to this album gets me into the Christmas spirit and kicks off the season for my family! My mom found the tv special on ebay, it's not the best quality, but we make due. Glad to hear there's others out there with the same feelings!
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12-04-2006 @ 12:42PM
Sadie said...
I love love LOVE that soundtrack. I've listened to it every year since I was little. It's my favorite, and I think it always will be!
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12-04-2006 @ 12:43PM
Akbar Fazil said...
For those who have Rhapsody the album is on there AND it does have the "Little Saint Nick" track and the other two that this article quotes are not present.
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12-04-2006 @ 1:06PM
Tess Capra said...
We did "A Baby Just Like You" in glee club the year this came out ('cause I'm totally old). It breaks my heart that "Where the River Meets the Sea" isn't on some CDs -- I flove that plaintive little song.
Now bring on the piggy pudding ... FIGGY! I meant FIGGY.
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12-04-2006 @ 2:25PM
Heather said...
OMG!! I thought I was the only person on the planet who LOVES this Cristmas album! I can't believe there are others out there who feel the same way! My most favourite song on the whole album is Alfie. It gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it. Now that you mention it I'll have to pull it out and start listening to it to get in the Christmas spirit! Thanks for spreading the word about how special this Christmas album is and for reminding me to run off and listen to it again for the umpteenth time!
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12-08-2006 @ 8:12PM
Megan said...
Thanks for posting this - the original full version is dirt cheap on Amazon. w00t! I just hope it ships fast. :)
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12-05-2006 @ 7:43AM
Denene Ray said...
I too LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE this album. I was a major Muppets buff when I was little and this came as a present one year. Animal is my favorite character! Especially when he apologizes for the extra drum beats at the end of one song. I have always loved this and listen to it all the time!! I am sorry the radio stations don't play some of the songs to help keep it alive. I have turned my husband and children into lovers of the album. I have the vinyl and my husband got me the FULL CD a few years back!! What a gift! I even have a really poor quality version of the TV special which, in my opinion, doesn't capture the beauty of the CD. My dad came to visit for Thanksgiving and meantioned that it never seemed like Christmas without my endless playing of the songs! He asked if I would bring out the music and video so he could see it before he want home. I am in love with Alfie -- since his wish captures what I think Christmas and the holiday spirit is all about. Thanks for posting. I am not alone!!
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12-05-2006 @ 12:09PM
Greg said...
You've got to be kidding me, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this post!! My sister and I thought we were the only two people in the world that had ever even heard of this record. Every year my sister leaves me a voicemail of Beaker's refrain in "The 12 Days of Christmas", and in the background, without fail, I can hear her laughing herself silly. I just recently found copies of the missing tracks to complete the album on my iPod, it's the first Christmas album I dust off each year! Thank you for sharing this!
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12-05-2006 @ 1:54PM
maria said...
I have to agree with you Anna, this album usher's in Christmas for me. I was thrilled when I found the CD a couple of years ago with all the original songs on it. The 12 Day's of Christmas is my favorite! Thanks so much for your post and for confirming that I am not the only one who cherishes this album.
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12-07-2006 @ 5:55AM
Elmo said...
YES !
The "mee mee mee mee mee" never failed to make my families laugh.
The Muppet's & Sesame Street's Supporter from Malaysia
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12-10-2006 @ 9:39AM
Cindy said...
I also have the CD and the cassette -- LOVE it! "A Baby Just Like You" is my favorite Christmas song. It inspired me to name my own son Zachary. I wish I knew who to petition or beg to release the TV special on DVD. Somebody could make a ton of money because there are plenty of people who want it.
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12-18-2006 @ 6:52PM
jennie said...
i'm with you on the "12 days of christmas". my sister and i always sing the beaker part! it's always the first cd i play to start the holidays. my cd, though, has all of the songs on it. i can't remember when i got it. other than the record, which we've had since it came out, i first had it on cassette, copied from a cd a friend in college had
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12-21-2006 @ 8:11PM
Andy Dinunzio said...
There is absolutely nothing like this CD/album. My personal favorites are "When the River Meets the Sea" and "The Peace Carol." Such timeless joy in those simple songs. My entire family loves this CD, my mother, my sister, everyone. It is always one of the first pieces of music played after Thanksgiving as we start our preparations for Christmas. RUN! RUN REINDEER!
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11-24-2007 @ 10:18PM
wishesandpixiedust said...
My cheeks are tear-stained after reading your post (now a year old). The first Christmas music to be played in my home, my sister's home and my parent's home is John and the Muppets. My children, now 13 and 9, have grown up with this treasured classic and anticipate it annual arrival as much as I do. I knew my family couldn't be the only one to understand how truly important this special music is. If only the special was available on cd..... Does anyone remember another Denver/Muppet rendition of the same song? I distinctly recall a muppet tree, John reciting/singing, and all the woodland animals slowly emerging from the trees to surround him and key muppet characters. I don't think this was from the original special, but one that came later.
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