John Denver and The Muppets--A Unique Holiday Treat
Written: Nov 30 '00 (Updated Dec 13 '04)
Product Rating:
Pros: Great chemistry with Denver and Muppets, rare Muppets today such as The Electric Mayhem included
Cons: Yeah, right
The Bottom Line: The tracks here are incredibly varied, from the well-known to the extremely obscure. Denver and the classic Muppets prove a wonderful match.
ByronSummers's Full Review: A Christmas Together by John Denver/The Muppets
"John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together" is an absolute success. Part of this is because it was recorded in 1979, in what Muppet fans consider the Golden Age of the Muppets. "The Muppet Show" was in its 3rd season and soaring in popularity.
What's more, Denver had appeared in an episode of the variety show, and proved to work extremely well with Henson's creations. He had a very natural manner with them, as if they had all been friends for years.
I bought this album because I love the Muppets, particularly from their heyday of "The Muppet Show" (1976-1981). There is a great balance and variety of songs here, and fans of the classic Muppet era will greatly appreciate hearing some long-gone favorite characters on the album.
PROGRAM
----------
For the first track we have the favored "The Twelve Days of Christmas". A banjo introduces the song, joined by electric piano (remember, this is 1979). Denver sings the first verse, and each successive verse is then sung by a different Muppet. The order is as follows:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree--John Denver
2 Turtle Doves--Fozzie Bear
3 French Hens--Gonzo
4 Calling Birds--Robin the Frog
5 Golden Rings--Miss Piggy
6 Geese a-laying--Scooter
7 Swans a-swimming--Lew Zealand
8 Maids a-milking--Rowlf
9 Ladies dancing--Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker
10 Lords a-leaping--Statler & Waldorf
11 Pipers Piping--Beauregard
12 Drummers drumming--Kermit the Frog
Potentially monotonous and dreadfully repetitive, the Muppets make this anything but by adding their own special touches. For instance, Beaker "Meep! Meep!"s along while Bunsen sings verse 9, and Miss Piggy sings about golden rings with some overly dramatic style (don't tell her I said that, she'll kill me). The ending is also hilarious, with the Muppets trying their best to find some "harmony".
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is one of the most peaceful and relaxing tracks on this album. It's a wonderful duet between Denver and Rowlf, accompanied by a solitary piano--you can just picture Rowlf playing it in his loving way. This is a short, sweet song that's sure to become a favorite from the record.
Scooter joins Denver on "The Peace Carol". A rare song that isn't heard much today, it's a pretty ballad that flows along nicely. Aside from the soft tones of the electric piano or keyboard, a flute, guitar, and banjo are also heard here--as is a light chorus of high voices in the latter part of the song.
A calypso feel is next with "Christmas Is Coming". Miss Piggy demonstrates this foreign tune once. She then gets Scooter, Gonzo, and Robin to join her in a round. It's a fun result, even if Miss Piggy doesn't quite know when to stop her part . . .
Denver has the solo spotlight on the gorgeous "A Baby Just Like You". Co-written by Denver, this ballad was composed by Denver for his son Zachary (he is named in the song). Denver sings of how his baby has brought joy back into his life, and he remembers how the birth of Jesus also rejuvenates him during this time of year.
More Muppet group fun is heard on the classic "Deck The Halls". Several Muppets take turns singing phrases of each verse, some of who weren't heard during the opening track. They are, in order:
Kermit--Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fozzie--Tis the season to be jolly Miss Piggy--Don we now our gay apparel Gonzo--Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Scooter--See the blazing Yule before us Floyd--Strike the harp and join the chorus Janice--Follow me in merry measure Dr. Teeth--While I tell of Yuletide treasure
Statler & Waldorf--Fast away the old year passes Baby Voices--Hail the new ye lads and lasses Robin--Sing we joyous all together Bunsen--Heedless of the wind and weather
Robin has a duet with Denver on "When The River Meets The Sea". This ballad has somewhat of a slow, Southern Gospel feel to it at times. The metaphorical lyrics tell of how all mankind will understand each other and everything will be in harmony . . . when the river meets the sea. The other Muppets join in backup, and really add a great group feeling to this philosophical song.
It is now time to rock! Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem rev things up on a cover of The Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick". The lone female member of the band, lead guitarist Janice, shines on the first verse with her groovy style. Her sweetie--bassist Floyd--takes the next verse, with bandleader Dr. Teeth gravelly talking through the third.
Meanwhile, Zoot goes to town on his saxophone, and you can't miss Animal--he pounds on those drums and ad libs in his own inimitable style. I also love the little ad libs at the end. I've heard The Beach Boys' version, and I like them, but I definitely prefer this Muppety version--especially when it features Janice, my personal favorite.
Things settle down with "Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913" (from the "Poetical Works of Robert Bridges", 1936). This is the second solo for Denver. This is a very "in the moment" song, as he sings of a Christmas Eve long ago and the feelings which he experienced that holy night.
"The Christmas Wish" puts Kermit in the spotlight. He doesn't know if you believe in Christmas or the joy it brings, but he invites everyone to celebrate in the warmth with him. Everyone joins Kermit on the choruses, making The Muppets sound like the close family which they really are (even if they are chaotic much of the time). The flute is really lovely here, especially in it's instrumental solo.
Next we have a medley. "Alfie: The Christmas Tree/Carol For A Christmas Tree/It's In Everyone Of Us". "Alfie" is a sweet recitation about a tree who loved his life in the woods, and to whom Christmas was a deep, appreciated feeling. Alfie feels sorry for those who don't know Christmas, and asks us to say a prayer for those we don't think of often who may not get to celebrate Christmas the way you or I do.
"Carol For A Christmas Tree" is the flowing underscore to Denver's bedtime story-like recitation. This is a great, low-key moment of the album. Denver then segues into "It's In Everyone Of Us", gradually joined by the Muppets. They sing of everyone having the potential to be kind and loving to each other.
The perennial favorite "Silent Night, Holy Night" continues the mellow mood. The Muppets sing the first version in the original German language. Then, as the Muppets hum softly in the background, Denver talks to us and tells us how this beautiful song first came to be many, many years ago. The Muppets then sing the first verse again in English, with Denver supplying harmonious echoes. A touching effect is the end of the song--some of the Muppets take turns wishing each other a heartfelt "Merry Christmas" (Fozzie, Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf, Robin, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Denver).
Finally, the Christmas celebration comes to a close with a group singing of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Gonzo and Miss Piggy have a hilarious interaction on the second verse, and Animal likewise cracks us up in the third verse.
LINER NOTES
---------------
The liner notes are great, for they contain words by John Denver written about the origin and making of this project. His love for the Muppets is sincere, and that is easily seen by reading what he had to say.
COMMENTS
------------
No doubt about it, this album is spectacular. Part of the genius here is that there are many rare or original songs heard, not just the same ol' Christmas songs everybody hears time and time again. That makes this a plus for Scrooges.
The instrumentation is basically the same throughout the album. Yet the combinations and styles are so different that no two songs sound alike. There is always a fresh flavor to every track.
It's great to have another Muppet album which features fan favorites such as The Electric Mayhem--Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Janice, Zoot, and Animal--and Rowlf. Animal is still seen today, but the others are quite rare. This makes the record all that more special--getting to celebrate Christmas with the family of vintage Muppets.
There are three Christmas albums available today that I just cannot celebrate Christmas without. One is Lorrie Morgan's "Merry Christmas From London", one is Mannheim Steamroller's "A Fresh Aire Christmas", and the other is this one.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.