Various Artists, A Very Special Christmas, 1987 on A&M

Long before Maria’s “All I Want For Christmas” came this wonderful compilation to benefit Special Olympics International with a whos-who of mid-late 80s artists covering holiday songs:

• The Pointer Sisters – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
• Eurythmics – Winter Wonderland
• Whitney Houston – Do You Hear What I Hear
• Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band – Merry Christmas Baby
• The Pretenders – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
• John Cougar Mellencamp – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
• Sting – Gabriel’s Message
• Run-DMC – Christmas in Hollis
• U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
• Madonna – Santa Baby
• Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band – The Little Drummer Boy
• Bryan Adams – Run Rudolph Run
• Bon Jovi – Back Door Santa
• Alison Moyet – The Coventry Carol
• Stevie Nicks – Silent Night

This is holiday music I can get behind – though Christmas in Hollis does have a certain earworm quality I still love it. Artwork by Keith Haring, of course.

My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewelry. Different versions exist with black vs gold lettering on the cover, and with green/red on different side labels.

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