Holiday Tunes Watch, Part 3: John Denver, Muppets Go "Urban" on Vinyl

Holiday Tunes Watch, Part 3: John Denver, Muppets Go “Urban” on Vinyl

December 2, 2011 By Mike Duquette — No Comments

Is the outpouring of love for the new Muppets film still not enough for you? Of course not! So you’ll be happy to know that there’s yet another great musical collectible (after Disney’s fun reissue of the 2006 A Green and Red Christmas) that celebrates our fur and felt friends, not to mention one gone-but-not-forgotten pop favorite: a vinyl reissue of the beloved holiday album by John Denver and The Muppets.

Maybe it was his just-offbeat-enough sensibilities in public – the onstage good-natured behavior that just barely betrayed a distinctly liberal slant – or maybe it was the physical similarities to Scooter, the Muppet’s faithful gofer and nephew of the owner of the Muppet Theater. But John Denver was a lifelong friend to Jim Henson and his band of colorful characters, and nowhere did it manifest more famously than John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together, a 1979 album and subsequent television special.

While that special has yet to be released on DVD (come on, Disney!), the album has been readily available on CD and through iTunes for several years. This reissue, however, is a special one for vinyl collectors: an LP version, with all the original artwork restored (you have to love those Muppet Christmas cards on the gatefold sleeve!) pressed on “Kermit-green” vinyl, along with a download card to enjoy the album on your iPod. It’s available exclusively in stores and online at Urban Outfitters, the offbeat mall chain specializing in kitschy and ironic apparel and gifts. Rest assured, though: there’s nothing ironic about giving the gift of Muppets (or John Denver!) this holiday season.

Stroll down memory lane with the album track list after the jump, and click on the link in the last paragraph to order your copy!

(A hearty thanks to super-reader Jeff S. for the tip!)

John Denver and The Muppets, A Christmas Together (originally released as RCA Records AFL1-3451, 1979 – reissued Windstar Records 23486269, 2011)

The Twelve Days of Christmas – John Denver and The Muppets
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Rowlf and John Denver
The Peace Carol – John Denver, Scooter and Cast
Christmas is Coming – Miss Piggy, The Great Gonzo, Scooter and Robin the Frog
A Baby Just Like You – John Denver
Deck the Halls – John Denver and The Muppets
When the River Meets the Sea – Robin the Frog and John Denver with Cast
Little Saint Nick – Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 – John Denver
The Christmas Wish – Kermit The Frog
Medley: Alfie the Christmas Tree/Carol for a Christmas Tree/It’s in Every One of Us – John Denver and The Muppets
Silent Night, Holy Night – John Denver and The Muppets
We Wish You a Merry Christmas – John Denver and The Muppets

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Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, having written at and worked for all three major catalogue music labels and contributing to Allmusic, Billboard, Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Classic Rock. He's penned liner notes for Verve, Chess, Mondo and Soul Music Records.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.