Christmas Records, Day 3: Star Wars

Meco - Christmas in the Stars (Rhino, reissued 1996. Original release 1980)

Many who grew up with the Star Wars movies in the late 70s and early 80s curse George Lucas for trashing their childhood memories with his lousy prequels and digital tinkering of the original trilogy. Released in 1980 and produced by Meco, the man behind the hit disco version of the Star Wars theme, this album is proof that George has never been shy of making a quick buck from the most woeful exploitation of his intergalactic characters.

The album's conceit is that a factory of droids are mindlessly making toys for Santa Claus but only understand the true meaning of Christmas once tin-can duo C3-P0 and R2-D2 explain it to them in as mawkish a manner as possible. This results in such dismal ditties as R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas and What Can You Buy A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?). Sadly Darth Vader does not appear to tell Luke Skywalker, "I felt your presents".

Perhaps the oddest thing about Christmas in the Stars is that lead vocals are courtesy of an 18-year-old Jon Bon Jovi, billed here as John Bonjiovi, and whose cousin Tony produced the album at his Power Plant studio in New York.

As a geeky curiosity one listen is tolerable but only a deluded fool would shell out the £50 the CD now retails for online. The force is weak with this one.



What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)?