If you are looking for a rockin' Christmas, you'd be hard-pressed to find holiday music better than U2's remake of the Darlene Love classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" or John Mellencamp's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Bob Seger's update of "Little Drummer Boy" is one of the best versions of that oft-recorded classic as well. For poignancy, you get Sting's "Gabriel's Message" and for festivity you get the Pointer Sisters' exalting about "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." Whitney Houston is at her most soulful on "Do You Hear What I Hear?" while Madonna camps it up Betty Boop style with "Santa Baby." It's a smorgasboard of emotions!

Is the collection perfect? Well, no. Stevie Nicks sounds like a goat on "Silent Night" and Run DMC's "Christmas In Hollis" is too noisy for my tastes (but then again, I don't like rap). Overall, however, it stands (along with the Phil Spector Christmas album) as one of the best Rock and Roll Christmas collections ever.


Christmas Rock   December 22, 2000
zeni (Tennessee)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

What can I say? I grew up listening to the old guard's Christmas albums (Perry Como, Andy Williams, etc.). A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS was probably the first "contemporary" Christmas album I'd heard. While I still prefer the retro artists singing my Christmas music, there are some noteworthy efforts on this CD.

I always like to hear the Pointer Sisters sing the opening song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." That's a great one out of the gate because the Pointers sound so excited about Christmas, sounding almost childlike with glee.

Though I'm not much of a Whitney Houston fan, one of my favorite songs on this CD is Houston's soulful version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I could have done without Run-DMC's "Christmas in Hollis," but I welcome it on the CD because it helps round out the flavor of the music--from Bruce Springsteen's gritty "Merry Christmas Baby" to Sting's ethereal "Gabriel's Message."

But it is Alison Moyet's haunting rendition of "The Coventry Carol" that makes this CD worth listening to. I had pulled the CD out to listen to on a Christmas road trip several years ago, and when I heard that song--WOW! I like Loreena McKennitt's version (on her CD, A WINTER GARDEN) much better, but it was Moyet's version that got me interested in listening to Christmas music that's off the beaten path.

I recommend this CD to those who want their Christmas with an Eighties touch. I would even recommend it to traditionalists who want a change every once in a while.


Quasi-Perfect Pop Christmas Album   October 23, 2000
Jeremy (Canada)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

This may not be what you'd want to play at grandma's house while sitting in front of the Christmas tree. Well, maybe if grandma isn't there. While it does contain several stirringly stunning ballads, there are rock moments that are equally as enticing - Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams offer solid takes on traditional or non-traditional Christmas material. The record is purely an 80's moment, but it's one of the very few 80's moments that will stand the test of time, and already has, considering the album's ongoing popularity.

Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders shine with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", Whitney Houston absolutely glorifies "Do You Hear What I Hear?", and even Stevie Nicks, who as we now know was in the depths of detox at the time, succeeds with her hauntingly tender and somewhat tired take on "Silent Night".

Especially if you grew up in the 80's, this is the ultimate Christmas album to own. Even if you passed through the decade as an older-and-wiser adult, there are still various moments that should appeal to your tastes.

Even I, who wore diapers through most of the decade, can attest to the memory-sparking warmth of this collection of songs. I must recommend that you buy it.


Great Selection of Great Songs   February 21, 2006
Jeff, Young Old-Timer (Lakeland, Florida United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This ol' rock 'n' roller enjoyed this album on cassette tape until the darn thing self-destructed this past Christmas season. So I got the CD right away, and it was like hearing them for the first time all over again. My personal favorite is Bob Seger's version of The Little Drummer Boy. He does his usual awesome best on this reverent song and doesn't hurt it one little bit. All the tracks are good. I'm no fan of Run DMC, but I can even listen to this one without thinking "rap-#@**!!" That's just me. Overall, I rate this CD five stars. I listen to Christmas music off and on throughout the year and a little more often in mid-spring when it's much more likely that Jesus was born. Hint: NO shepherds are outdoors with their flocks at night during the winter in Israel. It's about the same as trying that in Arkansas. Anyhoo, I enjoy the thing whenever the mood gets me. I highly recommend it.


Have Yourself a Very Special Christmas   December 1, 2003
Johnny Heering (Bethel, CT United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This was the first of the Very Special Christmas albums, and it's still the best. There are some great performances here, but I have to make special mention of Eurythmics, who turn in the best version of "Winter Wonderland" I have ever heard. Run-D.M.C. contribute the only original song here, "Christmas in Hollis", and it's a terrific one. I also love the songs by the Pointer Sisters, Bruce Springsteen, the Pretenders, John Cougar Mellencamp, U2 and Madonna. The only weak performance here is by Bon Jovi, but they can't all be great. This album would make a fine addition to anyone's Christmas music library.