A Very Special Christmas Live

A Very Special Christmas Live
Cover art by Keith Haring
Live album by
Various artists
ReleasedOctober 19, 1999
RecordedWashington, D.C., December 1998
GenreChristmas music
Length38:19
LabelA&M/Interscope Records
Various artists chronology
A Very Special Christmas 3
(1997) 		A Very Special Christmas Live
(1999) 		A Very Special Christmas 5
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link

A Very Special Christmas Live is the fourth in the A Very Special Christmas series of Christmas music-themed compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics. The album was recorded live in Washington, D.C. in December 1998 at a benefit party held by then-President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Special Olympics. It was released on 19 October 1999, and production was overseen by Bobby Shriver for A&M Records. It peaked at #100 on December 1999 Billboard album chart.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Performed byLength
1."Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"Johnny MarksMary J. Blige and Sheryl Crow2:29
2."Christmas in Hollis"Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Jason MizellRun-D.M.C.2:59
3."Please Come Home for Christmas"Charles BrownJon Bon Jovi3:13
4."Christmas Blues"Roberto Hite, Adolpho de la Parra, Alan Wilson, Samuel Taylor, Henry VestineJohn Popper, Eric Clapton3:42
5."What Child Is This?"TraditionalVanessa Williams3:15
6."Christmas Tears"Robert Charles Wilson, Sonny ThompsonClapton2:39
7."O Holy Night"Adolphe-Charles Adam, John Sullivan DwightTracy Chapman3:26
8."Give Me One Reason"Tracy ChapmanChapman, Clapton4:17
9."Merry Christmas Baby"Lou Baxter, Johnny MooreCrow, Clapton3:59
10."Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry and Phil SpectorBon Jovi2:53
11."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"John Frederick Coots and Haven GillespieBlige, Bon Jovi, Chapman, Clapton, Crow, Popper, Run-D.M.C., Williams3:55

Personnel

  • Bobby Bandiera – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Tim Cappello – alto and tenor saxophones
  • Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar on "O Holy Night", electric guitar on "Give Me One Reason"
  • Eric Clapton - electric guitar on "Christmas Blues", "Christmas Tears", "Give Me One Reason", "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
  • Michael Mancini – keyboards
  • Ed Manion – baritone saxophone
  • Rob Mathes – backing vocals, bass guitar on "What Child Is This?" and "Give Me One Reason"
  • Shawn Pelton – drums, percussion
  • Leon Pendarvis – keyboards, backing vocals
  • John Popper – harmonica on "Christmas Blues" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
  • Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg – trombone, backing vocals
  • Tim Smith – electric guitar on "Merry Christmas Baby", backing vocals
  • Mike Spengler – trumpet
  • Andy Stoller – backing vocals, bass guitar on "O Holy Night"
  • Sue Williams – bass guitar


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