According to Lucasfilm historian and former employee Pete Vilmur, Christmas In The Stars came together very quickly. A September 18, 1980 internal Lucasfilm memo lists potential concepts for the album and nine days later, Anthony Daniels flew in from London to record his lines as C-3PO at the Power Station studio in New Jersey. According to early memos, Yoda was supposed to make an appearance but Frank Oz could not participate, so the album eventually settled on Santa’s son, “S. Claus,” to fill the role (with revised dialogue). There also appears to have been at least two songs cut from the line-up: “The First Time Any Droid Ever Saw Snow” and “Help You, I Will” (which was probably written for Yoda) and as many as nine unreleased, additional tracks are speculated to have been recorded. The album and its first single “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?)” were released in the US and Canada on November 14, 1980. According to Billboard, the album peaked at #61 in December, 1980 and remained on the charts for six weeks. Christmas In The Stars received a brief, second wind in Japan in 1990 when a CD single of “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas” promoting Jon Bon Jovi (or rather “John Bongiovi”) was released. A little-known re-release of Christmas In The Stars was issued by MECO on CD and cassette in 1994, but lacked the original album’s iconic Ralph McQuarrie artwork, instead featuring a generic holiday cover and abbreviated title. A third reissue occurred on CD in 2016 featuring the original artwork. All versions are currently out-of-print.
There was no soundtrack ever produced or created for the so-bad-it’s-good, Star Wars Holiday Special. All audio tracks here (minus the Jefferson Starship song) were obtained from source material available from the original, one-time-only broadcast from November 17, 1978.
Christmas In The Stars
Bells, Bells, Bells
The Odds Against Christmas
What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?)
R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas (with Jon Bon Jovi)
Sleigh Ride
Merry, Merry Christmas
A Christmas Sighting (’Twas The Night Before Christmas)
The Meaning Of Christmas
A CBS Special Presentation
Commercial Bumper 1
Holographic Circus Tumblers
Delayed Arrival
Trading Post
A Pocket-Sized Aquarium
Imperials Over Kashyyyk - Vader's Orders
Malla's Kitchen
Bantha Surprise - Tie Fighter Attack
Away For Too Long - Gifts From The Trader
Itchy’s Mind Evaporator
DIAHANN CARROLL - This Minute Now
Journey to Kashyyyk Part 1 and 2
Saun Dann - Stand Guard
Commercial Bumper 2
The Inspector Parts 1 and 2
The Music Box
JEFFERSON STARSHIP - Light the Sky On Fire
BOBA FETT SHORT - A Collision Course
BOBA FETT SHORT - Luke Takes Flight
BOBA FETT SHORT - Crash Landing
BOBA FETT SHORT - Into the City
BOBA FETT SHORT - A Wookiee In Peril
BOBA FETT SHORT - Fett's Escape
BOBA FETT SHORT - Vader and the Bounty Hunter
Ransacking the Dwelling
Clean Up Your Room
Bantha's Funeral and Lumpy's Idea
The Mini-Transmitter
Cantina Rabble
BEA ARTHUR - Goodnight, But Not Goodbye
A Knock At The Door
Saun Dann's Departure and Life Day
CARRIE FISHER - A Day To Celebrate
Chewie's Memories
Life Day Feast
End Credits