It takes a special kind of masochist to willingly submit themselves to the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. An amazingly coked out Carrie Fisher is the only thing that redeems an otherwise achingly slow slog though sloppy physical comedy, woeful musical interludes, and thorough ethnographic investigations into Wookie Life Day. It is so bad that it's beyond even ironic viewing; it actually hurts. If you absolutely must have your seasonal Star Wars fix this year however, there is another hope.Released a couple of years later (you'd think they'd have learned their lesson), was Christmas in the Stars; a Star Wars Christmas album that rivals even the disco remixes in cheese factor.Packed full of hits like "What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Has A Comb)", the album secretly features the writing talents of Tony Award winning Broadway composer Maury Yeston and the first professional recording of a scrappy teenager named John Bongiovi (who four years later would be on the cusp of superstardom under the name John Bon Jovi).C-3PO and R2-D2 take centre stage for the record, which clumsily weaves a narrative in which 3PO must teach R2 all about the magic of Christmas (C-3PO's voice actor Anthony Daniels even made the trip across from London to record his parts). These two are definitely the highlight of the album, which also features a team of toy making droids and a cameo by the jolly S. Claus (not Santa but his alien son, apparently).It's cheesy, over the top, and gaudy as hell, but I'll take a song that rhymes “cookie” with “Wookie” over Life Day any day.
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