- Included among the Record Descriptions of Favorite Albums (Part 1).
- A Very Special Christmas is the first of a series of Christmas albums released to benefit the Special Olympics. The songs are mostly pop hits plus a few carols.
A Very Special Christmas (Various Artists) (1987): Featuring cover art by Keith Haring, A Very Special Christmas is the first of a series of Christmas albums released to benefit the Special Olympics. The songs are mostly Christmas pop hits plus a few Christmas carols; while the artists are among the top rock, R&B and rap performers of the time. Familiar selections include “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by the Pointer Sisters, “Winter Wonderland” by Eurythmics, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Whitney Houston, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by the Pretenders, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by John Cougar Mellencamp, “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, and “Silent Night” by Stevie Nicks. Lesser-known songs include “Merry Christmas Baby” by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, “Gabriel’s Message” by Sting, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by U2 (originally on the 1963 compilation album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector), “Santa Baby” by Madonna, “Run Rudolph Run” by Bryan Adams (written by Chuck Berry), and “Back Door Santa” by Bon Jovi. The song by Run-D.M.C., “Christmas in Hollis” is newly written. Another nine A Very Special Christmas albums would be released over the next 26 years.