Mavis Staples – Christmas Vacation (US 7″ Promo)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1989

NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!

Originally posted December 24, 2013

“Christmas Vacation” is the opening song of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation performed by American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist Mavis Staples.

Though the film didn’t have a soundtrack release – and Lindsey Buckingham’s de facto Vacation theme “Holiday Road” is nowhere to be heard – there was an original song that kicked off the film and put things in the appropriate spirit. Mavis Stapes’ “Christmas Vacation” was written by the husband-and-wife team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who helped write ’60s pop classics like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and “On Broadway.” Staples was, of course, well-known as a member of the family gospel-soul group The Staple Singers – but 1989 found her restarting her solo career after a decade away. And she did it with a very notable ally: “Christmas Vacation” and that year’s album Time Waits for No One was released on the Paisley Park label, owned by ’80s megastar Prince – who would write and produce most of that album as well.

Despite several popular songs being present in the film, no official soundtrack album was officially released.

The same track appears on both sides of this promotional single.

SIDE A:
Christmas Vacation 3:25

SIDE B:
Christmas Vacation 3:25

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Paisley Park – PRO-S-3878, Warner Bros. Records – PRO-S-3878
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Style: Funk / Soul

CREDITS:
Producer – Barry MannHomer BanksLester Snell
Written-By – Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil*

NOTES:
From the motion picture Christmas Vacation a Warner Bros film

Find the 7″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Password: burningtheground

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Music_fan
Music_fan
December 18, 2021 12:40 pm

The Commumards have released a 35th edition of their debut album. Please check out this remix of Don’t Leave Me This Way. It’s fantastic! Brings it up to date into the 21st century.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Srqq5X6Vcak

😊

Marco
Marco
December 17, 2021 4:53 am

Great to see this single posted on here. I love these 7” releases in general.

Thanks Paul 🙂

Kent H.
Kent H.
December 16, 2021 2:58 pm

Paul,
Thanks for posting. A few years back I got a copy of the soundtrack that was given out at Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme Park as a promo. It includes 3 version of Christmas Vacation, cartoon version(opening theme), ending credits & radio version. Also including Holiday Road & Dancin’ Cross the USA by Lindsey Buckingham and Holiday Road version by Limp Bizkit.
Kent 🙂

Jeff
Jeff
December 16, 2021 2:45 pm

Great re-visit of an old favorite! Thank you so much Paul for bringing back this old chestnut!

Jeff

Retro Hound
Retro Hound
December 16, 2021 1:31 pm

Very underrated Christmas tune! Thanks Paul!!

Bill
Bill
December 16, 2021 11:15 am

A great tune from a great movie! Thanks for the post, Paul.