Bon Jovi Star Wars Christmas Song?

Bon Jovi's first hit was “Runaway,” but did you know, his first paid job as a singer was on Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album?

Before he became Bon Jovi, global rock star, John Bongiovi was a gofer at a local recording studio. Being one of thousands of aspiring musicians in the New York area looking for a break. In 1980, he made his recorded debut in a somewhat inauspicious manner, singing on a 'Star Wars'-themed Christmas album.

The song, 'R2-D2, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, featured Bon Jovi frontman and a chorus of kids sweetly singing a Christmas tune to the droid.

The producer needed a young-sounding singer and asked Bon Jovi (then known as John Bongiovi) if he could do it. Bon Jovi was paid $183. Only $183, that's $183 American dollars

The song and album have since become a piece of musical history

Produced in 1980 by RSO Records. It features recordings of Star Wars-themed Christmas songs and stories about a droid factory where the robots make toys year-round.

The album is sung and narrated by British actor Anthony Daniels, reprising his role as C-3PO from the Star Wars films, and written by composer-lyricist Maury Yeston. Sound designer Ben Burtt also provided sound effects for R2-D2 and Chewbacca.

After the first printing of 150,000 copies, "Concept by". Due to the success of the album, the studios were ready to do a second printing, but before the second record pressing was done, RSO Records shut down. 

The complete album was released by RSO Records on LP and Cassette in November 1980, to cash in on the increasingly popular Star Wars saga. The cassette version is now quite rare and hard to come by.

Did you have a copy of this Christmas classic? You can admit it if you did. I did and still have a copy

Jon has explained how he wrote the song when his parents were taken ill at Christmas:

“I wrote a song two years ago called Christmas Isn’t Christmas. It was a tough day in the house; my dad and my mom were both taken ill. And I wrote this as a gift to my parents and my children. The gift was Christmas, bringing everyone together. And while we weren’t all together, we could only be there in our memories and in our thoughts and in our prayers. When we shot the video and we started conversing about it, we realised there's also a great, sunny side - Christmas isn’t Christmas with you, unless you’re here with me. So we can lighten the mood, too. I hope you like it as much as we do.”