Customer Reviews

Christmas Vacation - Movie Soundtrack

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For years I've been looking for the original National Lampoon's Vacation Soundtrack album as I really wanted a copy of Lindsey Buckingham's song Holiday Road. It certainly was released (many ill informed or lazy researchers will tell you it wasn't) but I could not track down a copy. So upon seeing the Christmas Vacation DVD a few months ago and thinking you know this doesn't have a bad soundtrack either I decided to see if I could find it. So after visiting a rare and used CD store not only did I find it was released but there was also a limited release version (this 10th Anniversary of the film's release edition) that comes with a few bonus tracks from the original vacation film, one being Holiday Road. I didn't order it through this seller Amazon is using so don't know how legit they are but if you get it through a decent vendor your copy should have a specific number / 20000 on the back cover (see my customer images). This 10th anniversary edition album was released as a promotion at an American theme park called Six Flags Magic Mountain back in 1999, (so it wasn't sold in normal retail outlets) and there were only 20000 printed all up (all numbered) meaning you are going to pay a collectors price for it. I paid $26.57 US, there were a few on E-Bay as well around Christmas (although obviously more of a demand for it at that time of year as well so you'll probably be paying a bit more as there's more bidding competition) but check that site all year round as well. Be warned there was also a few people selling burnt copies so check the item fine print / seller feedback if E-Bay is how you are hoping to obtain this album. You should compare the price that your rare and collectors music store can track it down and get it though as well.

Anyway enough about how to get it, what you want to know is what's on this great album. The album is made up of sound bites from the Christmas Vacation movie as well as the main songs. As well, this special edition CD has the bonus tracks from National Lampoon's Vacation both by Lindsey Buckingham, Holiday Road and Dancin' Cross the USA (the one from the credits with the photo slideshow playing in the background). As well the promoters seemed to think they needed to appeal to the youth market or something and got popular back then Limp Bizkit to do a cover of Holiday Road. Now not being much of a fan of these guys I thought it would be pretty average but it actually isn't bad, very similar to the original version with a few extra guitar riffs over the top and they do the dog barking at the end with their own voices (incidentally I had never noticed the dog on Lindsey's version before hearing it without the distraction of the film). There's a third version of the song Christmas Vacation (radio single version) and the final bonus is the radio trailer for the film which is full of sound bites from the film as well and interesting to listen to how it was promoted.

The songs are -
Christmas Vacation (Cartoon Version) by Mavis Staples, this is the one used at the start of the film with the sound effects included.
Hey, Santa Claus by The Moongloves
The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles
Sh**r's Was Full (music score to Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer with cousin Eddy emptying the RV's septic tank in the background).
Christmas Vacation Medley (classical instrumental number no lyrics)
Hallelujah Chorus by The Oratorio Society of New York, classical instrumental number no lyrics)
Melle Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby (Background music of Clark's pool fantasy of the retail lady in his Christmas bonus ordered pool)
Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry (from the Swat team arrival scenes but note there are no sound bites from the movie playing over the top)
Joy to the World - Angelo Badalamenti (classical instrumental number)
Christmas Vacation (End Credits Version) No sound effects
Bonus Tracks (actually a track, not just a heading of sleigh bell sounds)

The sound bites are -
Track 2 Take it Russ (Griswolds singing Falla Lalla La in the car as they go to get the tree with Russ refusing to continue what is parents started)
Track 4 Clark's Asskiss Remark (Clark telling his boss how he and Ellen got his Christmas card and being told to get that report. Clark then says Merry Christmas to the boss' entourage as they entered the boardroom.)
Track 8 Aunt Bethany's Arrival (her arrival from when she arrives at the front door with uncle Lewis, Rusty discovers the cat in a box present, to when Uncle Eddie discovers the jello present)
Track 10 Feeding the Dog at the Christmas Table (the dog throwing up under the table during the feast)
Track 12 Clark Explodes (Clarks opens his bonus to discover a membership to the jelly of the month club and throws a tantrum and tells everyone his last minute wish idea)
Track 14 Eddie's Gift (Clark starts to recite the night before Christmas when he notices cousin eddy and his boss' arrival on the front lawn)
Track 16 Hell's Threshold (Clark telling everyone they can't leave and Ellen tells Clark its best he let everyone go home)
Track 18 Rocket's Red Glare (Swat team and family on the lawn when Uncle Lewis lights a match and the Santa lawn ornament as a result of the sewer explosion flies in front of the moon with Aunt Bethany reciting the Star Spangled Banner)

Whether official or not, I purchased this nearly a year ago and love it! it is one of my favorite CD's. It has the theme from the first "Vacation" episode as well as much from the "Christmas Vacation" movie. Quality is Excellent! - Kudo's to whoever made this happen!

Mike

I ordered this soundtrack and I am very happy with my purchase. Soundtrack is perfect! It is totally legit. I would highly recommend ordering the soundtrack if you love Christmas Vacation as much as I do. You won't be disappointed.

This cd is a bootleg. No official soundtrack to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation has EVER been released. Also, the track "Christmas Vacation Medley" is not from the film, but from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York! The original title for this track is "Christmas at Carnegie Hall".