Is Little Saint Nick underrated? Of course you silly elf!

[drbeachboy]

You are not alone. Anytime anyone I know hears a Beach Boys song, they always come to me and tell me about it. Even friends that I don't see very often will call me because they heard a Beach Boys song and thought of me. It is kind of cool, really.

[Wrightfan]

An absolute classic. I think the lead in to the tag is one of my favorite Brian moments

"MERRRRY CHRISTMAS SAINT NICK!"

[Micha]

Love the song except for the lyric "Christmas comes this time each year." Really? No s--t, Sherlock.

I wish Mike had taken five extra seconds to change it to something better like:

"Christmas time is here again" or "How I love this time of year"

But in burying Mike for that lyric, I give him credit for calling Rudolph "Rudy." It adds to the charm of the song, seriously.

I don't know if it was Mike who came up with that line, but it's funny. "How I love this time of year" is OK, but not funny. "Christmas time is here again" is a line that I would consider as really bad. So I'm happy with the original line. Not trying to put you down as a human being, Sound of Free, just stating MHO on your two suggested lines.

[runnersdialzero]

I never hear anyone talk about "Santa's Beard" and I don't understand why.

[Micha]

There are many good songs, We Three Kings is an excellent cover with tremendous harmonies by The BBs!

That's the most beautiful cut on the album. I absolutely love it. Did you notice it is longer than Good Vibrations which was thought to be too long?

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

I never hear anyone talk about "Santa's Beard" and I don't understand why.

As I said above, I love Santa's Beard. Despite my sentimental attachments, I think the modulation to minor in the chorus (is that what's happening?) is super endearing and inventive. Also, the chorus harmonies are really interestingly structured. Although I suppose that could be said for most BW songs...

[Shady]

I never hear anyone talk about "Santa's Beard" and I don't understand why.

The lyrics are a little too scary for kids

[Newguy562]

You are not alone. Anytime anyone I know hears a Beach Boys song, they always come to me and tell me about it. Even friends that I don't see very often will call me because they heard a Beach Boys song and thought of me. It is kind of cool, really.

It really is all my friends know my love for the Beach Boys.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

2. CHILD OF WINTER (the superior bootleg version with the 'Ding Dong Ding Go the Bells' chant throughout the entire fade, not the strangely lifeless released version)

I've never heard this version. Other than the part you mentioned, is the mix significantly different?

No, the mix seems otherwise identical. I'd had Child of Winter on bootleg for ages, then when it was finally released on the updated Christmas Album i listened to it and thought Why have they screwed up the fade?? I don't know whether the single back in '74 was this version or the bootleg version...?

[Manchini]

I never hear anyone talk about "Santa's Beard" and I don't understand why.

As I said above, I love Santa's Beard. Despite my sentimental attachments, I think the modulation to minor in the chorus (is that what's happening?) is super endearing and inventive. Also, the chorus harmonies are really interestingly structured. Although I suppose that could be said for most BW songs...

The Ab in the chorus augments (the Eb note in the chord goes up to an E), and I agree, it's a really cool sound. I love this song! Especially when Brian introduces the high part to the chorus. The whole idea behind the song is so innocent and funny.

And yeah, "Little Saint Nick" is soooo good. My dad and a friend of mine have said the same thing about the "Christmas comes this time each year..." line. Some people are just really interested in lyrics in such a literary way. I wouldn't want that line any other way, though.

[wavedancer]

   Merry Christmas Baby is my favourite

[Micha]

As for the length, yes, I noticed that right after downloading it some time ago. But unlike GV, We Three Kings wasn't a single, right? As I recall, this thing was checked only in case of the singles, e.g. if it's too long for radio stations etc., record company workers would edit it a bit & cut a dozen of seconds.

"Satisfaction" is 3:45 minutes, if I recall correctly. Was that edited for radio play, too?

[Sheriff John Stone]

So I got out The Beach Boys' Christmas Album for the season...Brian has a couple of leads, Mike has a couple of leads, Brian gave Al a lead vocal, and he gave Dennis "a part" on "Auld Lang Syne". But, why no Carl Wilson?

Two questions...Why didn't Carl get a lead vocal on the Christmas Album? Brian's vocal on "Frosty The Snowman" almost sounds like Carl; he could've handled that one. But, the bigger question. Why did Brian wait so long to give Carl opportunities on lead vocals?

[Cabinessenceking]

Why did Brian wait so long to give Carl opportunities on lead vocals?

hang on to your ego?

[EgoHanger1966]

Why did Brian wait so long to give Carl opportunities on lead vocals?

hang on to your ego?

Carl was still really young - maybe Brian didn't think he was ready to sing lead, or maybe Carl just didn't want to.

[Lowbacca]

Why did Brian wait so long to give Carl opportunities on lead vocals?

"Pom Pom Play Girl" (recorded early 1964) - people tend to forget that one. 

But yeah, I have been asking myself the same thing now and then. I guess Carl wasn't that confident yet.

[Myk Luhv]

I've no sources but I remember reading somewhere that Carl didn't sing on anything previous to "Pom Pom Play Girl" and very little else until Pet Sounds because he fancied himself more the guitarist than a singer and wanted to focus on that instead.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I suppose Carl could've had some confidence problems early on. What was he at the time of the Christmas Album, 16 or 17? On the other hand, he was singing/performing regularly in front of thousands of people. I mean, we're talking about singing "Frosty The Snowman", not "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".

[Micha]

I suppose Carl could've had some confidence problems early on. What was he at the time of the Christmas Album, 16 or 17? On the other hand, he was singing/performing regularly in front of thousands of people. I mean, we're talking about singing "Frosty The Snowman", not "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".

Hear Carl sing "What'd I Say" in January 1964, what's not confident about that performance?

[Sheriff John Stone]

I suppose Carl could've had some confidence problems early on. What was he at the time of the Christmas Album, 16 or 17? On the other hand, he was singing/performing regularly in front of thousands of people. I mean, we're talking about singing "Frosty The Snowman", not "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".

Hear Carl sing "What'd I Say" in January 1964, what's not confident about that performance?

I don't necessarily think Carl had confidence problems with his singing. By saying "I suppose...", I was just trying to be agreeable with the other posts. 

[lance]

I thought Al sang What'd I say....Anyway,, my thought that Carl was always enamored of being 'lead guitarist' and that's what he wanted; and that's why he didn't have many leads in the beginning.

[Aegir]

What'd I Say doesn't even sound like the Beach Boys to me. I'm sure there's some sort of evidence to back it up, but the singer doesn't sound like any one Beach Boy to me and the instrumentation (most obviously the sax) sounds far too skilled to be the Beach Boys.

[Micha]

What'd I Say doesn't even sound like the Beach Boys to me. I'm sure there's some sort of evidence to back it up, but the singer doesn't sound like any one Beach Boy to me and the instrumentation (most obviously the sax) sounds far too skilled to be the Beach Boys.

I agree with you on the sax, as Mike never put a lot of effort into that. But the other instruments? Come on! They really were that good!

As for the vocals - for a long time I too thought it was Al. Now I'm pretty sure it's Carl in Wild Honey mode with a younger voice (obviously, as the recording was more than three years earlier). Mike's and Brian's voices can be heard in between.