Beach Boys Christmas Songs

[filledeplage]

***Adeste Fideles from the UNICEF Paris concert 12-15-1967! 

The live version of O Come All Ye Faithful is superb.

Yeah, an absolutely wonderful vocal performance.  Wish it was available in even better audio quality than the YouTube version I'm used to hearing.

Maybe Little St. Nick will find a link and post it...(UNICEF 1967)

And, there is a nice frosty Smiley tall one in it for him! 

[Micha]

Darn, yesterday I stunbled upon a seller on the net who sells a sealed vinyl copy of WIRWFC for a really low price, but he doesn't ship outside the US...

[37!ws]

There's a REASON that stuff was left off Ultimate Christmas, and I've been spending sixteen years wondering why the HELL some of the tracks that were on it were on it. I was driving through Pennsylvania on Interstate 80 the first time I heard it, and when I heard "'Mele kalikimaka' is 'merry Christmas' in Hawaii talk-a," I nearly drove off the road off a small mountain!

[drbeachboy]

I still can't understand why Go and Get That Girl has never been released. Marginal Christmas tune, but it was to be a part of the 1977 album. The horn section is very Chicago-esque and the refrain is very catchy. I was wondering if this was another track where Carl was unhappy with his vocal? I have tried speed and pitch correction, yet I can't seem to get Carl's vocals on the verses to sound right. He sings similar to how he did on Love You and Adult Child. His vocals though sound fantastic on the refrain or chorus. Is there a story behind its exclusion?

[Shady]

Saint Nick, Merry Christmas, baby and Christmas Day are three of the best Christmas songs ever and get played hundreds of times over the Christmas season in my house.

I also love the other originals like Santa's beard and The man with all the toys, that said The Boys have some pretty bad Christmas songs that I pretend don't exist 

[Tablevega]

We Three Kings of Orient Are is beautifully sung but it really annoys me that they only sing two of the solo verses in the version I've heard.  Of all the songs to cut verses from, this really wasn't the one.  It suggests they had paid no attention to the lyrical progression that happens in the full song: the first verse introduces the three kings, then each king sings a solo verse relating to the gift they bring:  Frankincense for a God, Gold for a king, Myrrh for a sacrifice, before they come together again for the last verse.  It's one of the more intelligent and poetic Christmas carols and much of its point is killed if  only two kings sing their verses (it's called We Three Kings, for god's sake).  I know lots of people here don't really care about the lyrics and I agree the singing is sublime - but I'd just love to have heard Carl, Dennis and Brian doing the full three kings.

[Sheriff John Stone]

We Three Kings of Orient Are is beautifully sung but it really annoys me that they only sing two of the solo verses in the version I've heard.  Of all the songs to cut verses from, this really wasn't the one.  It suggests they had paid no attention to the lyrical progression that happens in the full song: the first verse introduces the three kings, then each king sings a solo verse relating to the gift they bring:  Frankincense for a God, Gold for a king, Myrrh for a sacrifice, before they come together again for the last verse.  It's one of the more intelligent and poetic Christmas carols and much of its point is killed if  only two kings sing their verses (it's called We Three Kings, for god's sake).  I know lots of people here don't really care about the lyrics and I agree the singing is sublime - but I'd just love to have heard Carl, Dennis and Brian doing the full three kings.

Excellent point and I agree with you. Do you know who else does a similar thing? Carnie & Wendy on their version of "We Three Kings". I love their version, maybe my favorite Carnie & Wendy/Wilson Phillips song/track of theirs. They do include the "gold" verse, but they don't include a frankincense or myrrh verse. Interesting.

And, in a similar vein, on Brian's take of "Joy To The World", which I like and mentioned above, he repeats the same verse twice - no second verse. I always found that curious, too. Oh well...

[Micha]

"We Three Kings" is, I think, the longest track they released in the 1960s. For me, it could go om and on. Too bad there was still more! Who arranged that backing track, though? Brian or the leader of the orchestra?

[Jason Penick]

I still can't understand why Go and Get That Girl has never been released. Marginal Christmas tune, but it was to be a part of the 1977 album. The horn section is very Chicago-esque and the refrain is very catchy. I was wondering if this was another track where Carl was unhappy with his vocal? I have tried speed and pitch correction, yet I can't seem to get Carl's vocals on the verses to sound right. He sings similar to how he did on Love You and Adult Child. His vocals though sound fantastic on the refrain or chorus. Is there a story behind its exclusion?

I believe Mike plucked it for Celebration, along with "Country Pie" and "How's About a Little Bit". I'm guessing he didn't want any overlap between groups.

[Sheriff John Stone]

But I'd like to know why the REMAINING M.I.U. Christmas songs weren't included on Ultimate Christmas. Was it a lack of space on the CD or was the decision based on "somebody" thinking the tracks were too weak and not worthy of official release.

[37!ws]

Because they SUCK. (As do some of the ones that WERE included.)

[drbeachboy]

But I'd like to know why the REMAINING M.I.U. Christmas songs weren't included on Ultimate Christmas. Was it a lack of space on the CD or was the decision based on "somebody" thinking the tracks were too weak and not worthy of official release.

Can't be that reason, as Go and Get That Girl is better than at least 2 or three of the songs that were released. I mean, (I saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree is worse than anything else recorded for that album.

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

Because they SUCK. (As do some of the ones that WERE included.)

.

[Jason Penick]

Because they SUCK. (As do some of the ones that WERE included.)

"Alone on Christmas Day" does NOT suck-- It's actually a very heartfelt song. Even if you're not a fan, you'd have to admit it would have been a better inclusion than Melikalikiwhatever.

I have a soft spot for the Christmas standards medley as well. It would be nice to see that officially released someday, but I'm not holding my breath.

[RangeRoverA1]

***Adeste Fideles from the UNICEF Paris concert 12-15-1967! 

The live version of O Come All Ye Faithful is superb.

Yeah, an absolutely wonderful vocal performance.  Wish it was available in even better audio quality than the YouTube version I'm used to hearing.

Maybe Little St. Nick will find a link and post it...(UNICEF 1967)

Did you just call Nicko1234 Little St. Nick? Someone drank too much of Smiley brew, I see. Anyhow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-6Ju-XkVy4

[Micha]

Jason, because of your recommendation I just listened to "Alone on Christmas Day" for the first time ever. I agree with you, it's a very good and heartfelt song. Nice production too with the horns arrangement. Fine lead by Mike, too. Too bad I just can't get into those 1970s sound aesthetics. I wish they had recorded that in 1964.

[filledeplage]

***Adeste Fideles from the UNICEF Paris concert 12-15-1967! 

The live version of O Come All Ye Faithful is superb.

Yeah, an absolutely wonderful vocal performance.  Wish it was available in even better audio quality than the YouTube version I'm used to hearing.

Maybe Little St. Nick will find a link and post it...(UNICEF 1967)

Did you just call Nicko1234 Little St. Nick? Someone drank too much of Smiley brew, I see. Anyhow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-6Ju-XkVy4

Ya, done good!

The white suits!

How cute were they, in their twenties?   

We'll make that a double!   

 

 


And Happy Birthday to Dennis! Still loved...

[Jason Penick]

Jason, because of your recommendation I just listened to "Alone on Christmas Day" for the first time ever. I agree with you, it's a very good and heartfelt song. Nice production too with the horns arrangement. Fine lead by Mike, too. Too bad I just can't get into those 1970s sound aesthetics. I wish they had recorded that in 1964.

Ha! The way you feel about the 70s aesthetic is similar to my feeling on most 80s productions!    One of my favorite Beach Boys-related Christmas songs is "Christmas Time" (you know, the one from the Gary Usher sessions). The melody on that song is just fantastic, but that dopey 80s production... Egads! 

[Smilin Ed H]

I think I'd add Brian's Peace on Earth to my BB Christmas album.

[Micha]

Jason, because of your recommendation I just listened to "Alone on Christmas Day" for the first time ever. I agree with you, it's a very good and heartfelt song. Nice production too with the horns arrangement. Fine lead by Mike, too. Too bad I just can't get into those 1970s sound aesthetics. I wish they had recorded that in 1964.

Ha! The way you feel about the 70s aesthetic is similar to my feeling on most 80s productions!    One of my favorite Beach Boys-related Christmas songs is "Christmas Time" (you know, the one from the Gary Usher sessions). The melody on that song is just fantastic, but that dopey 80s production... Egads! 

Still, "Alone on Christmas Day" is the first and only 70s BBs christmas tune I actually did enjoy to some extent.

Regarding the 80s... to me there is a big difference between early 80s which had an interesting fresh new sound and the second half of the 80s which is mostly, as you said, dopey.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I really like "Bells Of Christmas", probably more than "Belles Of Paris". Al was singing very well around that time (I think his lead on "Peggy Sue" is his best ever), the production on "Bells Of Christmas" is really relaxed and mellow, and I've always like the melody on the chorus. That acapella part at the end is a nice touch, even though Brian gets a little sharp on the high part.

[RangeRoverA1]

Classic: The Man with All the Toys; Christmas Day; Little Saint Nick; We Three Kings. (in that order)

70s: "Winter Symphony" (№1); "Child of Winter" (the remake by Rachel & the Raindeerz is awful, so is the vid); "Toy Drive Public Service Announcement" (the music beneath is jolly good); "Christmas Time Is Here Again" (Beatles tune of the same name is one of the worst ever off Xmas 'genre').

[Jason Penick]

"Bells of Christmas" is killer. The acapella breakdown is everything I love about the Beach Boys consolidated into about thirty seconds. I wish they had released it as such..

Am I feeling critical mass here agreeing with me that there were some damn fine songs on that aborted '77 Christmas album?

I'd say that the following are top shelf: "Winter Symphony", "Morning Christmas", "Alone on Christmas Day", "Bells of Christmas" and the carol medley.

Hell, that's a better ratio then you'd get on KTSA.. Just saying!  

[drbeachboy]

I still can't understand why Go and Get That Girl has never been released. Marginal Christmas tune, but it was to be a part of the 1977 album. The horn section is very Chicago-esque and the refrain is very catchy. I was wondering if this was another track where Carl was unhappy with his vocal? I have tried speed and pitch correction, yet I can't seem to get Carl's vocals on the verses to sound right. He sings similar to how he did on Love You and Adult Child. His vocals though sound fantastic on the refrain or chorus. Is there a story behind its exclusion?

I believe Mike plucked it for Celebration, along with "Country Pie" and "How's About a Little Bit". I'm guessing he didn't want any overlap between groups.

I knew about Celebration using the track and all, but I mean with all the reissues, Ultimate Christmas, box sets, etc., it has still never seen the light of day. The recording sounds finished or just about so, so that was why I was wondering if it was a case of Carl or someone else not liking the lead vocal, like the story behind Soulful Old Man Sunshine.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I still can't understand why Go and Get That Girl has never been released. Marginal Christmas tune, but it was to be a part of the 1977 album. The horn section is very Chicago-esque and the refrain is very catchy. I was wondering if this was another track where Carl was unhappy with his vocal? I have tried speed and pitch correction, yet I can't seem to get Carl's vocals on the verses to sound right. He sings similar to how he did on Love You and Adult Child. His vocals though sound fantastic on the refrain or chorus. Is there a story behind its exclusion?

I believe Mike plucked it for Celebration, along with "Country Pie" and "How's About a Little Bit". I'm guessing he didn't want any overlap between groups.

I knew about Celebration using the track and all, but I mean with all the reissues, Ultimate Christmas, box sets, etc., it has still never seen the light of day. The recording sounds finished or just about so, so that was why I was wondering if it was a case of Carl or someone else not liking the lead vocal, like the story behind Soulful Old Man Sunshine.

Yes, and that is what I was asking above - who or what prevented ALL of the M.I.U. Christmas songs from appearing on Ultimate Christmas? Does anybody know or would anybody care to speculate?

And this also addresses the topic from joshferrell's thread about releasing a real Ultimate Christmas compilation. I would like to hear all - ALL! - of those M.I.U. Christmas songs undergo some serious remastering AND sequencing and presented as some kind of a legitimate 1977/78 project. The M.I.U. Christmas songs on Ultimate Christmas play at wildly different volumes, there is no flow/sequence, and they left off some good tracks! Would anybody like to take a shot at a good, COMPLETE 1977/78 Christmas album sequence including "Child Of Winter"?