Little Saint Nick on the Mono Christmas Album

[c-man]

Quick question: I know Brian chose to omit the sleighbells and celeste from the "Little Saint Nick" stereo mix when it was included on the stereo Christmas Album a year after its initial single release...but what about the mono LP? Was the original '63 single mix (with the Christmasy percussion) used, or is that cut on the mono LP actually a mono fold-down of the new stereo mix, without said percussion?

[Shane]

Just checked the mono LP.  No sleigh bells or glockenspiel in sight!

[Custom Machine]

I had expected the Little St. Nick mono single mix with sleigh bells to be on the new mono LP release, and was surprised to hear a mono version of the stereo mix, sans sleigh bells, when the album arrived.  Figuring they had somehow screwed up when mastering the new mono Christmas Album LP, I called a friend who has the original mono LP release, who confirmed that the original mono LP does not contain the mono single mix, but rather a mono version of the stereo LP version (not sure if it's simply a fold down or a separate mono mix).

All that being said, I have a huge preference for the single mix with sleigh bells, especially the newer stereo versions of the single mix.

[Shane]

I think I read somewhere the instruments were omitted to help "match" the sound of the other songs the BBs played on the album.  I much prefer the sleigh bells version of the song as well.

[LeeDempsey]

At one point the sleigh bell-less mono version may have been considered for single release before the decision was made to add the overdubs.  I have an advance acetate that came with "Little St. Nick" on one side and radio station IDs for the three Crowell-Collier radio stations KFWB, KDWB, and KEWB on the other side.  The version on the acetate is a unique mono mix without the overdubs, but a slightly different EQ on the vocals.

The fact that it may have been given to KFWB as an advance is ironic given Brian's "F**k KFWB!" shout at the end of the vocal session.

Lee

[bgas]

At one point the sleigh bell-less mono version may have been considered for single release before the decision was made to add the overdubs.  I have an advance acetate that came with "Little St. Nick" on one side and radio station IDs for the three Crowell-Collier radio stations KFWB, KDWB, and KEWB on the other side.  The version on the acetate is a unique mono mix without the overdubs, but a slightly different EQ on the vocals.

The fact that it may have been given to KFWB as an advance is ironic given Brian's "F**k KFWB!" shout at the end of the vocal session.

Lee

You should post that version for all to hear !

[Alan Boyd]

Keeping in mind the fact that this alum was released back in the days of three track, my guess is that when they initially recorded the song for single release, the first generation three track master would have been filled with the track, and two sets of vocals.  For the single, there would have then been a dubdown on which the two sets of vocals would have been combined onto one track, leaving the third track open for the instrumental overdub.  The mono single master would have been mixed down from this three track.

For the stereo album, however, that second generation three track would have made for a really awkward stereo mix.  There was no flexibility in panning within the stereo spectrum back then - the choice was hard left, center, or hard right - so a stereo mix from the second generation would have either had all of the vocals on one side only, or the instrumental track would have had a weird split with the basic track on one side, the sleighbells and glock on the other, and the vocals in the middle.  Either way, it would have made for a strange split, depending on one's speaker placement.

My guess is that the choice was made to utilize the first generation three track for the album master since a stereo version of the song with the doubled vocals split left and right might have been considered to be a more satisfactory stereo listening experience... and since, back then, they almost always utilized the same compiled three track master reel to produce both the stereo and mono masters for an album, they might have just opted to use the same three track of the song for both editions rather than going to the trouble of getting the mono single master back from the label or digging out the second generation three track and swapping it out with the the first gen three track.  Either that, or someone decided they didn't want the mono and stereo album versions of the song to be glaringly different.

It's impossible to know for certain, in any case!

[Custom Machine]

Alan, thanks for the info on how the original LSN three track recording, followed by the later sleigh bells and celeste overdubs, complicated a potential stereo release sounding like the single version.  Yes, impossible to know exactly why they didn't use the mono single version on the mono album, but interesting to read about the various possibilities.  

Lee, that's a totally cool and very unique acetate you have.  Wonder if any other copies survived.  Can you tell us what the guys are saying in the K F/E/D WB promos?  Do they introduce LSN while referencing the station(s), wish the listeners a Merry Christmas, or something else?

[LeeDempsey]

They are the "Down by the old mill stream" IDs that appeared on the GOOD VIBRATIONS boxed set.  Identical except for the call letters.

Lee

[Micha]

For the stereo album, however, that second generation three track would have made for a really awkward stereo mix.  There was no flexibility in panning within the stereo spectrum back then - the choice was hard left, center, or hard right - so a stereo mix from the second generation would have either had all of the vocals on one side only, or the instrumental track would have had a weird split with the basic track on one side, the sleighbells and glock on the other, and the vocals in the middle.  Either way, it would have made for a strange split, depending on one's speaker placement.

Personally, I feel most stereo versions from that era have a strange split. They also could have opted for putting the mono single version on the stereo LP anyway like they did with I Get Around on the stereo All Summer Long.

I expect to receive the mono Christmas album this week. I was expecting they had replaced the mono album version from the original release with the mono single version for this print.