Child Of Winter

[Sheriff John Stone]

I really like the song....Everytime I hear the "Here Comes Santa Claus" part, I want it to continue longer. Brian just has a way with sleigh bells and a keyboard. The lyrics are all over the place, and Brian's "Pied Piper" voice is a bit creepy. Was Al and/or Dennis present for the session? I have this mental picture of the guys in the studio, and Brian with long hair and protruding gut, pumping away on the organ. It would've made a great video...

[c-man]

I really like the song....Everytime I hear the "Here Comes Santa Claus" part, I want it to continue longer. Brian just has a way with sleigh bells and a keyboard. The lyrics are all over the place, and Brian's "Pied Piper" voice is a bit creepy. Was Al and/or Dennis present for the session? I have this mental picture of the guys in the studio, and Brian with long hair and protruding gut, pumping away on the organ. It would've made a great video...

According to the liner notes, Dennis played drums.

[c-man]

I actually get a bigger chuckle out of "Little Saint Nick"...everytime I hear the line "cruisin' every pad with a little surprise", I can't help but think of Brian, in the mid-'70s pre-Landy days, waiting for his own version of Santa Claus to drive by & leave a little "something" in his mail box...     

Sorry if I forever ruined the innocence of this song for anyone!

[Aegir]

Yeah, you did.

And Across the Universe is about John being annoyed by an argument with Yoko and Alice's Restaurant isn't true in the least because the real reason Arlo Guthrie didn't go to Vietnam was because he had a genetic disease, not because he littered.

[MBE]

John was mad at Cynthia he wasn't with Yoko yet. He said so in Playboy

[c-man]

Yeah, you did.

And Across the Universe is about John being annoyed by an argument with Yoko and Alice's Restaurant isn't true in the least because the real reason Arlo Guthrie didn't go to Vietnam was because he had a genetic disease, not because he littered.

Well, at least when "Little Saint Nick" was WRITTEN and RECORDED, the Boys were still young & innocent!

[Fun Is In]

And as long as there are young and innocent listeners, the lyrics will be that too.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I was always curious who was responsible for attaching (A Chistmas Song) after A Child Of Winter. It could've been the record company trying to cash in on the "holiday records", even though the 45 was released way too late in the season.

But it's also SO Brian, as if we wouldn't know it was a Christmas song after listening to it. I wish the guys would've taken another day or two to record a Christmasey B-side.

[XY]

COC is right up there with McCartney's "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" on top of my popularity list of worst Pop Christmas songs ever. Sorry.

[Beach Boy]

COC is right up there with McCartney's "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" on top of my popularity list of worst Pop Christmas songs ever. Sorry.

What?? Both are great! 

[the captain]

COC is right up there with McCartney's "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" on top of my popularity list of worst Pop Christmas songs ever. Sorry.

Worst pop Christmas songs? Long fuckin' list, man...

But what is COC? (I guessed you meant Child of Winter, as it's the title of the thread.)

[Amy B.]

I can't stand Wonderful Christmastime. When a songwriter of the caliber of Paul (or Brian) writes a song like that, it's kind of like walking into Tiffany's and seeing a tin necklace for sale. You'd think, "They expect me to buy this?"

I don't mind "lowbrow" music from lowbrow musicians, just as I'll buy cheap jewelry from a flea market. But if you've got a reputation for being the best, don't insult my intelligence with a bunch of crap when I know you can do better.

[Sheriff John Stone]

If Brian Wilson would've written "Wonderful Christmastime", we'd be praising it as genius, a work of art. But, I'm biased, I love the song, and a lot of other Christmas tunes.

[punkinhead]

so all the "Christmas/MIU" songs were also on this list?

just playin, i actually like 1/2 of the songs...


now santa's got an airplane with loop de loop or HELP is on the way backing can't help that clunker

[Aegir]

John was mad at Cynthia he wasn't with Yoko yet. He said so in Playboy

Are you sure? I guess he wrote it alot earlier than it was released, then.

[MBE]

John was mad at Cynthia he wasn't with Yoko yet. He said so in Playboy

Are you sure? I guess he wrote it alot earlier than it was released, then.

It was recorded 2-68, Yoko and John didn't hook up until 5-20-68

[roll plymouth rock]

I'm glad I took a look at the board today, because this thread reminded me that I have this 45 and I took a listen to it...

I gotta say, in the context of it being Christmas, it's a pretty good song. Brian's production is nice on the ears - kind of reminds me of Phil Spector's Christmas album meets The Beach Boys - Love You.

[c-man]

John was mad at Cynthia he wasn't with Yoko yet. He said so in Playboy

Are you sure? I guess he wrote it alot earlier than it was released, then.

Yep..."Across The Universe" was recorded at the same set of sessions as "Lady Madonna", "The Inner Light", and "Hey Bulldog" (February-March '68, right before the Fabs left for India).

[mikeyj]

I can't stand Wonderful Christmastime. When a songwriter of the caliber of Paul (or Brian) writes a song like that, it's kind of like walking into Tiffany's and seeing a tin necklace for sale. You'd think, "They expect me to buy this?"

I don't mind "lowbrow" music from lowbrow musicians, just as I'll buy cheap jewelry from a flea market. But if you've got a reputation for being the best, don't insult my intelligence with a bunch of crap when I know you can do better.

I had never heard the PM song until this christmas when there is one radio host who plays the song almost every day!! Boy am I sick of it, now I just walk out of the room whenever I hear it... and no Sheriff; if Brian came up with this, I would" still think what a load of garbage"... I LOVE or atleast can stand approx. 80-90% of Brian's stuff but that 10% is unenjoyable and in some cases pathetic. I know I always mention it but TM Song... I think that's the worst BW song that I have heard and I am talking about official songs here not unreleased but even then I struggle to think of one that's worse.

As for Child Of Winter.. I don't think it's all that bad, I actually quite like it.

[XY]

But what is COC? (I guessed you meant Child of Winter, as it's the title of the thread.)

Oh sorry, COW of course, not "Child Of Christmas". 

[Bicyclerider]

I'll take Child of Winter over What I Really Want for Christmas anytime - although overall I really enjoyed the new Christmas album.  Shouldn't have done an unimaginative retread of Little St. Nick(single version) though, in contrast to Man With All The Toys where he changed the arrangement and made it a full blown BW production.

[Aegir]

My girlfriend likes Child of Winter, which I find really weird. Basically everything she likes is Endless Summer -type stuff... and although I like Child of Winter, it doesn't hold a candle to I Get Around. But my girlfriend, who said to me the other day, "The more you tell me about Brian Wilson, the more I hate him," likes Child of Winter. She even sang to me the "Mama's in the kitchen makin' cookies and bread" line. So weird.

[bluesno1fann]

just wondering, the song was recorded and released in 1974, so does Ricky Fataar have anything to do with this?

[Andrew G. Doe]

From the Ultimate Christmas liner notes:

"The recording was a true Wilson family affair. Carl played guitar, Dennis drummed, Brian’s daughters Carnie and Wendy shook sleigh bells, and Brian “did everything else,” say Kalinich – with one exception. “The kazoo? That was me,” he admits. Wilson cousin Mike Love took the lead vocal, except for what Kalinich calls the “grinch” voice – that’s Brian. "

[Aegir]

although I like Child of Winter, it doesn't hold a candle to I Get Around.

Nearly six years later, I think Child of Winter is infinitely more creative than I Get Around.