1964 wasn't too shabby, either.

[GoogaMooga]

1963 gave us Spector's masterpiece, "A Christmas Gift For You", but 1964 wasn't too shabby, either. Lookit our boys: Dennis isn't holding a present. Either Santa thought he'd been naughty that year, or more likely, he was just too cool to be seen with such childish stuff. He's placed a fatherly hand on Al's shoulder instead, and even Brian looks right. All was well that Christmas.

[JK]

1963 gave us Spector's masterpiece, "A Christmas Gift For You", but 1964 wasn't too shabby, either. Lookit our boys: Dennis isn't holding a present. Either Santa thought he'd been naughty that year, or more likely, he was just too cool to be seen with such childish stuff. He's placed a fatherly hand on Al's shoulder instead, and even Brian looks right. All was well that Christmas.

Maybe Dennis's right elbow is resting on top of his excessively large present (hence the huge smile on his face, lol).

In all seriousness, a heart-warming picture. Thanks for that, GM. :=)
And in my jaded view BB 1964 Christmas beats Uncle Phil 1963 Christmas hands down. 

[Rocker]

Especially the "adult" side of the '64 Christmas album shows the Beach Boys' incredible singing abilities, lead or group singing. It is so strong! And also highlighting Mike's singing. Each year I am blown away by what great singers the guys were.

[GoogaMooga]

Uncle Phil takes some beating, LOL
Nobody beats our boys in the harmony stakes, yet heretic that I am, my vote goes to Uncle Phil.

It is true that the "adult" side with the traditional carols is where they really shine; having subjected my family to that record for many a Christmas, my father would always remark when we got to side two, "oh, now it's the good part".  

[RangeRoverA1]

The picture looks like mirrored. Mike looks tipsy that way. There isn't anything childish to wait for presents. Everybody does, face it. The other observation - each gift looks flat, it means every BB is given the same thing. I prefer BBs Christmas album. The Spector album is mainly girl groups which me, I find extremely silly-sounding, sth. about stack of female voices brings such perception.

[Jay]

Even as far back as 1964, Brian had a kind of awkward nervousness when getting a picture taken. That's interesting.

[GoogaMooga]

The picture looks like mirrored. Mike looks tipsy that way. There isn't anything childish to wait for presents. Everybody does, face it. The other observation - each gift looks flat, it means every BB is given the same thing. I prefer BBs Christmas album. The Spector album is mainly girl groups which me, I find extremely silly-sounding, sth. about stack of female voices brings such perception.

Christmas is a family celebration, and presents are first and foremost for the children. We adults may exchange gifts as well, but the focus is on the kids. They are the ones who cannot buy their own things. Adults are often jaded and may even exchange their unwanted gifts for something else, or just forget about the whole thing. The photo op here is nice, though, the BBs are young and want to reach out to their young fans. It's well staged, and the (probably empty) presents are a good prop.

Brian was never really comfortable in front of the camera, was he? Best photo I saw of him is the one where he is standing next to a tower rack of BB albums, early years.

Spector's girl pop is as close to heaven as we can physically get here on Earth.  

[JK]

Spector's girl pop is as close to heaven as we can physically get here on Earth.  

Okay, I'll grant you that! I'm smitten by most '60s girl group stuff. I'm just not a fan of the Christmas album...

[GoogaMooga]

I think I understand you, the Christmas album does have a different feel to it. More dense, more classical, but also more "cartoony". I dunno, I thought it was universally loved. Spector set out to produce a seasonal album more in tune with what kids were listening to at the time, but mad genius that he was, he came up with something totally unique. It's a perennial, what PS is to pop, ACGFY is to seasonal albums.

[KDS]

While I think the Spector Christmas album is the better album, I prefer the Beach Boys album. 

And I think I'm in the minority in that I like the originals on the BB album more than the covers (although We Three Kings is vocally one of the best things they EVER did).