Winter Symphony/Morning Christmas

[tpesky]

I always liked Christmas Time is Here Again, more than I liked their cover of Peggy Sue. I even heard it recently while eating lunch in South St. Seaport in NYC

[Sheriff John Stone]

While Merry Christmas From The Beach Boys (1977) sounded nothing like The Beach Boys' Christmas Album(1964), it does have some things in common. I always considered songs like "Christmastime Is Here Again", "Santa's Got An Airplane", "Winter Symphony", and "Bells Of Christmas" similar to Side A of the 1964 album; some OK to good original compositions. But what both albums desperately lacked were more traditional Christmas songs. There are so many Christmas songs I hear, and say to myself, "I wish the Beach Boys would've covered THAT"!!!

Maybe: Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, Do You Hear What I Hear (where they could trade off verses), Sleigh Ride, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, I Saw Three Ships.... 

[tpesky]

Thats a great point Sheriff, I ask myself the same thing. Throw on a couple of original pieces (doesnt even have to be a full side) plus some traditionals and it would have been great. Seems like other than the medley, they were quicker to put on non XMAS songs in 77 instead of covering traditionals which is strange to me. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

While Merry Christmas From The Beach Boys (1977)...

I'm 100% convinced in my own mind that if any such album project was considered, the release date could not possibly have been 1977, considering the sessions at MIU were in November & December 1977. That being said, the supposed track listing is now equally suspect. Anyone seen any other primary source than Elliott's book ?

[Aegir]

While I love Brian's covers of traditional Christmas songs from his recent album, I dislike most of the covers on side B of the '64 album. I also don't like the cover medley on the '77 album.

But it doesn't make any sense why they'd put Seasons in the Sun and Michael Row the Boat Ashore on a Christmas album, either. Doesn't Go and Get That Girl have a one passing reference to Christmas somewhere in it?

[Andrew G. Doe]

While I love Brian's covers of traditional Christmas songs from his recent album, I dislike most of the covers on side B of the '64 album. I also don't like the cover medley on the '77 album.

But it doesn't make any sense why they'd put Seasons in the Sun and Michael Row the Boat Ashore on a Christmas album, either. Doesn't Go and Get That Girl have a one passing reference to Christmas somewhere in it?

"True love can make you feel like Christmas Day"

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

In any case,t hat song should have been released anyway. I love it . Glad also that I'm not the only one who noticed that the old story about the 2nd Christmas album doesn't make sense due to the timeline. I've been wondering that for years, and I personally believe that is another one of those BB myths that refuse to die. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they really were recording Christmas music at such a late date (considering they were almost dumb enough to release Child of Winter right at Christmas!) but I doubt it.

But what both albums desperately lacked were more traditional Christmas songs. There are so many Christmas songs I hear, and say to myself, "I wish the Beach Boys would've covered THAT"!!!

Maybe: Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, Do You Hear What I Hear (where they could trade off verses), Sleigh Ride, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, I Saw Three Ships....

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

Do have anymore on that Mike Love cover? I'm curious...

Even though those MIU Christmas songs were recorded in late 1977 (November & December?), is it not possible that the album could've/would've held to later in 1978, much like MIU actually was?

More in the small minority department, but I like the Beach Boys' take on "Michael, Row The Boat", especially the production. Who produced it? Sounds like Brian to me....
 

[Steve Mayo]

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

Do have anymore on that Mike Love cover? I'm curious...

Even though those MIU Christmas songs were recorded in late 1977 (November & December?), is it not possible that the album could've/would've held to later in 1978, much like MIU actually was?

More in the small minority department, but I like the Beach Boys' take on "Michael, Row The Boat", especially the production. Who produced it? Sounds like Brian to me....
 

do you hear what i hear- mike love & mary macgregor

from the 1983 radio shack release called christmas party.....

[Sheriff John Stone]

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

Do have anymore on that Mike Love cover? I'm curious...

do you hear what i hear- mike love & mary macgregor

from the 1983 radio shack release called christmas party.....

Is it any good? (as I duck from flying objects)

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Actually, IMHO hell yeah.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Yeah, it is. Mike does a good job on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" too.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

Do have anymore on that Mike Love cover? I'm curious...

Even though those MIU Christmas songs were recorded in late 1977 (November & December?), is it not possible that the album could've/would've held to later in 1978, much like MIU actually was?

More in the small minority department, but I like the Beach Boys' take on "Michael, Row The Boat", especially the production. Who produced it? Sounds like Brian to me....
 

The myth held that the BB cut an Xmas album then, when it was rejected, reworked some of it in MIU. That premise kinda falls apart when you look at the sessions and realise that they were recording the seasonal stuff in tandem with the secular.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Mike Love did cover Do You Hear what I hear with some chick, if that counts.

Do have anymore on that Mike Love cover? I'm curious...

Even though those MIU Christmas songs were recorded in late 1977 (November & December?), is it not possible that the album could've/would've held to later in 1978, much like MIU actually was?

More in the small minority department, but I like the Beach Boys' take on "Michael, Row The Boat", especially the production. Who produced it? Sounds like Brian to me....
 

The myth held that the BB cut an Xmas album then, when it was rejected, reworked some of it in MIU. That premise kinda falls apart when you look at the sessions and realise that they were recording the seasonal stuff in tandem with the secular.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's only two songs - "Christmastime Is Here Again"/"Peggy Sue" and "Bells Of Christmas"/Bells Of Paris" that are the same "songs". So, one of the versions could've been bumped in favor of the other to avoid duplication. Or, they could've released both. The Beach Boys did it before, though in not exactly the same manner, with "Help Me R(h)onda", "Be True To Your School", and "Cottonfields". Same song, different versions.

[Dancing Bear]

Looking at http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/gigs77.html , it seemed that there was no distinction even between  Celebration and Beach Boys tracks. What a mess.

We'll have to wait for the 'Complete Iowa Sessions' boxset to get the whole picture. 

[MBE]

The production of those 1983 Mike tracks wasn't great but I will have to pull the LP out and give it another listen. I don't remember disliking the vocals themselves.
I think Michael Row is one of the best 1976 tracks period and it is a Brian produced 15 Big Ones outake.

[jmc]

A video of the Mike Love and Mary MacGregor, Do You Hear What I Hear, is on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XR87ccRv0

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's only two songs - "Christmastime Is Here Again"/"Peggy Sue" and "Bells Of Christmas"/Bells Of Paris" that are the same "songs". So, one of the versions could've been bumped in favor of the other to avoid duplication. Or, they could've released both. The Beach Boys did it before, though in not exactly the same manner, with "Help Me R(h)onda", "Be True To Your School", and "Cottonfields". Same song, different versions.

Yeah, you missed a few.

"Melekalikimaka" is "Kona Coast" and "Santa's Got An Airplane" is "Loop de Loop" (which I believe was worked on during MIU).

[jmc]

Also, there is a video of "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps6CgklAKXw&NR=1

and, Mike and Dean doing Jingle Bell Rock both from 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgB368njA4A&feature=related

I guess these belong in the YouTube thread.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

A video of the Mike Love and Mary MacGregor, Do You Hear What I Hear, is on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XR87ccRv0

Thanks for the link.  Wasn't able to get thru more than 45 seconds of it :-( but did Wire Tap it into my archives.  On a more positive note, that led me to "Mike Love & Dean Torrence-Jingle Bell Rock 1983", a much more fun listening experience.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's only two songs - "Christmastime Is Here Again"/"Peggy Sue" and "Bells Of Christmas"/Bells Of Paris" that are the same "songs". So, one of the versions could've been bumped in favor of the other to avoid duplication. Or, they could've released both. The Beach Boys did it before, though in not exactly the same manner, with "Help Me R(h)onda", "Be True To Your School", and "Cottonfields". Same song, different versions.

Yeah, you missed a few.

"Melekalikimaka" is "Kona Coast" and "Santa's Got An Airplane" is "Loop de Loop" (which I believe was worked on during MIU).

Yeah, I forgot about those, conveniently....

[Sheriff John Stone]

A video of the Mike Love and Mary MacGregor, Do You Hear What I Hear, is on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XR87ccRv0

Thanks, jmc. YouTube WILL carry everything, won't it. It's Mike with his "Big Sur"/"All I Wanna Do" voice! And that video, with the lamb. It's Pet Sounds meets Jim Morrison in Miami....

[matt-zeus]

Who wrote 'Go and get that girl'? I like it in an MOR 70s kind of way though it doesn't sound like an original song from anyone in the group.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Also, there is a video of "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps6CgklAKXw&NR=1

Did you notice how quickly Mike put down that tree to hit on that girl shopkeeper?

And I like that Saturday Night Live-like version of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas at the end....

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Who wrote 'Go and get that girl'? I like it in an MOR 70s kind of way though it doesn't sound like an original song from anyone in the group.

Wasn't it Ron Altbach?