The Beach Boys' Christmas Album

[Wirestone]

I have to say, good call on TMWATT -- Brian's remake really trounces the original. For one thing, he seems to have thought about the song for more than two minutes. I particularly enjoy the added bits -- the little riff that precedes the sax solo and the bizarre coda. It adds this peculiar modular quality to the song that's really cool.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Well, what the heck, let's make this the Beach Boys' christmas-thread for this year.

OK!

I saw the new CD, Christmas Harmonies, in a record store. I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of this release. The track list is good, but could be much better; a few key tracks are left off. Why not just promote Ultimate Christmas, or, like I'm going to attempt below, do an updated version of Ultimate Christmas. With a good remixing, remastering job on the 1977 stuff, and an extra track or two, I think you would have something special. But, again, remixing and remastering is essential; the songs need to sound more unified. I'd like to hear something like this:

CHRISTMAS WITH THE BEACH BOYS

1. Little Saint Nick
2. The Man With All The Toys
3. Santa's Beard
4. Merry Christmas, Baby
5. Christmas Day
6. Frosty The Snowman
7. We Three Kings
8. Blue Christmas
9. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
10. White Christmas
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas
12. Auld Lang Syne

13. Brian Wilson Christmas Interview
14. Things We Did Last Summer
15. Little Saint Nick (Drive-In version)
16. The Lord's Prayer
17. Little Saint Nick (single version)
18. Auld Lang Syne (without Dennis speaking)
19. Dennis Wilson Christmas Message

20. Child Of Winter
21. Bells Of Christmas
22. Melekalikimaka
23. Winter Symphony
24. Christmas Time Is Here Again
25. Christmas Day
26. Go And Get That Girl
27. Santa's Got An Airplane
28. Santa's On The Way (H.E.L.P.)
29. (I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
30. Morning Christmas
31. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

What do you think? That's 31 cool songs; I think they'll all fit. Capitol?
 

[Nicko]

This is a rather confused question but did Brian record a Christmas song with Gary Usher in the mid-80s? And did he later recycle it somewhere else?

[Sheriff John Stone]

This is a rather confused question but did Brian record a Christmas song with Gary Usher in the mid-80s? And did he later recycle it somewhere else?

Brian did a song with Gary Usher called "Christmas Time". I think Eugene Landy was involved or got a credit or something. I liked the song, thought it was pretty good. It actually got released on one of those budget various artists compilation CD's. A few years ago I had the CD in my hand at a WalMart but didn't buy it. Wish I had....   

[Wirestone]

What??? Really? I never heard that the Usher Christmas song was released.

And Nicko, I'm not familiar with any of the song being reused -- although "Just Say No" from the same sessions recycles "Wind Chimes."

[Sheriff John Stone]

What??? Really? I never heard that the Usher Christmas song was released.

Am I thinking about "On Christmas Day"? Was that re-recorded for What I Really Want For Christmas? The titles are confusing. But I do like "Christmas Time" anyway.

EDIT: Yeah, I confused "Christmas Time" with "On Christmas Day", which appeared on Twenty Christmas Stars III. Brian did re-record "On Christmas Day" for WIRWFC didn't he?

[Wirestone]

Nope, it wasn't re-recorded, but the 2000 recording of "On Christmas Day" was used as a bonus track on WIRWFC. And I do recall that being on a comp.

[Nicko]

Thanks for the responses and for reminding me of the song. I agree that it's not bad at all and certainly better than most of the other songs from the Usher period. The less said about Just Say No the better though...

[Wirestone]

Drugs -- are dangerous!

They are -- too glamorous!

Getting high's not the thing to do;

Don't you know drugs will poison you?

[PongHit]

Let the Wind Blow -- winter? I associate it with May/June. Late spring, early summer.

Yes, it's winter: "Let the moon glow, On the fallen snow," & spring is coming: "Let the bird sing, With the coming spring."

[c-man]

To answer Rocker's question, Brian played the organ on "Christmas Day".  I believe he played the bass on the basic track and overdubbed the organ solo.

[Rocker]

To answer Rocker's question, Brian played the organ on "Christmas Day".  I believe he played the bass on the basic track and overdubbed the organ solo.

Thank you ! I like that solo, although he messes up at one point

[Sheriff John Stone]

Because of my OCD, I had to track down the 20 Christmas Stars III version of Brian's "On Christmas Day", and, it is a slightly different mix than the WIRWFC version.

[Alex]

Drugs -- are dangerous!

They are -- too glamorous!

Getting high's not the thing to do;

Don't you know drugs will poison you?

Drugs are good, 'mmkay.

[runnersdialzero]

Just listened to a lot of this stuff for the first time. Holy Jeezus, Brian's lead on "Blue Christmas" knocked me out. We all know Brian's a great vocalist, especially back then, but this one... wow, never really heard him sing quite like this, I guess because none of their songs really called for it.

[Chris Brown]

Just listened to a lot of this stuff for the first time. Holy Jeezus, Brian's lead on "Blue Christmas" knocked me out. We all know Brian's a great vocalist, especially back then, but this one... wow, never really heard him sing quite like this, I guess because none of their songs really called for it.

That one really blew my mind the first time I heard it too.  Brian's version blows Elvis' out of the water, in my opinion.  Brian did a better job capturing the sad nature of the song with his voice.

[Rocker]

This was probably answered before but I don't remember. Did Brian also sing on Collin Raye's "Winter wonderland" when the BBs did back him up? And was it done during the S&S-sessions? Love their singing on this recording

[hypehat]

Just listened to a lot of this stuff for the first time. Holy Jeezus, Brian's lead on "Blue Christmas" knocked me out. We all know Brian's a great vocalist, especially back then, but this one... wow, never really heard him sing quite like this, I guess because none of their songs really called for it.

That one really blew my mind the first time I heard it too.  Brian's version blows Elvis' out of the water, in my opinion.  Brian did a better job capturing the sad nature of the song with his voice.

I'm going to have to agree. probably because of Reynold's arrangement more than Brian's (admittedly fantastic) vocal. I love that.

[Rocker]

Here's the '64 Shindig-Christmasspecial, featuring the Beach Boys as "headliners".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWfnntRFroE&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_x5Otfoatc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DIE-r1DCcM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NPVDLSnZP8&feature=related

[Myk Luhv]

I am curious: Did Marvin Gaye ever meet Brian or the Beach Boys? Or did he ever comment on them in any way?

[punkinhead]

What??? Really? I never heard that the Usher Christmas song was released.

And Nicko, I'm not familiar with any of the song being reused -- although "Just Say No" from the same sessions recycles "Wind Chimes."

how is it recycled?
are we talking the Smile version or Smiley?
What compares between the two songs?

[Rocker]

I am curious: Did Marvin Gaye ever meet Brian or the Beach Boys? Or did he ever comment on them in any way?

I'd say so:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-zhTP_iCkc&feature=related


EDIT:
Well, I forgot that you get a better quality performance in the last link of the Shindig!-performance

[Andrew G. Doe]

This was probably answered before but I don't remember. Did Brian also sing on Collin Raye's "Winter wonderland" when the BBs did back him up? And was it done during the S&S-sessions? Love their singing on this recording

Yes, Brian's on it... as for when it was recorded, no idea, but during the S&S would seem logical.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Drugs -- are dangerous!

They are -- too glamorous!

Getting high's not the thing to do;

Don't you know drugs will poison you?

Think you'll find that 2nd line has a "not" in it. My copy, I mean, the one I heard does.

[Rocker]

This was probably answered before but I don't remember. Did Brian also sing on Collin Raye's "Winter wonderland" when the BBs did back him up? And was it done during the S&S-sessions? Love their singing on this recording

Yes, Brian's on it... as for when it was recorded, no idea, but during the S&S would seem logical.
[/quote


Thanks. It's a very nice performance and should be known better imo