The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
It might seem odd
that a band that is so synonymous with California, sunshine and
days spent waxing surfboards could successfully turn their hand to
themes that take place at the other end of the meteorological
scale. But, this is no ordinary band, this is the Beach Boys, a
group of musicians that can be enjoyed all year round. Their
transition from bermuda shorts to rudolf jumpers is seamless and
'The Beach Boys Christmas Album' displays all the nuances that made
them so special in the first place.
'The Beach Boys
Christmas Album' was recorded over 12 days (aha!) in June of 1964,
except for 'Little Saint Nick' which had been recorded in October
the previous year. It was a big success on its release, reaching
number 6 in the US charts. What else would you expect from a band
that contained 3 Wilson brothers (Brian, Dennis and Carl), their
cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine?
The album was
released in November 1964 and included 5 original numbers and 7
covers of traditional standards. Brian Wilson took charge on all
arrangements for the originals and Dick Reynolds was chosen to
manage the arrangements on all the others. The album was laid out,
like a lot of the Christmas albums of the time, with the originals
on Side One and the re-imaginations on Side Two. That was one of
the neat aspects about the vinyl format, 2 different worlds could
be created within the environs of one piece of recordable
media.
Perhaps the most
famous Beach Boys Christmas track is 'Little Saint Nick' and it is
that exuberant number that opens the album. It is followed by the
equally dashing 'The Man With All The Toys', which was the single
that announced the album. It was a big hit on the Christmas charts
in 1964 reaching number 3, just like 'Little Saint Nick' had done
the year previously. It has a brilliant sense of fun, like your
little one who likes nothing better than to be stationed near
Santa's sooty entry point every Christmas Eve.
'Santa's Beard' is
classic Beach Boys, they may as well be surfin' such is sunniness
in which they dispatch their harmonies. It is also very short, at
bang on 2 minutes, and before you realise they've switched
California for the North Pole they're onto the undeniably wintry
'Merry Christmas, Baby', which brilliantly sets the icy scene for
'Frosty The Snowman'. The Beach Boys give this auld favourite all
the trimmings, with stylish orchestration and a giddy vocal
delivery that'll have children of all ages aglow in anticipation of
snow blanketed scenes.
'Christmas Day' is
noteworthy for being the first Beach Boys song to feature a lead
vocal from Al Jardine. It is probably the least known of the
originals on the album but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
In fact, with so many wondrous harmonies elsewhere it actually
makes for a nice breather to focus on one voice for a change.
The band do a great
job with 'We Three Kings Of Orient Are', a song that in the wrong
hands can be a little underwhelming. In this case however there are
rich orchestral flourishes, wildly inventive brass parts and the
Beach Boys in full harmonic mode. A real delight and something that
gives this traditional carol a new lease of life. 'Blue Christmas'
is about as stripped back as it gets, a lone vocal, a simple
musical backdrop, all adding up to one of the best versions of this
perennial favourite.
'Santa Claus Is
Comin' To Town' is noteworthy for its fun vocals and offbeat
musical choices. 'White Christmas' is similarly turned inside-out
to deliver a slightly melancholic take on Irving Berlin's
composition. 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' continues the slightly
downbeat mood but the Beach Boys show themselves as adept at
heartwrenching as they do at soundtracking the fun times (and
goodness knows they had enough heartbreak in real life to know how
it felt). 'Auld Lang Syne' is similarly quiet but is still awash
with harmonies and has Dennis Wilson offering the groups wishes for
the Christmas season.
There have been a
plethora reissues for 'The Beach Boys Christmas Album', the first
of which arrived in 1998. Through the years the reformatting of the
album has uncovered an alternate take on 'Auld Lang Syne', a pretty
drab 'The Lord's Prayer' (which had initially appeared as the
b-side to 'Little Saint Nick' the previous year) and the single
version of 'Little Saint Nick' which had extra sleigh bells over
the other version.
The artwork on 'The
Beach Boys' Christmas Album' may well be as twee as they come with
all 5 members busying themselves dressing the Christmas tree. It
may even be scoffed at now, but then these are the self same boys
that recorded one of the best pop albums of time and adorned it
with a picture of them feeding a herd of goats ('Pet Sounds'). But,
for all the potential giggling nothing can take away from the
breathtaking achievement of 'The Beach Boys' Christmas Album'. It
remains a monumental piece of work and is one of the finest
Christmas albums ever recorded.
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album Christmas Videos
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