The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964)

Reason for Listening:
An album called Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys is on the Billboard 200:
#149 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20191228). Holiday album.
Last Week: 157 | Peak: 149 | Weeks on Chart: 3

Up until this point, I've been able to listen to the holiday albums on Spotify which correspond to those listed on the Billboard 200 without much problem. One listing that I couldn't find at first, but eventually found was the Elvis Presley album It's Christmas Time (Billboard 200 called it It's Christmas Time, but Spotify has it available as Elvis' Christmas Album).

The Beach Boys' Christmas Album album cover

In this case, I was less certain. The Beach Boys wanted to release a second Christmas album titled Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys in 1977 but were rejected. Searching further, I found via Discogs that The Beach Boys' Christmas Album has been issued as Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys (with nine of the twelve tracks in a different order).

While it would be sufficient to listen to The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, I took the extra precaution of listening to Christmas with The Beach Boys which begins with The Beach Boys' Christmas Album followed by additional tracks, some which are said to come from the aforementioned rejected album.

Released 19641109.
12 songs. 27:37. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (Capitol Records) (1964)
12-3 songs. 27:37-04:26. Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys (EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets)
Wikipedia
Discogs (The Beach Boys' Christmas Album)

Released 19980922.
12+13+1 songs. 27:37+31:19+03:02. Ultimate Christmas (1998)
12+13 songs. 27:37+31:19. Christmas with The Beach Boys (2004)
Wikipedia
Discogs (Ultimate Christmas)
Discogs (Christmas with the Beach Boys)

Notes:
--20191220--
First listen. Christmas with The Beach Boys.
Ratings for some of the songs.
--20191229--
Additional ratings starting with "Christmas Day."

4: "The Man with All the Toys" (*);
3: "Little Saint Nick" (*); "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (*);
2: "Santa's Beard" (*); "Frosty the Snowman" (*); "White Christmas" (*);
1: "Merry Christmas, Baby" (*); "Christmas Day" (*); "Blue Christmas" (*); "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (*);
0: "We Three Kings of Orient Are" (*);
-1: "Auld Lang Syne" (*);
*1991 Remix

The first twelve tracks make up The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964; in exactly the same order). According to Wikipedia, the second half of the album contains selections from recordings from the unreleased album Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys.
This song has an interesting stereo sound (headphones). I guess it's meant to sound like the airplane is circling the head and perhaps the band is singing from that airplane. In other words, the sound transitions smoothly back and forth between the left and right ear - as a helicopter demo might sound. ("Santa's Got An Airplane")
I guess props for an attempt at putting a spin on "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" but I don't like it at all. The interjections are especially unwelcome.
I listened to "Toy Drive Public Service Announcement" several times. It's sung to the melody of "Little Saint Nick" but the lyrics are about donating toys.

2: "Little Saint Nick" (Remastered 1998);
1: "Auld Lang Syne" (Alternate Take/1991 Remix); "Toy Drive Public Service Announcement";
0: "Little Saint Nick" (Alternate Version/Remixed To Stereo 1998); "Santa's Got An Airplane"; "Bells of Christmas"; "Dennis Wilson Christmas Message"; "Brian Wilson Christmas Interview";
-1: "Child of Winter (Christmas Song) / Here Comes Santa Claus"; "Winter Symphony"; "Melekalikimaka"; "Morning Christmas";
-2: "(I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree";

Moved "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from a "4" to a "3," "The Man with All the Toys" from a "3" to a "4," and "Little Saint Nick" from a "2" to a "3."

Summary:
Overall, I like the tracks that make up The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

Originally "I'll Be Home for Christmas" was rated the highest, but "The Man with All the Toys" and "Little Saint Nick" are also both good. So I listened to the three songs again and I felt the upbeat sound and originality of "The Man with All the Toys" was worthy of being my favorite on the album.

Overall Rating (The Beach Boys' Christmas Album): 4.4/5
Overall Rating (Christmas with the Beach Boys): 3.0/5
Favorite Song: "The Man with All the Toys"


Christmas with the Beach Boys album cover

20200108 Comment:
While writing this post I knew I owned a holiday album by The Beach Boys (CD) but I didn't bother to see which one it was. The other day, I was looking though my CDs and saw that I actually owned the nine-track EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets release titled Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys!

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys album cover

No comments :