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The Beatles' Christmas Album
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Beatles' Christmas Album | ||
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| Compilation album by the Beatles | ||
| Released | December 18, 1970 | |
| Recorded | Basement studio at Dick James Music (1963 & 1964) EMI Studios at Abbey Road from 1965-1967. Various locations: 1968 & 1969 | |
| Genre | Comedic banter and music | |
| Length | 43:58 | |
| Label | Apple | |
| Producer(s) | Tony Barrow (1963-1965), George Martin (1966-1967), Kenny Everett (1968-1969) | |
| the Beatles chronology | ||
|---|---|---|
| Let It Be (1970) |
The Beatles' Christmas Album (1970) |
1962-1966 (1973) |
The Beatles' Christmas Album (USA) aka From Then To You (UK), was a 1970 compilation album of the Christmas records issued via the Beatles' Fan Club - and made available solely to members of their official fan clubs in the UK and the U.S. The Beatles' Christmas Album was issued as From Then To You in the UK by Apple Records (LYN 2154) and in the U.S. (SBC 100).
Each year from 1963 to 1969, the Beatles had recorded a short Christmas message for their fans, comprised of carols, skits, jokes, and thanks to the loyal "Beatle People". Each recording was pressed onto a 7" flexi disc and mailed free to the British members of the Fan Club. In 1970, in the wake of the band's break-up, Apple released the compilation of all seven. Despite the album's popularity with fans (through bootleggers), it has not been officially released since.
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The first Christmas recording from the Beatles featured several renditions of the traditional carol "Good King Wenceslas," individual messages from the four, and ended with a closing chorus of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ringo." An edited version of this recording was sent to members of the Beatles' American fan club in December 1964.
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The carol "Jingle Bells" is sung, followed by individual messages to the fans. Finishing up the record is an original jingle, titled "Can You Wash Your Father's Shirts?" Another Beatles' Christmas Record is the only Beatles' Christmas fan club records not sent to American fans. Rather, at Christmastime 1964, US fans received an edited version of The Beatles' Christmas Record, which was sent to British fan club members in 1963.
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Several off-key, a capella versions of "Yesterday" are dispersed throughout the record, alongside Lennon's "Happy Christmas to Ya List'nas," "Auld Lang Syne," a possible copyright infringement of the Four Tops' "It's the Same Old Song," and an original poem titled "Christmas Comes But Once a Year."
Many members of the Beatles' U.S. fan club did not receive this (or any) Christmas flexi-disc in 1965. Rather, they received a black and white postcard, with a photo of the fab four and the message "Season's Greetings -- Paul, Ringo, George, John."
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A disjointed collection of original songs and dramatic skits are featured in the 1966 offering. The songs include "Everywhere It's Christmas," "Orowanya," and "Please Don't Bring Your Banjo Back." The sketches performed include "Podgy the Bear and Jasper" and "Felpin Mansions."
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An elaborate production, Christmas Time is Here Again! was developed around the concept of several groups auditioning for a BBC radio show. The title song serves as a refrain throughout the record. The Beatles portray a multitude of characters, including game show contestants, aspiring musicians ("Plenty of Jam Jars," by the Ravellers), and actors in a radio drama ("Theatre Hour"). At the end John reads a poem, "When Christmas Time Is Over."
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The first Beatles Christmas album to be recorded separately, the 1968 offering is a collage of odd noises, musical snippets, and individual messages. McCartney's song "Happy Christmas, Happy New Year" is featured, along with John's poems "Jock and Yono" and "Once Upon a Pool Table." Also notable is a barely-recognizable rendition of "Nowhere Man" by the ukulele-playing Tiny Tim.
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The final Beatle Christmas offering was also recorded separately, as the band was crumbling at this point. It features an extensive visit with John and Yoko at their Tittenhurst Park estate, where they play "what will Santa bring me?" games. Harrison only appears briefly, and Starr only shows up to plug his recent film, The Magic Christian. Paul sings his original ad-lib, "This is to Wish You a Merry, Merry Christmas."