Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys
Studio album (unreleased) by
The Beach Boys
Recorded1970–1977
GenreChristmas
Length33:38
ProducerBrian Wilson, Al Jardine, Ron Altbach, Dennis Wilson, Terry Jacks
The Beach Boys recording chronology
Adult/Child
(1977) 		Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys
(1977) 		M.I.U. Album
(1978)

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys is an unreleased studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys. Planned for issue in November/December 1978,[1] the content was a mixture of original songs penned by the group and traditional standards, similar to their 1964 release The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

The album was produced by Brian Wilson[2] during the same sessions as M.I.U. Album (1978),[1] but ultimately rejected by Warner Bros. Records[3] who were reportedly "highly skeptical" that Wilson was anywhere on it.[4] Some of its recordings were later released on the 1998 compilation Ultimate Christmas.[5]

Recording

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys was mostly recorded between November and December 1977 at the Maharishi International University in Iowa. Exceptions are "Seasons in the Sun", "Santa's On His Way", "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore", "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" and "Christmas Time Is Here Again", all of which were variously recorded between 1970 and 1976.[1] Other songs worked on during these sessions were alternate versions of tracks included on M.I.U. Album. These include that album's "Belles of Paris" ("Bells of Christmas") and "Kona Coast" ("Melekalikimaka" or "Kona Christmas").[1].

Track listing

Track sequencing adapted from Andrew Doe.[1]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Christmas Time Is Here Again"Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Al JardineBrian Wilson3:05
2."Child of Winter (Christmas Song)"Brian Wilson, Stephen KalinichB. Wilson2:51
3."Winter Symphony"B. WilsonB. Wilson3:02
4."Michael Row the Boat Ashore"traditionalB. Wilson3:40
5."Seasons in the Sun"Jacques Brel, Rod McKuenTerry Jacks3:21
6."Morning Christmas"Dennis WilsonDennis Wilson3:26
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Alone on Christmas Day"Love, Ron AltbachAl Jardine and Ron Altbach2:52
2."Go and Get That Girl"Ed Tuleja, Ron AltbachJardine and Altbach3:15
3."Santa's On His Way"B. Wilson, Jardine, LoveB. Wilson3:25
4."I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"Tommie ConnorB. Wilson2:24
5."Xmas Carol Medley"  Jardine and Altbach2:26

Personnel

Credits sourced from Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar, Joshilyn Hoisington, David Beard and Brad Elliott.[6][7][8] This list does not include complete personnel credits for "Michael Row the Boat Ashore"

The Beach Boys

  • Al Jardine - lead (1, 11) and backing vocals (1, 3-5, 7, 9-11), banjo (9), piano (10?)
  • Mike Love - lead (2, 4, 7, 9, 11) and backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7-11)
  • Brian Wilson - lead (2, 3, 11) and backing vocals (1-4, 7, 9-11), piano (3, 10?), Hammond organ (9), electric harpsichord (1), keyboards (2), bass guitar (9), bass drum (9), tambourine (9), tubular bells (2), handclaps (9)
  • Carl Wilson - lead (5, 8, 11) and backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 9-11), electric guitar (2, 9)
  • Dennis Wilson - lead (6) and backing vocals (2, 6), piano (6), celeste (6), Hammond organ (6), Minimoog (6), bass harmonica (6), drums (1, 2, 6), tubular bells (6)

Touring Band

  • Michael Andreas - saxophone (7, 8, 11), flute (3)
  • Ron Altbach - backing vocals (7, 8), piano (7, 8), electric piano (3), trombone (3, 7, 8, 11)
  • Lance Buller - trumpet (3, 7, 8, 11)
  • Ed Carter - 12-string electric guitar (8), electric guitar (8), bass guitar (7, 8)
  • Gary Griffin - ARP Omni (3)
  • John Foss - trumpet (3, 7, 8, 11), piccolo trumpet (3)
  • Rusty Ford - bass guitar (3)
  • Mike Kowalski - drums (3), congas (3), cabasa (7), tubular bells (7), tambourine (8)
  • Bobby Figueroa - drums (7, 8)
  • Charlie McCarthy - flutes (3), saxophone (7, 8, 11)
  • Rod Novak - saxophone (7, 8)

Guests

Additional Musicians

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Doe, Andrew G. "Unreleased Albums". Bellagio 10452. Endless Summer Quarterly. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. ^ Preiss, Byron (1979). The Beach Boys. Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-27398-7.
  3. ^ Badman, Keith (2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Backbeat Books. p. 372. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6.
  4. ^ Musician. Amordian Press. 1985. p. 47.
  5. ^ Lambert, Philip (2007). Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-4411-0748-0.
  6. ^ Slowinski, Craig (Winter 2023). Beard, David (ed.). "The Beach Boys M.I.U. Album Vol 1". Endless Summer Quarterly Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 144. Charlotte, North Carolina.
  7. ^ Slowinski, Craig (Summer 2021). Beard, David (ed.). "Surf's Up: 50th Anniversary Edition". Endless Summer Quarterly Magazine. Vol. 34, no. 134. Charlotte, North Carolina.
  8. ^ Elliot, Brad (1998). Ultimate Christmas (Digital Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.