Customer Reviews

Christmas Album

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the legendary Beach Boys Christmas Album, augmented by a handful of bonus tracks. The album consists of five Brian Wilson originals performed in the classic Beach Boys style, and six older songs featuring the boys singing to an orchestral backing, plus an a capella "Auld Lang Syne". The five original songs are the highlights here, for me. Fun little songs performed the way we expect from the Beach Boys. The orchestral songs take some getting used to. They are well sung by the boys, but they don't have that "Beach Boys" feel to them. Still, they are enjoyable in their own way. "Auld Lang Syne" features a spoken part by Denny, where he wishes us Merry Christmas and whatnot. Something I find amusing about this song is that Denny hap-happens to stammer while reading his lines. Why they didn't record another take where he didn't mess up, I'll never know. Now a few words about the bonus tracks. The single version of "Little Saint Nick" is included. This differs from the album version by featuring additional instruments added (glockenspiel, sleigh bells, xylophone, etc.). I like this version better. The original b-side of "Little Saint Nick", "The Lord's Prayer" is included. This is beautifully sung a capella. This is the one track here that is not included on the Ultimate Christmas collection (probably because it is technically not a Christmas song). Then there is an odd track featuring the lyrics to "Little Saint Nick" sung to the backing track to "Drive-In". Just a fun bit with the boys horsing around. The final track here is "Auld Lang Syne" without the spoken part by Denny. This version really lets us hear the beautiful harmonies by the boys. This CD seems to be out of print now, but if you can find a used copy for a reasonable price, it is worth getting.

I was born in 1960 and growing up in Southern California, I can't remember a single Christmas morning when my mother didn't put this record on the single speaker HI FI. (Back then, that's what you had.) Christmas morning isn't Christmas morning without this record. I can remember one Christmas morning waking up and seeing the tree all lit up, this ALBUM was playing, and there was actually snow on the ground in The San Fernando Valley. I've haven't seen snow on the ground on a Christmas morning since. The only snow I see is inside my snow globe. THAT'S CHRISTMAS IN BEACHBOY COUNTRY.

THE HARMONIES ON THIS RECORDING ARE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THE BEACH BOYS EVER DID.

A few years back I gave the CD to my mom as a gift. Now, I want it for myself. Too bad it's out of stock. I'll have to buy it from another store. THIS IS THE ONE TO HAVE. FORGET THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS CD. That one has a few clunkers. This is the ORIGINAL CAPITOL RELEASE. I don't even want to hear the bonus tracks. I WANT TO HEAR IT JUST LIKE I REMEMBER IT. I hate it when record companies put extra bonus tracks of the same tunes done with a smattering of different takes. I just want to hear the recording the way it was intended. Sometimes I'll burn the whole CD without the bonus tracks. When are they gonna stop cluttering up classic recordings with this bonus track nonsense? Put it on a separate CD for those who want it. I don't want to hear the same song 3 or 4 times at the end of a recording. THIS MADNESS HAS GOT TO STOP!! GEEZ!! Just kidding. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Brian Wilson's original Christmas songs are awesome. The first 5 tunes remind you of the typical Beach Boys style just with a Christmas twist. The rest of the album has an orchestra backing them up which gives a new feel to the Beach Boys.
The harmonies on this album keep you singing from start to finish. My advice... BUY THIS CD!!! You won't be sorry!

When people think of great Christmas albums they will usually think of the Sinatra, Cole, Crosby, Elvis albums etc. Anybody I have ever spoken to who owns this album/c.d simply loves it and treasures it. It surprises me that so few people even know the Beach Boys put out an album, because it is honestly probably one of the best ever made. Within the last few years however, this album has been getting more and more airplay, and the popularity is mushrooming. Whoever arranged this album is a genius, and it really sounded as if the guys were having a great time singing the standards and a few "newer" standards. The orchestration is incredible, and the music is amazing. Surprise yourself and lay down the few dollars to make this a part of your Christmas traditions.

The Beach Boys Christmas Album has long been among my favorites. Whether singing the traditional tunes or Brian Wilson's holiday hits, they are all sung beautifully. I especially enjoy the 3 versions of their huge hit Little Saint Nick-one is slower in tempo but still fine, the other being a studio outtake & the other is their single version as we all know it. Other favorites include Frosty The Snowman, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Blue Christmas as well as Merry Christmas Baby. The acapella version of Auld Lang Syne is the best I have ever heard. Very highly recommended.

This is the best Beach Boys' Christmas album. You get some of Brian Wilson's original songs as well as traditional Christmas songs. It has that unique Beach Boys' sound and it really sounds terrific. You would think they never left the breach to celebrate the yuletide season. This is a really good album.

This is an awesome Christmas CD and I'm so glad that I purchased this one! I love all of the songs from the more traditional ones to the songs to the modern ones by Brian Wilson ad I love the alternate take tracks on several songs and I highly recommend this CD!

I've always loved the Beach Boys' Christmas album. Most of the songs aren't holiday standards, but have been around so long they are truly part of the holiday tradition. Unfortunately, the second half of the album is rather mournful, particularly "We Three Kings"---on this track, the groups sounds like it's headed to a funeral rather than the birth of Jesus. But the first half, with songs like "Little Saint Nick," are worth the money.

Thanks. We had this LP when I was a kid. IT always takes me back to good times.

To be sure a lot of records came out in 1964 that were very good and this is a Christmas record, after all, so why am I calling it one of the ten best records of 1964. Well, because it is. Some of the best harmonies ever recorded are present here. Give a listen to "We Three Kings of Orient Are" and you'll see what I mean. Yes it's not rock 'n' roll this record. It's not blues, it's not R & B, not jazz, it's Christmas. It's a few Christmas standards done so sweetly, you'll want to cry. And added to those few standards are a few Brian Wilson originals that just plain make Christmas fun.

Yes, there is a deeper meaning to Christmas, but I believe the man whose birthday we celebrate on that day would get up and dance himself to "Little St. Nick" and I just know he'd approve of "The Man With All the Toys". "Blue Christmas" is a gorgeous song and one of the only two songs on this disc that runs over three minutes. Much of the rest of the music is short, punchy, harmonic and fun. Yes, fun, the Beach Boys version of Christmas puts fun in the mix, right where it should be.

But they don't leave out the true meaning, they give you "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Auld Lang Syne", songs which remind us that there is more to Christmas and Santa Claus. This record gives you Christmas in all it's glory and it's one you can play all year round, I know I do.