Christmas with the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 5, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0002Y4TY2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,514 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The never-out-of-style Beach Boys do a great job convincing the world that a SoCal Christmas is as snowy and cold as the rest of the world's winter wonderland. Featuring the classic "Little St. Nick," Christmas with the Beach Boys also offers the immense pleasure of the group's inimitable harmonies, arranged by one whose ear is that of an angelic choir director--resident L.A. genius Brian Wilson. Included are a couple of outtakes, a promotional tape for a local toy drive, and a brief interview with Brian about the record. But the real joys are the rearrangements of staples like "Blue Christmas," "We Three Kings of Orient Are," and "Auld Lang Syne," all featuring that unmistakable Beach Boys sound. Even the originals, including "The Man with All the Toys," "Child of Winter," and the intriguing "Winter Symphony," blend the magic of the season with the wonders of the boys from the beach. --Martin Keller

Product Description
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: BEACH BOYS
Title: CHRISTMAS WITH THE BEACH BOYS
Street Release Date: 10/05/2004
Domestic
Genre: XMAS VOCAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sun & Snowdrops, January 3, 2005

By	Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the Beach Boys Christmas album, which has be reissued many time over-which is an indication of how good it is. The Beach Boys are famous for the car antics, but there is a spiritual, and holy side to them, and this album bring it to the forefront. This should not surprise anyone familiar with Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son), who still wears leather jackets and drives Harleys from his "Wild Oats" days.

This arrangement reflects the original 1964 album, with the first half (tracks 1-6) being the Beach Boys teenager music, and the second half (tracks 6-12) being the more artistic side. This arraignment was the usual format for "Today" and "Summer Days (and nights)" -as if they wanted to hid Brian Wilson and his proto-Pet Sounds on the B-sides of their albums.

I think their version of "We Three Kings" is the highlight of the entire album-It brings you to tears.

The second half of the CD has the hidden gems. It has the alternate versions of "Little Saint Nick," sung to "Drive In," and the a capella "Aud Lang Syne," without Denny's Christmas Message.

The most surprising tracks were "Mele Kalikemaka" and "Bells of Christmas," which were originally tracks from the MIU album: "Kona Coast" and "Bells of Paris." As the liner notes indicate, they did an abortive second Christmas Alum which morphed into MIU.

For the history of "Santa's Got An Airplane," get a copy of "Endless Harmony" (ASIN: B00004R95Y). this was an old track of Al Jardine's which has been reworked twice. It's a fun song, with chord progressions similar to "Got To Know The Woman."

I am grateful that Capitol is releasing these lost tracks that only a die hard Beach Boys fan could love. The only drawback is that that they left "The Lord's Prayer" off of this album. It is a wonderful a capella piece that was the B-side to "Little Saint Nick." This track belong on this album, and with the CD being 58 minutes, there is plenty of space for the two minuet song.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a rip off, but a glorious rip off., November 27, 2004

By	J. Hinchcliffe (Atlantic City NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like the person who previously left a comment has said, this is exactly the same as the other Beach Boys release "The Ultimate Christmas" with one song missing. However, i personally haven't ever seen that release sold anywhere, and i only have a copy that my friend made me. So even though that release already exists, it's still cool that they decided to re-release it for this years holiday season, since it's a top notch Christmas album with wonderful Christmas songs that i listen to every holiday season ever since i discovered it.

The first half is better than the other half, since it's essentially the original Beach Boys Christmas album that was officially released in 1964. They were in their prime then, and their voices are gorgeous as usual. Perfect for these songs, including the cute little pop tunes that Brian wrote himself, like the big Christmas season hit "Little Saint Nick". Out of the seasonal covers, "Blue Christmas" is my favorite. We won't hear Brian singing this beautifully solo until around the Pet Sounds album.

The second half is also very enjoyable, but not as good since this is the late 70s now, and needless to say the Beach Boys aren't as good as they used to be. That's really nit-picking though since it's really nice to have more Beach Boys Christmas songs besides just the original 1964 album. My favorites include the flopped obscure 1974 single "Child Of Winter", the absolutely gorgeous and romantic "Morning Christmas" by Dennis Wilson, and Brian's "Winter Symphony". The rest are quite good as well, only complaint here is that some of the songs are actually tunes from the 1978 album MIU turned into Christmas songs. That's not the group's fault though because these Christmas songs came first before they were rejected by the record company.

So if you don't already have these Christmas songs, definitely buy! It's one of the best Christmas albums out there it'll be a perfect addition to your Christmas music collection. If you already have the Ultimate Christmas release, then don't bother. Nothing new on here, and it's just a re-release to take advantage of the holiday season. Needless to say, i hope that more people buy it and discover either the Beach Boys's music as a whole, or at least appreciate them through Christmas songs. I personally can't wait to hear this album again, as i've been saving it for the holiday season.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a duplicate release.....why bother?, November 7, 2004

By	LuckyDan (USA) - See all my reviews

Same thing....different cover.

Buy the previously released The Beach Boys "Ultimate Christmas" CD. It has all these songs plus the additional song "Christmas Time Is Here Again"
I rate THAT album 5 stars.
No point in rating this album or buying it when the formal release is still available.