The Beach Boys – Christmas Recordings

Back in July, I posted a Beach Box 1964 box set looking at the recordings the band made that year. I did note back then get I would have a dedicated post for the Christmas recordings made in that year, so here it is.

As with most recordings made for the festive season, these took place in the summer. More specifically, June of 1964. That is, except for the ‘Little Saint Nick’ single (along with its B-Side, ’The Lords Prayer’) which was recorded in 1963, and therefore, is not be included here. The original album came out on 9th November 1964, but I moved it back a month to be closer to the festive season. 

I have included a different version of ‘Little Saint Nick’. Called ‘Little Saint Nick’s Drive-In”, it has the lyrics of ‘Little Saint Nick’ but over the tune of ‘Drive-In’ from the ‘All Summer Long’ album. It was not clear if this was recorded in 1963 or 1964, so I have gone with the latter. 

Some for the songs on this compilation were not released at the time and are from later reissues. These tend to be released mixed in stereo only. The takes for the song ‘Christmas Day’ are a bit confusing as to their numbers, but this what the studio engineer seems to be saying on the sessions tracks and what they were listed as on the sleeves on the records. 

Merry Christmas everyone. 

1 – Complete Christmas Album Era Sessions (Bootleg)

2 – Christmas Sessions (Bootleg)

3 – The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album

4 – The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album (1991 Reissue)

5 – Keep an Eye On Summer: The Beach Boys Sessions 1964

6 – Ultimate Christmas

Disc 1

1. Little Saint Nick – Drive In Version (Backing Vocal Overdub) – 1
2. Little Saint Nick – Drive In Version (Vocal Take 1b) – 2 
3. Little Saint Nick – Drive In Version (Vocal Take 3b) – 2
4. Little Saint Nick – Drive In Version (Vocal Take 4b) – 2
5. Little Saint Nick – Drive In Version (Stereo) – 4
6. The Man With All The Toys (Backing Track) – 2
7. The Man With All The Toys (Instrumental Overdub) – 2
8. The Man With All The Toys (Vocal Overdub) – 2
9. The Man With All The Toys (Mono) – 3
10. The Man With All The Toys (Stereo) – 3
11. Santa’s Beard (Instrumental Takes 1-13) – 2
12. Santa’s Beard (Instrumental Takes 14 & 15) – 2
13. Santa’s Beard (Instrumental Takes 16-21) – 2 
14. Santa’s Beard (Instrumental Unknown Take) – 2
15. Santa’s Beard (Stereo Mix) – 2 
16. Santa’s Beard (Vocal Overdub) – 2
17. Santa’s Beard (Mono) – 3
18. Santa’s Beard (Stereo) – 3
19. Merry Christmas, Baby (Instrumental Takes 1-6) – 2
20. Merry Christmas, Baby (Instrumental Takes 7, 8 & 9) – 2
21. Merry Christmas, Baby (Instrumental Take 10) – 2
22. Merry Christmas, Baby (1st Vocal Overdub) – 2
23. Merry Christmas, Baby (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 2
24. Merry Christmas, Baby (Mono) – 3
25. Merry Christmas, Baby (Stereo) – 3
26. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Vocal Overdub) – 2
27. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Mono) – 3
28. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Stereo) – 3
29. Jingle Bells (Instrumental Mix Take 1) – 5
30. Jingle Bells (Instrumental Take 4) – 2
31. Jingle Bells (Inner Cuts 1 & 2, Take 4) – 2

Disc 2

1. Christmas Day (Try-Out Takes 12-18) – 2
2. Christmas Day (Try Out Takes 19-24) – 2
3. Christmas Day (Instrumental Takes 1 & 2) – 2
4. Christmas Day (Instrumental Takes 3-8) – 2
5. Christmas Day (Instrumental Take 1) – 2
6. Christmas Day (Instrumental Takes 2-6) – 2
7. Christmas Day (Instrumental Take 7) – 2
8. Christmas Day (Instrumental Overdub Take 7) – 2
9. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub Take 7) – 2
10. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 1a) – 2
11. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 3a) – 2
12. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 4a) – 2
13. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 6a) – 2
14. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 7a) – 2
15. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 8a) – 2
16. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 9a) – 2
17. Christmas Day (Vocal Overdub 10a) – 2
18. Christmas Day (Vocal Mix) – 2
19. Christmas Day (Mono) – 3
20. Christmas Day (Stereo) -3
21. Frosty The Snowman (1st Vocal Overdub) – 2
22. Frosty The Snowman (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 2
23. Frosty The Snowman (Mono) – 3
24. Frosty The Snowman (Stereo) – 3
25. Blue Christmas (Instrumental Takes 2 & 3) – 2
26. Blue Christmas (1st Vocal Overdub Take 4a) – 2
27. Blue Christmas (1st Vocal Overdub Takes 5a, 6a & 7a) – 2
28. Blue Christmas (1st Vocal Overdub Take 8a) – 2
29. Blue Christmas (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 2
30. Blue Christmas (Mono) – 3
31. Blue Christmas (Stereo) – 3
32. Christmas Eve (Instrumental Mix) – 5

Disc 3 

1. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (1st Vocal Overdub Takes 1, 2 & 3) – 2
2. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (1st Vocal Overdub Take 6) – 2
3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (2nd Vocal Overdub Takes 1a, 2a, 3a & 4a) – 2
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Vocal Inner Cut 1) – 2
5. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Vocal Inner Cut 2 Take 4) – 2
6. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Vocal Inner Cut 2 Takes 5 & 6) – 2
7. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Mono) – 3
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Stereo) – 3
9. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Intro Take 1) – 2
10. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Intro Takes 4 & 5) – 2
11. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Alternate Intro Takes 1-7) – 2
12. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Alternate Intro Takes 10-18) – 2
13. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Alternate Intro Takes 20-24) – 2
14. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Vocal Overdub Take 3a) – 2
15. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Vocal Overdub Take 4a) – 2
16. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Mono) – 3
17. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Stereo) – 3
18. White Christmas (Instrumental Takes 2 & 3) – 2
19. White Christmas (1st Vocal Overdub) – 2
20. White Christmas (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 2
21. White Christmas (3rd Vocal Overdub) – 2
22. White Christmas (4th Vocal Overdub) – 2
23. White Christmas (Mono) – 3
24. White Christmas (Stereo) – 3
25. Auld Lang Syne (Session) – 2
26. Auld Lang Syne (Undubbed) – 2
27. Auld Lang Syne (Vocal Stereo Overdub) – 2
28. Auld Lang Syne (Alternate Take – No Narration) – 4
29. Auld Lang Syne (Alternate Version) – 6
30. Auld Lang Syne (Mono) – 3
31. Auld Lang Syne (Stereo) -3

Please follow the link to see the post from July – https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/the-beach-boys-1964/