As the Beach Boys sang, Christmas comes this time each year, and if there's one thing we need this time of year its Christmas music. In order to meet this obligation, I went out recently and purchased Christmas With the Beach Boys. I had read earlier that this CD is actually a compilation of two Beach Boys vinyl Christmas albums, so my expectations were not high. I fully expected a low-fidelity, monophonic collection. Instead, I found that this 25-track collection contains only one song recorded in mono; the rest are all in fabulous stereo with many of them wonderfully produced and arranged by Dick Reynolds. Reynolds worked with The Four Freshman who had a tremendous influence on the young Brian Wilson.
The collection includes not one but three versions of the huge seasonal hit, Little St. Nick - a plain version, the '63 single version and a unique alternate version that only be described as fun, fun, fun (the story about Santa's sled being, in fact, a cleverly disguised hot-rod song). The Man With All The Toys, the number 3 single of the 1964 Christmas season, is also included. The Man... has a great stereo mix with a very audible bass line.
Another track with a great bass line is the very Elvis-like Merry Christmas Baby. The legend is that one of Elvis' own bass players put down the bouncy bottom on this one. Then there's Christmas Day, the first time Alan Jardine sang a lead vocal on a Beach Boys song. A year later Al was to sing the lead on Help Me, Rhonda. Which goes to show that they should have let him sing lead more often.
Frosty the Snowman is beautifully produced and arranged by Reynolds and sounds like something from a 60s TV special. I could go on and on, track by track, but I'll instead comment on only a few more songs...
Blue Christmas is just Brian singing Elvis' hit in front of an arrangement seemingly made for Sinatra. This one is simply awfully nice. It was a very good Christmas.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town recalls Brian's fondness for Dean Martin. This silly, goofy, arrangement is one that Dean would have loved! Santa's Got An Airplane will appeal to, and make sense for, fans of the Endless Harmony CD/DVD. Winter Song is another example - as if the world needed it - of Brian's genius, a Blood, Sweat and Tears/Chicago-style track.
White Christmas, the old Bing Crosby-staple, is re-invented as a Pet Sounds-style track (Caroline no). I'll Be Home for Christmas features the Beach Boys as The Four Freshman.
Melekalikimaka is a Hawaiian Christmas song, recorded in 1977, that fans of the single Kokomo will love. Finally, Bells of Christmas brings back memories... of a Beach Boys song called Don't Worry, Baby.
The only flaws with this collection are that, first, it ends with Brian explaining it in an interview that should have been placed as track one (as a prelude to the music rather than a conclusion); and, second, that it is over in just 58 minutes and 55 seconds. But, again, the sound is absolutely glorious - such a rarity in these days of harsh CDs - and may leave you thinking that maybe Christmas should come around more than just once each year.
Highly, highly recommended!
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