Recorded 1970–1977 Artist The Beach Boys Producers Al Jardine, Ron Altbach | Length 33:38 Genre Christmas music | |
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Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys
(1977) California Feeling
(1977) Label Warner Bros. Records (rejected) Similar The Beach Boys albums, Christmas music albums | ||
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, the album would have followed their twenty-first studio album Love You (1977) and their only Christmas-themed album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964). Its content was a mixture of original songs penned by the group and traditional standards.
Contents
The album was produced by Brian Wilson after the dissolution of Adult Child (unreleased), but ultimately rejected by Warner Bros. Records who was reportedly "highly skeptical" that Wilson was anywhere on it. Some of its recordings were later released on the 1998 compilation Ultimate Christmas.
Background
After Warners rejected the Beach Boys' 1977 album Adult/Child, the group submitted Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys in late 1977, but they were once again rejected, and the label demanded the band submit a regular studio album instead. New lyrics were overdubbed on to some of the original Christmas tracks the following spring, which, together with quickly penned new material, formed the basis of a new album entitled California Feeling, named after an original song recorded in 1975 which Brian refused to include on the album. The track listing was revised a final time in 1978, when their twenty-second LP was finally published as M.I.U. Album.
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", and "Christmas Time Is Here Again", all of which were variously recorded between 1970 and 1976. Other songs worked on during these sessions would later be reworked for M.I.U. Album. These include that album's "Belles of Paris" and "Kona Coast", conceived as "Bells of Christmas" and "Melekalikimaka" (also known as "Kona Christmas").
Track listing
Track sequencing adapted from Andrew Doe.
{{tracklist | headline = | extra_column = Lead vocals | writing_credits = yes
| title1 = Christmas Time Is Here Again | writer1 = Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Al Jardine | extra1 = Brian Wilson | length1 = 3:05
| title2 = Child of Winter (Christmas Song) | writer2 = Brian Wilson, Stephen Kalinich | extra2 = B. Wilson | length2 = 2:51
| title3 = Winter Symphony | writer3 = B. Wilson | extra3 = B. Wilson | length3 = 3:02
| title4 = Michael Row the Boat Ashore | writer4 = traditional | extra4 = B. Wilson | length4 = 3:40
| title5 = Seasons in the Sun | writer5 = Jacques Brel, Rod McKuen | extra5 = Terry Jacks | length5 = 3:21
| title6 = Morning Christmas | writer6 = Dennis Wilson | extra6 = Dennis Wilson | length6 = 3:26
Songs
1Santa's Got an Airplane3:09
2Alone on Christmas Day2:52
3Go and Get That Girl3:15