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Most fans are pretty familiar with the Beatles Christmas messages: the annual holiday greetings delivered on flexi-discs to fan club members from 1963 through 1969. But in this episode, Richard and Robert present a deeper examination of the effort put into the production of these unique recordings, offering rare outtakes and sounds NOT heard on the collection issued in 1970.
Songs include “Christmas Time Is Here Again.”
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So… You are a massive Beatles fan. You have waited for a lifetime it seems for the fabled ‘threeunion’ and you have marvelled at the world premiere of the Free as a Bird video, rewound the VHS recording fifty times trying to spot all the references and all is right with the world.
Then they ruin it by putting perhaps the weakest shit ever on the B-Side.
I hated it on bootleg. I hated it when officially released and I still hate it.
I understand that they wanted to get as much cash out of the Anthology material so the ideal of having a twin a-side of FaaB and Real Love was not commercially sensible, but for a band with a reputation for providing value in terms of singles (even shaving Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane from Pepper to maintain that standard) it seemed uncharacteristic and cynical.
Happy (Merry) Christmas anyway fellas… Goodwill to all listeners and Peace.
So… You are a massive Beatles fan. You have waited for a lifetime it seems for the fabled ‘threeunion’ and you have marvelled at the world premiere of the Free as a Bird video, rewound the VHS recording fifty times trying to spot all the references and all is right with the world.
Then they ruin it by putting perhaps the weakest shit ever on the B-Side.
I hated it on bootleg. I hated it when officially released and I still hate it.
I understand that they wanted to get as much cash out of the Anthology material so the ideal of having a twin a-side of FaaB and Real Love was not commercially sensible, but for a band with a reputation for providing value in terms of singles (even shaving Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane from Pepper to maintain that standard) it seemed uncharacteristic and cynical.
Happy (Merry) Christmas anyway fellas… Goodwill to all listeners and Peace.
That “Think For Yourself” tape makes me feel bad for Harrison. He’s trying to get a useable backing vocal track on “his” song while John and Paul keep cutting up. You’ll notice George doesn’t join in on the “hilarity.” And, of course, Ringo is nowhere to be heard.
Actually George DOES join in with the others. “What is this Wrath!” is George. George is breaking up as much as John and Paul. Ringo’s not there because he probably wasn’t needed to sing on a track… that he doesn’t sing on.
That “Think For Yourself” tape makes me feel bad for Harrison. He’s trying to get a useable backing vocal track on “his” song while John and Paul keep cutting up. You’ll notice George doesn’t join in on the “hilarity.” And, of course, Ringo is nowhere to be heard.
Actually George DOES join in with the others. “What is this Wrath!” is George. George is breaking up as much as John and Paul. Ringo’s not there because he probably wasn’t needed to sing on a track… that he doesn’t sing on.
“Christmas Time is Here Again”… man, had they just fixed the whole “O-U-T spells Out” and made it something having to do with Christmas, that coulda been a cool track.
“Christmas Time is Here Again”… man, had they just fixed the whole “O-U-T spells Out” and made it something having to do with Christmas, that coulda been a cool track.
Wow, what a great show! Thank you so much and Happy Crimble to you both!
Wow, what a great show! Thank you so much and Happy Crimble to you both!
This has been a great listen. I’ve always loved the Christmas records and have been laughing out loud at some of these outtakes. Tremendous stuff.
Sincere thanks to Richard to Richard and Roberts for all your shows. I don’t know how you manage to produced such thoughtful, insightful shows as regularly as you do. Wishing you both a very happy Christmas and looking forward to more great shows next year!
This has been a great listen. I’ve always loved the Christmas records and have been laughing out loud at some of these outtakes. Tremendous stuff.
Sincere thanks to Richard to Richard and Roberts for all your shows. I don’t know how you manage to produced such thoughtful, insightful shows as regularly as you do. Wishing you both a very happy Christmas and looking forward to more great shows next year!
I first heard the Christmas records in their entirety when I was about 10 in the mid-seventies. It was part of an awesome radio show produced by WBCN in Boston which placed the records along side of each year’s music. I still have the cassette I recorded and then played over and over again.
Thanks for this great episode and for sharing some of the “bonus material ” that someday could grace the extended cd version. 😉
By the way, have you heard this? https://youtu.be/iUvCPkp0H0U
I first heard the Christmas records in their entirety when I was about 10 in the mid-seventies. It was part of an awesome radio show produced by WBCN in Boston which placed the records along side of each year’s music. I still have the cassette I recorded and then played over and over again.
Thanks for this great episode and for sharing some of the “bonus material ” that someday could grace the extended cd version. 😉
By the way, have you heard this? https://youtu.be/iUvCPkp0H0U
‘When Kenny Met the Fab Four’ BBC Radio 2 documentary on Kenny Everett, producer of the last two Xmas flexi’s. First broadcast on 21st December. If not accessible outside the UK try via a proxy site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08586h9
‘When Kenny Met the Fab Four’ BBC Radio 2 documentary on Kenny Everett, producer of the last two Xmas flexi’s. First broadcast on 21st December. If not accessible outside the UK try via a proxy site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08586h9
Another 60s band who made a fan Christmas record were Turquoise, an obscure act from Muswell Hill, London who sounded a lot like their neighbours The Kinks, and are most famous for the song ‘Tales of Flossie Fillet’. In 1968, they made this short but sweet Christmas message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rRqnhk4Vz8
Another 60s band who made a fan Christmas record were Turquoise, an obscure act from Muswell Hill, London who sounded a lot like their neighbours The Kinks, and are most famous for the song ‘Tales of Flossie Fillet’. In 1968, they made this short but sweet Christmas message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rRqnhk4Vz8