Some groovy stocking stuffers... |
This page started out just for The Beatles famous Fan Club Flexi-discs; and then I got carried away and decided to add other Christmassy releases too. Just a sampling. 2020 Update: Added Rhino's four great rock compilations to the new bottom section. |
The Beatles issued 7 Christmas-themed flexi-discs (double-sided in 68 & 69) to British fans as Christmas presents "From Them To You." Unforunately, the colonists did not receive all of these discs, instead they got postcards! In 1964, Vee-Jay sent an edited version of the 1963 disc, pressed onto a part of a three-fold cardboard card. In 1968, US fans received their copy, but in an edited 1967 sleeve. In 1969, both sets of fans received the same sleeve and contents, but the US disc had a drawing of The Beatles. In 1970, The Beatles Christmas Record, a 12" vinyl disc containing all the previous material was sent to both fan clubs. All single recording listed below are the UK issues. The album, US. |
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The Beatles Christmas Record The Beatles (5:00) Lyntone 492, 12/6/63 |
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Another Beatles Christmas Record The Beatles (3:58) Lyntone 757, 12/18/64 |
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The Beatles' Third Christmas Record The Beatles (6:20) Lyntone 948, 12/17/65 |
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Pantomime: Everywhere It's Christmas The Beatles (6:36) Lyntone 1145, 12/16/66 Sleeve design by Paul McCartney |
Song: Everywhere It's Christmas (0:32) |
Orowanyna (Corsican Choir And Small Choir) (0:50) |
A Rare Cheese (Two Elderly Scotsmen) (0:28) |
The Feast (0:47) |
The Loyal Toast (0:27) |
Podgy The Bear And Jasper (0:52) |
Felpin Mansions: Part One (Count Balder And Butler) (0:41) |
Felpin Mansions: Part Two (The Count And The Pianist) (0:23) |
Song: Please Don't Bring Your Banjo Back (0:43) |
Mal: Everywhere It's Christmas (0:04) |
Reprise: Everywhere It's Christmas (0:48) |
Note: The only Christmas record with a break out of the recording.
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Christmas Time is Here Again! The Beatles (6:06) Lyntone 1360, 12/15/67 Sleeve design by Julian Lennon, John Lennon and Ringo Starr |
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The Beatles Sixth Christmas Record The Beatles (7:48) Lyntone 1743/4, 12/20/68 |
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The Beatles' Seventh Christmas Record The Beatles (7:39) Beatles Fan Club, 12/19/69 Back cover art by Ringo and son Zak |
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The Beatles Christmas Album |
Apple SBC-100 | |
12/18/70 | |
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1963 | The Beatles | 5:08 |
1964 | The Beatles | 4:02 |
1965 | The Beatles | 6:27 |
1966 | The Beatles | 6:43 |
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1967 | The Beatles | 6:11 |
1968 | The Beatles | 7:53 |
1969 | The Beatles | 7:39 |
Note: This long player was sent to Fan Club members.
Only Christmas Time Is Here Again has been "officially" released (CD single, 1995). There are plenty of ways to secure copies of these records, if you search correctly. Be on the lookout for snatches from live BBC shows during the Christmas time-frame - there's some neat stuff going on! |
Indivdidually, members of The Beatles also released Christmas records: John (Happy Xmas (War Is Over)), Paul (Wonderful Christmas Time, 1979) and Ringo (I Wanna Be Santa Claus, 1999 album) and for New Years, George (Ding Dong Ding Dong, 1974). |
Beatle Bonus Booklet |
Every Christmas I used to make special CDs for friends of ours (but no more than 10-15). One year it was >8 hours of the Nutcracker Suite, in various guises (straight, jazz, etc). In 2012, a multi-media disc![]() |
Being a graphics designer, an accompanying booklet was always made highlighting what was on that years' disc. Here's an edited PDF of The Beatles portion of that years' booklet. You'll never know what those 72 bonus songs were! |
There are thousands of Christmas recordings, with a few hundred fitting into our time frame. Besides quality songs released by Motown acts, James Brown, and many others, here are just a few that stand out. |
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Derrik Roberts There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas In The Jungle) / A World Without Sunshine Roulette 4656, 11/65 |
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Johnny & Jon Christmas In Viet Nam / Why Did You Leave Me? Jewel 776, 11/66 |
Note: Randy's Hip Christmas has a great page on Christmas in Vietnam
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Bob Seger & The Last Heard Sock It To Me Santa / Florida Time Cameo 444, 11/66 |
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The Blues Magoos Jingle Bells / Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Mercury 72762, 12/67 you found the way! |
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Christmas Spirit Christmas Is My Time Of Year / Will You Still Believe In Me White Whale 290, 12/68 Pseudonym for The Turtles with Linda Ronstadt |
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Canned Heat & The Chimpmunks The Chipmunk Song / Christmas Blues Liberty 56079, 11/68 Canned Heat only on B-side |
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Jethro Tull Love Story / A Christmas Song Island WIP 6048 [UK], 11/68 I see you found more! |
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Otis Redding Merry Christmas Baby / White Christmas Atco 6631, 11/68 Bruce Springsteen used this arrangement of Baby for his 1986 recording |
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Rocki Lane & The Gross Group Happy Hairy Hippy Harry Claus / Santa Soul Epic 5-10556, 11/69 |
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Zebra Christmas Morning (Part I) / Christmas Morning (Part II) Blue Thumb BLU-109, 11/69 Born again Sean Bonniwell—nothing like Music Machine |
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Cheech & Chong Santa Claus And His Old Lady / Dave Ode 66021, 12/71 |
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Leon Russell Slipping Into Christmas / Christmas In Chicago Shelter 7328, 12/72 |
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Jimi Hendrix Little Drummer Boy / Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne Reprise PRO 595 (DJ Promo), 74 Recorded in 1969, released to DJs in 1974 |
Selected Album Cuts
The Pause Of Mr Claus | Arlo Guthrie (Arlo) | 1968 |
Greensleeves | Jeff Beck Group (Truth) | 1968 |
Christmas | The Who (Tommy) | 1969 |
The 25th Of December 1969 | May Blitz (The 2nd Of May [UK LP]) | 1971 |
River | Joni Mitchell (Blue) | 1971 |
Beside The Beach Boys' 1964 Christmas Album, Joan Baez' 1966 Noël, and Rotary Connection's 1968 Peace; here are a few complete Christmassy albums. |
A truly odd record, and NOT what the Columbia execs were expecting: read about it! |
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A Christmas Present...And Past |
Columbia CS-9555 | |
10/67 [UK: N/R] | |
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Introduction | Lindsay-Melcher | 2:01 |
Wear A Smile At Christmas | Lindsay-Melcher | 1:32 |
Jingle Bells | Pierpont | 3:07 |
Brotherly Love | Lindsay-Melcher | 2:09 |
Rain, Sleet, Snow | Lindsay-Melcher | 2:51 |
Peace | Lindsay-Melcher | 3:17 |
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Valley Forge | Lindsay-Melcher | 3:02 |
Dear Mr Claus | Lindsay-Melcher | 2:33 |
Macy's Window | Lindsay-Melcher | 1:29 |
Christmas Spirit | Lindsay-Melcher | 2:02 |
A Heavy Christmas Message | Lindsay-Melcher | 3:15 |
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Help Put The 'X' Back In Xmas (EP) |
MTC | |
1971 | |
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Side One | ||
Introduction by S Claus | - | 1:00 |
Canabis Is Coming To Town | - | 1:23 |
Medley | - | 2:56 |
Side Two | ||
White Christmas | - | 1:19 |
12 Drugs of Christmas | - | 3:21 |
Closing by S Claus | - | 0:20 |
Can't forget the other "King" |
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Santa Claus Is Back In Town / Blue Christmas Leiber-Stoller (2:21) / Hayes-Johnson (2:05) RCA Gold Standard 447-0647, 11/65 From the 1957 classic: Elvis' Christmas Album. Neither had been released as singles before now. |
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If Every Day Was Like Christmas¹ / How Would You Like To Be West (2:51) / Raleigh-Narkan (3:26) RCA 47-8950, 11/66 |
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Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas |
RCA Victor LSP-4579 | |
10/71 [UK: 11/71] | |
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![]() | O Come, All Ye Faithful† | arr Presley | 2:47 |
The First Noel† | arr Presley | 2:08 |
On A Snowy Christmas Night† | Gelber | 2:46 |
Winter Wonderland | Smith-Bernard | 2:17 |
The Wonderful World Of Christmas† | Tobias-Frisch | 1:55 |
It Won't Seem Like Christmas† | Balthrop | 2:38 |
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I'll Be Home On Christmas Day† | Jarrett | 3:46 |
If I Get Home On Christmas Day† | Macaulay | 2:50 |
Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees† | West-Spreen | 2:12 |
Merry Christmas Baby | Baxter-Moore | 5:45 |
Silver Bells† | Evans-Livingston | 2:27 |
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Merry Christmas Baby³ / O Come All Ye Faithful Baxter-Moore (3:15) / arr Presley (2:45) RCA 74-0572, 11/71 |
Everyone knows that this magnificent record was originally released on what turned out to be the worst day of the 60s: Nov 22, 1963. Over the years, though, it has rightly assumed the status of the best rock 'n' roll Christmas album ever made. Just three years after this Apple Records release, Warner-Spector issued a true stereo version. |
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Phil Spector's Christmas Album |
Apple SW-3400 | |
12/72 RS500 [UK: 12/72] | |
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White Christmas | Darlene Love | 2:45 |
Frosty The Snowman | The Ronettes | 2:19 |
The Bells Of St Mary's | Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans | 2:30 |
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | The Crystals | 2:29 |
Sleigh Ride | The Ronettes | 3:45 |
Marshmallow World | Darlene Love | 2:30 |
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I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | The Ronettes | 2:29 |
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer | The Crystals | 2:20 |
Winter Wonderland | Darlene Love | 2:32 |
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers | The Crystals | 3:00 |
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) | Darlene Love | 2:30 |
Here Comes Santa Claus | Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans | 2:24 |
Silent Night | Phil Spector And Artists | 2:08 |
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Darlene Love Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) / Harry And Milt Meet Hal B. Philles 119, 12/63 Another one of Phil's no DJ playable b-sides |
2020 Update: In the 80s, James Austin at Rhino Records put together these four Christmas Compilation albums. Since all (except one) of the original recordings are before 1971 (and some are noted in the Singles section), they belong here.
And that one recording was by three of the pre-fab four, so it's definitely welcome here. |
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Rockin' Christmas—The 50s |
Rhino Records RNLP-066 | |
11/84 [UK: N/R] | |
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Three Aces And A Joker | Sleigh Bell Rock | 1960 |
Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers | Dig That Crazy Santa Claus | 1954 |
The Penguins | Jingle Jangle | 1955 |
The Moods | Rockin' Santa Claus | 1960 |
The Hepsters | Rockin N Rollin With Santa Claus | 1955 |
The Youngsters | Christmas In Jail | 1956 |
The Moonglows | Just A Lonely Christmas | 1953 |
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Bobby Helms | Jingle Bell Rock | 1957 |
Cathy Sharpe | North Pole Rock | 1960 |
Buchanan & Goodman | Santa & The Satellite, Part 1 & Part 2 | 1957 |
The Moonglows | Hey Santa Claus | 1953 |
Ron Holden | Who Says There Ain't No Santa Claus? | 1960 |
The Rockin' Stockin | Yulesville USA | 1960 |
Marvin & Johnny | It's Christmas | 1958 |
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Rockin' Christmas—The 60s |
Rhino Records RNLP-067 | |
11/84 [UK: N/R] | |
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Christmas Spirit | Christmas Is My Time Of Year | 1968 |
Santo & Johnny | Twistin' Bells | 1960 |
Nathaniel Mayer His Fabulous Twilights | Mr. Santa Claus | 1962 |
The Turtles [The Crossfires] | Santa And The Sidewalk Surfer | c1965 |
The Poets | Merry Christmas Baby | 1965 |
Barry Richards | Baby Sittin' Santa | 1962 |
The Sonics | Don't Believe In Christmas | 1965 |
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The Trashmen | Dancing With Santa | 1964 |
Paul Revere & The Raiders | Wear A Smile At Christmas | 1967 |
Aretha Franklin | Winter Wonderland | 1964 |
Bobby "Boris" Pickett | Monster's Holiday | 1962 |
The Wailers | Christmas Spirit | 1965 |
James Brown & The Famous Flames | Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year | 1966 |
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Cool Yule |
Rhino Records RNLP-70073 | |
11/86 [UK: N/R] | |
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Chuck Berry | Run Rudolph Run | 1958 |
The Marquees | Santa Done Got Hip | 1959 |
Solomon Burke | Presents For Christmas | 1966 |
Bud Logan | Sock It To Me Santa | 1968 |
The Drifters | White Christmas | 1954 |
Ike & Tina Turner | Merry Christmas Baby | 1964 |
Jack Scott | There's Trouble Brewin' | 1963 |
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The Marquees | Christmas In The Congo | 1958 |
Booker T & The MGs | Jingle Bells | 1966 |
The Surfaris | Surfer's Christmas List | 1963 |
Paul & Paula | Holiday Hootenannny | 1963 |
Clarence Carter | Back Door Santa | 1968 |
James Brown | Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto | 1968 |
Edd "Kookie" Byrnes | Yulesville | 1959 |
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Cool Yule, Vol 2 |
Rhino Records R1-70193 | |
11/88 [UK: N/R] | |
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Johnny Preston | (I Want A) Rock And Roll Guitar | 1960 |
Brenda Lee | Papa Noel | 1958 |
The Uniques | Please Come Home For Christmas | 1966 |
The Harmony Grits | Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | 1959 |
Jack Scott | Jingle Bells Slide | 1963 |
The Martels | Rockin' Santa Claus | 1959 |
Chuck Berry | Merry Christmas Baby | 1958 |
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The Marcels | Merry Twist-Mas | 1961 |
Gary Walker | Santa's Got A Brand New Bag | 1966 |
Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns | Silent Night | 1962 |
Honey & The Bees | Jing Jing A Ling | 1970 |
Gary "US" Bonds | Call Me For Christmas | 1967 |
The Sonics | Santa Claus | 1965 |
Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz & Peter Tork | Christmas Is My Time Of Year | 1976 |
There are so many more that I'd like to add, but you & I don't have the time! Check out Randy's Hip Christmas if you need more... |