The Beach Boys All-In-The-Family Album
Comments/Observations by Phil Miglioratti
The Beach Boys, birthed as a garage band with some harmony thrown in, grew into an American phenomenon releasing a string of hit albums covering the surf music wave, the car craze, and surfer girls. "Best of The Beach Boys" fans often overlook the creative, even daring albums they recorded. Artists and critics from across the music spectrum praise the groundbreaking "Pet Sounds" ('66) and the mind-blowing "SMiLE" (studio tapes finally released some 40 year later) but overlook "Party!" ('65), possibly the first unplugged album by a rock group or "Concert" ('64), one of the earliest (and loudest) live shows by a rock and roll band. "Stack-O-Tracks" ('68), the first backing-track-only album, was ahead of it's time; a precursor to bootleg studio tapes (many bands are including similar bonus tracks on their new CD product).
Unnoticed in their catalogue of surfing music, teen testosterone car songs and odes to girls from New York City to California, is an album that actually appeals to the entire family. The only Beach Boys 33 and 1/3 that includes songs written for every generation; from the little ears of preschoolers to children, mom and dad (even grandparents!), as well as teenage rock and roll fans. Unnoticed because it has always been topically categorized, this All-In-The-Family album is otherwise known as "The Beach Boys Christmas Album." Repackaged several times by Capitol Records, it continues to sell, with several of the tunes appearing on numerous and varied compilation albums.
Yes, of course, the topics sung about in each song relate to Christmas (excluding Auld Lang Syne, a type of coda to the album that looks ahead a few days to New Year's Eve) but the diversity of age-group appeal is unparalleled in the entire Beach Boys catalog.
From its first release in October, 1964, it was immediately apparent that Brian Wilson had crafted an album of songs intended to appeal to at least two sets of listeners; side one for the emerging teenage audience they had won over only a few years earlier and tracks on the flip side of the long-play disc aimed at the traditional tastes of an older audience. That second side was arranged by Dick Reynolds who also arranged tunes for the Four Freshmen who's music had a huge influence on Brian Wilson. The big band and/orchestra sounds of the second side standards were in stark contrast to the rock and roll sounds of the first side … but if we carefully evaluate each tune, this is an album that appeals to more than rock and roll fans and the adult contemporary audience.
"Little Saint Nick," released as a Christmas single in 1963, was a Christmas "car" song for teenage guys. An alternative version of LSN, using the backing track from "Drive-In" which subsequently appeared on the All Summer Long album, was released in 1998 on the "Ultimate Christmas" CD, demonstrating this song was clearly aimed at the surf and drag crowd of young listeners who were in the process of making the Beach Boys both famous and rich.
"The Man With All The Toys," an upbeat rocker, told a story any 60's early elementary school kid would enjoy. Saint Nick is alive and well so don't forget to leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk when you go to bed Christmas Eve. Change the topic and you've got one of the earliest rock and roll songs that would grab kids who listen today to Disney radio.
"Santa's Beard" is a big brother-little brother tale that could have been about scores of other unrelated-to-Christmas mischievous messes older boys get into when unhappily put in charge of a younger sibling (walking to school, Friday night baby-sitting). Wally and the Beaver played out variations of a Santa's Beard storyline every week on CBS television.
"Merry Christmas Baby" tells the sad story of a teenage couple breaking up. Breaking up is hard to do during the Christmas season, but painful any time of year. Change the title (and lyrics) to, say, Lonely Summer, Baby and you've got a top ten hit.
"Christmas Day" might as well be sung and danced to by the Lawrence Welk singers and orchestra on their highly rated weekly musical variety show. Maybe this was Brian's idea of a song teenagers would like that their parents (and even grandparents) would to not object to. A tip-of-the-hat to Murry?
"Frosty The Snowman" may be the quintessential winter song for kids ... of all ages. Here is the family station wagon (the 60's version of the mini-van) sing-along song while driving to grandmother's house for Christmas (or any Sunday) dinner. Opening with Dick Reynolds' orchestra, the boys perform in a sing-along-with-Mitch (Miller) style.
"We Three Kings Of Orient Are" is well known as a traditional Christmas carol a family might have heard sung at the front door to their home by a roving band of Christmas carolers or while listening to the church choir. "Three Kings," the only song overtly about Christ on the album, explains why Christians celebrate Christmas but is similar to the non-Christmas hymns the Wilsons sang to praise the savior on other Sundays of the year at church. Possibly also considered for the album, the Beach Boys also recorded "The Lord's Prayer," the flip side to their "Little Saint Nick" single in 1963.
"Blue Christmas," released in 1957, may have appealed to an older sister or brother but is certainly a tune mom and dad would enjoy; especially mom. Moms, that is, who hear Brian in one ear and an easy-on-the-eyes Elvis crooning in the other. Loneliness is certainly not limited to Christmastime. Couples, young or old, married or engaged, would relate easily to the emotional pallet of the lyrics.
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," preformed as the biggest big band tune on the album, could have fit well with any of the late 50's early 60's prime time variety shows that served as stay-at-home-dates for mom and dad. Shows like the Andy Williams Show (on which we first heard the Osmonds) motivated dad to get off the couch, walk to the TV set and change the channel to one go the many musical variety shows of that day. A trip to the dance hall or night club without leaving home. A message for the kids but music for the adults.
"White Christmas" was a hit when grandma and grandpa were raising mom and dad in the 40's. A song to help Bing Crosby fans reminisce about more than Christmas. Irving Berlin's song evokes memories of simpler times, a frightening war, and a cozy fireplace. Beach Boys fans who skipped this one, raise your hands!
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" pulled on every adult's heart strings. An older sister or brother stranded at college or married and relocated to a distant state unable to return home for the Christmas holiday. A traveling salesman husband out beating the bushes for sales as the holiday approaches. Parents and grandparents longing to see an estranged family member. Is it possible this was one of the songs the Wilsons sang with Mike Love's family every Christmas?
"Auld Lang Syne" was a traditional Scottish tune sung on New Year's Eve as reminder about the importance of relationships, starting the new year fresh, even forgiven. Brian enlisted Dennis on the voice over that served as both a farewell coda and a look to future times together.
"The Beach Boys Christmas" album, though 100% holiday and holy day, was the one album Brian designed with the entire family in mind. Sure, true Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans enjoy every note of every song. But as we examine the primary target (rather than the holiday topic) of each song, we discover a collection of great early 60's recordings by a coming-of-age rock and roll band and its producer that relates to all ages in a variety of styles. Forty eight years ago Brian WIlson produced a two-sided album that continues to have musical interest for young children, school-age brothers (and sisters), dating teenagers, married couples, lonely lovers, nostalgic grandparents, family members watching TV on the living room couch together and families worshipping the Christ of Christmas. Not bad for a young man who endured some painful family episodes growing up.
Thank you Brian and boys for songs of peace and love, sadness and joy, snow and salvation that capture our hearts and ears at Christmas regardless of our generational identify. Merry Christmas to all.
NEXT ~ Summer Days (and Summer nIghts!) ~ The Quintessential Beach Boys Album
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OMG the christmas album is a great choice. But I,m biased when it comes to christmas anyway. Everything on that album works and Dick Reynolds arrangements with Benjamin Barrett conducting and the boys amazing vocals. Christmas Day matches Little Saint Nick anyday and the alternate Saint Nick to the Drive In track makes me smile. I,m sure Mike must have pulled a face or done something to make Brian burst into laughter around 1:49/50. I was always sad when Brian's Christmas Eve went unfinished. Perhaps it felt too similar in structure to Blue Christmas but I,ll tell you something.......when the 64 sessions were released on I Tunes in 2014 and I heard Christmas Eve, I began to cry. Maybe a vocal(which without doubt would have been Brian) dosent need to exsist. maybe the depth of emotion in the track speaks a hundred volumes. What I find interesting about Christmas Eve is that Brian was def experimenting. On the BBs own songs they handled all the instrumentation(with a bit of Ray Pohlman added) and the 41 piece on the traditional songs. And yet Christmas Eve is an original song and it was backed by the orchestra unlike the other originals. I think Brian was def testing the water and throughout the 12 days of the recording of the christmas album I,ll bet you Brian was studying and soaking up all there was to know about conducting. Its interesting that within a few months Brian would in fact add "conductor" to his many hats as we see on the Today album. Awesome choice Phil!!😉
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