Starting in 1963, the Beatles started recording and releasing a special 6 or 7 minutes Christmas single, in the shape of a 7 inch flexidisc (looks like a single, but is thinner and made of plastic), which they had distributed to members of their official fan club. These records are very rare today and difficult to get hold of. There have been several releases that include outakes, alternates, etc. These are the original recordings as The Beatles released them.
01. The Beatles Christmas Record
December 6, 1963
Christmas greetings and other things a comical rendition of “Good King Wenceslas” and towards the end the chorus from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Marks).
02. Another Beatles Christmas Record
December 18, 1964
Includes the classic “Jingle Bells,” individual greetings and the ending jingle “Can You Wash Your Father’s Shirts?”
03. The Beatles Third Christmas Record
December 17, 1965
Contains “Yesterday,” “Happy Christmas to Ya List’nas,” “Auld Land Syne,” the Four Top’s “It’s the Same Old Song” and “Christmas Comes But Once a Year.”
04. The Beatles Fourth Christmas Record Pantomime: Everywhere It’s Christmas
December 16, 1966
A Monty Python-like record (or to be more accurate, the Goon Shows) , with amongst other things “Everywhere It’s Christmas,” “Orowanya,” “Please Don’t Bring Your Banjo Back” and the dramatic mini-play “Podgy the Bear and Jasper Visit Felpin Mansions.”
05. Christmas Time Is Here Again!
December 15, 1967
Includes the rocking “Christmas Time is Here Again,” “Plenty of Jam Jars” (performed by fictional band the “Revellers”), and finally John’s poem “When Christmas Time is Over.”
06. The Beatles 1968 Christmas Record
December 20, 1968
A collage of sounds and Fab greetings, including “Happy Christmas, Happy New Year,” Johns poem “Jock & Yono” and “Once Upon a Pool Table.” Guest-appearing artist Tiny Tim destroys “Nowhere Man”.
07. The Beatles Seventh Christmas Record
December 19, 1969
A visit to John and Yoko in their home, Ringo plugs his movie “The Magic Christian” and Paul sings “This is to Wish You a Merry, Merry Christmas.” George is featured only briefly.
Downloading is a little confusing. Any pointers?
ReplyDeleteWait for the download links to load then click on one. I suggest Rapidgator or Uploaded, they seem to be the most reliable.
Deletethanks.
Deletehope it worked. It's getting harder and harder to find good hosting sites
DeleteThis is cool. I was just reading about these and how collectable they are.
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much, Thull. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the music. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI managed to DL via Bayfiles - finally. Have no intent of getting some obscure installer exe-file from some dark corner of the net :-)
B from Sweden