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Post by kds on Dec 1, 2022 14:28:48 GMT
Best - Morning Christmas - This is really no contest for me. I remember the first time I listened to Ultimate Christmas. We were trimming the three. For the most part the 70s bonus tracks provided a pleasant background noise, but then....Morning Christmas came out of nowhere with a mean right hook to the feeling bone. Only The Beach Boys would leave something this good is the vaults for two decades. I think the similar melody to Happy Xmas (War is Over) first hooked me. (War is over, if you want it / holy holy, candle glowin'). There's also a similar melody that appears in the Ray Charles song That Spirit of Christmas, and I always wondered if Lennon subconsciously borrowed that. Winter Symphony is really good too, but I think it's a distant second.
Worst - (I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - The stop / start mixed with the dialog of Adam and Matt Jardine make this is a bit of an annoying listen.
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Post by jk on Dec 1, 2022 14:43:11 GMT
Somewhat annoyingly, the Ultimate Christmas comp is not on Spotify. However, the somewhat similar comp Christmas With The Beach Boys is available, which omits Christmas Time Is Here Again. Granted, I abandoned by search after about 90 seconds, but I couldn't even find that one on YouTube. So, if you don't have a physical copy of Ultimate Christmas, perhaps you have better searching skills than me. I couldn't see it either. "Morning Christmas" is my most memorable (of almost anything). Not a clue what my least memorable track is... Good call though, kds.
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Post by kds on Dec 1, 2022 16:57:40 GMT
Somewhat annoyingly, the Ultimate Christmas comp is not on Spotify. However, the somewhat similar comp Christmas With The Beach Boys is available, which omits Christmas Time Is Here Again. Granted, I abandoned by search after about 90 seconds, but I couldn't even find that one on YouTube. So, if you don't have a physical copy of Ultimate Christmas, perhaps you have better searching skills than me. I couldn't see it either. "Morning Christmas" is my most memorable (of almost anything). Not a clue what my least memorable track is... Good call though, kds. I'll count your vote for Morning Christmas for "Best" for now.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Dec 1, 2022 17:36:34 GMT
Best: "Morning Christmas," followed closely by "Winter Symphony" Least: "Bells of Christmas," mostly because I find it skippable
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 1, 2022 18:19:17 GMT
BEST SONG: It's really close between "Winter Symphony" and "Morning Christmas". I love 'em both! They're not without flaws, however, as "Winter Symphony" is a little non-Christmasey (but it is "wintery"/seasonal and I can appreciate that) and "Morning Christmas" is a little somber (but in a good Dennis Wilson-kind of way and I appreciate that, too). I can listen to both songs over and over...and have. Brian's vocal on "Winter Symphony" still blows me away with its clarity. Every time I hear the song I ask myself why he couldn't retain that voice. I never get any answers. The melody is cool, I like the brass bridge, and I get the feeling that Brian enjoyed recording it. I sometimes wonder if "Morning Christmas" is a song that only Beach Boys/Dennis Wilson fans can appreciate. Dennis did it again. The emotion. Makes you feel. The track. That sound. Again, this one's tough but I'll go with "Winter Symphony" by a snowflake. I also wanted to recognize "Bells Of Christmas". While I think it's slightly below the two aforementioned songs, it's close. I sometimes wish Brian (with or without Al) would've put the kitchen sink into this song and made it a fuller production. I actually think, of all the songs on this unreleased album, "Bells Of Christmas" might've gotten some seasonal airplay had it been released.
WORST SONG: "(I Saw Santa) Rocking Around The Christmas Tree". As kds mentioned, the starts-and-stops don't help things, and the children's dialogue bogs it down, too. And, it's frustrating because the backing track is pretty good. Maybe if Al/they would've played it straight and just performed it as a full out, straight-ahead rocker...
I try to get into this unreleased album every year but it's tough. To call it mediocre would be a compliment. Merry Christmas From The Beach Boys is actually a step below it's compatriot, M.I.U. Album. It's not as well produced, not as well performed, and the song selection is a real reach as legitimate Christmas songs. I can see why it never came out. Like Adult Child, I think it would've been an embarrassment for the group to some extent. That being said, I still wish it would've come out - in its FULL VERSION - on a single CD following The Beach Boys' Christmas Album. They were almost there with Ultimate Christmas. Maybe on the next copyright-extension boxed set. This is the version that I assembled and listen to:
Merry Christmas From The Beach Boys (1978)
Side 1
1. Christmas Time Is Here Again 2. Mele Kalikimaka 3. Winter Symphony 4. Why? 5. Alone On Christmas Day 6. Go And Get That Girl 7. Santa's On His Way
Side 2 1. Santa's Got An Airplane 2. Child Of Winter 3. (I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 5. Bells Of Christmas 6. Morning Christmas 7. Christmas Carol Medley
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Post by kds on Dec 1, 2022 18:35:41 GMT
BEST SONG: It's really close between "Winter Symphony" and "Morning Christmas". I love 'em both! They're not without flaws, however, as "Winter Symphony" is a little non-Christmasey (but it is "wintery"/seasonal and I can appreciate that) and "Morning Christmas" is a little somber (but in a good Dennis Wilson-kind of way and I appreciate that, too). I can listen to both songs over and over...and have. Brian's vocal on "Winter Symphony" still blows me away with its clarity. Every time I hear the song I ask myself why he couldn't retain that voice. I never get any answers. The melody is cool, I like the brass bridge, and I get the feeling that Brian enjoyed recording it. I sometimes wonder if "Morning Christmas" is a song that only Beach Boys/Dennis Wilson fans can appreciate. Dennis did it again. The emotion. Makes you feel. The track. That sound. Again, this one's tough but I'll go with "Winter Symphony" by a snowflake. I also wanted to recognize "Bells Of Christmas". While I think it's slightly below the two aforementioned songs, it's close. I sometimes wish Brian (with or without Al) would've put the kitchen sink into this song and made it a fuller production. I actually think, of all the songs on this unreleased album, "Bells Of Christmas" might've gotten some seasonal airplay had it been released.
There's always On Christmas Day from Brian's Christmas album. It's hard for me to say if non Beach Boys fans would appreciate Morning Christmas. But, there are plenty of somber Christmas songs (some somber to a fault) that receive a ton of airplay during the Christmas season. So, I could see Morning Christmas catching on. As discussed before, the right use in a commercial, TV show, or movie could really move the needle. Although, that's definitely pretty unlike for an unreleased Christmas song to pop up somewhere, but you never know, there are a lot of prominent Dennis fans out there (Johnny Depp).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 1, 2022 18:45:17 GMT
BEST SONG: It's really close between "Winter Symphony" and "Morning Christmas". I love 'em both! They're not without flaws, however, as "Winter Symphony" is a little non-Christmasey (but it is "wintery"/seasonal and I can appreciate that) and "Morning Christmas" is a little somber (but in a good Dennis Wilson-kind of way and I appreciate that, too). I can listen to both songs over and over...and have. Brian's vocal on "Winter Symphony" still blows me away with its clarity. Every time I hear the song I ask myself why he couldn't retain that voice. I never get any answers. The melody is cool, I like the brass bridge, and I get the feeling that Brian enjoyed recording it. I sometimes wonder if "Morning Christmas" is a song that only Beach Boys/Dennis Wilson fans can appreciate. Dennis did it again. The emotion. Makes you feel. The track. That sound. Again, this one's tough but I'll go with "Winter Symphony" by a snowflake. I also wanted to recognize "Bells Of Christmas". While I think it's slightly below the two aforementioned songs, it's close. I sometimes wish Brian (with or without Al) would've put the kitchen sink into this song and made it a fuller production. I actually think, of all the songs on this unreleased album, "Bells Of Christmas" might've gotten some seasonal airplay had it been released.
There's always On Christmas Day from Brian's Christmas album. It's hard for me to say if non Beach Boys fans would appreciate Morning Christmas. But, there are plenty of somber Christmas songs (some somber to a fault) that receive a ton of airplay during the Christmas season. So, I could see Morning Christmas catching on. As discussed before, the right use in a commercial, TV show, or movie could really move the needle. Although, that's definitely pretty unlike for an unreleased Christmas song to pop up somewhere, but you never know, there are a lot of prominent Dennis fans out there (Johnny Depp). That's definitely true, kds. Brian did take "Bells Of Christmas" to another level, another place. "On Christmas Day" might be my favorite song on WIRWFC.
I'm not sure "somber" is the best word to use in describing "Morning Christmas", but I couldn't come up with better one. And, you're right, somber songs can be very effective at Christmas. Like I posted, I love the song. It's that opening thirty seconds or so, though. You do have to hang in there and be a little patient and the song becomes very rewarding.
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Post by kds on Dec 1, 2022 19:37:26 GMT
For whatever reason, I've tended to gravitate to the more slow, or somber, Christmas songs. Since I can remember, Happy Xmas (War is Over) has always been a favorite. We Three Kings was a song I played over and over when I first got The Beach Boys Christmas Album on tape when I was ten. Even now, the ones I tend to play the most on my holiday playlists are some of the old hymns. I think that's why Morning Christmas jumped out at me immediately when I first heard it.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Dec 1, 2022 21:51:56 GMT
If you really want to hear a beautiful, downer Christmas carol, give "The Coventry Carol" (about the Slaughter of the Innocents) a listen. It makes "Morning Christmas" sound positively cheerful by comparison. I love both of these songs, btw, and performed TCC with a madrigal group (alto section) many years ago.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 2, 2022 13:08:12 GMT
I really enjoy this track. It's interesting that it was resurrected and made into a Christmas song. I wonder whose (spelling?) idea it was. I'm guessing Al's because of the inclusion of his sons on the vocals. But this version rocks a lot more than "(I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree".
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Post by kds on Dec 2, 2022 15:01:31 GMT
If you really want to hear a beautiful, downer Christmas carol, give "The Coventry Carol" (about the Slaughter of the Innocents) a listen. It makes "Morning Christmas" sound positively cheerful by comparison. I love both of these songs, btw, and performed TCC with a madrigal group (alto section) many years ago. I was pretty unaware of this song until it was released on the deluxe edition of Blackmore's Night's Winter Carols last year. I'm usually not one to purchase albums twice, but I made an except with this. That makes two of my favorite Christmas albums I've bought twice (BN and The Beach Boys) to get bonus tracks.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 4, 2022 7:11:21 GMT
Well you know I hate to be a downer, but Morning Christmas is a downer to me. It's in that list of Dennis songs that everybody else loves, and I just think "what is the fuss all about?" My favorite of the "new" Christmas songs is Winter Symphony. Second favorite is the Xmas version of Kona Coast - I can't spell it, so I won't try! Child of Winter is also a guilty pleasure. Honestly, it's a bit stupid when it turns into "Here Comes Santa Claus" a minute or so in - but I like - and it's disappointing they don't go back to it later in the song.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 4, 2022 12:20:42 GMT
I'm going to need to go back and listen to this before I vote. I'm sure my pick for best will be a Wilson tune, it's just a matter of whether it's a B Wilson (could be either "Winter Symphony" or "Child of Winter": I like them both) or D Wilson with "Morning Christmas." Usually I am cooler on Dennis's tunes than others, and I complain that they don't really go anywhere. But in this context I think it brings a meditative quality that is nice for the season.
As for worst, that's the main reason I need to re-listen. I just never spent much time with any of these songs other than the three above. Though I always feel silly listening to an album trying to find the worst part!
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Post by kds on Dec 6, 2022 14:24:08 GMT
Well you know I hate to be a downer, but Morning Christmas is a downer to me. It's in that list of Dennis songs that everybody else loves, and I just think "what is the fuss all about?" My favorite of the "new" Christmas songs is Winter Symphony. Second favorite is the Xmas version of Kona Coast - I can't spell it, so I won't try! Child of Winter is also a guilty pleasure. Honestly, it's a bit stupid when it turns into "Here Comes Santa Claus" a minute or so in - but I like - and it's disappointing they don't go back to it later in the song. I don't mind the Here Comes Santa Claus section. It's the spoken word bit that drives the song down a peg. What is your pick for "worst," Morning Christmas?
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 6, 2022 19:56:14 GMT
Well you know I hate to be a downer, but Morning Christmas is a downer to me. It's in that list of Dennis songs that everybody else loves, and I just think "what is the fuss all about?" My favorite of the "new" Christmas songs is Winter Symphony. Second favorite is the Xmas version of Kona Coast - I can't spell it, so I won't try! Child of Winter is also a guilty pleasure. Honestly, it's a bit stupid when it turns into "Here Comes Santa Claus" a minute or so in - but I like - and it's disappointing they don't go back to it later in the song. I don't mind the Here Comes Santa Claus section. It's the spoken word bit that drives the song down a peg. What is your pick for "worst," Morning Christmas? yeah
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