The Beach Boys' Christmas Album by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album is a Christmas album by The Beach Boys, released on November 16, 1964. Containing five original songs and seven standards, the album proved to be a long-running success during subsequent Christmas seasons, initially reaching number six in the US Christmas album chart in its year of release and eventually going gold.
Opening with five Beach Boys originals (including "Christmas Day", with Al Jardine's first lead vocal), <i>The Beach Boys' Christmas Album</i> starts like any other Beach Boys album, with tight-knit harmonies and a pop-rock band providing the instrumental backing. The remaining seven standards, however, include The Four Freshmen's arranger, Dick Reynolds, handling the orchestral backing for tunes such as "Frosty the Snowman", "We Three Kings of Orient Are" and "White Christmas". The mix between the joyful and the solemn makes for a well-rounded collection for those who enjoy holiday fare. "Auld Lang Syne" is an interesting a cappella piece arranged by Brian Wilson, interrupted briefly by Denny Wilson wishing everyone a Merry Christmas on behalf of the band.
