It’s that time of year…and this is one-holiday song that is on my list and not worn out. I first heard this in 1994 when I bought the Beatles Anthology album. I never knew of this song before. this song was never officially released until it appeared as the B-side to “Free As A Bird” in 1994. I’ve posted it every year since I’ve blogged and will continue to do so…it’s repetitive butI like it…it drives home the point.
My friend Dave posted this song last year and he has more info than I do so check it out.
The song is credited to Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey. The original version was distributed to The Beatles fan club in 1967. It’s the only song ever written specifically for the Beatles Fan Club members. Along with the Beatles…actor Victor Spinetti and roadie Mal Evans were on the recording.
Between December 1963 to December 1969, sent out 7 flexi discs that had spoken and musical messages to their official fan clubs in the UK and the US at Christmas time.
The Beatles recorded this in 1967 and wasn’t released until 1994 paired with “Free As A Bird”. It is a fun Christmas song that will stick in your head. The Beatles did not release a Christmas song commercially… only to their fan club when they were active.
Many performers of this era like The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons released Christmas songs, but The Beatles never had an official Christmas release.
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Ain’t been round since you know when
Christmas time is here again
O-U-T spells “out”
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Ain’t been round since you know when
Christmas time is here again
O-U-T spells “out”
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Christmas time is here again
Ain’t been round since you know when
Christmas time…[music continues and fades to background]
[spoken]
This is Paul McCartney here, I’d just like to wish you everything you wish yourself for Christmas.
This is John Lennon saying on behalf of the Beatles, have a very Happy Christmas and a good New Year.
George Harrison speaking. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas, listeners everywhere.
This is Ringo Starr and I’d just like to say Merry Christmas and a really Happy New Year to all listeners
[a John Lennon pastiche at this point, very hard to understand]
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Can’t believe those anthology’s came out already 28 years ago! Crazy
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John’s speaking with a Scottish brogue at the end… not an easy one to decipher…
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Yea…I’ve tried.
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I used to run into Scots from the old country when I played the pipes, and could understand them. I guess I’ve lost my touch…
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It could have been nonsense…probably was.
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thanks for the link! I must say I’d never heard it until , last year (?), when I posted the blog – I kind of googled around to see if the Beatles had ever done a Christmas song. Don’t think I’d ever heard it before that.
Great idea, those fan clubs. I belonged to the rEM one for a couple of years and they sent out stuff at Christmas, though it wasn’t Christmas themed. One year it was a live CD if I remember correctly.
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No problem Dave. I heard it back when the Anthology was released. There is not a track I didn’t play at least 10 times at the time. Yea it was never meant for the masses becasue you can tell they just knocked it off but it’s fun.
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I always wanted to own one of The Beatles Christmas records.
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Yea this is it….one single for the fan club.
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Amazing how a Liverpudlian can transition into a Scottish brogue. I like the other song, better.
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Yea this one was a quickie to the fan club never meant to be released…it’s cool though having a Christmas song by them.
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Yeah, it sure doesn’t have the song-writing depth of ‘Elenor Rigby, or ‘In My Life’ but it was a nice little Christmas freebie for the fans. I don’t know if John was trying to channel some generic Scotsman or William (Worst Poet Ever) McGonagall, but it is hard to decipher much, thats for sure.
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Yea that end part… I’ve tried before but couldn’t.
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This post reminded me of an interesting documentary I saw recently about The Beatles secretary and fan club leader “Good Ol’ Freda.”
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Oh yes! I own that doc…those docs like that give you an insight on what they were really like…and she is just as interesting.
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