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 but I like it…it drives home the point.
My friend Dave posted this song in 2021 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 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 and December 1969, they 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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I always wondered why Ringo kept singing, O-U-T spells “out”, but the only thing that makes sense is that someone was trying to come into the studio during this recording. Have you got any idea what this is about, Max?
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Well you made me curious now…and other people are also apparently…this is the best thing I found…Apparently it was part of “Eeny Meeny Miny Mo, when choosing teams in the playground.”
That makes sense…I seem to remember the OUT part at the end.
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It does make sense, even though it doesn’t belong in a Christmas song, so maybe Ringo was high on something.
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It was right after MMT…and since they needed a song for the fan club disc…it fit.
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Wow, I have that Anthology compilation, as well as the other two and didn’t remember that track at all! Hearing each of the four lads talk in their heavy accents is fun! We also get some classic gobbledygook by John! 🙂
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They did this I think 8 weeks after they finished MMT….this was probably their last song of 1967….after this the good vibes started to end with the White Album. They sounded like they were having fun.
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I’m not trying to be critical, but it took four guys to write this song?
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I can imagine the fans loved it!
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They never had a Christmas song…so when I heard it for the first time in 94 I was shocked….now you can listen to their fun fanclub discs on youtube…they are a lot of fun. It’s cool they did that for their fans.
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I watched a doc about the girl who started their fan club. It was called “Good
Old Frieda.” She worked for the record company or their manager, I can’t recall which. She would visit the Beatles families and helped them a lot. It was interesting.
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Oh yes Frieda! I love that documentary.
They were down to earth people and the people that worked for them were usually really nice and kind….also very protective of them. Frieda even made sure that Paul and Ringo were alright with the documentary….of course they were.
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And she never told stories even though you know she knew quite a few!
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Oh yes….whats the old saying? She knows where the bodies are buried.
They knew she would not rip them though. I just read a book that their former road manager wrote…they gave him their blessing back in 1975…but he got killed in 1976….the book was just released a few months ago. His name was Mal Evans. Frieda mentioned him.
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LOL…It started out as just an instrumental…plus they didn’t release it at all back then…it was just for the fan club…this was around the time of Magical Mystery Tour…so due to their state at that time…I can believe it!
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Good point! 😵💫
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I think John’s doing an impersonation of Robert Burns at the end. He’s definitely speaking with a Scottish brogue…
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I think you are right John.
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Hey John…I just emailed you something…it has two links in it…it could go to your junk email…just wanted to tell you.
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I got it and I subscribed to her feed, so I’ll get her subsequent posts.
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Thanks John I really appreciate it.
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