"Quand un salon littéraire devient un boudoir pour dames"
24 Décembre 2014
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HO!
GOOD KING WENCELAS LOOKED OUT
ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN, HO!
AS THE SLOW RAY ROUND ABOUT
DEEP AND CRISP AND CRISPY.
BRIGHTLY SHOW THE BOOT LAST NIGHT
ON THE MOSSTY CRUEL.
HENRY HALL AND DAVID LLOYD,
BETTY GRABLE TOO-OO-OO.
HELLO, THIS IS JOHN, SPEAKING WITH HIS VOICE. (huh!)
WE'RE ALL VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU LIKE THIS ON THIS LITTLE BIT OF PLASTIC.
THIS RECORD REACHES YOU AT THE END OF A REALLY GEAR YEAR FOR US AND IT'S ALL DUE TO YOU.
WHEN WE MADE OUR FIRST RECORD ON PARLOPHONE TOWARDS THE END OF 1962, WE HOPED
EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN OUR TYPE OF MUSIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS
ALREADY. BUT WE HAD NO IDEA OF ALL THE GEAR THINGS IN STORE FOR US.
IT ALL HAPPENED REALLY WHEN 'PLEASE PLEASE ME' BECAME A NUMBER ONE HIT AND AFTER THAT,
WELL COR' THE BLIMEYS, HEAVE THE MO'.
OUR BIGGEST THRILL OF THE YEAR, WELL, I SUPPOSE IT MUST HAVE BEEN TOPPING THE BILL AT THE
LONDON PALLADIUM AND THEN, ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN
THE ROYAL VARIETY SHOW.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE ALL DEAD CHUFFED BECAUSE 'LOVE ME DO' GOT INTO THE TOP
TWENTY AND WE CAN'T BELIEVE REALLY THAT SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN BETWEEN
ALREADY.
JUST BEFORE I PASS YOU OVER TO PAUL, (arf! arf! arf! arf!) I?D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE
BEATLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO ME DURING THE YEAR AND EVERYBODY WHO SENT GIFTS
AND CARDS FOR MY BIRTHDAY, WHICH I'M TRYING TO FORGET, IN OCTOBER. (huh!)
I?D LIKE TO REPLY PERSONALLY TO EVERYBODY BUT I JUST HAVEN'T ENOUGH PENS.
IN THE MEANTIME:
GARRY CRIMBLE TO YOU,
GARRY MIMBLE TO YOU.
GETTY BABLE, DEAR CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME TOO.
THIS IS PAUL HERE.
EVERYTHING THAT JOHN SAID GOES FOR ME TOO, SPECIALLY THE BIT ABOUT BIRTHDAY CARDS AND
PARCELS, CAUSE ALL OUR HOMES AND OFFICES GOT STACKS OF MAIL LAST JUNE, OW! HA-HA!
WHEN IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY.
ANYWAY, WE'RE ALL DEAD PLEASED BY THE WAY YOU TREATED US IN 1963 AND WE TRY TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PLEASE YOU WITH THE TYPE OF SONGS WE'LL WRITE AND RECORD NEXT
YEAR.
OH YEAH, SOMEBODY ASKED US IF WE STILL LIKE JELLY BABIES? WELL, WE USED TO LIKE THEM, IN
FACT WE LOVED THEM AND SAID SO IN ONE OF THE PAPERS, YOU SEE. EVER SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN
GETTING THEM IN BOXES, PACKETS AND CRATES. ANYWAY, WE'VE GONE RIGHT OFF JELLY BABIES,
YOU SEE, BUT WE STILL LIKE PEPPERMINT CREAMS, CHOCOLATE DROPS AND DOLLY MIXTURES AND
ALL THAT SORT OF THINGS. (Yes! Yes! Oh yes!)
WELL, LOTS OF PEOPLE ASKED US WHAT WE ENJOY BEST, YOU SEE, CONCERTS AND TELEVISION OR
RECORDING? WE LIKE DOING STAGE SHOWS 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR AN AUDIENCE
ENJOYING THEMSELVES. BUT THE THING WE LIKE BEST, I THINK SO ANYWAY, IS GOING INTO THE
RECORDING STUDIO (Yes, we enjoy that very kindly) TO MAKE NEW RECORDS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING ALL DAY BEFORE WE STARTED ON THIS SPECIAL MESSAGE.
WELL, WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR MOST IS ONE OF OUR SONGS, YOU KNOW, TAKING SHAPE IN A
RECORDING STUDIO, AH, ONE OF THE ONES JOHN AND I HAVE WRITTEN AND THEN LISTENING TO THE
TAPES AFTERWARDS TO HEAR HOW IT ALL WORKED OUT, YOU SEE.
WELL, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME TO STOP, (Stop! Stop!) AND RINGO,
(Stop! Stop! Shouting those animals!) SO...I'LL FINISH OFF NOW WITH IT WISHING EVERYONE HAPPY
CRIMBLE AND A MERRY NEW YEAR AND ESPECIALLY ALL THE ONES WHO PAID THE SUBSCRIPTION.
JA, DAS WIRD UNS DANKE SCHON
UND DENN GRUSS VON EVEN.
JA, DENN GRUSS VON EVEN SCHON
JA, DAS WIRD WUNDERSCHON, BOY,
DANKE SCHON.
JA, RINGO!
HELLO, RINGO HERE,
AS YOU KNOW I WAS THE LAST MEMBER TO JOIN THE BEATLES. I STARTED TO PLAY DRUMS IN THE
GROUP 1962, HA-HA-HA! HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE OF OTHER GROUPS...
(Oh, just wish the people a merry, happy, go on, for Christmas, Christmas)
MERRY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND FOLKS, HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MAY, MAY EVERYTHING YOU WISH
BE GRANTED.
(Sing, sing us Wenceslas, King Wenceslas)
KING WENCESLAS:
WELL, GOOD KING WENCESLAS LOOKED OUT (oh ho!)
ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN. (hey!)
WHEN THE SNOW WAS ON THE GROUND, (yeah!)
DEEP AND CRISP AND EVEN. (oh yeah!)
HOORAY!!
THANK YOU, RINGO! THANK YOU, RINGO! WE'LL PHONE YOU! (ha ha ha!)
I'M GEORGE HARRISON,
NOBODY ELSE SAID ANYTHING YET ABOUT OUR FAN CLUB SECRETARIES, ANN COLLINGHAM AND
BETTINA ROSE, NOT TO MENTION FREDA KELLY IN LIVERPOOL. (Good old Freda!!) SO ON BEHALF OF
US ALL, I?D JUST LIKE TO SAY A GREAT, BIG THANK YOU TO ANN, BETTINA AND FREDA FOR ALL THE
HARD WORK THEY'VE DONE AND WE JUST HOPE YOU CAN GO ON PLEASING US FOR A LONG TIME,
CAUSE IT'S GONNA CAUSE IT TO YOUR REACTION ARE TO OUR RECORDS THAT REALLY MATTERS,
AND I JUST LIKE TO SAY:
BRIGHTLY WAS THE SCHON AT NIGHT,
THOUGH THE WINTER CRUEL.
WHEN A PORK PIE CAME INSIDE
GATHERING WINTER CRUEL.
RUDOLPH, THE RED NOSED REINDEER (HO!)
HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE, (A SHINY NOSE!)
WHEN EV?RYBODY PICKED IT...
HA, HA, HA, HA,....
OH YEAH! OH!
RUDOLPH, THE RED NOSED RINGO, (RUDOLPH!)
HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
The carol "Jingle Bells" is sung, followed by individual messages to the fans. Finishing up the record is an original jingle, titled "Can You Wash Your Father's Shirts?"
Another Beatles' Christmas Record was not sent to American fans. Rather, at Christmastime 1964, US fans received an edited version of The Beatles' Christmas Record, which was sent to British fan club members in 1963. Also, as opposed to using flexi-discs, the US fan club sent the message in a tri-fold cardboard mailer, with the "record" embedded in one of the flaps of cardboard.
|
JINGLE BELLS... HELLO, EVERYBODY, THIS IS PAUL, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BUYING OUR JOHN, JOHN SPEAKIN'. THANK YOU JOHN. THANK YOU. THANKS, GE0RGE. OH, CAN YOU WASH YOUR FATHER'S SHIRT, CHRISTMAS! (Happy Christmas, everybody!) HAPPY CHRISTMAS! |
The Beatles' Third Christmas Record
Recorded at EMI Studios 8 November 1965 on reel E57721
Produced by George Martin
Several off-key, a cappella versions of "Yesterday" are dispersed throughout the record, alongside Lennon's "Happy Christmas to Ya List'nas," "Auld Lang Syne," a one-and-a-half-line version of the Four Tops' "It's the Same Old Song", which they quickly stop before they violate the copyright, and an original poem titled "Christmas Comes But Once a Year." A second version of Auld Land Syne segues messily into a cover of Barry McGuire's Eve of Destruction
Members of the Beatles' U.S. fan club did not receive this (or any) Christmas flexi-disc in 1965. Rather, they received a black and white postcard, with a photo of the Fab Four and the message "Season's Greetings -- Paul, Ringo, George, John." The Beatle Bulletin, the publication of the U.S. fan club, explained in its April 1966 edition that the tape arrived too late to prepare the record in time for Christmas.
ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY,
NOW IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE'RE HERE TO STAY,
OH, I BELIEVE IN YESTERDAY.
-"DON'T FORGET, CHRISTMAS IS COMING'. OH, THAT REMINDS ME,
LET'S DO A CHRISTMAS RECORD."
-"LET'S DO A CHRISTMAS RECORD."
-"YEAH, WHAT SHALL WE SAY?"
-"THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. AD-LIB IT."
-"AH, WE'VE GOT TO THANK EVERYONE, REMEMBER TO THANK ..."
-"THANK. YOU'VE GOT TO THANK ..."
-"YOU CAN'T AD-LIB TOO MUCH 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE MISS ..."
-"WELL, THANK YOU JOHNNY, IT'S BEEN A NICE TO KNOW YA."
-"GOTTA THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL THE PRESENTS THIS YEAR, AND... AH, OH, FOR
BUYING THE RECORDS."
-"ESPECIALLY THE CHEWED UP PIECES OF CHEWING GUM AND THE PLAYING CARDS
MADE OUT OF KNICKERS."
-"ON BEHALF OF JOHN AND I - GEORGE SPEAKING - I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL
THE CHRISTMAS CARDS AND PRESENTS AND THE BIRTHDAY CARDS AND PRESENTS
AND EV?RYTHING TOO, AS WELL."
-"ON BEHALF OF GEORGE AND I, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION
AND ALL THE REST OF IT. THANK YOU."
-"WELL, RINGO, WHAT HAVE WE DONE THIS YEAR?"
-"I SEE YOU HAVEN'T SHAVED AGAIN."
-"WELL, RINGO, WHAT HAVE WE DONE THIS YEAR?"
-"WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS THIS YEAR, PAUL."
-"YES?"
-"WELL, WE'VE BEEN AWAY."
-"YEH."
-"AND COME BACK."
-"LIKE LAST YEAR."
-"EH, WE'VE COME BACK ALL RIGHT."
-"AYE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PRESENTS SENT TO US FOR OUR BIRTHDAY AND
CHRISTMAS'S."
-"WE'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE, THANK YOU EVERYONE ..."
-"WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTS AND THE CARDS."
-"THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTS."
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU LISTENERS
WHERE IN E YE CRAE NO VOO.
WE BELONG TO EDINBODY
DON'T YOU MAKE IT NEW.
OH, WE TITOTHER JACK MacGREGOR
PON HIS BONNIE HO,
HOCK YER PUNNY CHRISTMAS WITH A POUND OF IRISH STEW.
-" THANK YOU, JOHN."
DOWN IN THE JUNGLE WHERE THE OLD BLACK GO,
WE GOT SOME, WE GOT SOME;
DOWN IN THE JUNGLE WHERE THE OLD BLACK GO,
WE GOT SOME, WE GOT SOME.
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
AND NEVER BROUGHT TO MIND?
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT,
FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE?
FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR?
FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE?
FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE, MY DEAR?
FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE?
ONE, ONE, TWO, THREE...
-"WELL, FOR THE SAKE OF AULD LANG SYNE. THAT REMINDS ME, RINGO."
-"YES."
-"LAST YEAR ..."
-"YOU WAS HERE."
-"WE WAS HERE. ROUND THE SAME OLD MIC. SAME OLD STUDIO."
-"SAME OLD GUITARS. SAME OLD FACES."
IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG,
BUT A DIFFERENT MEANING SINCE...
-"COPYRIGHT, JOHNNY!"
-"COPYRIGHT. CAN'T SAY THAT."
-"HEY, YEAH! ALL RIGHT. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITHOUT A COPYRIGHT, YEAH?"
-"HOW ABOUT "WE'LL GET THE LILACS AND AN OLD BROWN SHOE"?"
-"YEAH, YES. THAT HAS A COPYRIGHT."
-"ALL RIGHT, LET'S PLAY A REQUEST ...
-"SOMETHING CHRISTMASSY ..."
-".... FOR ALL THE BOYS IN B.A.O.R.E."
-"YEAH, ALL RIGHT."
-"WHAT SHALL WE PLAY FOR THEM, 'CAUSE WE GOT SOME FANS IN THE FORCES, YOU
KNOW?"
-"WELL, HERE IN MUNICH, IT'S NOT QUITE AS FINE AS IT IS IN LONDON."
-"WELL, KENNETH, THE WEATHER'S RAINING HERE, IT'S NOT VERY GOOD."
-"OH, IT'S NOT BAD OVER HERE, BUT SUMMER, YOU KNOW WE
HAD A BIT OF RAIN AND ALL THAT."
-"STAY TUNED IN, IT'S A FIVE-WAY LINK-UP.
-"IF YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS PROGRAM, TUNE TO 29314567
MEGACYCLES. IF YOU CAN'T FIND THAT, DROP IT."
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT
AND NEVER BROUGHT TO MIND? CHINA!
DON IN VIETNAM AND CHINA...TOO...
AND LOOK AT ALL THOSE BODIES JORDAN
FLOATING IN THE RIVER JORDAN.
-"WELL, THAT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT'S ABOUT IT FOR THE YEAR."
-"WELL, THAT SHOULD COVER ISRAEL."
-"WE'VE CERTAINLY TRIED OUR BEST TO, AH ..."
-"PLEASE EVERYBODY."
-"... PLEASE EVERYBODY. IF WE HAVEN'T DONE WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE
WE'VE TRIED."
-"AND IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT YOURS, SEND 4 PENCE IN AND GET A FREE ONE."
-"AND SINCE WE'RE GATHERED AROUND THE CHRISTMAS MICROPHONE HERE IN THE
STUDIO, WE MIGHT AS WELL GET TOGETHER WITH A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
FOR YOU."
-"WHICH GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS ..."
-"... LIKE THIS."
CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR
BUT WHEN IT DOES, YOU KNOW IT'S HERE,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A HMM-MM-MM-AAM-
SINGING:
CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR
BUT WHEN IT DOES IT BRINGS GOOD CHEER,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE HMM-MM-MM-AAM -
FOR CHRISTMAS.
YESTERDAY, DOO-DAH,
ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY,
NOW IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY'RE HERE TO STAY,
OH, I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS DAY.
(BLESS YOU ALL ON CHRISTMAS DAY)
CHRISTMAS DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY,
-"THIS YEAR HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG YEAR FOR US."
CHRISTMAS DAY,
-"ONE OF OUR BIGGEST YEARS SINCE WE CAN REMEMBER."
CHRISTMAS DAY,
-"AND WE CAN REMEMBER A LOT OF BIG YEARS. TAKE ... TAKE BUGS."
CHRISTMAS DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY,
-"AND ESPECIALLY THOSE ABROAD AND THOSE OF YOU IN B.O.R. 245 BIG TIME 783."
CHRISTMAS DAY.
-"THERE'S A LOT OF US HERE WANNA WISH LOT OF YOU THERE -
AND THE WEATHER IS PERFECTLY ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
AND DON'T FORGET, THE OLD, THE NEW, SOME FOLKS BLUE, SOME FOLKS GREEN,
YOU TAKE NO NOTICE OF THEM. IT'S AN ALL WHITE POLICY IN THIS GROUP."
YESTERDAY,
ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY, YEAH, YEAH,
NOW IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY'RE HERE TO STAY.
(NOW IT LOOKS AS THOUGH)
OH, BLESS YOU ALL ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
-"BUT ONCE A YEAR."
-"AYE, AND WHEN IT COMES, IT BRINGS GOOD CHEER. SO DON'T .."
CHRISTMAS DAY,
ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY.
-"ALL RIGHT. FADE IT THERE CHARLEY! TAKE SEVEN!"
-"OKAY, PUT THE RED LIGHTS OFF!"
-"AND THIS IS JOHNNY RHYTHM JUST SAYING. "GOOD NIGHT TO YOU ALL AND GOD
BLESSES"
-"ALL RIGHT, WELL, THERE, THAT'S GOT IT DONE, THEN. .EH?
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW?"
-"HAS HE TURNED IT OFF?"
-"I THINK HE HAS."
-"HAVE YOU TURNED IT OFF, LAD?"
-"HEY, BASHER! "
-"IT'S STILL THE SAME."
-"TURNED IT OFF, BASHER?"
A disjointed collection of original songs and dramatic skits are featured in the 1966 offering. The songs include "Everywhere It's Christmas," "Orowanya," and "Please Don't Bring Your Banjo Back." The sketches performed include "Podgy the Bear and Jasper" and "Felpin Mansions."
Once again, the US fan club members did not get a flexi-disc. Instead, they received a postcard with the message on one side and a short version of The Beatle Bulletin on the other, with enough room for a mailing label and postage.
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
EV'RYWHERE IT'S SONG.
LONDON, PARIS, ROME AND NEW YORK,
TOKYO, HONG KONG.
OH, EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AND I'M OFF TO JOIN THE CHEER!
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
OH, EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
I SAID THAT EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
ONE MORE TIME NOW!
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS....
OROWAINYA, OROWAINYA, OROWAINYA, OOH,
ENDOMAINYA, ENDOMAINYA, ENDOMAINYA, OOH.
-"OUR STORY OPENS IN CORSICA. ON THE VERANDAH IS A BEARDED
MAN IN GLASSES CONDUCTING A SMALL CHOIR."
OROWAINYA, OROWAINYA, OROWAINYA....
YOHOO! YODELLAIHETEE! YOHOO!
-"MEANWHILE, HIGH IN THE SWISS ALPS, TWO ELDERLY SCOTSMEN
MUNCH ON A RARE CHEESE."
-"MM, WONDERFUL STUFF THIS, AGNES."
-"AYE, IT'S WONDERFUL STUFF."
HODELLAIHETEE! YODELLAIHETEE!
-"I'M STANDING IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE MAIN TENT.
IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME, THE FESTIVITIES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN."
-"TELL ME, ARE YOU ENJOYING THE WINE?"
-"I AM INDEED YOUR HIGHNESS. IT GOES WELL WITH ME. YEH, VERY GOOD
VERY GOOD, HA HA HA!"
-"THE KING SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING HIMSELF TONIGHT! YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN
HIM ON SUCH GOOD FOCUS SINCE THE OCTOBER FESTIVAL."
-"ALRIGHT! IS THERE A DOCTOR HERE? IS THERE A DOCTOR AROUND HERE?
DID ANYBODY SEE ONE?"
-"AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS IN THE CAPTAIN'S MESS IN BOARD
THE H.M.S. TREMENDOUS, A TOAST IS BEING PROPOSED."
-"TO HER MAJESTY!"
-"TO HER MAJESTY!"
HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO!
PODGY THE BEAR AND JASPER WERE HUDDLED AROUND THE UNLIT
FIRE IN THE CENTRE OF THE ROOM.
"THERE ARE NO MORE MATCHES LEFT, PODGY," SAID JASPER.
"THEN BUY SOME, JASPER, OLD FRIEND," SAID PODGY.
"MAKE A LIST AND AFTERWARDS WE'LL GO TO THE SHOP AND BUY MATCHES AND BUY CANDLES
AND BUNS."
"THERE'S NO MORE PAPER TO WRITE ON, PODGY."
"NO NEED TO WORRY, JASPER. YOU KEEP SAYING TO YOURSELF
`MATCHES` AND I'LL KEEP SAYING `CANDLES` UNTIL
WE REACH THE SHOP. THEN WE WON'T NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN, WE'LL REMEMBER." "WHO'LL
REMEMBER THE BUNS, PODGY?"
"WE BOTH WILL, JASPER ... MATCHES," "CANDLES." "MATCHES."
"CANDLES." "MATCHES." "CANDLES." "MATCHES." "CANDLES."
"MATCHES." "CANDLES."
IN THE LONG DARK CORRIDORS OF FELPIN MANSIONS, A DOOR
SLAMS. AND THE SHADOWY FIGURE OF COUNT BALDER APPEARS.
THE COUNT IS THE ECCENTRIC SON OF BARON LANDSBERG, THE
INVENTOR OF THE RACK. HE SPEAKS;
"GUTEN TAGEN, MEINEN DAMEN AND HERREN. WELCOME TO FELPIN MANSIONS.
THE BUTLER WILL SHOW YOU TO YOUR ROOMS. BUTLER!
"YES, SIR!"
"SHOW THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO THEIR
ROOMS."
-"COME IN."
-"MAY I COME IN?"
-"COME, COME IN, COUNT."
-"MAY I?"
-"OH, YES, COME IN."
-"AH, THANK YOU. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW ANY OF THE
SONGS FROM THE GOOD 'OL DAYS."
-"OH, MY GOODNESS, YES. DON'T YOU WORRY ON THAT SCORE.
I HEAR THE BARON LIKES, UH, I HEAR THE BARON LIKES THE
GOOD OLD TUNES."
-"YES, I DO."
-"SO DO I, COUNT, SO DO I."
-"BUT THEY'RE ALL MELODIES, AREN'T THEY?"
-"NO, DON'T WORRY. I'LL PLAY THIS ONE. DO YOU LIKE THIS
ONE? LISTEN TO THIS ONE."
PLEASE DON'T BRING YOUR BANJO BAG,
I KNOW WHERE IT'S BEEN.
I WASN'T HARDLY GONE A DAY
WHEN IT BECAME THE SCENE.
BANJOS, BANJOS ALL THE TIME,
I CAN'T FORGET THAT TUNE.
AND IF I EVER SEE ANOTHER BANJO,
I'M GOING OUT TO BUY A BIG BALLOON,
AND IF I EVER SEE ANOTHER BANJO,
I'M GOING OUT TO BUY A BIG BALLOON,
AND IF I EVER SEE ANOTHER BANJO,
I'M GOING OUT TO BUY A TOY BALLOON,
AND IF I EVER SEE ANOTHER BANJO,
I'M GOING OUT TO BUY A TOY BALLOON,
AND IF I EVER SEE ANOTHER BLOOM,
I'M GOING OUT TO BUY A TOY BALLOON,
YES, EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS.
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
EV'RYWHERE IT'S SONG.
LONDON, PARIS, ROME AND NEW YORK,
TOKYO, HONG KONG.
OH, EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AND I'M OFF TO JOIN THE CHEER!
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
OH, EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
I SAID THAT EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV'RY YEAR!
ONE MORE TIME NOW!
EV'RYWHERE IT'S CHRISTMAS,
AT THE END OF EV?RY YEAR,
HA-HA-HA, JOLLY GOOD, HO-HO, JOLLY GOOD
Christmas Time Is Here Again
Recorded at EMI Studios 28 November 1967 on reel E66908
Produced by George Martin
An elaborate production, Christmas Time is Here Again! was developed around the concept of several groups auditioning for a BBC radio show. The title song serves as a refrain throughout the record. The Beatles portray a multitude of characters, including game show contestants, aspiring musicians ("Plenty of Jam Jars," by the Ravellers), and actors in a radio drama ("Theatre Hour"). At the end John reads a poem, "When Christmas Time Is Over."
While British fans received a flexi-disc in an elaborate sleeve, American fans received a postcard similar to that of 1966
IT'S A BOUNCY REMIX. TAKE 444!
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!
THE BOYS ARRIVE AT BBC HOUSE:
-"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
-"WE ARE BEING GRANTED PERMISSION, OH WISE ONE."
-"AH, PASS IN PEACE."
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN,
CHRISTMAS TIME IS
-"AN AUDITION WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M., WEDNESDAY THE FIRST
IN THE FLUFFY REHEARSAL ROOMS. BRING YOUR OWN!"
-"THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE!"
-"WOULD OVER HERE BE CONVENIENT FOR YOU?"
-"CARRY ON!"
-"OVER HERE, ARE YOU THIRTEEN, EH?"
-"NEXT, PLEASE!"
GET WONDERLUST FOR YOUR TROUSERS
GET WONDERLUST FOR YOUR HAIR.
-"SITTING WITH ME IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT IS A CROSS SECTION OF BRITISH YOUTH.
I?D LIKE FIRST OF ALL TO SPEAK TO YOU, SIR GERALD."
-"OH, NOT A BIT OF IT. WE HAD A JOB TO DO, MICHAEL."
-"AH, YES, YES, QUITE. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE ANSWERING MY QUESTION."
-"OH, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, THERE WAS A JOB TO BE DONE."
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN,
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN.
ON TO THE NEXT ROUND!
BINGO! BINGO! HA! HA!
-"IN THE RECENT HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR BLACKPOOL, MRS G. EVANS OF SOLIHULL
WAS GRADUALLY INJURED. SHE WANTS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL "PLENTY
OF JAM JARS" BY THE RAVELLERS.
AND HERE IT IS."
PLENTY OF JAM JARS, BABY,
PLENTY OF JAM JARS FOR YOU. (for you, baby)
PLENTY OF JAM JARS, BABY,
PLENTY OF JAM JARS FOR YOU.
PLENTY OF JAM JARS, BABY, (baby, baby)
PLENTY OF JAM JARS FOR YOU.
-"AND HOW OLD ARE YOU?"
-"THIRTY-TWO."
-"OOOOH!"
-"NEVER..."
-"I AM!"
-"GET AWAY!"
-"I AM!"
-"WELL, WHAT PRICE HAVE YOU GOT YOUR EYES ON?"
-"I HAVE?"
-"OOOOH!"
-"WELL, YOU'VE JUST WON A TRIP TO DENVER AND FIVE OTHERS!"
-"OOOOH!"
-"THANK YOU."
-"AND ALSO, WAIT FOR IT, YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN ELECTED AS INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE FOR PADDINGTON!"
-"OOOOH!"
-"LOOK AFTER YOURSELF! HA! HA!"
GET WONDERLUST FOR YOUR TROUSERS,
GET WONDERLUST FOR YOUR HAIR.
-"THIS ROUND IS BROUGHT TO YOU TONIGHT FROM THE ARMS OF SOMEONE NEW."
-"HELLO! I'M SPEAKING FROM A CALL BOX!"
-"HELLO! HELLO! OPERATOR! HELLO OPERATOR! I'VE BEEN CUT OFF!
I-I-I'VE BEEN CUT OFF! IT'S EMERGENCY!"
O-U-T SPELLS OUT! (da-da-da-da-da)
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN,
AIN'T BEEN 'ROUND SINCE YOU KNOW WHEN. (ee-hoo!)
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN, (that's right!)
O-U-T SPELLS OUT!
-"AND HOW OLD ARE YOU?" CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN!
-"THIRTY-TWO! HA! HA! HA!
-"NEVER! HA! HA! HA!"
-"WELL, YOU WON A PRICE! HA! HA! HA!"
-"GET OFF THE SHOW! HA! HA! HA!"
-"THEY LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR."
-"WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR."
-"THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR."
-"CARRY ON!"
-"LOOK AFTER YOURSELF! HA! HA! HA!"
-"COME IN!"
AND CHRISTMAS TIME IS ALL,
AND YOUR BONNIE CLAY US THROUGH.
HAPPY BREASTLING TO YOU PEOPLE
ALL OUR BEST FROM ME TO YOU.
AND THE BEASTY BRANGOM BUTTON
TO THE HEATHER AND LITTLE INN.
AND BE STRATTENED OOT IN MATETHER
TO YER ARMS ONCE BACK AGAIN.
OCH AWAY, YE BONNIE.
1968
The first Beatles Christmas fan club disc to be recorded separately, the 1968 offering is a collage of odd noises, musical snippets, and individual messages. McCartney's song "Happy Christmas, Happy New Year" is featured, along with John's poems "Jock and Yono" and "Once Upon a Pool Table." Also notable is a rendition of "Nowhere Man" by the ukulele-playing Tiny Tim. Also included is a sped-up snippet of the Beatles' own "Helter Skelter". Also featured is a brief snippet of "Baroque Hoedown" which in three years was used in Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade.
Finally, the US fans got a flexi-disc for Christmas in 1968, but it came in a modified version of the 1967 UK sleeve.
-" HELLO, THIS IS A BIG HI AND A SINCERE MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM YOURS TRULY, RINGO STARR.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY AUTUMN.
HAPPY MICKLEMUS, EV'RYBODY,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EV'RYBODY TO YOU.
I'D LIKE TO WISH EV'RYBODY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
THIS YEAR OF 1968 GOING ON 69.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR,
ALL THE BEST TO YOU FROM HERE.
AH - HAAA!
I'D LIKE TO WISH EV'RYBODY
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
FROM THERE TO HERE,
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW YEAR,
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WHEN I GET TO THE BOTTOM
I GO BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SLIDE,
WHERE I STOP AND I TURN AND I GO FOR A RIDE
TILL I GET TO THE BOTTOM AND I SEE YOU AGAIN.
-"ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WERE TWO BALLOONS CALLED
JOCK AND YONO. THEY WERE STRICTLY IN LOVE, BOUND TO HAPPEN
IN A MILLION YEARS. THEY WERE TOGETHER MAN. UNFORTUNATE
TIMETABLE, THEY SEEMED TO HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WHICH
KEPT CALLING THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
BUT THEY BATTLED ON AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDITIES,
INCLUDING SOME OF THEIR BEAST FRIENDS. BEING IN LOVE,
THEY CLUNG TOGETHER EVEN MORE MAN. BUT SOME OF THE
POISONOUS MONSTERS' OUTDATED BOSS - LORDY APE CLAWS DID
STICK SLIGHTLY, AND THEY OCCASIONALLY HAD TO RESORT TO
THE DRY CLEANERS. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT KILL THEM AND
THEY WEREN'T BANNED FORM THE OLYMPIC GAMES. THEY LIVED
HOPEFULLY EVER AFTER AND WHO COULD BLAME THEM?"
-"WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN, ANOTHER FAB CHRISTMAS. CHRISTMAS
TIME IS HERE AGAIN. AIN'T BEEN AROUND SINCE LAST YEAR.
AND WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, ALL THE WAY FROM
AMERICA, TO SAY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU OUR FAITHFUL,
BELOVED FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE MADE OUR LIFE
WORTH LIVING. AND OVER HERE I HAVE MR. MALCOLM EVANS WHO
THROUGH THICK AND THIN WOULD SURELY LIKE TO SAY A WORD
OF GREETING AT THIS FESTIVE OCCASION."
-"MERRY CHRISTMAS CHILDREN EVERYWHERE."
-"AT THE FIRST STROKE, IT WILL BE ..."
-".. RINGO STARR. THANK YOU!
-"GOOD EVENING."
-"HELLO ME DEAR. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING."
-"I'M NOT SURPRISED."
-"WELL, I AM! CERTAINLY AM!"
-"I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SO MYSELF."
-"WELL, IF YOU ASK ME, I THINK IT'S INSANE."
-"OCCASIONALLY."
-"YES, ME, TOO. TWICE A WEEK SOMETIMES."
-"FOURTEEN AND SIX."
-"NINETEEN AND FIVE TO SAVE ME IF YOU DON'T MIND."
-"YES, I KNOW."
-"DON'T YOU SAY YES TO ME! I'M TELLING YOU!"
-"THIS IS A PRIVATE LINE, YOU KNOW."
-"PRIVATE LINE? I'VE BEEN ON THIS LINE FOR TWO YEARS."
-"WELL, IT'S MY PROUD PLEASURE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE ONE OF
THE MOST VERSATILE PERFORMERS IN OUR CAREER. AND HE'S
COME ALL THE WAY FROM STOKELY CARMICHEL'S -ON-SEA.
AND I HOPE YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE HIM. LET'S GIVE HIM A
BIG HAND ...
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY AUTUMN,
HAPPY MICKLEMUS, EV'RYBODY,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EV'RYBODY TO YOU.
-"ONCE UPON A POOL TABLE THERE LIVED A SHORT-HAIRED
BUTCHER'S BOY BY THE WAY OF OSTERGARD. IT COMES IN
SENTENCEPOOLARARROWIC AIRPORT HER FATHER WAS IN A
LONG STORY CUT SHORT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS LIFE SENTENCE.
WE'RE INDEBTED TO THE COLLOQUIAL OFFICE FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
DISPOSAL OF HER HONORWITZ, INCLUDING, I MIGHT ADD,
HOC VIRTALLO A TOTEM. ON THE OTHER HANDBAG, I MEAN TO SAY
L'AMOURE NE SOOME TU JOURE REALISTIC, STRICTLY SPEAKING.
FOR THIS FILM IS ABOUT AN HOURGLASS HOUSEBOAT. THE FULL
MEANING OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL DEFIES DESCRIPTION. THEIR
LOSS WAS OUR GAINSBOROUGH NIL.
THE SOUND OF A MANSERVANTILE DEFECTIVELY LASTING BARRED
UP IN A LOVE-DIZZY GAR-DI-DELL TIME. HOW CLOSE CAN YOU
GETTYSBURG AND EVER UNDERLY COUNCIL YA ORIGINALLY A
BIRDBATH FEELING..."
-"CUT!"
-"WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST HERE THIS EVENING, MR.
TINY TIM. I'D LIKE TO ASK HIM TO SAY A FEW WORDS."
-"OH, HELLO TO YOU NICE BEATLES. AH, IT'S SO WONDERFUL,
WHAT A THRILL IT IS TALKING HERE. AH, IN MR. HARRISON'S
PRESENCE, MR. WEISS' PRESENCE, AND ALL HIS NICE WONDERFUL
FRIENDS. AND THE THING IS, I JUST WANNA SAY MERRY
CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. AND, AH, A HAPPY NEW YEAR."
-"THANK YOU, TINY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING US A LITTLE SONG?"
-"AH, I'D LOVE TO. HERE'S A SONG I DID IN 1966 IN FRONT OF
MISS JILL FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND I DID THIS IN ALBERT
HALL, AND WHAT A THRILL IT WAS, AH, TO DO THIS THEN, AND
NOW ... EXACTLY THE WAY I DID IT THEN."
HE'S A, OOH, REAL NOWHERE MAN,
LIVING IN HIS NOWHERE LAND,
MAKING ALL HIS NOWHERE PLANS FOR NOBODY.
HASN'T GOT A POINT OF VIEW,
KNOWS NOT WHERE HE'S GOING TO,
ISN'T HE A BIT LIKE YOU AND ME?
NOWHERE MAN, (yes?) DON'T WORRY,
TAKE YOUR TIME, DON'T HURRY,
NOWHERE MAN, THE WORLD'S AT YOUR COMMAND, OOH.
HE'S A, HUH HUH, REAL NOWHERE MAN,
LIVING IN HIS NOWHERE LAND,
MAKING ALL HIS NOWHERE PLANS FOR NOBODY, OOH, OOH.
-"THANK YOU, TINY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU, TINY."
-"GOD BLESS YOU ALL. OH, GOD BLESS YOU ALL."
Happy Christmas 1969
Recorded November-December 1969 as individual recordings
Edited By Kenny Everett
The final Beatles Christmas offering was also recorded separately, as the band was crumbling at this point. It features an extensive visit with John and Yoko at their Tittenhurst Park estate, where they play "what will Santa bring me?" games. Harrison only appears briefly, and Starr only shows up to plug his recent film, The Magic Christian. Paul sings his original ad-lib, "This is to Wish You a Merry, Merry Christmas."
For the only time, the American and British jackets were identical. The U.S. version of the flexi-disc had an elaborate drawing of the Beatles' faces on it..
-"MAMA!"
-"NOW YOU LADS, HAVE YOU JUST SHOUT HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL OF YOU
FOR THIS TAPE!"
-"HAPPY CHRISTMAS?"
-"YEAH. GO ON. ONE, TWO, THREE."
-"HAPPY CHRISTMAS!."
-"THANK YOU, SAME TO YOU, HA! HA! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!"
-"... CHRISTMAS, JOHN, AND I SEE YOU STROLLING IN
ASCOT GARDEN WITH YOUR WIFE YOKO, BUT WELL, DO YOU
HAVE ANY SPECIAL THOUGHTS AT, FOR CHRISTMAS?"
-"WELL, YOKO, IT IS CHRISTMAS AND MY SPECIAL THOUGHTS,
OF COURSE, TEND TOWARDS EATING."
-"HA! HA! HA! ALL RIGHT. SO, EATING. WELL, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO EAT?"
-"WELL, I'D LIKE SOME CORNFLAKES PREPARED BY PARISIAN
HANDS. AND I'D LIKE IT BLESSED BY HARE KRISHNA MANTRA."
-"WISH OF A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS HAVE A JOLLY NEW YEAR,
MAKE SURE THAT CHRISTMAS .. COMES ONCE A YEAR."
YES, HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL THE BEST.
THIS IS GEORGE HARRISON SAYING HAPPY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY
CHRISTMAS. CHRISTMAS. CHRISTMAS. HAPPY. HAPPY ...
OOH, GOOD EVENING TO YOU LADIES,
GOOD EVENING TO YOU GENTLEMEN,
HAPPY TO BE HERE,
GOOD EVENING TO YOU GENTLEMEN,
I FEAR, I FEAR, I FEAR.
GOOD EVENING TO YOU ONE AND ALL
I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY
THE COMING SPORTSDAY OF YOUR LIFE
IS MAMA'S LITTLE BOY.
-"SO, HOW DO YOU LIKE THE GARDEN HERE?"
-"I THINK IT'S SIMPLY SPLENDID. I'M OVERWHELMED BY ITS SANCTUARY."
-"SO, YOU DON'T MIND THESE HIGH GATES AND THINGS AND THE WALLS.?"
-"OH, I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE HIGH WALLS.
THE ELIZABETHAN HIGH WALL IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS LOVED, YOU SEE."
-"YES."
-"LADY."
THIS IS TO WISH YOU A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
THIS IS TO WISH YOU JUST A MERRY, MERRY YEAR.
THIS IS TO WISH YOU JUST A HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR,
THIS IS TO WISH YOU A MERRY, MERRY, MERRY NEW YEAR.
-"I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I HOPE EVERYBODY LISTENING TO THIS
HAS A VERY HAPPY TIME AT CHRISTMAS AND HAS A GOOD,
FORTUNATE, LUCKY NEW YEAR. AND A GOOD TIME TO BE HAD BY ALL."
-"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
MM, THIS IS TO WISH YOU A ME-MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
THIS IS TO WISH YOU A HA-HA-HAPPY NEW YEAR.
-"HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR PLACE IN THE...EH..THE SEVENTIES TO COME?
WE'VE HAD THE SWINGING SIXTIES, AND I WAS WONDERING,
MRS. LENNON, HOW YOU SAW YOUR PLACE IN THE SEVENTIES?"
-"I THINK IT'LL BE A QUIET, PEACEFUL SEVENTIES, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW."
-"SO YOU THINK THERE'S GONNA BE PEACE, DO YOU?"
-"YES, AND FREEDOM."
-"I SEE."
-"FREEDOM OF MIND. AND EVERYTHING."
-"I SEE. REALLY NICE."
-"EVERYBODY WILL JUST BE FLYING AROUND, YOU KNOW."
-"AH, EVERYBODY WILL JUST BE FLYING AROUND, YOU SEE,
D'YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?"
-"THE AIR'S SO CRISP AND ALL THAT. AND JUST,
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT, VERY DELICATE ..."
DEEP AND CRISP AND EVEN,
BRIGHTLY SHONE THE MOON LAST NIGHT
ON THE MOSTY CRUEL.
GOOD KING WENCESLAS LOOK OUT
ON THE FEAST OF....
-"... AND IT'S SORT OF, AH, LIKE A STRANGE MAGIC, YOU KNOW,
JUST SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS OF OUR THINKING. ANYWAY,
IT'S JUST REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS - (Happy Christmas)
HAPPY CHRISTMAS - (Happy Christmas)
HAPPY CHRISTMAS - (Happy Christmas)
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
TAKE TWO!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS,
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY CHRISTMAS - (Happy Christmas)
OH-OH-OH-OH-OH-OH, HAPPY CHRISTMAS - (hah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
OH-OH-OH-OH, HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
JOHN, YOKO,
JOHN, HAPPY CHRISTMAS
IT'S WARM AND NICE AND COMFEE IN ASCOT.
AC-DC LIGHTS.
LET'S PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE TREES.
ALRIGHT, DEAR, YOU PASS ME THE LIGHTS AND I'LL STICK IT TO THE TREE,
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....
MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-
MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-
MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-
MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-MERRY CHRISTMAS-
MERRY CHRISTMAS-MAGIC CHRISTIAN-MAGIC CHRISTIAN-
MAGIC CHRISTIAN-MAGIC CHRISTIAN-MAGIC CHRISTIAN-
MAGIC CHRISTIAN.
-"IT'S JUST A PLUG FOR THE FILM, KEN. TRY AND KEEP IT ON.
THIS IS RINGO SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EV'RYBODY
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR."
-"HA HA HA HA HA...."
-"I'D LIKE A BIG TEDDY!"
-"I'LL GET YOU A BIG, PINK TEDDY BEAR."
-"OH, THANK YOU, MOMMY."
-"AND BE A GOOD BOY, JOHN."
-"OH, YES, MOMMY, I WILL. AS LONG AS YOU GET ME A TEDDY BEAR."
-"A BIG, PINK TEDDY BEAR."
-"AND A TRAIN SET."
-"AMERICAN TRAIN SET THEN?"
-"AND A MAN ON THE MOON, THAT GOES ON THE MOON,
DANCE ON THE MOON."
-"AN ICE CREAM MOON THEN."
-"THAT'S RIGHT. AND LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS,
AND LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS,
AND LOTS, AND LOTS.....
-"HA HA HA HA HA...."
|
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Who's Who behind the Fan Club Xmas Messages?By John Whelan
Sun, 30 May 1999 Just before getting into the Beatles Fan Club Christmas Messages, a BBC broadcast was made on this subject (from which some of the information below is drawn) narrated by Brian Matthew with interviews from Tony Barrow, Kenny Everett and the fabs themselves. A lot of the research was done by Mark Lewisohn for the December 26, 1983 BBC 2 broadcast which reveal many details not always known about the how the Beatles Christmas Albums were produced and how it all originated. I must say for a kickoff for the broadcast, the BBC used comedian Dora Bryan singing "All I Want for Xmas Is Beatle!" which sounds very schmaltzy and as about a priceless as one of those Rutle tunes!! |
Ever wondered who thought up of the idea for the Beatles Xmas Fan Club messages? Well, it wasn't the Beatles themselves, that's for sure. Nor was it Brian Epstein. In fact the person who came up with the idea was Tony Barrow. The great moment of inspiration came about in a number of ways: first off, the Beatles Fan Club had a deluge of fan mail where on average they were three weeks behind in answering back to the fans. This created problems in terms of "efficiently responding back" to those fans as well their own 80,000 "Official Fan Club Members." Tony Barrow became acutely aware of the problem, so what to do? Well, Tony recalled how the Queen always delivers her Christmas message to her subjects every year on the December 25th. Presto! Why not have the Beatles do the same for their fans but send it out on a record just before Christmas?
Tony Barrow decided to approach Brian Epstein on the idea. Brian more or less shunned it down because he felt it was going to "cost the Beatles" more in the long run to finance the singles as a gift to their fan club members. However, Tony was not disheartened by Epstein's opinion on the matter. Tony then decided to talk to the Beatles about the proposal to which all four musicians thought it a great idea! The Beatles then talked to Brian Esptein about the merits concerning Tony's idea. Needless to say, Brian had no choice but to now agree since it was being sanctioned by John, Paul, George and Ringo.
And so the Beatle Fan Club Members got their first Beatle Xmas message in 1963. Bet you all thought (for those who have heard it) that the Beatles wrote the the message themselves for their fans? Wrong! In fact the first three Xmas messages were more or less scripted by Tony Barrow with the idea that the Beatles "ad-lib humor" might prevail along the way as they're reading it (ie: one of the boys goosing another one or whistling the queens anthem are a couple of examples Tony refers to).
Interestingly enough, the first three Beatle Xmas records -- that is, 1963, 1964 and 1965 were all recorded at EMI studios at the end of their recording sessions. By 1966, the Beatles took a totally different approach to their next Xmas message. Mainly Paul McCartney's idea, the recording of this message had quite a few firsts for itself: First of all, it was to be "Pantomime" - an idea Paul came up with as opposed to the usual "happy greetings and Xmas goodwill" found on the previous three Xmas messages. Secondly, the record became the first Xmas record to be double-sided. Thirdly, the sleeve cover was done in color for the first time! Fourthly (and a bit of surprise here for this fan), the Beatles recorded this message at their publishers studios...that's right, in Dick James' studios in 1966! A departure here for the Beatles since they previously recorded their Fan Club messages after a recording session. The Xmas recording was approached from a "production" point of view - the first time the Beatles decided to record their Xmas message that way.
The Beatles Xmas message for 1967 brought in a satirical humor based on radio and television. No information is given here from the BBC broadcast as to where it was recorded (although I suspect it was back in EMI studios for this one). And if I may digress for one moment here on the subject of Xmas albums from the fabs, it is on this same BBC broadcast where Tony talked briefly about the death of Brian Epstein and the profound impact it was having on Paul McCartney. Paul called an emergency meeting (within one week after Brian's death) at his Canvendish home and Tony Barrow was there a hour before the other three Beatles were to arrive. Paul told Tony that he felt that the band may not be together again as a band after the next trip to India. For this reason, Paul decided to hold an emergency meeting to discuss future Beatle plans which now included his movie idea: "Magical Mystery Tour". From Tony Barrow's viewpoint, this gave Paul a chance to develop his management skills and give the Beatles some direction for their music.
In 1968, the Beatles were not working together (due to problems within the band) on their Xmas messages but instead they recorded "separate messages" to be "edited together." The lucky person who got to do this envious task of producing and editing was none other than Kenny Everett. Basically, Ken took the recordings back to the BBC radio and did some special mixing which still gave the impression of Beatles doing another great fan club message. But in the1969 Xmas message, Kenny Everett's efforts were more constrained by the lack of input from George Harrison - who only spoke a mere 6 seconds on the record and Ringo, only a mere16 seconds - made the Beatles last Xmas message appear far less of a group effort at all. Once again, this record was mixed by Kenny Everett using some musical files from the BBC library to help pad out what was to be the Beatles last Official Christmas Fan Club Record.
An interesting history behind the Beatles Christmas Album. And I still play my copy around Christmas time!
- John Whelan, Chief Researcher
for the Ottawa Beatles Site
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