As the 60's evolve, so do the Beatles, and so do their Christmas records.
The previous year, the Christmas message
changed from scripted messages talking directly to the fans, to sketch comedy,
mostly Paul's idea, but enthusiastically joined in by the other three. 1967
brings a similar production, but as the members of the group start desiring to go
their separate ways, this is also reflected in the Christmas records, as the
final two years bring messages recorded in bits and pieces recorded separately by
each Beatle and assembled together later.
1967
Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
Released December 15, 1967
Recorded November 28, 1967
EMI Abbey Road Studio 2
Produced by George Martin
Special guest: Victor Spinetti
The script was written earlier in the day by the band. Last Christmas
record the Beatles recorded together as a group.
Cover designed on November 29 by John and Ringo.
The song Christmas Time (Is Here Again) was later
released on the Real Love single in 1995.
1968
Happy Christmas
Released December 20, 1968
Recorded in November, 1968 at John's home in London, Paul's home in London, in
the back of Ringo's
van in Surrey, with George in America and at George's house in
Esher during rehearsals for the White Album.
Special guest: Tiny Tim.
Created by Radio 1 disc jockey Kenny Everett who edited together
separately-recorded messages from John, Paul, George
and Ringo, and inter-cut random fragments from the White Album.
1969
Happy Christmas 1969
Released December 19, 1969
Recorded in fall of 1969 at John and Yoko's home in Ascot, Ringo's home in
Weybridge, Paul's home in
London, and the London offices of Apple.
Edited by Maurice Cole (Kenny Everett's original name)
Cover designed by Ringo
Because the Beatles officially broke up in 1970, no Christmas message
was prepared for that holiday season.
In early 1971, fan club members were sent an album on the Apple label containing all seven
of the Christmas messages.
Pictured is the American version of the LP. The British LP
entitled From Then To You included a
reproduction of the cover of the 1963 Christmas record.
Along with Let It Be and Introducing The Beatles, this
is one of the notoriously most heavily counterfeited of Beatles albums.
Counterfeits can be identified by blurry cover photos and an indentation ring
much larger than 1 1/2".
Some of the historical info on this page is from the books
The Beatles: A Day In The Life by Tom Schultheiss, The Beatles Day By Day by Mark
Lewisohn and The Price Guide for the Beatles American Records by Perry Cox and
Frank Daniels.
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