Each year from 1963 through 1969, the Beatles recorded a special Christmas greeting for their fans. The Official Beatles Fan Club in England sent flexi-discs containing the Christmas messages to its members each holiday season.

The American fan club, Beatles (U.S.A.) Ltd., was established in 1964, and for their first Christmas, the American fan club sent fans the 1963 Christmas message on a soundcard, which is like a flexi-disc, but is "printed" on the post card that is mailed. No message was sent to the American fans in 1965 because the tape was not received on time.

The Beatles Christmas flexis are very rare, and sell, in excellent condition, anywhere from $200 to $500.

These recordings offer a unique time-capsule glimpse into the personalities and evolution of the Beatles from 1963 through 1969. In the early years, like their appearances in A Hard Day's Night, even though these messages were scripted by "somebody's bad hand-wroter" (their Press Agent Tony Barrow), the Beatle's geniune wit and humor shines through, for example, in 1963, when as John mentions taking part in the Royal Variety show, the boys extemporaneously launch into a whistling version of God Save The Queen, or in 1964, when Paul mentions that they don't really know where they'd be without the fans, John says, off-handedly, "In the Army, perhaps..."

For older Beatles fans who remember hearing these messages over the years, "these little bits of plastic" are a fond holiday tradition, while for younger Beatles fans they offer a whole new insight into a pop music phenomenon which might never be repeated.

		1963 The Beatles Christmas Record Released December 6, 1963 Recorded October 17, 1963 EMI Abbey Road Studio 2 Engineer: Norman Smith Recorded after a session for I Want To Hold Your Hand and This Boy. About 30,000 total copies were manufactured. This recording was sent to US Fan Club members in 1964.
		1964 Another Beatles Christmas Record Released December 18, 1964 Recorded October 26, 1964 EMI Abbey Road Studio 2 Engineer: Norman Smith The only Beatles Fan Club Christmas record that played at 45 RPM instead of 33 1/3 RPM. Recorded on the same day that they recorded Honey Don't for Beatles For Sale. US Fan Club members received the 1963 Christmas message this year.
		1965 The Beatles Third Christmas Record Released December 17, 1965 Recorded November 8, 1965 EMI Abbey Road Studio 2 Engineer: Norman Smith Recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions, on the same day they recorded Think For Yourself. Cover photo taken on November 1 during the taping of Granada-TV's 'The Music of Lennon and McCartney'.
		1966 Pantomime (Everywhere It's Christmas) Released December 16, 1966 1 Recorded November 25, 1966 Recorded in the basement studio of Dick James Music in London Mixed at Abbey Road, December 2, 1966. Produced by George Martin. Cover designed by Paul.

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.

This page was created December 8, 2007.