Why The Beach Boys Christmas Album Still Matters Today
Released in November of 1964, The Beach Boys Christmas Album saw America’s biggest pop band blend their signature sunny surf rock with a California holiday. Over the last 6 decades, this album has come to include go-to Christmas music spanning generations. Today, we look at the surprising story of The Beach Boys Christmas Album.
👉 Subscribe for More Vinyl Videos: https://youtube.com/c/AndyFenstermaker/?sub_confirmation=1
🏆 Become a Member: https://fensepost.substack.com/subscribe
WATCH NEXT:
✓ How The Beach Boys Inspired Kraftwerk: https://youtu.be/bvH90ddNup4
✓ The Kinks David Watts: https://youtu.be/jgZBhvMcOsE
✓ The Beatles Red Album: https://youtu.be/RwNB-bn6J54
🎥 Poetic Wax: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLylroYWVYWWXL84MH1T4Qr0wrRzjwlGMR
Get This Band on Vinyl:
🎧 Christmas Album: https://amzn.to/3UT2thZ
🎧 More Beach Boys on Vinyl: https://amzn.to/4exfaWG
FensePost Vinyl Channel is run by Andrew (Andy) Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 A Personal History of The Beach Boys Christmas Album
1:10 A Friendly Rivalry with The Beatles
3:02 Brian Wilson’s Expanding Creative Vision
5:12 Mixed Reception and the Album’s Commercial Appeal
5:54 The Lost Christmas Album: Unreleased 1977 Project
7:03 Brian Wilson’s Struggles and a Hidden Darkness
8:24 A Christmas Tradition for New Generations
#beachboys #thebeachboys #christmasalbum #littlesaintnick #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary #musicstorytelling
#vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax
@AndyFenstermaker
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
NEXT: Explore how The Beach Boys inspired "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk: https://youtu.be/bvH90ddNup4
@jocknarn3225
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
About 2 turn 70, i remember the feel of the early-mid 60s .. that Xmas album 4 me, defined the feel of the times .. played on the family Kreisler Stereogram .. remember still so vividly .. early Beatles & Herb Alpert also in the background
@kookadams85
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
Everything about the Beach Boys not only matters today but they were, are & Always will be THE Greatest rockNroll band to ever exist, particularly their output from 409 through Holland & the Love You LP. What the Beach Boys did in 63-68 & the Ramones in 77-82 will permanently exist as highest quality rock music. RIP to all 3 Wilson brothers & original Ramones. 🇺🇸
@trumpetprofessor
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
LOVE the Christmas album. Got it on cassette when I was in 6th grade. I will never get tired of the Dick Reynolds arrangements of the standard Christmas tunes, and that version of the Lord's Prayer that modulates 3 times throughout always leaves me awestruck
@robinbond7878
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
My parents had this album. They were actually part of the silent generation but they enjoyed a variety of music. Folk, classical, hymns, country, jazz, big band, show tunes, you name it, we probably had it in our home.
@marymitchell8625
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
I've been listening to Little Saint Nick since I was eight years old. Since Ultimate Christmas, I no longer accept that version. It has to have the bells! ❤
@LouiseJames-im7qo
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
All I have to say is “Santa’s Beard”
@joco5486
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
LOL. I love that your Siamese cat is sitting on your turntable. Oh, and thanks for the album info. I didn't even know they had a Christmas album.
@hollywoodjoe123
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
P W , Thank you and love to you from Joe Nania
@taboo_echo
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
I love this song
@thomasrobinson182
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
What happens when your tecord label demands 3 albums a year… ditto Beach Boys Party.
@phildiegidio4658
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
I have the vinyl version that I bought in 65. I also have a cd of the album so that I wouldn’t ruin my vinyl copy.
@Helen-ws3do
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
In 1967 , when I was 15, The Beach Boys came to Birmingham on the Good Vibrations tour. I saved my pocket money for the ticket and managed to get a ticket for row C at the Odeon New Street. As you can imagine, I was so excited. I think because the audience was smaller than an arena it felt as if we could touch them, wow wow wow …………. such good times ❤🎉❤
@Helen-ws3do
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
I still have this album from 1964. I was upset when I had this for Christmas, I wanted Pet Sounds ❤🎉❤
@jeffallen6189
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
The Beach Boys Always was my Favorite X-Mas Songs. I grew up by the Beach and Seashore Lifestyle.
@MrJOHNNYLIGHTNING
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
All well said!
@MrJOHNNYLIGHTNING
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
To quote AL, No one read the fine print in the contract and they owed 1 last LP to Reprise.
They went and made the Christmas LP and the label rejected it.
The contract said "No holiday material".
AL laughingly still tells the tale to this day………
@kokolanza7543
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
Nice discussion. Thanks! The cats are great too. My 4 fave Xmas albums are Bing's, The Beach Boys, Johnny Mathis – and of course, Elvis' Christmas Album. They've added a lot of enjoyment to our family's Christmas over the years.
@dashdeception
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
I was just listening to this album. It is really a masterpiece with beautiful harmonies.
@AllenJones-w3p
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 am
During the 70s, the Beach Boys recorded a second Christmas album, but at the insistence of the group's label, it was never issued, although some of the tracks from the sessions did see subsequent commercial release.
Comments are closed.