The more the merrier (Beatles Christmas, that is)

December 19, 6:34 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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  John and Yoko holding a copy of the "War Is Over" poster.
  (Photo by Mavis)

Even though the Beatles Christmas Records are almost a hidden part of their history since they're not in general circulation and get scattered radio play only this time of year, there are other and more common Beatle-related holiday songs you're likely to hear and be able to buy.

Paul McCartney and Wings released "Wonderful Christmastime," a cute pop tune that fits in nicely in the Wings repetoire. Strangely, it has its detractors. It was recently rated the 11th Worst Christmas song by Spinner.com, a rating which, in my opinion, is undeserved. Paul and Wings took on a more traditional song on the B-side of the original single with  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae". You don't hear it much compared to "Wonderful Christmastime" with good reason. It's not nearly as good. 

Here's a video of Paul and Wings singing "Wonderful Christmastime" from YouTube.

Probably the best-loved and most played Beatles-related Christmas song is John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", which was originally released in 1971 to tie in with John and Yoko's "War Is Over (If You Want It) billboard campaign at the time. Produced by Phil Spector and augmented by the young voices of the Harlem Community Choir, it has also been widely covered. You can find mp3 downloads on Amazon.com by the legendary Darlene Love (one of our favorite female singers), The Alarm, Carly Simon, Maroon 5, John Holt, Jimmy Buffett and Celine Dion and versions on YouTube for every musical taste by everyone from Tom Jones to the Corrs to the Three Tenors -- Placido Domino, Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras.

But here's a very powerful and gorgeous version delivered by Melissa Etheridge. If you haven't heard this before, you're in for a treat.  

 Ringo Starr got into the act in 1999 with "I Wanna Be Santa Claus," a nice album of original and traditional songs. One of the traditional songs he covers is "Winter Wonderland," heard here in this YouTube streamed version.

George Harrison never did a Christmas song, but he did do a jolly New Year's holiday ditty called "Ding Dong, Ding Dong" (it's on his "Dark Horse" album). (See video below.) Harrison, however. in his guise as Nelson Wilbury, did recite a special Christmas greeting on a promotional only release by Warner Bros. called "A Warner Winterland."

 There are some great faux Beatles Christmas tracks around, too. The Fab Four's two Christmas albums, "A Fab Four Christmas: The Ultimate Beatle Tribute, Vol. 1" and "Have Yourself a FAB-ulous Little Christmas" are what traditional holiday songs with a Beatles beat might sound like. And Rock Hall of Fame members the Ventures, on the wonderful "The Ventures Christmas Album", wove the music of Johnny Rivers, the Searchers, the Beatles (on the album's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and others in some really rocking Christmas carols. We tortured office colleagues with songs from these albums in our Christmas compilations for many years.

So what Beatle-related Christmas songs can you hear on Beatle radio shows? Dennis Mitchell, host of "Dennis Mitchell's Breakfast With the Beatles," told us, "I try to spread out the fan club recordings because there are only seven of them and we've all heard them many times.  My personal favorite holiday recordings are the band's duet with Rolf Harris on 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down' during the Boxing Day broadcast of '63, and the '67 fan club record 'Christmas Time Is Here Again.' But listeners seem to really enjoy the BBC shows with Brian Matthew leading up to Christmas in '63 and '64, with the banter and impromptu 'carols.'  They're entertaining every single year."

Andre Gardner, host of "Breakfast With the Beatles With Andre Gardner," told us, "Personally, I love the Beatles 1967 Christmas Record the best and Paul's "Wonderful Christmastime."  On the show, we get many, many requests for "All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle" by Dora Bryan, and George's "Ding Dong Ding Dong" is an oft-requested track."

Joe Johnson, host of  "Beatle Brunch," says, "Every year we do our annual Christmas messages and songs show,
highlighting their messages, of course, and playing all the solo Christmas songs as well as "Christmastime Is Here Again." But what I love is Ringo's "I Wanna Be Santa Claus" CD. It went almost unnoticed and I think its one of the best, a must have for every Beatle fan this time of year. We also play selections from the Fab Four's Christmas CD. Also, next week, prior
to New Years, we'll air George's "Ding Dong, Ding Dong" with his explanation of how he wrote it."

Ken Michaels, host of "Every Little Thing" on XM Satellite Radio, told us, "For Beatles Christmas shows, I've played the obvious Beatles Christmas messages, along with 'Happy Xmas,' 'Wonderful Christmastime,' 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae,' Ringo's 'I Wanna Be Santa Claus' CD, 'Ding Dong, Ding Dong,' Yoko's 'Listen The Snow Is Falling,' and Laurence Juber's 'The Christmas Song' (off his EP 'Standard Time'). There are novelty records I've played like Judy & The Duets' 'Christmas with the Beatles' and Becky Lee Beck's 'I Want A Beatle for Christmas.' "

The Beatles' Christmas history, including the group's fan club and solo holiday recordings and Beatle-related recordings, is recalled in a new book,  "The Beatles Christmas Book: Everywhere It's Christmas" by Garry Marsh and Scott "Belmo" Belmer.

The book has a great story that has little to do with Christmas, but is fascinating, anyway. The book says Walt Disney had met with Beatles manager Brian Epstein and wanted to use the Beatles in the animated Disney film "The Jungle Book." But John Lennon was completely against the idea. But it turned out the Vultures in the film were charicatures of the Beatles, complete with British accents. One of those British accents belonged to none other than Chad Stuart of Chad & Jeremy (remember "Yesterday's Gone"?).