Audio CD review:
The Beach Boys - The Ultimate Christmas Collection

The Beach Boys - The Ultimate Christmas Collection

Band: The Beach Boys Title: The Ultimate Christmas Collection Rating: Release Date: 22 September, 1998 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Little Saint Nick 2: The Man With All The Toys 3: Santa's Beard 4: Merry Christmas, Baby 5: Christmas Day 6: Frosty The Snowman 7: We Three King Of Orient Are 8: Blue Christmas 9: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 10: White Christmas 11: I'll Be Home For Christmas 12: Auld Lang Syne 13: Little Saint Nick (Single Version) 14: Auld Lang Syne (Alternate Mix) 15: Little Saint Nick (Alternate Mix) 16: Child Of Winter (Christmas Song) 17: Santa's Got An Airplane 18: Christmas Time Is Here Again 19: Winter Symphony 20: (I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 21: Melekalikimaka 22: Bells Of Christmas 23: Morning Christmas 24: Toy Drive Public Service Announcement 25: Dennis Wilson Christmas Message - Dennis Wilson 26: Brian Wilson Christmas Interview - Brian Wilson

Editoral Review Hanson rocked it more recently, and decades later the original still sounds as hot as the California sun on this special combination of previously released and unvaulted alternate takes and never-released material, including a distinctly different arrangement of "Nick" and a fun, loopy ditty called "Santa's Got an Airplane. "Little Saint Nick," the Beach Boys' 1963 classic, is undoubtedly one of pop music's coolest original Christmas songs. " While many of the songs here are fodder for completists--and will sound uneven to others--it's hard to resist a record that features real rarities and Christmas material from 1964. Dig master Brian Wilson singing solo on "Blue Christmas" from the '64 Christmas Album and his keenly orchestrated "Winter Symphony" (for a 1977 Christmas disc that was never released, much of which is highlighted throughout this CD) with the warm, brassy instrumental bridge, plus a couple of fun public-service announcements and a Christmas-themed interview with the group's eccentric genius. --Martin Keller .. You can see a complete list of all The Beach Boys discography, or go back to the The Beach Boys tabs