For those unaware, in 1964, at the height of their popularity, The Beach Boys put their Southern California-soaked sunshine spin on Christmas music with a mix of originals and inspired renditions of holiday favorites.

Their fourth LP of the year, The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album was an instant classic, and over the ensuing six decades has become one of the group’s most beloved albums as well as one of the most cherished Christmas collections in the holiday music canon.

The 60th anniversary of The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album is being commemorated with a numbered, limited edition LP on custom zoetrope vinyl, available exclusively via www.TheBeachBoys.com, uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl.

The record includes a new gatefold jacket that features a holiday photo spread and a bonus 7″ with the single version of “Little Saint Nick” plus “Auld Lang Syne” on translucent “Ruby Red” color vinyl. The 7” single will also be available separately on “Ice Blue” vinyl.

A delightful fusion of The Beach Boys’ signature harmonies, lush instrumentation and the joyous spirit of the holiday season, The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album is a quintessential holiday record that captures the essence of the band’s distinctive sound.

Inspired by his production hero Phil Spector and his LP, A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, released the year prior, Brian Wilson similarly aimed to create an album that honored the season and appealed to all generations.

SIDE ONE:
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

Removing this incredible-looking zoetrope vinyl LP from its sleeve and placing it on the turntable, lifting the arm and placing the needle on the record, and accompanied by a sonorous 40-peice orchestra, first up we get a side of originals (the other side being classic covers).

For me, from these five originals, the first track, the now-iconic Little Saint Nick is the definitive stand out. Depicting Santa as part of the surfing-and-racing California scene, a major part of the band’s initial image and obsessions, the other tracks quickly become more and more eccentric and quirky, with a focus on both childhood innocence enjoyed and lost.

Another contender here for my favorite track is the fun The Man With All The Toys, with the superbly impassioned Santa’s Beard as charming a Christmas song as you could possibly hope to hear, and as we all know by now, Christmas Day features Al Jardine’s first lead vocal on a Beach Boys song.

SIDE TWO:
1. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
2. Blue Christmas
3. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
4. White Christmas
5. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
6. Auld Lang Syne

Flipping the vinyl over on this well-balanced mix of original and traditional songs, showing off their gorgeous harmony vocals, the boys then bring us a stirring We Three Kings of Orient Are and a rather delightful White Christmas, with Brian also covering a dulcet Blue Christmas, and we also get given (a slightly over arranged) Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, and more.

Thus, and on what is a recording whose orchestral instrumentation and fantastic harmonies, along with beautiful vocal performances by Brian and company, are as impeccable as one could have ever recalled, what we have here after 60 years is another reason to remove the usual holiday music aside this year, and put this instant full-length classic on for your guests to thoroughly enjoy.

The Beach Boys are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of their two iconic 1964 albums, Shut Down, Vol. 2 and All Summer Long with limited edition fan-focused color vinyl pressings.

Shut Down, Vol. 2, which includes such classics as “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Don’t Worry Baby” and “The Warmth Of The Sun, is available on blue and white marble custom color vinyl, while All Summer Long, featuring all-time greats like “I Get Around,” “All Summer Long” and “Little Honda,” is pressed on sunrise color vinyl.

Both records are housed in a high-quality jacket, numbered from 1 to 1964 and available exclusively via uDiscover Music, Sound Of Vinyl and The Beach Boys’ official webstore.

Official Zoetrope Vinyl Purchase Links

Official “Little Saint Nick” is available on 7” Single Ice Blue vinyl Purchase Links

www.TheBeachBoys.com