With all the buzz over the release of what’s being called the “last” Beatles song, titled “Now and Then,” I wanted to take a deep dive into the fab four and their connection to Christmas music, because, after all, this is a Christmas website :). While they never released any holiday music as a group to the public at large, the Beatles did write and record one holiday song, Christmas Time (is here again), which they issued as a fan club exclusive in 1967 to their U.K. fans only. The Beatles released a special vinyl Christmas “record” every year from 1963 to 1969, which they shipped exclusively to members of their fan club with some only going to their U.K. fans – more about that later.
A shortened version of the song appeared in 1995 on the flip side of the single “Free as a Bird,” which was part of their “Anthology” project. After breaking up in 1969, of course, each member of the band released at least one holiday themed song (sort of). And in the case of Ringo, he recorded and released an entire Christmas album.
I’ll walk through the history of the Beatles Christmas fan club releases, the Christmas music they produced as solo artists, and provide some details on the little known Christmas album that Paul recorded in his home studio just for his family, which has never been released.
The Beatles and Christmas
From 1963 to 1969, the Beatles released an annual vinyl Christmas record for their official fan club members with each sporting a unique picture sleeve. The recordings were short, usually less than eight minutes, and included thank you messages from the band, silly skits, and snippets of odd and goofy takes on Christmas classics, and other ramblings.
These recordings were unavailable until December 2017, when they were released as a vinyl as part of a special box set. As of this writing, these recordings have still not been released digitally but are available on youtube.
According to Rolling Stone, their 1967 Christmas fan club record was the last that all four recorded together in the studio. For the final two Christmas records, they each recorded their parts separately and a producer blended their contributions together into one Christmas recording. Rolling Stone also reported that by the time the Beatles set to work on their final 1969 Christmas present to fan club members, they had already broken up as a band.
Did the Beatles make an original Christmas song?
Christmas Time (is here again)
The Beatles recorded one original Christmas song, which appeared on their 1967 fan club release called Christmas Time (is here again). At the end of the song, John reads a poem titled “When Christmas Time is Over.” U.K. fan club members received the record while their U.S. counterparts were sent only a postcard, making this one even rarer until the vinyl box set was released in 2017. The entire recording, and song, were part of a skit the Beatles had prepared the day before coming into the studio to record it and involved a fictional group auditioning for a BBC show, which was an homage to BBC shows of the past. It’s also one of the few fab four songs that is attributed to all four Beatles.
While previous Christmas fan club recordings were made while they were already in the studio recording one of their regular albums, this one was different. They came into the studio just to record this song well after recording Magical Mystery Tour. It was produced by the legendary George Martin during a special nine-hour recording session.
A full version of the song was recorded by Ringo on his solo Christmas record “I Wanna Be Santa Claus,” which was released in 1999.
The Beatles – Christmas Time Is Here Again (with Bonus 1963 Christmas Message OUTTAKE!) from Starman Brinley on Vimeo.
Did any of the Beatles make Christmas music on their own?
George Harrison
Ding Dong, Ding Dong (song)
Beyond contributing to Christmas Time (is here again), George Harrison is not credited with recording any Christmas music. However, he did record a New Year’s song, titled Ding Dong, Ding Dong, in 1973, which featured Ringo Starr on drums. The song appeared on Harrison’s Dark Horse album and took him only three minutes to write, according to his memoir.
Harrison said he noticed the words “Ring out the old, Ring in the new” carved into the wall of his mansion, which inspired the tune.
“Ding Dong, Ding Dong’ was the quickest one I ever wrote,” he said. “It took me three minutes, except it took me four years of looking at the thing [carving], which was written on the wall at my home, ‘Ring out the old, ring in the new. Ring out the false, ring in the truth,’ before I realized it was a hit song. It makes me laugh because it’s so simple. That song evaded me for four years.”
According to the Beatles Bible website, Harrison was seeking a “Wall of Sound” treatment for the recording and worked with the Phil Spector to achieve it. The song was issued as a single in the U.K. and peaked at 38 while reaching 36 in the U.S. after being released on December 23, too late to really have an impact on the seasonal song market that year.
As an aside, and for those obsessed with all things Beatles, Harrison wore his orange Sgt. Pepper uniform for the official video, the first time he’d done so since 1967.
Did you know?
While not a George Harrison Christmas Song, Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes did include the chorus from Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord” into his version of “The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot.” So, while not Christmas themed, or a Christmas song, Harrison’s music is on a Christmas song!
Ringo Starr
I Wanna Be Santa Claus (album)
Ringo is the only Beatle that has recorded a full Christmas album with “I Wanna Be Santa Claus,” which was released in 1999. The most notable song on the album is the Beatles penned Christmas song, Christmas Time (is here again). Starr’s recording, however, does not include any of the other Beatles. Filled with various standards, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Little Drummer Boy, Starr wrote six original songs for the album, including the title track, with writing partner Mark Hudson and other contributors.
Did you know?
Starr was not happy with the promotion of his holiday album and blamed the record company for its poor performance, according to the Beatles Bible website.
“They actually gave the Christmas album no support,” Starr said. “We have now parted company due to their incompetence, they let me go. I’m hoping to record another studio album… and I’m hoping it will be on any label other than Mercury.”
Starr did indeed go on to record more music and has released multiple albums and EPs since.
John Lennon
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
John Lennon and the Yoko/Plastic Ono Band worked with the Harlem Community Choir on the Christmas-themed holiday standard Happy Xmas (War is Over), which was released in 1971. It reached number four in the U.K. and represented the couple’s protest message against the Vietnam War. Lennon and Ono had previously launched a campaign in December 1969 that featured billboards with the statement: “WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from John & Yoko. The billboards appeared in 12 major cities around the world, which eventually inspired them to write and record the popular holiday themed classic.
Lennon’s was the first Christmas-themed song released by a solo Beatle. Phil Spector was brought in to produce the song at the Record Plant recording studio in New York City with 30 children from the Harlem Community Choir. The single was released on green vinyl with various alternative versions made available on the John Lennon Anthology set, which was released in 1998.
In an interview with David Sheff for his book All We Are Saying, Lennon touched on what the song meant to him.
“Happy Xmas’ Yoko and I wrote together,” he said. “It says, ‘War is over if you want it.’ It was still that same message – the idea that we’re just as responsible as the man who pushes the button. As long as people imagine that somebody’s doing it to them, and that they have no control, then they have no control.”
Did you know?
Happy Xmas (War is Over) has been recorded by numerous artists, including Andy Williams, Neil Diamond, and even Sean Lennon, who performed the song on Comdey Central’s The Colbert Report. Sean Lennon also recorded the song with Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson on December 14, 2018, and then played it live one day later on Saturday Night Live.
Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus ft. Sean Ono Lennon (Happy Xmas) War Is Over (Live) – SNL from Nathan Garcia on Vimeo.
Paul McCartney
Wonderful Christmastime
At this point, if you haven’t heard McCartney’s most famous Christmas song contribution, Wonderful Christmastime, then you must not listen to the radio, walk through the mall, get in an elevator, or leave your house! It’s ubiquitous this time of year. McCartney released the iconic Christmas song in 1980 on his solo album, McCartney II, and recorded it entirely on his own. While the members of Wings, his touring band at the time, are not on the single, they do appear on the official video of the song. It’s estimated that McCartney earns more than $400,000 a year from this song alone with cumulative earnings of more than $15 million. McCartney explained his inspiration for the song in a Q&A on his website in 2022.
“I like the idea of Christmas songs purely because they only come around at Christmas!” he said. “They remind us of the fun atmosphere of the whole season, and when I was writing ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ I was trying to capture that party aspect. I did hope it would keep coming back – which it has. Sometimes people will go into a shop and hear it a little too much, but I don’t care! I’m happy!”
The a cappella group Straight No Chaser recorded Wonderful Christmastime on their EP, Under the Influence: Holiday Edition, with McCartney. He’s also appeared on a version with Jimmy Fallon and a host of celebrities, including the Roots, Reese Witherspoon, Seth McFarlane, and more, which you can find on youtube and specialty Christmas CD collections.
Paul McCartney canta sucesso de Natal – Wonderful Christmastime – Wonderful Christmastime 15/12/2012 E-Magazine2 from edgar roberto on Vimeo.
The Christmas Song
McCartney also recorded The Christmas Song in 2012, which was made famous, of course, by Nat King Cole. The song was released on the Christmas album, Holidays Rule, and included on his own expanded album, Kisses on the Bottom – Complete Kisses (with extra strings added). McCartney, who’s famously a vegetarian, changed the lyrics from “some turkey and some mistletoe” to “some holly and mistletoe.” Diana Krall, wife of one-time McCartney collaborator Elvis Costello, plays piano on the tune.
McCartney stated on a Q&A on his website that The Christmas Song, particularly Nat King Cole’s version, is his favorite holiday song describing it as “so atmospheric.” McCartney used the same microphone that Cole used to record the song at Capital Studios in L.A. when he recorded his version in 2012.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae
Finally, in 1975, McCartney recorded an instrumental version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a new title: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae. Available as a single, and bonus track off his album Back to the Egg, the song was purely an instrumental and, according to the Beatles Bible website, included only McCartney on piano, electric harpsichord, bass guitar, and drums with Bob Loveday on violin. It was also released on the b-side of McCartney’s 1979 single Wonderful Christmastime.
The song was one of four McCartney recorded for a short film titled Empty Hands, which was a documentary on the Amateur Karate Association tournament in London. Wings drummer Geoff Britton entered the actual tournament and McCartney helped fund the movie.
Did you know?
McCartney recorded a complete instrumental Christmas album in his home studio in the 1970s for his kids that he calls “Christmas Songs.” McCartney said in an interview on his website that he pulls out and plays it every year during the holidays with his family. He also said that he may even publish it someday for the benefit of a charity. Let’s hope so!
Chris LaFontaine has been a Christmas enthusiast since opening his first Christmas present and after helping to decorate his first Christmas tree. He created Christmaseveryminute.com for those who want to celebrate Christmas a little longer, a little earlier, or every day. You can contact him at celebratechristmaseveryminute@gmail.com to talk all things Christmas, submit your Christmas-themed photos for publishing consideration or to simply share a Christmas story with website readers.
