"Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys that was released as a standalone single on December 23, 1974. Written by Brian Wilson and Stephen Kalinich, it was the only Beach Boys single issued between the albums Holland and 15 Big Ones. The B-side was "Susie Cincinnati".
| "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Beach Boys | ||||
| B-side | "Susie Cincinnati" | |||
| Released | December 23, 1974 | |||
| Recorded | November 18, 1974 | |||
| Genre | Christmas | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Brother/Reprise (1321) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brian Wilson, Steve Kalinich | |||
| Producer(s) | Brian Wilson | |||
| The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editIn a 1997 interview, Kalinich said of the song,
Brian and I decided we wanted to do a children's song and we somehow combined "Here Comes Santa Claus" with Gene Autry; I came up with this lyric about a child of winter and Brian put music to it, and then we went in to Brother Studio and recorded it. ... We just wanted to do a Christmas album. I remember I wanted to release this, but the Beach Boys didn't think there were enough harmonies, and they kind of sabotaged a major release.[1]
Recording
editAn early version with Dennis Wilson on lead vocals and Carl Wilson singing the bridge is reported to exist.[2]
Release history
editWhen released in other countries, the single featured the live version of "Good Vibrations" from The Beach Boys In Concert as a B-side.
"Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" was included on the band's 1998 compilation Ultimate Christmas.
Personnel
editPer Stephen Kalinich.[3]
- The Beach Boys
- Mike Love – lead vocal
- Brian Wilson – "Grinch voice", "everything else"
- Carl Wilson – guitar
- Dennis Wilson – drums
- Additional personnel
- Carnie Wilson – sleigh bell
- Wendy Wilson – sleigh bell
- Stephen Kalinich – kazoo
References
edit- ^ Abbott, Kingsley, ed. (1997). Back to the Beach: A Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys Reader. Helter Skelter. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-90092-402-3.
- ^ Chidester, Brian (March 7, 2014). "Busy Doin' Somethin': Uncovering Brian Wilson's Lost Bedroom Tapes". Paste. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ^ Elliot, Brad (1998). Ultimate Christmas (Digital Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.
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