Child of Winter (Christmas Song)

"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"
ReleasedDecember 23, 1974
RecordedNovember 18, 1974
GenreChristmas
Length2:50
LabelBrother/Reprise (1321)
Songwriter(s)Brian Wilson, Steve Kalinich
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"California Saga: California"
(1973)
"Child of Winter (Christmas Song)"
(1974)
"Sail On, Sailor"
(1975)

Background

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In 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

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An early version with Dennis Wilson on lead vocals and Carl Wilson singing the bridge is reported to exist.[2]

Release history

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When 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

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Per Stephen Kalinich.[3]

The Beach Boys
Additional personnel

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Elliot, Brad (1998). Ultimate Christmas (Digital Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.