Information and picture from the Wikipedia entry for The Beatles' Christmas Album
"Each year from 1963 to 1969, The Beatles had recorded a short Christmas message for their fans, comprised of carols, skits, jokes, and thanks to the loyal "Beatle People". Each recording was pressed onto a 17.5 inch flexi disc and mailed free to the British members of the Fan Club.".
The first Christmas recording from The Beatles featured several renditions of the traditional carol "Good King Wenceslas," individual messages from the four, and ended with a closing chorus of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ringo." An edited version of this recording was sent to members of The Beatles' American fan club in December 1964.
What I like about this first one (Christmas fan club recording) is how even at the start, the recording studio was an amazing thing for them. Paul says: "BUT THE THING WE LIKE BEST, I THINK SO ANYWAY, IS GOING INTO THE RECORDING STUDIO (Yes, we enjoy that very kindly) TO MAKE NEW RECORDS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL DAY BEFORE WE STARTED ON THIS SPECIAL MESSAGE. WELL, WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR MOST IS ONE OF OUR SONGS, YOU KNOW, TAKING SHAPE IN A RECORDING STUDIO, AH, ONE OF THE ONES JOHN AND I HAVE WRITTEN AND THEN LISTENING TO THE TAPES AFTERWARDS TO HEAR HOW IT ALL WORKED OUT, YOU SEE."
Here I thought I knew most everything about The Beatles..had no idea something like this existed.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't for bootlegs, in theory, only fan club members would have known about it.
ReplyDelete17.5 inch flexi??
ReplyDelete