#OriginalPresentation • THE BEATLES: Official Fan Club Christmas Record (1965) + Rare Outtakes

For seven straight holiday seasons, from 1963, during the beginning of their rise to fame, to 1969, just prior to the group’s breakup, The Beatles released a specially recorded, limited-edition Christmas greeting available exclusively for the members of their official fan club.

Produced as either 45 or 33 1/3 r.p.m. flexi-disc singles which played on regular turntables, these outrageous performances lasted anywhere from five minutes to just under eight, and featured the Fab Four performing spontaneous singing and skits. And as each year evolved, the more off-the-wall they became.

After the group’s official breakup in 1970, an album containing all seven of the greetings – called The Beatles Christmas Album – was subsequently issued by both the UK and U.S. chapters of their fan club.

Since then, numerous bootleg versions have appeared on both vinyl and CD.

You may have not heard these for years, or perhaps not at all. But if you’re a fan, I’m sure they’ll make you at least smile – and hopefully laugh!

Happy Holidays!

[Note]
Due to copyright issues, some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.

The Beatles Third Christmas Record

[1965 – LYN 948]

This third Official Beatles Fan Club seasonal recording departs a bit from the previous two years’ formats which contained separate messages of thanks and best wishes to their members interspersed with off-beat musical interludes.

Co-written by press secretary Tony Barrow (who also produced) – and for the first time by the lads – these nonsensical ramblings contain interactions among the four (or often one-on-one) that allows their zany wit and cozy camaraderie to come through. Once again the program is interspersed with absurd musical interludes.

Program

Location: Studio Two, Abbey Road/London
Recording Date: November 8, 1965
Release Date: December 17, 1965
Running Time: 6:20

•

Yesterday
The Beatles: Dialogue
Happy Christmas
Auld Lang Syne
The Beatles: Dialogue
Same Old Song
The Beatles: Dialogue
Auld Lang Syne (Reprise)
The Beatles: Dialogue

https://youtu.be/Ycvi87ej5zk

[Replay]

More Greetings

1963: The Beatles’ First Christmas Record
1964: The Beatles’ Second Christmas Record
1966: The Beatles’ Fourth Christmas Record
1967: The Beatles’ Fifth Christmas Record
1968: The Beatles’ Sixth Christmas Record
1969: The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record

The Beatles Third Christmas Record

[Outtakes]

This disastrous first attempt by the band to record their third holiday fan club fare took place in October of 1965 at the Beatles’ secondary recording venue – London’s Marquee Studios – where they’d been working on their forthcoming album Rubber Soul. It resulted in a lame, half-hearted string of spontaneous sketches based on a mishmash of wide-ranging characterizations.

The entire disappointing work was ultimately shelved, with the group’s second (and successful) recording effort taking place in November back at Abbey Road Studios.

Here’s a 12+ minutes series of outtakes from that initial failed session.

[Note] Of particular significance is the segment where the Beatles somewhat shockingly talk about the dismemberment of babies. This led to speculation that famed Beatles’ photographer Robert Whitaker, upon hearing the dialog, used it – at least in part – as inspiration when creating the disturbing initial “Butcher” cover artwork for the band’s Yesterday And Today album. The highly controversial cover concept – which featured a photo of the four Beatles wearing butcher smocks with decapitated plastic baby dolls and pieces of raw meat draped over them – was abandoned shortly after promotional copies had been issued to radio stations, music reviewers and record dealers. It was replaced with the more familiar “Steamer Trunk” photo just prior to the album’s commercial release in June of 1966.

Location: Marquee Studios/London
Recording Date: October 19, 1965
Release Date: N/A
Running Time: 12:07