The Beatles Christmas Records

a comparison

The Beatles - Complete Christmas Collection 1963 - 1969

plus bonus outtakes total time: 54:34

(Yellow Dog - YD 031)
1. Christmas Time Is Here Again November 28 1967 5:44
2. The Beatles Christmas Record 1963 October 20, 1963 5:02
3. Another Beatles Christmas Record 1964 October 26-28, 1964 4:03
4. The Beatles Third Christmas Record 1965 October 19, 1965 6:22
5. The Beatles Fourth Christmas Record November 25, 1966 6:39
6. Christmas Time Is Here Again 1967 November 28, 1967 6:10
7. The Beatles 1968 Christmas Record Fall 1968 seperately 7:53
8. The Beatles Seventh Christmas Record 1969 Fall 1969 seperately 7:42
9. Christmas Message Outtake 1964 (bonus) October 26, 1964 4:40

The Ultimate Beatles Christmas Collection

(Vigotone, VT 172/3

Disc 1:
1. 1963: The Beatles Christmas Record Recorded October 17, 1963. Released: December 9, 1963 5:02
2. 1964: Another Beatles Christmas Record Recorded: October 26, 1964. Released: December 18, 1964 3:58
3. 1965: The Beatles Third Christmas Record Recorded: November 8, 1965. Released: December 17, 1965 6:23
4. 1966: Pantomime-Everywhere It's Christmas Recorded: November 25, 1966. Released: December 16, 1966 6:39
5. 1967: Christmas Time (Is Here Again) Recorded: November 28, 1967. Released: December 15, 1967 6:10
6. 1968: Christmas 1968 (Happy Christmas) Recorded: May-November 1968. Released: December 20, 1968 7:53
7. 1969: Happy Christmas 1969 Recorded: Fall/Winter 1969. Released: December 19, 1969 7:42
8. John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Recorded: October 28/29, 1971. Released: Dec. 1, 1971 (U.S.) Nov. 23, 1972 (U.K.) 3:35
9. George Harrison - Ding Dong, Ding Dong Recorded: November 1973. Released: Dec. 23, 1974 (U.S) Dec. 6, 1974 (U.K.) 3:42
10. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime Recorded: July 1979. Released: Nov. 26, 1979 (U.S.) Nov. 16, 1979 (U.K.) 3:48
11. Paul McCartney - Rudolph The Rednosed Reggae b-side to above 1:47
12. The Beatles - Christmas Time (Is Here Again) Song recorded: November 28, 1967. Dialogue: Nov. 1966. Released: Dec. 4, 1995 3:03

The Ultimate Beatles Christmas Collection

(Vigotone, VT 172/3

Disc 2:
1. A Saturday Club Xmas/Crimble Medley Saturday Club, Recorded December 17, 1963 1:23
2. Hello Dolly 1964 Christmas flexi outtake, Recorded October 26, 1964 1:11
3. Speeches Take One 1964 Christmas flexi outtake, Recorded October 26, 1964 3:22
4. Paul's Speech 1964 Christmas flexi outtake, Recorded October 26, 1964 0:32
5. White Christmas Backstage at '64 Christmas Show. Recorded: December 1964 0:23
6. We Wish You A Merry Christmas Backstage at '64 Christmas Show. Recorded: December 1964 0:18
7. More Christmas from backstage Backstage at '64 Christmas Show. Recorded: December 1964 0:35
8. Ringo Christmas Greeting Outside EMI studios. Recorded: December 1966 0:05
9. Christmas Time (Is Here Again) uncut EMI boardroom Tape 6:36
10. Jingle Bells Rishikesh, India. Recorded: March 1968 0:15
11. Jock And Yono Unedited. Recorded: Fall/Winter 1968 0:57
12. Onceuponapooltable Unedited. Recorded: Fall/Winter 1968 0:56
13. Ringo's Christmas Plee For The Blind British Wireless For The Blind Fund. Recorded: Dec. 25, 1969 2:11
14. John & Yoko's 1970 Message From Ascot from John's archives. Recorded: Fall/Winter 1970 1:26
15. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Demo - St. Regis Hotel, New York. Recorded: September 1971 3:14
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Early rough mix. Recorded: October 28/29, 1971 3:17
17. Ding Dong, Ding Dong Early rough mix. Recorded: November 1973 3:49
18. Wonderful Christmastime Live Glasgow, Scotland. Recorded: December 17, 1979 3:43
19. Happy New Year from John Int. w/Japanese Journalist. Recorded: December 5, 1980 0:06
20. John: All You Need Is Adrian Love Andy Peebles Interview Outtake. Recorded: December 6, 1980 0:09
21. Another Ringo Christmas Greeting To promote Stop And Smell The Roses. Recorded: December 1981 0:08
22. Paul's Christmas Greeting Friday Night Videos. Recorded: December 1983 0:07
23. Christmas Time (Is Here Again) Sessions edit 1984. Recorded: November 28, 1967 1:08
24. George's Christmas Message W.B. Yulesville LP. Recorded: 1987 0:05
25. A Nelson Wilbury Christmas message Winter Warnerland. Recorded: 1988 0:28
26. Another Paul Christmas Greeting WNEW, New York. Recorded: December 1989 0:09
27. Paul's Jingle Bells Up Close special. Recorded: December 10, 1992 0:39

The Yellow Dog release still is great. You get all the Beatles Christmas records from the sixties plus the complete 5:44 min. Christmas Time Is Here Again acetate and a 1964 Xmas message outtake featuring Hello Dolly. The sound quality is excellent.

If you want everything though the Vigotone set is a must. Every little Fab 4 Christmas output is collected together on these two CDs including all the stuff from the solo years, officially released or not...

The Vigotone package is fantastic (again): a beautiful laminated slipcase contains a jewel box with the CDs and a 40 page booklet with information and lots of pictures (the sleeves of all the 60s flexis a.o.). Superb!

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