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Little Saint Nick

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Wikipedia article


{{Infobox song

| name = Little Saint Nick

| cover = Little Saint Nick cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Beach Boys

| album =

| B-side = The Lord's Prayer

| released = December 9, 1963

| recorded = October 20, 1963

| studio = Western, Hollywood

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 2:00

| label = Capitol

| writer =

| producer = Brian Wilson

| prev_title = Be True to Your School

| prev_year = 1963

| next_title = Fun, Fun, Fun

| next_year = 1964

| misc =

}}

"'Little Saint Nick'" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys first released as a single on December 9, 1963. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the Christmas song applies hot-rod themes to Santa Claus and his sleigh.

The single peaked at number 3 on 'Billboard' magazine's special seasonal weekly Christmas Singles chart. Its B-side was an a cappella version of "The Lord's Prayer".Badman, Keith. 'The Beach Boys. The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band: On Stage and in the Studio' Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California, 2004. p. 45 In November 1964, an alternate mix of "Little Saint Nick" appeared as the opening track on 'The Beach Boys' Christmas Album'.

Background



"Little Saint Nick" was recorded on October 20, 1963 at Western Studio in Hollywood. The idea for the song was partly inspired by record producer Phil Spector's plans to record a Christmas album. Wilson recalled: "I wrote the lyrics to it while I was out on a date and then I rushed home to finish the music." Some of its rhythm and structure derives from the group's "Little Deuce Coupe", also co-written by Wilson and released as a single six months earlier. Love was not originally listed as the co-writer of "Little Saint Nick". His credit was awarded after a 1990s lawsuit.

Variations



"Little Saint Nick" reappeared on 'The Beach Boys' Christmas Album' in 1964, with the stereo pressings of the album containing a new mix that removes the overdubbed sleigh bells and tuned percussion. This was done so that it would fit better with the sound of the album's first side, which was recorded in a hurry with basic instrumentation. Another version of the song, utilizing the melody and backing track later used for the 'All Summer Long' song "Drive-In", was recorded during the album sessions in June 1964, but remained unreleased until a 1991 CD reissue.

Charts



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Notes



Category:Songs about Santa Claus

Category:1963 singles

Category:1910 Fruitgum Company songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:American Christmas songs

Category:She & Him songs

Category:Sugar Ray songs

Category:The Beach Boys songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Wilson

Category:Songs written by Brian Wilson

Category:Songs written by Mike Love

Category:1963 songs

Category:Christmas novelty songs


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