Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys is an unreleased studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys. Planned for issue in November/December 1978, the album would have followed their twenty-first studio album "Love You" (1977) and their only Christmas-themed album "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album" (1964). Its content was a mixture of original songs penned by the group and traditional standards.
The album was produced by Brian Wilson after the dissolution of "Adult Child" (unreleased), but ultimately rejected by Warner Bros. Records who were reportedly "highly skeptical" that Wilson was anywhere on it. Some of its recordings were later released on the 1998 compilation "Ultimate Christmas".
Background.
After Warners rejected the Beach Boys' 1977 album "Adult/Child", the group submitted "Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys" in late 1977, but they were once again rejected, and the label demanded the band submit a regular studio album instead. New lyrics were overdubbed on to some of the original Christmas tracks the following spring, which, together with quickly penned new material, formed the basis of a new album entitled "California Feeling", named after an original song recorded in 1975 which Brian refused to include on the album. The track listing was revised a final time in 1978, when their twenty-second LP was finally published as "M.I.U. Album".
Recording.
"Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys" was mostly recorded between November and December 1977 at the Maharishi International University in Iowa. Exceptions are "Seasons in the Sun", "Santa's On His Way", "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore", and "Christmas Time Is Here Again", all of which were variously recorded between 1970 and 1976. Other songs worked on during these sessions would later be reworked for "M.I.U. Album". These include that album's "Belles of Paris" and "Kona Coast", respectively conceived as "Bells of Christmas" and "Melekalikimaka" (also known as "Kona Christmas").
Track listing.
Track sequencing adapted from Andrew Doe.
Personnel.
Partial credits sourced from Craig Slowinski and Stephen Kalinich.