"Christmas Is My Time of Year"
Single by The Christmas Spirit
B-side"Will You Still Believe in Me"
ReleasedDecember 1968
Length3:20
LabelWhite Whale
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Christmas Is My Time of Year" is a Christmas single written by Howard Kaylan and Chip Douglas, both members of the Turtles.

The Christmas Spirit

"Christmas Is My Time of Year" was first recorded and released on the Turtles' White Whale label in 1968 by the Christmas Spirit, a supergroup consisting of Kaylan and fellow Turtle Mark Volman; Gram Parsons and Gene Parsons of the Byrds; Linda Ronstadt; Modern Folk Quartet alumni Cyrus Faryar and Henry Diltz; and gospel singer Bessie Griffin.[1][2] The song was compiled onto a 1984 collection of Christmas songs titled Rockin' Christmas: The 60's,[3] 2004's Out of Nowhere: The White Whale Story, Volume 2,[4] and All the Singles, a 2016 collection of singles by the Turtles.[5]

The B-side, "Will You Still Believe in Me", was written by Bobby Kimmel of the Stone Poneys. It was also included in Out of Nowhere: The White Whale Story, Volume 2.[4]

We Three Monkees

"Christmas Is My Time of Year"
Single by The Monkees
B-side"White Christmas"
ReleasedDecember 1976
September 1986 (remix)
Length2:59
3:05 (remix)
LabelChristmas Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chip Douglas
The Monkees singles chronology
"Do It in the Name of Love"
(1971) 		"Christmas Is My Time of Year"
(1976) 		"That Was Then, This Is Now"
(1986)

In 1976, three members of the Monkees—Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork—reunited to record "Christmas Is My Time of Year". This version was produced by Chip Douglas, who had produced the Monkees' Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. albums, as well as their hit single "Daydream Believer". Though they did not obtain permission to record as "The Monkees", a promotional flyer identified the group as "We Three Monkees ... Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork".[6]

This single was a vanity pressing on the Christmas Records label. It was offered to members of the Monkees Fan Club by mail order, but it may also have had some retail release.[6] The B-side is a Davy Jones-sung version of "White Christmas" also produced by Douglas.

Both sides of the record were remixed in 1986 and reissued during Monkees conventions.[6] The remixed version of "Christmas Is My Time of Year" appeared on the 1988 compilation Cool Yule, Volume 2[7] and as a bonus track on the Monkees' Christmas Party album sold by Target.[8] The 1976 version was released as part of the Christmas Party Plus double single, for the 2019 Record Store Day event.

Personnel

Credits sourced from Monkees Live Almanac.[9]

The Monkees
Additional personnel

unknown – horns

References

  1. ^ Anthony, Randall. "Top 100 Christmas Songs ... and Counting". Hip Christmas. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. ^ Stanley, Steve. Out of Nowhere: The White Whale Story, Volume 2 (liner notes). In "Out of Nowhere: The White Whale Story, Volume 2" Discogs. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Rockin' Christmas The 60's". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Out of Nowhere: The White Whale Story Volume 2 - Phantom Jukebox Vol.3". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. ^ "All The Singles". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b c McCutcheon, J. D. "Christmas Records". Monkee45s.Net. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Cool Yule, Vol. 2". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Now Available for Pre-Ordering: 'Christmas Party' Bonus Tracks Edition". Blog - Monkees Live Almanac. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  9. ^ "The 1976 Christmas single".
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