The Weeklings resurrect Beatles obscurity, ‘Christmas Time (Is Here Again)’

by JAY LUSTIG

The Weeklings have covered The Beatles “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” as their new single.

The Weeklings, who last month released their “Revolution Wonderland” single (combining elements of “Winter Wonderland” and The Beatles’ “Revolution”), are following it up with another Beatles-themed holiday single, “Christmas Time (Is Here Again).”

Only the most ardent Beatles fans will recognize “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” as a song that was written by all four Beatles and recorded on a Christmas record sent to fan club members in 1967. It was also included as a B-side on the single version of the 1995 Beatles single, “Free as a Bird,” a Ringo Starr recorded it for his 1999 holiday album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus

The Weeklings’ version adds a riff from “Flying” (a Beatles instrumental on the Magical Mystery Tour album). And in the last half of the single, the band segues into the chorus of The Beatles “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” with the words changed to “Merry, merry Christmas/Merry, merry Christmas/Merry, merry Christmas, you!”

The single can be purchased via outlets such as iTunes and Amazon.com.

(DEC. 4 UPDATE: The band has released a video for the song that is embedded below.)

The Weeklings’ upcoming New Jersey shows include:

Dec. 8: The Newton Theatre. Performing with Max Weinberg in a Max Weinberg’s Jukebox show.
Dec. 9: State Theatre, New Brunswick. Appearing as part of Glen Burtnik’s Xmas Xtravaganza.
Dec. 20: The Dome Lounge at The Manor, West Orange. The Weeklings’ Christmas Party.
Dec. 31: Cross & Orange, Asbury Park. Rock ‘n’ Roll New Year’s Eve Bash.

For information, visit weeklings.com.

The Beatles’ original version of “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” can be heard on The Christmas Records, a limited edition, vinyl-only boxed set of all The Beatles Christmas fan club recordings, to be released Dec. 15.

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