Brett Banter

For the 25 days leading into Christmas, Brett Inc. is talking music. Christmas music. Sit back and enjoy.

At some point in the 1970s, many of the major rock acts starting putting out their own Christmas songs. These were no stale rerecordings of old chestnuts. These bands were trying something very new and making the songs sound like something from their albums that already were dominating the charts. One of the ones that has always made us smile is Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time.” This sounds like an outtake from Band on the Run with the overdubs, weird Moog synthesizer parts and the somewhat “British” feel of the choir section.

Just listen….

Yes, that hypnotic keyboard part will haunt you the rest of the day. You really get the feeling that McCartney had a lot of fun just putting that part together. The chorus is a bouncy little ditty. The video, though, is what makes this song groove. Exploding presents. Two Pauls. The local choir that looks like a street gang. Linda’s bad hair. Paul in a scarf. The little Christmas party it appears Paul is crashing in the cutaway scenes. The man had a sense of humor. This song is proof.