Photo: Brian Love/BMGBeach Boys singer Mike Love‘s new holiday album, Reason for the Season, is a family affair featuring vocal contributions from four of his children — daughters Hayleigh and Ambha, and sons Christian and Brian — and from the sibling pop group Hanson. The 12-track collection includes original holiday songs, covers of modern Christmas tunes and traditional carols, and even a new rendition of The Beach Boys’ classic “Little Saint Nick.”
Love’s kids are most prominently featured on the traditional songs, including “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Away in a Manger” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “O Holy Night.”
The 77-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer tells ABC Radio that working on the project with his family members was special for him.
“It’s great to hear everybody doing their deal…vocally, and how it all comes together,” he gushes. “Everybody has such a distinctive sound, and…when you put it all together with the harmonies, it’s really beautiful.”
The Hanson brothers appear on a rendition of their own 2017 song “Finally It’s Christmas,” on which Love sings lead. Mike says he likes the tune because it mixes fun Christmas imagery like Santa Claus and reindeer with religious aspects of the holiday.
The album’s first single is the title track, an original tune based on a boogie-woogie riff. Love notes that the song is “a lot of fun to do…but it has a purpose, meaning it’s a reminder that Christmas is essentially a Christian holiday.”
As for why he decided to redo “Little Saint Nick,” Mike says, cheekily, “Well, because I still can.”
Love and The Beach Boys recently launched a holiday tour in support of Reason for the Season, and also celebrating the band’s 1964 Christmas album.
Here are the group’s remaining holiday tour dates:
12/4 — Greensburg, PA, The Palace Theatre
12/5 — Erie, PA, Warner Theatre
12/6 — Ann Arbor, MI, Michigan Theater
12/7 — Mt Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
12/8 — Elkhart, IN, The Lerner
12/10 — North Bethesda, MD, The Music Center at Strathmore
12/11 — Huntington, NY, The Paramount
12/12 — Williamsport, PA, Community Arts Center
12/13 — Wilmington, DE, The Grand
12/15 — Charlotte, NC, Ovens Auditorium
12/16 — North Charleston, SC, North Charleston Performing Arts Center
12/17 — Durham, NC, Durham Performing Arts Center
12/18 — Wilmington, NC, Cape Fear Community College
And here’s the Reason for the Season track list:
“Celestial Celebration”
“Finally It’s Christmas” — featuring Hanson
“Little St. Nick”
“Must Be Christmas” — with Ambha Love & Christian Love
“Jingle Bell Rock”
“Alone on Christmas Day”
“Reason for the Season”
“Do You Hear What I Hear” — with All Love*
“Away in a Manger” — with All Love*
“Bring a Torch” — featuring Hayleigh Love & Brian Love
“O Come All Ye Faithful” — with All Love*
“O Holy Night” — with All Love*
* = All Love includes Ambha, Brian, Christian and Hayleigh Love.
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