All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle

Album: Best of Dora Bryan (1963)
Charted: 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In her 1987 autobiography According To Dora, Miss Bryan said that during the run of the play Six Of One at London's Adelphi Theatre, she was asked to record a Christmas song. She re-wrote some of it [probably the words] and recorded it the next day. It was played on the radio constantly; she appeared on Top Of The Pops, and, she said proudly, it was voted "the best bad record of 1963."

    Contemporary music press reports were just as flattering. In the December 14, 1963 issue of Melody Maker she said the idea came from Chris Parmenter of Fontana, her recording company. The following week she graced the front cover of the same paper. The Beatles liked the song too, and her play, which they saw while in London. "She's fab. We thoroughly enjoyed the show!" said Paul McCartney. They even sent her a telegram and recorded part of the song in one of their Christmas fan club messages.
  • Dora Bryan recorded "All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle" with an accompaniment directed by Johnny Gregory. Running to just under two and a half minutes, it was released on Fontana backed by "If I Were A Fairy." The sheet music was published and copyrighted 1963 by Flamingo Music Limited of London, Sole Selling Agents Francis, Day & Hunter, price 2s6d. Words and music are credited to Gladys Benton. Dora Bryan's photograph appears on the cover; she is holding a guitar and, apparently, wearing a Beatle wig.
  • Although it has been suggested the song is a parody or even a rip off of "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)," the similarity really begins and ends with the title. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.