| Reason for the Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 26, 2018 | |||
| Genre | Christmas, pop rock | |||
| Length | 38:19 | |||
| Label | BMG | |||
| Producer | Michael Lloyd, Scott Totten | |||
| Mike Love chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reason for the Season is the third solo studio album by American musician Mike Love, co-founder of The Beach Boys. It was released on October 26, 2018. The album contains traditional Christmas carols, new songs, and re-recordings of " Little St. Nick" (from The Beach Boys' Christmas Album) and " Alone on Christmas Day", an unreleased song recorded by The Beach Boys in 1977. The album was released on compact disc and clear vinyl with red and green splatter. [1]
The album was primarily recorded in Love's home studio on Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. [2] It features Love's children — Ambha, Brian, Christian and Hayleigh — who provide choral voices on five tracks, and his sister Maureen as the harpist on " O Holy Night". [3] It also features a guest appearance by Hanson on "Finally It's Christmas", the title track to their 2017 Christmas album. [4] Earlier in 2018, Love collaborated with Hanson on a re-recording of The Beach Boys' " It's OK". [5] Hanson also recorded "Little St. Nick" for their 1997 Christmas album, Snowed In. [6]
The cover photo of the Aurora Borealis was taken by Brian Love off an island in Norway. [7] The back cover features a photo of Mike Love as a child playing with Lionel Trains under a Christmas tree. [8]
Love released music videos for the title track [9] and "Finally It's Christmas". [10]
The album reached #4 on Billboard's Holiday Album Chart and #6 on the Independent Albums Chart. [3] Kevin Coffey of the Omaha World-Herald included it in his list of the best new Christmas music of 2018. [11]
Love and Bruce Johnston’s Beach Boys touring band performed tracks from this album during their 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022 holiday tours. [12] [13] [14] [15]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Celestial Celebration" |
| 2:38 |
| 2. | "Finally, It's Christmas" (featuring Hanson) | 3:34 | |
| 3. | " Little St. Nick" |
| 2:09 |
| 4. | "Must Be Christmas" (with Ambha Love & Christian Love) |
| 3:39 |
| 5. | " Jingle Bell Rock" |
| 2:18 |
| 6. | " Alone on Christmas Day" |
| 4:05 |
| 7. | "Reason for the Season" |
| 3:08 |
| 8. | " Do You Hear What I Hear" (with All Love) | 3:37 | |
| 9. | " Away in a Manger" (with All Love) |
| 2:33 |
| 10. | "Bring a Torch" (feat. Hayleigh Love & Brian Love) |
| 3:04 |
| 11. | " O Come All Ye Faithful" (with All Love) |
| 3:19 |
| 12. | " O Holy Night" (with All Love) |
| 4:15 |
Personnel
- Mike Love – vocals
- Bruce Johnston – backing vocals
- Scott Totten – guitar, percussion, backing vocals, producer
- Jeffrey Foskett – rhythm guitar, vocals
- John Cowsill – drums
- Brian Eichenberger – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tim Bonhomme – keyboards, piano
- Randy Leago – saxophone, flute
- Keith Hubacher – bass guitar
- Pete Min – 12-string guitar
- Jebin Bruni – keyboards
- Maureen Love – harp
- Kaveh Rastegar – drums
- Michael Lloyd – bass guitar, drums, guitar, harp, backing vocals, producer
- Abe Rounds – drums
- Josh Edmondson – guitar
- Christian Love – lead and backing vocals
- Brian Love – lead and backing vocals
- Hayleigh Love – lead and backing vocals
- Ambha Love – lead and backing vocals
- Hanson – backing vocals on "Finally It's Christmas"
- Matthew Jordan – arrangements, backing vocals, keyboards
References
- ^ "Mike Love Reason For the Season LP (Clear with Red & Green Splatter Vinyl)". Elusive Disc.
- ^ Koyer, Kalyn Oyer (December 12, 2018). "The Beach Boys' Mike Love reminisces on Christmases and lawsuits". Post and Courier.
- ^ a b Mauro, J-P (November 30, 2018). "Beach Boy Mike Love is back with a new Christmas album!". Aleteia.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (September 21, 2018). "Beach Boys' Mike Love Preps Christmas Album 'Reason for the Season'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (August 24, 2018). "Hear Mike Love, Hanson's Buoyant New Rendition of Beach Boys' 'It's OK'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Collins, Arroe (November 30, 2018). "Mike Love From The Beach Boys Releases Reason For The Season". Player.fm.
- ^ Mike Love Talks His New Holiday Album, 'Reason For The Season'. AOL Build. MSNBC. November 29, 2018.
- ^ Condran, Ed (December 13, 2018). "The Beach Boys bring good vibrations to Christmas classics". The News & Observer.
- ^ Love, Mike (October 26, 2018). "Reason For the Season - Mike Love" – via YouTube.
- ^ Graff, Gary (December 18, 2018). "The Beach Boys' Mike Love Teams With Hanson for 'Finally It's Christmas': Video Premiere". Billboard.
- ^ Coffey, Kevin (November 30, 2018). "The best new Christmas music out in 2018". Omaha World-Herald.
- ^ "The Beach Boys' Mike Love to Release REASON FOR THE SEASON". Broadway World. September 21, 2018.
- ^ Janes, Theoden (December 10, 2018). "With Christmas and family on his mind, one Beach Boy offers 'nothing but love' to another". The Charlotte Observer.
- ^ Harris, Vincent (December 12, 2018). "Talking Christmas and more with the Beach Boys' Mike Love". Charleston City Paper.
- ^ Weinthal, Dave (November 16, 2018). "'Tis the Season For Good Vibrations From The Beach Boys". Enigma.
