I realize that this post is being published after Christmas in 2025 but it has been a busy time of year. Many of you may not see this for months, any way!

Recently I was listening to holiday music on Sirius XM satellite radio when I came across a most unusual version of The Little Drummer Boy. It was a familiar Christmas tune but what made it unique was the Beatles influence that wrapped itself around this tune. I had to learn more about the artists behind this tune. This led me to discover the Fab Four, a Beatles tribute band.

The Fab Four was founded in 1997 in Orange County, CA by Ron McNeil, Rolo Sandoval, Ardavan Sarraf and David Brighton. The musicians played their own instruments and lent their vocals to the Beatles catalogue. Over nearly 30 years, they have performed their Beatles tribute worldwide and have been recognized as one of the best recreators of their songs. Over the years there have been more than 30 members who have been part of the Fab Four. Surprisingly, the current lineup includes two original members McNeil (Lennon) and Sarraf (McCartney) and they are currently joined by Gavin Pring (Harrison) and Erik Fidel (Starr). In 2012,the band won an Emmy for their 2012 PBS TV special.

The song that caught my attention came from a 2012 album HARK. This is a compilation of two previously released albums A Fab Four Christmas and Have yourself a FAB-ulous Little Christmas, both released in 2002. I took a complete listen to the compilation and am listing the songs and their Beatles influence for your appreciation.

1)Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer based on I Saw Her Standing There          

2)Joy to the World based on Please, Please Me and Little Child                          

3) Feliz Navidad based on And I Love Her                                               

4) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing based on Help

5)Away in a Manger based on You’ve Got to Hide your Love Away

6)Good King Wenceslas based on Tell Me What You See                                            

7)It Came Upon a Midnight Clear based on Baby’s in Black                                   

8) Winter Wonderland based on Honey Don’t

9)Frosty the Snowman based on Mr. Moonlight

10) Let it Snow! Let it Snow! based on Eight Days a Week

11) Silent Night based on Norwegian Wood

12) The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) based on Here, There and Everywhere

13) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen based on Within You, Without You

14) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town based on When I’m 64 and Honey Don’t

15) What Child Is This based on While My Guitar Gently Weeps

16) Blue Christmas based on Revolution 1

17) Dear Santa based on Oh! Darling

18) The Little Drummer Boy based on Sun King

19) Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree based on Got to Get You into My Life

20) Jingle Bells based on Tomorrow Never knows

21) Sleigh Ride based on Lady Madonna

22) The First Noel based on Let it Be

All of these songs should be easily found on your favorite streaming device. I initially found them on YouTube and listened to the album on Spotify.

Give this a listen and then slip this music on at your next holiday gathering. Beatles fans will want to add this to their Holiday song repertoire. It will be interesting to capture the impressions of your guests. Please give us your feedback regarding these tunes, you may find that you want to include these songs for next year’s Christmas season.

#Hark #theFabFour #theBeatles