Little Saint Nick

"Little Saint Nick" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys first released as a single on December 9, 1963. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the Christmas song applies hot-rod themes to Santa Claus and his sleigh.^[1]

"Little Saint Nick"
Single by the Beach Boys
B-side	"The Lord's Prayer"
Released	December 9, 1963
Recorded	October 20, 1963
Studio	Western, Hollywood
Genre	Christmas hot rod rock
Length	2:00
Label	Capitol
Songwriters	Brian Wilson Mike Love
Producer	Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Be True to Your School" (1963) "Little Saint Nick" (1963) "Fun, Fun, Fun" (1964)
Music video
"Little Saint Nick" on YouTube
Audio sample
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The single peaked at number 3 on Billboard magazine's special seasonal weekly Christmas Singles chart.^[2] Its B-side was an a cappella version of "The Lord's Prayer".^[3] In November 1964, an alternate mix of "Little Saint Nick" appeared as the opening track on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

Background

"Little Saint Nick" was recorded on October 20, 1963, at Western Studio in Hollywood.^[4] The idea for the song was partly inspired by record producer Phil Spector's plans to record a Christmas album. Wilson recalled: "I wrote the lyrics to it while I was out on a date and then I rushed home to finish the music."^[1] Some of its rhythm and structure derives from the group's "Little Deuce Coupe", also co-written by Wilson and released as a single six months earlier.^[5] Love was not originally listed as the co-writer of "Little Saint Nick". His credit was awarded after a 1990s lawsuit.^[1][6]

Variations

"Little Saint Nick" reappeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album in 1964, with the stereo pressings of the album containing a new mix that removes the overdubbed sleigh bells, celeste and glockenspiel. This was done so that it would fit better with the sound of the album's first side, which was recorded in a hurry with basic instrumentation.^[6] Another version of the song, utilizing the melody and backing track later used for the All Summer Long song "Drive-In", was recorded during the album sessions in June 1964, but remained unreleased until a 1991 CD reissue.^[5]

Personnel

Single version

• Mike Love - lead and backing vocals
• Brian Wilson - backing vocals; grand piano; celesta
• Carl Wilson - backing vocals; electric guitar; sleigh bells
• Al Jardine - bass guitar; glockenspiel
• Dennis Wilson - backing vocals; drums

Additional personnel

• Murry Wilson - sleigh bells
• Bob Norberg - backing vocals

Album version

• Mike Love - lead and backing vocals
• Brian Wilson - backing vocals; grand piano
• Carl Wilson - backing vocals; electric guitar
• Al Jardine - bass guitar
• Dennis Wilson - backing vocals; drums

Additional personnel

• Bob Norberg - backing vocals

Charts

Chart performance for "Little Saint Nick"

Chart (2018–2025)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	39
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8]	23
France (SNEP)[9]	158
Global 200 (Billboard)[10]	34
Ireland (IRMA)[11]	47
Latvia (DigiTop100)[12]	84
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13]	98
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14]	30
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[15]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16]	54
UK Singles (OCC)[17]	43
US Billboard Hot 100[18]	25
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[19]	22
US Rolling Stone Top 100[20]	25

Certifications

Certifications for "Little Saint Nick"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.