Reason for the Season explained
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 Billboards Holiday Album Chart and #6 on the Independent Albums Chart. 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]
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
Notes and References
- Web site: Mike Love Reason For the Season LP (Clear with Red & Green Splatter Vinyl) . Elusive Disc.
- News: Koyer . Kalyn Oyer . The Beach Boys' Mike Love reminisces on Christmases and lawsuits . Post and Courier . December 12, 2018.
- Web site: Mauro . J-P . Beach Boy Mike Love is back with a new Christmas album! . Aleteia . November 30, 2018.
- Kreps . Daniel . Beach Boys' Mike Love Preps Christmas Album 'Reason for the Season' . Rolling Stone . September 21, 2018.
- Legaspi . Althea . Hear Mike Love, Hanson's Buoyant New Rendition of Beach Boys' 'It's OK' . Rolling Stone . August 24, 2018.
- Web site: Collins . Arroe . Mike Love From The Beach Boys Releases Reason For The Season . Player.fm . November 30, 2018.
- Mike Love Talks His New Holiday Album, 'Reason For The Season' . AOL Build . MSNBC . November 29, 2018.
- News: Condran . Ed . The Beach Boys bring good vibrations to Christmas classics . The News & Observer . December 13, 2018.
- Web site: Love . Mike . Reason For the Season - Mike Love . October 26, 2018 . YouTube.
- Graff . Gary . The Beach Boys' Mike Love Teams With Hanson for 'Finally It's Christmas': Video Premiere . Billboard . December 18, 2018.
- News: Coffey . Kevin . The best new Christmas music out in 2018 . Omaha World-Herald . November 30, 2018.
- Web site: The Beach Boys' Mike Love to Release REASON FOR THE SEASON . September 21, 2018 . Broadway World.
- News: Janes . Theoden . With Christmas and family on his mind, one Beach Boy offers 'nothing but love' to another . The Charlotte Observer . December 10, 2018.
- News: Harris . Vincent . Talking Christmas and more with the Beach Boys' Mike Love . Charleston City Paper . December 12, 2018.
- Web site: Weinthal . Dave . 'Tis the Season For Good Vibrations From The Beach Boys . Enigma . November 16, 2018.
