hxxps://we.tl/t-GUGLcZUs3M
If you ignore the guitars doubling after the intro, and the xylophone, those are the instruments that were played in the master take, I used a mix of the rockband stuff, the evo doc, and the LLT early mix to create it.
Here's my current understanding of Happy Xmas
OCT 28TH
Takes 1-7
Hugh McCracken, Chris Osbourne, Stuart Scharf, Teddy Irwin on Guitars / Bass
Jim Kelter on Drums
Nicky Hopkins on PIano
Overdubs onto 6
Hugh McCracken, Chris Osbourne, Stuart Scharf, Teddy Irwin on Guitars
Nicky Hopkins on Chimes
Nicky Hopkins on Glockenspiel
Jim Kelter on Sleigh Bells
John & Yoko Vocals
OCT 30TH
Tape transfer to 16 Track Machine
OCT31ST
Overdubs onto 6
“Happy Christmas Kyoko, Happy Christmas Julian” - John and Yoko (unclear order)
“And A Very Merry Christmas” - Harlem Choir
‘War is Over, If You Want It” - Harlem Choir
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY” - Harlem Choir
Strings
I think this is about as accurate as we can get with the resources we have. We know for the Oct 28th overdubs that vocals were done last, but the rest of the overdubs order is slightly unclear
As for the Oct 31st overdubs, this should be 100% accurate besides the fact we don't know when the "Happy Christmas Julian" was recorded, the rest is based on the choir rough mix on Anthology.Now, as the overdubs start, the Spector magic is again overwhelmingly apparent. At John's suggestion, the acoustic guitars play a mandolin-like riff, strongly reminiscent of Ronnie Spector's Try Some, Buy Some, and all sorts of percussive effects are tried.
Nicky plays chimes and glockenspiel, which have been hastily hired, and Keltner adds a jangling four-on-the-bar on a handy pair of sleigh bells.
Anyways that's all the research I have for now, I'm having fun going through the sessions, didn't expect this one to be so dense, but I expect STINYC to be a bit more smooth sailing.