Yuletide Intonations, Day 2: "Ringo Bells"

“Oh by jingo we love Ringo!”

— “Ringo Bells”, Three Blonde Mice (written by George T. Simon)

Just a quick shoutout today to Three Blonde Mice who, accompanied by the Rufus Smith Quintet, graced us with “Ringo Bells” during the 1964 holiday season.

Don’t look for this one on Apple Music, since it does not seem to be there. However, it looks like Spotify has it, on an album called Have a Nutty Christmas. You can also search and find “Ringo Bells” on YouTube if you are so inclined.

“Ringo Bells” is a jaunty variation on “Jingle Bells” with the Three Blonde Mice singing in super-exaggerated British accents as they extol the virtues of riding in a sleigh with the Beatles drummer.

The Beatles made their own holiday music, released on the seasonal fan club records during the band’s existence. John’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over) and Paul’s divisive “Wonderful Christmastime” still get plenty of airplay, while George’s lesser-known “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” is perfect for New Year’s Eve.

Ringo has even made an entire album of Christmas tunes.

Three Blonde Mice’s “Ringo Bells” offering serves as a reminder of the many Beatles-inspired novelty records that cropped up during the early Beatlemania years. It might not be as well known as “(I Want) A Beatle for Christmas” by Patty Surbey & the Canadian VIP’s, but ‘Ringo Bells” deserves a place at the Beatle novelty song holiday festival just the same.

Finally, before you get too excited, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on the b-side of “Ringo Bells” is not a Beatled-themed version of that holiday chestnut. Just the standard partridges and whatnot.