Dick Reynolds arranged the traditional-song orchestral backings on The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album. Brian Wilson produced the 1964 album and arranged its original rock-oriented songs, but Reynolds handled the orchestral arrangements for the seasonal standards.
Reynolds was associated with the Four Freshmen, a vocal group Wilson deeply admired. His work helped give songs such as “Frosty the Snowman,” “White Christmas,” and “Blue Christmas” a polished, expansive sound that contrasted with the album’s brighter original numbers.
The album was released by Capitol Records on November 9, 1964, as the group’s seventh studio album. It combined five original songs with seven traditional Christmas selections. A common mix-up is to credit every arrangement to Wilson because he was the project’s producer and principal creative force; the traditional-song orchestral writing was specifically Reynolds’s contribution. Reynolds is also credited as the orchestra conductor and arranger.