I Wanna Be Santa Claus is the twelfth studio album by Ringo Starr. A Christmas album, it was issued in 1999. Though every member had released at least one Christmas song, this marks the only time a Christmas album has been released by any member of the Beatles to date.
Background and recording
Ringo Starr and musical partner Mark Hudson composed "Dear Santa" and "Christmas Eve" in July 1998 at Starr's Surrey residence. with their families joining in and including two notable celebrity guests, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Eagles member Timothy B. Schmit. Jeff Lynne also sings backing vocals on "Come on Christmas, Christmas Come On", "I Wanna Be Santa Claus", and "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)". The final sessions for the album were held on 8 and 9 September at Whatinthewhatthe? Studios, with mixing taking place at A&M Studios, Los Angeles and Sterling Sound, New York.
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Released on 19 October 1999, in the US by Mercury,