I Wanna Be Santa Claus

I Wanna Be Santa Claus
Studio album by Ringo Starr
Released	18 October 1999
Recorded	May - July 1999
Genre	Rock
Label	Mercury
Producer	Mark Hudson and Ringo Starr
Professional reviews
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Ringo Starr chronology
VH1 Storytellers (1998) I Wanna Be Santa Claus (1999) The Anthology... So Far (2001)

I Wanna Be Santa Claus is a Christmas album by Ringo Starr, issued in 1999. Not only is it Starr's first long-play Christmas release, it is the first by an ex-Beatle, although John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison had each released a seasonal single in the 1970s.

Recorded throughout 1999 with Starr's musical partner Mark Hudson and many of his collaborators on 1998's Vertical Man, I Wanna Be Santa Claus—which is composed of well-known traditional songs and some new originals—was made in several studios in the US and UK, with their families joining in and including two notable celebrity guests, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and former Eagles member Timothy B. Schmit.

Released in October ahead of the Christmas season, I Wanna Be Santa Claus was not a commercial success, despite its strong reviews. It was deleted shortly thereafter and re-released in 2003 as a discounted collection entitled 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Ringo Starr/The Christmas Collection with exactly the same tracklisting. After three albums in a row that failed to reach consumers in a significant way, Mercury Records dropped Starr from their roster.

Track listing

1. "Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Dean Grakal) – 3:36
2. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) – 2:55
3. "I Wanna Be Santa Claus" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Dick Monda) – 3:46
   • features Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals
4. "The Little Drummer Boy" (Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine K. Davis) – 3:19
   • features Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals
5. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Johnny Marks) – 2:21
6. "Christmas Eve" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson) – 4:26
7. "The Christmas Dance" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Jim Cox, Steve Dudas) – 4:06
   • followed by studio chatter in between this and the following track
8. "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)" (George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Richard Starkey) – 4:06
   • originally recorded by The Beatles in 1967 for their annual Christmas record for members of their fan club
   • features Joe Perry on guitar solo
9. "Blue Christmas" (Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson) – 2:58
10. "Dear Santa" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Steve Dudas) – 5:12
11. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 2:56
    • features Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals
    • followed by a short violin piece in between this and the following track
12. "Pax Um Biscum (Peace Be With You)" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Scott Gordon) – 4:46
    • features Joe Perry on electric guitar