The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 12

 Here are eight more songs selected to be The Best 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*, meaning we are up to 96 so far:

"Silver Bells"

by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards

The version above was the first-ever recorded version of "Silver Bells", released on Decca Records in October of 1950. Imagery is important in songs and Bing and Carol certainly convey that here.

"Frosty The Snowman"

Jimmy Durante

Durante recorded two versions, one specifically for the animated feature of the same name.  Durante remains extremely popular; everything he does is likable.

 

 "The Little Drummer Boy"

by Bob Seger

This favorite was written by American classical music teacher and composer Katherine K. Davis in 1941 and is also known as "Carol of the Drum".  

Bob Seger recorded his version in 1987 and it notably excludes all names and religious references. 

"Deck The Halls"

Pentatonix

They are described as having the voices of angels.  That fits right into the spirit of Christmas!

"Carol Of The Bells"

Mannheim Steamroller 

This group started as an alias for record producer and composer Chip Davis.  As no major label agreed to distribute the debut album for Mannheim Steamroller, Davis founded American Gramaphone.  Steamroller recorded a Progressive Rock version of this Christmas favorite for their second album A Fresh Aire Christmas.  With six million in sales, it is one of the top-selling Christmas albums of all-time.

"Underneath The Tree"

by Kelly Clarkson

This is one of the most popular songs of the 21st century, charting in the Top 10 

in Austria, the Netherlands, Canada and Lithuania as well as the top 20 in Germany, Ireland, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Kelly recorded it in 2013 for her sixth studio album and first Christmas release, Wrapped in Red.

"Welcome Christmas"
by Boris Karloff

This is the well-known song from the animated television special How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 1966.  It was based on the children's book by the great Dr. Seuss and tells the story of The Grinch, in his mountain hideaway, trying to take away Christmas from the people in the village below, named Whoville.






 

 

 "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"

by Josh Groban

This holiday favorite comes from a poem written by Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Lancaster, Massachusetts, in 1849.  Sears' lyrics are set to either "Carol", written by Richard Storrs Willis, or "Noel", which was adapted from an English melody written by Arthur Sullivan in 1874.

We strived to find at least one version of  each Christmas carol and here is one of the best of this song.  Josh Groban's version adds a nice touch.

Eight more in the books, and another eight more underneath your Christmas tree tomorrow!