The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 22

 Welcome to our 22nd day of the cream of the crop among Christmas songs.  Here are eight more to enjoy!

   "When My Heart Finds Christmas"

by Harry Connick, Jr.

This is the title song (written by Connick) from his album of 1993, which was the top-selling Christmas album of the year (748,000 copies).  It has now gone Triple Platinum.

 "Linus and Lucy"

by Vince Guaraldi

Guaraldi wrote this song in 1964 about the fictional characters Linus and Lucy Van Pelt in the Charles Schultz classic comic strip Peanuts, and it was included on the album Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown.  The song was introduced in the premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965.  Although it is an instrumental not specifically about Christmas, because of its association with the Charlie Brown special, it has become synonymous with Christmas.  In fact, it's tough to hear this song and not think of the Peanuts characters dancing in their lovable way.

 "Driving Home For Christmas"

by Chris Rea

Here is another of the newest entries into The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time*.  Chris Rea, best known for his 1978 hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", released it first as the B-side to the single 'Hello Friend" in 1986.  He re-recorded it and released it as the featured single in 1988, when it peaked at #53 in the U.K.

That's a modest beginning for the song, which has found its way onto the U.K. chart every year since 2007 and reached a high of #11 in 2018.  In a 2012 poll, it was voted 12th among Great Britain's favorite Christmas songs.

It isn't just Rea's native U.K. in which the song is loved as a top Christmas song.  "Driving Home For Christmas" has reached #1 in Slovenia, #2 in Norway, #3 in Germany and Austria, #4 in the Netherlands, #5 in Sweden, #6 in Denmark and #7 in Poland and has charted in 21 countries.

  

 

 "We Wish You the Merriest"

by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby & Fred Waring

Les Brown wrote this song that was included on the popular 1964 album 12 Songs of Christmas.  To have not only Frank Sinatra but Bing Crosby both wishing you the merriest has to mean that you're pretty special.

 "Silver Bells"

by Anne Murray

This can be found on the album entitled Anne Murray's Christmas Album.  Since it came out, it has received great airplay year after year.  

 "Sleigh Ride"

by the Ray Conniff Singers

There are some great versions of "Sleigh Ride", including the New Christy Minstrels, the Ronettes and the Carpenters.  This version really makes you want to go on the sleigh ride.  

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

by Pentatonix

This amazing group released one of their best songs on their 2016 album A Pentatonix Christmas.  It is easy to forget while listening to this breathtaking version that their voices are the only instruments.

"Here We Come A-Caroling/We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

by Perry Como

Como is just one of those talents that sounds awesome on every thing he does.  Here's one of six that Perry has in The Top 200* to wrap up today's edition.  Join us tomorrow!