Inside the Rock Erais presenting eight new songs each day. All of them make upThe Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.
"Baby It's Cold Outside"
by Dean Martin
Along with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr., Martin was a member of the so-called Rat Pack. Before that, Martin was, among other things, a welterweight boxer. Of his 12 bouts, he said "he won all but 11." Dean recorded this for his album A Winter Romance.
"Jingle Bells"
by Ella Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald included this on her 1960 album Ella Wishes You A Swingin' Christmas.
"All I Want For Christmas" by Vince Vance & the Valients
Vance and the Valients originally did this song in 1989 and it has continued to pick up popularity since.
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"
by the Temptations
The Temptations Christmas Card, released in 1970, is one of the better Christmas albums of the Rock Era. It features both songs among The Top 200*--"Silent Night" and this cover of the Christmas favorite.
"Christmas Time Is Here"
by Diana Krall
This is from the album Christmas Songs released in 2005 by the great Diana Krall. Of course the original is from A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio but Diana adds a nice touch to the Christmas favorite with a soft, sensual, laid-back version.
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
by John Lennon
This original song was written by Lennon and Yoko Ono and released in 1971 as a single. It was a protest song about the Vietnam War that has since been covered by many artists. It reached #4 in the U.K. for Lennon.
"We Need A Little Christmas"
by Johnny Mathis
Here is a song from the Broadway musical Mame, first performed by Angela Lansbury in 1966. In the musical, the song is performed after Mame lost her fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and Mame decided that she, her nephew Patrick, and her two servants "need a little Christmas now" to brighten them up. This song was first released on the album Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis in 1986.
"What Child Is This"
by Charlotte Church
Another holy and reverent song is next, that was written in 1865. English writer William Chatterton Dix suffered a near-fatal illness at age 29 and was confined to a bed for several months. Despite going into a deep depression, Dix wrote many hymns during this period, including "What Child Is This". Charlotte recorded this song on her Dream a Dream album.
Eight more great songs to improve your mood in this busy time of year. Join us tomorrow for more on Inside The Rock Era!
We've listened to thousands of Christmas songs over the years, and when you hear a 24-hour Christmas channel or satellite television channel you know there is much filler that you'd really rather not bother with. Instead, choose the cream of the crop. We've done the research so you can listen to only the best. Choose the ones that you particularly like and they make great background music for Christmas parties or on Christmas Day itself. Our family likes to sit by the Christmas tree listening to these and talking about the songs and why they are so great, sharing memories, and spending quality time together.
Here are eight more of The Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland
Judy recorded this version on April 20, 1944 and it reached #2 the following Christmas. But it first appeared in the 1943 movie Meet Me in St. Louis. Written during World War II, it had some depressing lyrics as soldiers went another Christmas being away from the ones they loved. Garland loathed one of the lines, which followed the title with "It may be your last", especially since she was singing it to a little girl in the film. It was thus changed to "Let your heart be light."
"Carol Of The Bells"
by Pentatonix
Here is one of five versions of "Carol Of The Bells" which made our list. Add in "Ring Christmas Bells" by the Ray Conniff Singers, the more religious version of the two, and that makes six.
"Mele Kalikimaka"
by Bing Crosby
R. Alex Anderson wrote this song after a stenographer in his office wondered why there were no Hawai'ian Christmas songs. When finished, Anderson played it for Crosby, who was a golf partner. Bing collaborated with the Andrews Sisters on the song and included it on his famous album Merry Christmas. Anderson's daughter Pam says the family still receives revenues from all over the world for her father's song.
"The Little Drummer Boy"
by Perry Como
Como, one of the top Christmas singers of all-time already, conveyed the deep meaning of the lyrics by slowing the song down.
"Jolly Old St. Nicholas"
by the Ray Conniff Singers
The song is mentioned in Susan Gregg's Christmas Orphans, published in 1916. It is performed to an up-tempo arrangement of "Canon in D Major" by Johann Pachelbel.
The jolly Ray Conniff Singers fit the song perfectly.
"The Christmas Waltz" by Frank Sinatra
Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne wrote this song. This is from the Sinatra Christmas Album from 1954 and is one of four that Sinatra has among The Best 150 for All-Time*. The song still stands the test of time.
"Sleigh Ride"
by the Ronettes
One of the best versions of this song comes from the 1963 release by the Ronettes heard here. The clopping and neighing of horses, the Wall of Sound, it doesn't get much better.
"Silent Night"
by Josh Groban
Josh Groban has quickly become one of the world's most beloved singers. When he sings a song, it's usually fabulous and that's the case here. Groban successfully captures the magical awesomeness of the occasion. The backing choir is also wisely chosen.
10 days left--with these songs to sing to as you do your shopping!
We are a little more than halfway in our Christmas spectacular in 2011--The Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*. Here are eight more great ones:
"O Tannenbaum"
by Vince Guaraldi
This is a German Christmas song which evolved from a traditional Folk song unrelated to Christmas. By the middle of the 19th century, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree and sung as a carol.
Organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz wrote the modern lyrics to the song in 1824. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree, and Anschütz's yrics refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness. The lyrics are based on a 16th-century Silesian Folk song called "Ach Tannenbaum" by Melchior Franck. In 1819, August Zarnack wrote a tragic love song inspired by this folk song, contrasting the faithful fir tree with a faithless lover. Anschütz added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse, first associating the Folk song with Christmas.
Guaraldi's instrumental version is among those featured in the famous Christmas television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
"Christmas Eve Sarajevo"
by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Here we have the magical group Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which has one of the best light shows you will ever see...anywhere. This song is a medley of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells" that was first released by the group Savatage as "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)". TSO was a side project of several of the members of Savatage. The subject of the medley has an interesting story as Paul O'Neill explained in Christianity Today.com:
...We heard about this cello player born in
Sarajevo many years ago who left when he
was fairly young to go on to become a
well-respected musician, playing with
various symphonies throughout Europe.
Many decades later, he returned to
Sarajevo as an elderly man—at the height
of the Bosnian War, only to find his city in
complete ruins.
I think what most broke this man's heart
was that the destruction was not done by
some outside invader or natural disaster—
it was done by his own people. At that time,
Serbs were shelling Sarajevo every night.
Rather than head for the bomb shelters like
his family and neighbors, this man went to
the town square, climbed onto a pile of
rubble that had once been the fountain,
took out his cello, and played Mozart and
Beethoven as the city was bombed.
"Where Are You Christmas?"
by Faith Hill
This great song was written by James Horner and Will Jennings and sung by Taylor Momsen in the great movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, in 2000. Mariah Carey co-wrote a longer version and originally recorded it, but because of a legal matter with her ex-husband Tommy Mottola could not release it. So she gave it to Faith Hill, who did an excellent job with it and it is that song that you hear over the closing credits.
"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"
by Three Irish Tenors
This trio began in 1998 for a PBS television special The Irish Tenors. Declan Kelly, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan recorded five such specials and eight albums as Three Irish Tenors.
This song contains some of the most important and best lyrics of all Christmas songs, acknowledging the tragedy that was the American Civil War while also expressing optimism that we will come out of it OK.
The song is based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and tells the story of hearing Christmas bells during that senseless war. While the narrator acknowledges that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men", he concludes with the message that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep".
Obviously from the debacle that was "the Trump Administration", the hate is still very much alive. But rather than see progress from each of these disasters as if they are a straight line on a graph, it is much more accurate to see history as a constant ebb and flow; that while we came out of the American Civil War with legislation and good social progress, evil always gravitates to the weak-minded, and people of the world will always have to deal with low-life's in society such as Trump supporters.
So while 70% of America and 95% of the world cannot understand how people could be filled with so much hate, the overlying message is that, just as we came out of the Civil War with good will that lasted decades, so will we after the Trump supporters die off. Even though Trump supporters mock God's message of love, God is not dead.
"River"
by Sarah McLachlan
This song about the recent breakup of a romantic relationship is the second-most covered of all of Joni Mitchell's great songs. McLachlan does a great job with it here.
"Winter Wonderland"
by Michael Bublé
Bublé created a sensation with his 2011 release Christmas. A number one album the world over, it has topped 16 million in sales. Although this song was not originally included on the album, it has since been added to re-releases.
"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
by Elvis Presley
This song was first copyrighted on August 24, 1943 as soldiers first thought they would be home for Christmas, then realized it would be "in my dreams". Kent and James Gannon wrote the song, first recorded by Bing Crosby. But it is this version by Elvis that has taken over in popularity.
"Joy To The World"
by Anne Murray
Anne Murray checks in again with her great version of this Christmas classic. Somehow Murray gives it great empathy and sincerity because she is singing from the heart.
And now you have all the hope and promise of the Christmas season to carry with you the rest of the day!
We are at the halfway point of our Christmas special, with 8 more to enjoy!
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
by Amy Grant
One of Amy's best Christmas songs, she lends credibility and joy to this holiday favorite.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
by Perry Como
This song was first published by William B. Sandys in 1833, although it is believed to have been written in the mid-18th century.
Few have performed it as genuinely as did Perry Como, and that is why his version makes The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time*.
"Jingle Bells"
by Brian Setzer
With the traditional songs, this is one case in which the more you can come up with a different-enough version, you can distinguish yourself from the crowd. Setzer's version really jazzes up the song.
"Please Come Home for Christmas"
by the Eagles
It is difficult to take someone else's song and do a better version. There's so few examples of that, but in 1978, the Eagles released this song, which reached #18 among all the songs out at the time. Charles Brown, who co-wrote it with Gene Redd and had done it originally, only got to #76 with his version.
"My Favorite Things"
by the Supremes
This song was one of the great tracks on the all-time favorite movie and soundtrack Sound of Music. Interestingly enough, it has become a Christmas favorite and there is no better version than that of the Supremes.
"Pretty Paper"
by Willie Nelson
Willie wrote this song in 1963 but after he signed with Monument Records, he played it for producer Fred Foster. Foster gave the song to Roy Orbison, who recorded it originally and scored a big hit with it. Nelson later recorded his own version the following year and is trying to reclaim it for himself. You can decide which you like better.
"The 12 Days Of Christmas"
by Straight No Chaser
In 2006, Randy Stine uploaded the performance of Straight Chaser's "The 12 Days of Christmas" to YouTube so he and his college buddies could relive the glory. To the group's surprise, Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman saw the video and was so impressed that he sought them out and signed them to a recording contract.
"Do You Hear What I Hear"
by Whitney Houston
Bing Crosby has the best version of this, but Whitney's isn't far behind.
We hope you are finding peace this holiday season!
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!