The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 5

We've included a good mix of songs, not only in the Top 200, but also each day, so you'll get a good variety of songs by a variety of artists in a variety of styles.  Here are eight more coming at ya on December 5:

"Christmas Time Is Here"

by Vince Guaraldi Trio

This holiday favorite instantly transports listeners to being kids.  It was released on the Soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 1965, the music for the television special of the same name.  The angelic voices included on the song that fit the season are largely responsible for the song's relevance and popularity.

 

 "Run Rudolph Run"

by Chuck Berry

This song has entered the special Billboard Christmas chart three times--in 1958, 2019, and it reached its peak of #10 on January 2, 2021, 63 years after its release!

  

"Santa Baby"

by Eartha Kitt

Joan Javits (niece of Senator Jacob Javits) and Philip Springer wrote this song as a tongue-in cheek mockery of a woman who wanted extravagant gifts for Christmas. 

It was originally recorded by Eartha with Henri Rene and his orchestra on October 6, 1953 in New York City. She later said it was one of her favorite songs and reprised it in the 1954 move New Faces. The song was also featured in the 1989 movie Driving Miss Daisy.

"Go Tell It on the Mountain"

by Dolly Parton

We've already heard this song in The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time* by Mahalia Jackson.  Because the song is a spiritual and one of the most reverent, it is difficult to pull off and be true to the original intent. Dolly Parton recorded her version in 1990 and released it on the album Home for Christmas.  Her version does indeed seem genuine and thus has become a holiday favorite.

"Jingle Bells"

by Frank Sinatra

Christmas Songs by Sinatra was Frank's third studio album, released in 1948.  Sinatra puts his special touch on this Christmas classic!

  
"Blue Christmas"

by Elvis Presley

This was written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948, then made popular by Ernest Tubb the following year.  It is one of the first to put out the notion that not everyone was happy at Christmas.

But when Elvis recorded it in 1957 in his one-of-a-kind style, he took it to the next level.  Elvis included it on Elvis' Christmas Album that year and released it as a single in 1964.  Elvis performs it in a bluesy style, a great pun on the title by the way, he gets his usual backing from the Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham can also be heard.   

"Deck the Halls"

by Nat King Cole

This traditional Christmas song is taken from the Welsh winter carol Nos Galan from the sixteenth century.  The chorus of "Fa la la" is from the Welsh song; the remaining lyrics are American from the nineteenth century.

Nat King Cole is another of those great Christmas artists.  He has several songs included in Inside the Rock Era's feature, and his version of this holiday favorite is one of the best there is.

"Silent Night"

by Garth Brooks

This is from Garth's album Beyond the Season.  In addition to a humble recording, Brooks' inclusion of a story within the song adds special meaning.

We have eight more planned for you tomorrow!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 4

We serve up eight holiday delights for you in Day Four!

 

 "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

by Bing Crosby

Bing took this Christmas song written in 1943 to honor members of the military who were overseas and achieved a Top 10 hit with it.  

"12 Days Of Christmas"

by John Denver & the Muppets

The song, generally thought to be of French in origin, could have began as a Twelfth Night game, in which a leader cited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader then added a verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake. That person would then pay a penalty, such as offering a kiss or a sweet, or simply dropping out of the game. "The 12 Days of Christmas" was first published in 1780 in England. 

It has been performed by hundreds of different artists and often is annoying because of the repetitive nature.  But when John Denver hosted The Muppets Show in 1976 and did this song with Jim Henson's characters, that version gave it enough of a twist to become one of the favorite versions (if not the favorite).

"Santa Tell Me"

by Ariana Grande

This modern-day classic, co-written by Grande, reached the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden and Switzerland.

 

 "Joy To The World"

by Pentatonix

This amazing group began when Kirstin Maldonado, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying were classmates at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.  The three began performing before going their separate ways--Hoying pursued a degree in Popular Music Performance at the University of Southern California while Maldonado majored in Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma.

Hoying was encouraged to audition for the NBC show, The Sing-Off, and persuaded Maldonado and Grassi to join him.  Through a mutual friend, Hoying met Avi Kaplan, a talented bass singer and, wanting a "beatboxer", they discovered Kevin Olusoloa on YouTube. 

   

 

 ^{"Step Into Christmas"}

by Elton John

This was written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John and recorded at Morgan Studios in London in 1973.  Billboard's policy at the time was not to include Christmas songs on its "Hot 100" chart, but the song did reach #1 on a special Christmas chart.  It is one of a select few new songs in the last 40 years to be included in this feature.

"Carol Of The Bells"

by John Williams

The song originated in the Ukraine as a pagan chant performed during the celebration of the New Year, which was in April.  When Christianity came to the Ukraine, the New Year's celebration was moved to January.   Composer Mykola Leontovych used the words of this chant in his song, which was adapted to English by Peter J. Wilhousky.

However, most versions of the song we now hear are instrumental, oddly enough.  One of the best is this one from John Williams.

 

 "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

by Band Aid

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote this song in reaction to reports of the famine in Ethiopia from 1983-1985.  This song was recorded in one day at Sarm West Studios in London on November 25, 1984 by Band Aid, a group assembled by Geldof and Ure and consisting primarily of top British and Irish stars at the time.

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" rocketed to #1 for five weeks, sold a million copies the first week, and reached three million by the end of the year, on the way to becoming the top-selling single in U.K. history.

"White Christmas"

by the Drifters

The great Irving Berlin wrote this masterpiece, although there are differing accounts as to the time of the composition.  After writing it, Berlin told his secretary, "Grab your pen and take down this song.  I just wrote the best song I've ever written.  Heck, I've just written the best song anyone's ever written."  

Although Bing Crosby dominates the song on the airwaves today, this version is good enough to also make The Top 150 Christmas Songs*.  The Drifters hit #2 with it in 1954 and it made seven appearances on the chart through 1962.

Join us tomorrow for more of the greatest Christmas songs ever recorded!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 3

 When we get done, you'll have The Best 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.  We will put up a page with the links to each of these groups of eight, so you'll have them in one place.  Today is December 3, and here are the next six:

 

 "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"

by Amy Grant

Although we associate this song with Andy Williams, Amy Grant did her own version on the album The Christmas Collection and it has been popular in its own right. Great orchestral accompaniment.

 

"Here We Come A-Caroling"

by the Ray Conniff Singers

One of the great songs by one of the best Christmas acts--Ray Conniff & the Singers. Difficult to not be happy listening to this. This is from the 1965 album The Real Meaning of Christmas.

 

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

by Dean Martin

Johnny Marks wrote this song that was first sung by Harry Brannon in November 1949.  Dean Martin recorded his version in 1959 and his wording of "Rudy, the red-beaked reindeer" fit Martin's image perfectly and Martin's probably the only guy who could sing those lines and pull it off.  It gave the song a whole new appeal.

  "You're All I Want for Christmas"

by Brook Benton

Benton recorded this song in 1963 and it is one of the least-covered songs in this special, but certainly one of the most personal and most romantic.

 

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

by Jimmy Boyd

Tommie Connor wrote the lyrics and music to this one.  Boyd recorded the original version of the song in 1952 when he was 13 years old.  Several other artists have covered the song but Boyd's is still the best.

"What Christmas Means to Me"

by Stevie Wonder

Anna Gordy Gaye, George "Horgay" Gordy and Allen Story wrote this song on Wonder's Someday at Christmas album in 1967. Out of all the Christmas songs, this is one of the ones that captured the true meaning of Christmas.

"Frosty the Snowman"

by the Ronettes

This fun song about an imaginary snowman who magically comes to life has been delighting audiences for years.  Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson wrote it for Gene Autry who originally recorded it.  

Of course, the famous "Wall of Sound" production technique made almost anything sound better and when the Ronettes did this song, it quickly became a holiday favorite.

"Oh Holy Night"

by Josh Groban

Adolphe Adam composed this song in 1847 based on the French poem "Minuit, chretiens" (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau.  Minister John Sullivan Dwight created a singing version of the song based on Cappeau's French text in 1855.  

Groban sings it with such reverence, that allows his amazing voice to transport you back in time to the actual night.