The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 18

 'Twas the week before Christmas!  Eight more of The Top 200* await you!

 

 "The First Noel"

by Andy Williams

He sold over 45 million records and was active in the music industry for 70 years.  He recorded some of the best songs of the Rock Era in "Butterfly", "Can't Get Used To Losing You", and two of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*--"Days Of Wine And Roses" (the flip side of "Can't Get Used To Losing You") and "More".  

Williams owns three songs in this special of elite Christmas songs.  "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" was ranked by Billboard as The #5 Christmas Song of All-Time and "Happy Holidays" is a standard as well.  This song has been gaining steam, having charted on the Christmas chart the last three years in a row.

 

 "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

by Perry Como

One of the best Christmas artists ever (he has six among The Top 200*), here is Perry Como's version of the song that gets us all thinking about the season.  It was recorded September 18, 1951 in New York City and made it to #12 that year.  Como's Christmas television specials ranked right up there with those of Bing Crosby and Andy Williams as being the epitome of holiday spirit.  

"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"

by Anne Murray

Murray's version of this Christmas standard was included on the album What a Wonderful Christmas. 


 

 "Pretty Paper"
by Roy Orbison

This Christmas favorite was written by Willie Nelson, and recorded by Orbison in 1963.  It reached #15 on the chart that year.





 

 

 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Hozier

Irish musician Hozier covered this popular Christmas song in 2015 that fit his Blues roots.  The arrangement is superb.

 

 

 "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

by the Carpenters

No question Karen has one of the best Christmas voices that will likely ever be heard.  She's very reflective and her interpretation fits the tone of the song.  Many people think she was an angel sent to us for a brief time.  Great arrangement, as usual, by Richard on this one.

 

 "Do You Hear What I Hear"

by Carrie Underwood

Another of the newest singles to make The Top 200*, the acoustic guitar background gives a nice touch and Carrie sings it beautifully.

  

 "The Prayer"

Pentatonix

It is Mitch Grassi, and not Kirstin Maldonado, who sings the high part of this song originally made popular by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.  It is one of the highlights of the group's new album, Evergreen.

Join us tomorrow for eight more of The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time*!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 17

 Today's eight songs will put us over 135 of The Best Christmas Songs of All-Time* that we have presented thus far since December 1.  We have listened to thousands of Christmas songs over the last 45 years and these are the ones that consistently rate as the most popular.  Unlike most lists of this type, we actually let you listen to the songs so you can decide on your personal favorites.

 "Please Come Home for Christmas"
by Charles Brown

This is one of the few early Christmas standards (done in 1947) to be topped by a remake (the Eagles has displaced it as the favorite version), but any list that doesn't still include it as one of the best probably was put together by a young person not aware of the first great version of the song.  The ringing of the Church bells, the understated but memorable guitar solo, and Brown's great sad style make this a Christmas favorite.

 "Jingle Bell Rock"

by Hall & Oates

Whether it be Christmas music or conventional, the old adage is always true--it is extremely tough to remake a classic--you're always going to be compared to the original.  Very few can do it successfully and most should not attempt it.  But Hall & Oates pulled it off and their version continues to be played 38 years after first released.

 "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
by Darlene Love

This song was originally scheduled to sung by Ronnie Spector, but Darlene Love was called in and she delivered.  It was written by the famous team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.  Leon Russell adds his magic piano part at the end.

 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

Springsteen thinks it's funny he's singing a Christmas song; he laughs several times during the song.  Nevertheless, it is one of the most-played songs of the season.

 

 "Oh Holy Night"

by John Denver

John Denver is another of the best Christmas artists of the Rock Era.  He gave an amazing performance on this somber song.

 

 "Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!"

by Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme

This was included on the 1964 album That Holiday Feeling.  There are three versions of the popular favorite among The Top 150*.  This one shares the standard-bearing with Dean Martin's version.

 "Frosty The Snowman"

by Gene Autry

After Autry enjoyed much success with "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1949, Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson wrote this one and pitched it to Gene the following year.  Like "Rudolph", it too was featured in a television special.

 "Jingle Bells"

by the Ray Conniff Singers

This, like so many others that we've featured, is on the great album Christmas with Conniff.  The Singers bring a cheerful, crisp approach to everything they do and frankly, a lot of the memories we have of Christmas involves the Conniff Singers.  

We hope you are enjoying this Christmas special--join us tomorrow!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 16

 Inside the Rock Era is presenting eight new songs each day.  All of them make up The 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!