The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 23

 We've sifted through all of the Christmas songs and are featuring what we believe to be the cream of the Christmas crop.  We began on December 1 and by Christmas Day will have presented The Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.

 "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas"

by Burl Ives

Ives recorded this in July of 1964 for the animated feature Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer which he also narrated.  It reached #13 and is one of the most cheerful, infectious Christmas songs of them all.

 "Away In A Manger"

by John Denver

    "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
by Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme

Frank Loesser wrote this song in 1944 and premiered it with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their Navarro Hotel housewarming.    Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme recorded what is regarded as one of the best versions of the song and included it on the album That Holiday Feeling.

   

"All I Want for Christmas Is You"

by Mariah Carey

 

The song was written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. It reached #2 in Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and the U.K. and charted in six other countries. Since then, it has reappeared on the charts in four different years and has quickly become a Christmas standard, selling over four million copies.

 

 "My Grown-Up Christmas List"

by Amy Grant

The song was written by Linda Thompson-Jenner and David Foster, originally recorded by Foster with Natalie Cole in 1990.  It was this version, included on Amy Grant's second Christmas album Home for Christmas, featuring altered lyrics and an additional verse that Grant wrote, that caught on.

Amy gives us a message away from materialism and added maturity to Christmas with a Christmas List That Matters.

 "Jingle Bells"

by Diana Krall

This song was first copyrighted under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh".  Included on Krall's album Christmas Songs and gifted with her signature voice and style, the version has become one of the most-played Christmas songs in recent years.

  
 "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote a two-act ballet called The Nutcracker. Originally, the ballet was not a success, but the suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. Of course now, The Nutcracker is extremely popular and is performed by ballet companies all over the world. This is one of the best versions of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" performed by the Royal Symphony Orchestra.

As we approach the big day, keep checking us out for more Christmas favorites!

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!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time, December 21

 We still have 40 more songs in Inside the Rock Era's presentation of The Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.  Some of the absolute best are still to come!

 

 "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"

by Michael Bublé

This version of a Christmas standard charted in 26 countries in 2011, evidence of worldwide appeal that earns it a spot in The Top 200*.  It ranked #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S. and #20 overall, #3 in the Netherlands, Norway and Italy, #4 in Canada and Sweden, #6 in Switzerland and #7 in the U.K.

 "Happy Holiday"/"The Holiday Season"

by Andy Williams

This is one of two songs that Irving Berlin wrote among the Top 200*.  He wrote it in 1942 and it was featured in the movie Holiday Inn.  Andy's version is by far the best.

"We Need a Little Christmas"

by the New Christy Minstrels

A lot of people think this is the Ray Conniff Singers but it's the Minstrels at their best.  Since they came out in the early 1960's, the New Christy Minstrels launched the careers of Kenny Rogers, Gene Clark (of the Byrds), Kim Carnes and Barry McGuire.  Rogers and Carnes were together in the group in 1966.  McGuire was the group's director and arranger beginning in 1963.  

"The First Noel"

by Josh Groban and Faith Hill

For his fourth studio album, Groban recorded a set of Christmas tunes featuring his incredible voice.  When Noël sold 3.6 million copies in 2007, it became the top-selling album of the year--it's sales are now well over 6 million.

 "Jingle Bells"

by the Miracles

This song by the Miracles was good enough to make the album Motown Christmas, a high standard indeed.  Their version of the popular Christmas song has been gaining in popularity.

 "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

by the Carpenters

There must be something about the letter "C" in Christmas.  I say that because four of the artists who have the most songs in The Top 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time* all start with the letter "C"; a very interesting factoid.  Bing Crosby is tied with Pentatonix for the most with 9 each.  The Ray Conniff Singers have 8, then it's the Carpenters with 7 and Perry Como with 6.  There are 41 out of 200 whose artists begin with "C", including this one from the Carpenters.

 

 "Feliz Navidad"

by Jose Feliciano

This is one of the Top 25 most-played Christmas songs and has been for quite a while.  Feliciano wrote it himself in 1970 and it was featured on the album of the same name.  Today, people of all languages and nationalities love it for its great sound, sincerity and festive tone.

 "Silent Night"

by Barbra Streisand

Many people believe this to be the best version of this song, out of the thousands that are out there.  Barbra also has another song featured in The Top 200*.  We'll leave you today with this reverent, amazing performance of "Silent Night".

Sleep in heavenly peace.  See you tomorrow!