Title

Artist

Year

"Auld Lang Syne"

Peerless Quartet

1921

"Parade of the Wooden

Soldiers"

Vincent Lopez Orchestra

1922

"Adeste Fideles
(O Come, All Ye Faithful)"

Associated Glee Clubs of

America

1925

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to

Town"

George Hall and the Hotel

Taft Orchestra

1934

"Winter Wonderland"

Guy Lombardo and His Royal

Canadians
1934
Ted Weems and His
Orchestra

"Jingle Bells"

Benny Goodman and his

Orchestra

1935

"Silent Night"

Bing Crosby

1935

Additional Information
Written by Robert Burns. The most popular version of the song for years was actually by Guy
Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Lombardo charting in the Music Vendor Christmas list of 1963 (a
Decca re-release) . Lombardo first performed the song on radio in 1929, then recorded it in 1939 and
again in 1947. New York City disc jockey Harry Harrison's 1965 narration "May You Always" utilizes
"Auld Lang Syne" as instrumental backing. Kenny G scored a top 10 hit in 1999 with the song.
The Vincent Lopez Orchestra version peaked at No. 3 on the pop singles chart in September 1922.
Other charted versions include Carl Fenton's Orchestra (No. 6 on pop singles in September 1922) and
Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (No. 1 for seven weeks on pop singles in the spring of 1923). Music
written in 1897 by Leon Jessel and popularized by Nikita Balieff's 1920s musical revue Chauve-Souris. A
version by The Crystals was also included on Phil Spector's 1963 holiday album, A Christmas Gift for
You from Philles Records.
Peaked at No. 5 on the pop singles chart in 1925. This historic record was the first electrically-recorded
disc to create a popular impact, and featured the largest choir popular music has ever known: some
4,800 voices (according to Columbia Records).[1] Bing Crosby also charted with a version of the
traditional hymn, which peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1960.
Over 150 versions of this standard have appeared in Christmas LPs since 1946.
Written in 1933 by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots. The Jackson 5's 1970 version hit No. 1 on
Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in December 1970 and again in December 1971 (it also charted in
1973). Bruce Springsteen's 'live' version was actually recorded on December 12, 1975 at C.W. Post
College in Greenvale, New York; this version was first released as a promotional single by Columbia
Records in 1981 (Columbia AE7 1332). Other notable hit versions were by Bing Crosby and The
Andrews Sisters (1943), The 4 Seasons (1962), The Crystals (1963), The Carpenters (1975), George
Strait (1995), Lonestar (2000), Steve Tyrell (2002), Barry Manilow (2002), Harry Connick Jr. (2003)
and Michael Bubl (2011).
Lombardo's version peaked at No. 2 on the pop singles chart in January 1935, while the Weems version
peaked at No. 13 on the pop singles chart in early January 1935. Written in 1934 by Felix Bernard
(composer) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). Covered by hundreds of artists. Other charted hit versions
in Billboard include Perry Como and the Satisfiers (1946), The Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and
His Royal Canadians (1946), Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers (1946), Ramsey Lewis Trio (1966),
Dolly Parton (1984), Lonestar (2000), Pat Green (2003) and Newsboys (2010).
A 1941 version by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra features vocals by Tex Beneke, Ernie Caceres and The
Modernaires. Other hit versions recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1943), Perry Como
(1946), Les Paul (1951), the Ramsey Lewis Trio (1964), Booker T. & the MG's (1966), BeBe & CeCe
Winans (1993), SheDaisy (2000), Kenny Chesney (2003), Kimberley Locke (2006) and Michael Bubl
featuring The Puppini Sisters (2011). The 1955 novelty version by Don Charles & The Singing Dogs
peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its original release and hit the Billboard special
Christmas singles chart in 19711973, 1983 and 1984. Kimberley Locke's version spent one week at
No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in 2006.
Written on Christmas Eve in 1818 in Germany by Franz Gruber under the title "Stille Nacht, heilige
Nacht". Crosby's original hit version features the Victor Young Orchestra and backing vocals by the
Guardsmen Quartet. First known hit version in the U.S. was by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in
1928. Other hit versions were by the Ravens (1948), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1949), Mahalia Jackson

Title

Artist

Year

Additional Information
(1962), Barbra Streisand (1966), The Temptations (1969), Enya (1994), Kenny Chesney (2004) and
Susan Boyle (2009).

"What Will Santa Claus Say

(When He Finds Everybody
Swingin'?)"
"The Little Boy that Santa
Claus Forgot"
"Don't Wait 'Till the Night
Before Christmas"

Louis Prima and his New

Orleans Gang

1936

Vera Lynn

1937 Covered by Nat King Cole in 1953. Sung on-screen by James Belushi in film Jingle All The Way.

Eddy Duchin and his

Orchestra

1938 Featuring vocals by Stanley Worth. Peaked at No. 9 on the pop singles chart in December 1938.

"The Night Before

Christmas" (1)

Milton Cross

"When Winter Comes"

Artie Shaw & his Orchestra

"Winter Weather"

Claude Thornhill and His

Orchestra
Benny Goodman

"Happy Holiday"

Bing Crosby

"A Visit From St. Nicholas

('Twas The Night Before
Christmas)"

Fred Waring and His

Pennsylvanians

"White Christmas"

Bing Crosby

"I'll Be Home for

Christmas"

Bing Crosby

"Let's Start The New Year

Right"

Bing Crosby

"Snowfall"

Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Best-Selling Children's Records chart in December 1948. Recitation of
1939 Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" with musical background orchestrated
by Victor Salon. Originally released in 1939.
Peaked at No. 6 on the pop singles chart in mid-1939. Featuring vocals by Tony Pastor. From the 1939
1939
film Second Fiddle.
Written by Claude Thornhill. Later recorded by Billy May, Tony Bennett, Henry Mancini, Doris Day and
1941
many others.
1941 Peaked at No. 24 on the pop singles chart in January 1942. Featuring Peggy Lee and Art Lund on vocals.
Written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film Holiday Inn, co-starring Crosby and Fred Astaire. Hit versions
1942 were recorded by Peggy Lee, Andy Williams and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme. The Lawrence-Gorme
version, released as a single, made the Cashbox Christmas singles chart in 1964.
First charted on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in December 1949, peaking at No. 11.
Charted on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart again in December 1952, peaking at No. 6.
1942 A recording of Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem set to music by Ken Darby and featuring
orchestration by Harry Simeone. First released around Christmastime of 1942 on the 4-record album
set, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
Spent eleven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's National Best Selling Retail Records chart and three weeks
at No. 1 on Billboard's Harlem Hit Parade chart in late 1942. Written by Irving Berlin. Bing Crosby's
original 1942 version featured the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter's Orchestra. The song
debuted in the 1942 film Holiday Inn (sung by Crosby), then appeared in the 1954 color film titled after
1942
the song. The familiar 1947 re-recording of the song by Crosby is still the best-selling Christmas single
of all time in the U.S. (estimated at more than 50 million sold through the years), and appears on
numerous holiday albums as well. Elvis Presley's 1957 cover of the song garnered controversy when
Irving Berlin called for the song to be banned from radio airplay.
Written during World War II by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram to honor soldiers overseas.
Still one of the most recorded Christmas songs today. Hit singles of this song include covers by Frank
1943 Sinatra, The Brothers Four, The Carpenters, Barbara Mandrell, Amy Grant, and Josh Groban. A version
by Brian McKnight reached No. 14 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2008. A
version by Kelly Clarkson peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2012.
1943 With the Bob Crosby orchestra. From the 1942 film Holiday Inn.

Title

Artist

Year

Additional Information

Peaked at No. 27 on the pop singles chart in December 1944. Featuring orchestration by Georgie Stoll.
Written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin, and introduced in the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis starring
1944 Garland. Other charted versions were recorded by Vince Gill (1993), Kenny G (1994), Vince Gill (1994),
Lonestar (2000), James Taylor (2001), Neal McCoy (2001), Ruben Studdard & Tamyra Gray (2003),
Aimee Mann (2006), and Colbie Caillat (2009).
Written by A. Emmett Adams and Douglas Furber in 1917. While the song has no lyrical relation to
1945 Christmas, its inclusion in the 1945 film of the same name has made it a popular choice for various
artists' holiday albums.

"Have Yourself a Merry

Little Christmas"

Judy Garland

"The Bells of St. Mary's"

Bing Crosby

"Christmas Carols by the

Old Corral"

Tex Ritter

1945 Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Most-Played Juke Box Folk Records chart in December 1945.

Vaughn Monroe

Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Successfully covered in 1945 by Woody Herman. Dean Martin's
1959 version is still a favorite, and was also a hit single for Carly Simon in 2005, and Mannheim
1945
Steamroller in 2007. A version by Rod Stewart spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Adult
Contemporary Tracks chart in December 2012 and January 2013.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Let It Snow!"

The Andrews Sisters with

Guy Lombardo and His Royal 1946 Also a hit for Jimmy Buffett in 1996 and The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2005.
Canadians
Written in 1944 by Mel Torm and Robert Wells (Torm's solo recording was also a hit). Also
sometimes subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire", but originally subtitled "Merry Christmas to
"The Christmas Song
You." Re-recorded by Nat King Cole in 1953 and 1961. Popular versions were also recorded by such
The King Cole Trio
1946
(Merry Christmas to You)"
artists as James Brown, Herb Alpert, The Carpenters, Celine Dion, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Toni
Braxton, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Natalie Cole. Remains one of the most recorded Christmas songs
ever.
Bill Monroe and his Blue
"Footprints in the Snow"
1946 Peaked at No. 5 on Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December 1946.
Grass Boys
"Here Comes Santa Claus
(Right Down Santa Claus
Gene Autry
1947 Covered by Elvis Presley in 1957.
Lane)"
The original version by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers peaked at No. 3 on Billboard magazine's R&B
Juke Box chart during the Christmas season of 1947. Charles Brown was the singer and pianist of
Johnny Moore's Three
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers. Brown also recorded a hit solo remake of the song in 1956. Other
"Merry Christmas, Baby"
1947
Blazers
versions that also charted were by Chuck Berry in 1958 and by Otis Redding in 1968. Bruce
Springsteen also recorded a version that first appeared on the 1987 various artists holiday compilation
album A Very Special Christmas.
Spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in December 1948
"All I Want for Christmas Is Spike Jones and his City
1948 and January 1949. Also peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Children's Records chart and No. 18 on
My Two Front Teeth"
Slickers
Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles chart in January 1950. Written by Donald Yetter Gardner.
Peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Race Records chart in December 1948. Written by Leon Ren. Other
"Boogie Woogie Santa
Mabel Scott
1948 versions recorded by Patti Page (1950), Inner Voices (1994), Dave Koz (2001), the Brian Setzer
Claus"
Orchestra (2002) and Brenda Russell (2003).
"Christmas Party"
"Two Ton" Baker the Merry 1948 Issued as a 2-disc (in a foldout picture sleeve) 78 rpm set on Mercury Records' Miniature Playhouse
"Christmas Island"

Title

Artist

Year

Music Maker

"I've Got My Love To Keep

Les Brown & His Orchestra
Me Warm"

1948

"(It's Gonna Be A) Lonely

Christmas"

The Orioles

1948

"You're All I Want for

Christmas" (1)

Frankie Laine

1948

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

Dinah Shore and Buddy

Clark
Margaret Whiting and
Johnny Mercer

1949

"Blue Christmas"

Ernest Tubb

1949

"C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S"

Eddy Arnold, the Tennessee

1949
Plowboy and his Guitar

"Coventry Carol"

Robert Shaw

1949

"I Yust Go Nuts at

Christmas"

Yogi Yorgesson with the

Johnny Duffy Trio

1949

Additional Information
children's series (songs on the set are "The Night Before Christmas"/"Santa's Toy Shop"/"Up on the
House Top"/"Deck The Halls"/"Jingle Bells").
Written in 1937 by Irving Berlin and introduced in the 1937 film On the Avenue by its stars, Dick Powell
and Alice Faye. Les Brown's instrumental hit version was recorded in 1946, but didn't become a
million-selling top 10 song until late 1948 and early 1949. Three other versions by the Mills Brothers,
Art Lund and the Starlighters also hit the pop singles chart in early 1949. The song has also been
recorded by such artists as Ray Noble & His Orchestra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Dean
Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler and Kimberley Locke.
Reached No. 8 on Billboard magazine's R&B Juke Box chart in December 1948, and No. 5 on the same
singles chart the following year.
Peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles chart in December 1948 and No. 15 on
Billboard's Race Records chart in January 1949. Written by Seger Ellis and Glen Moore. Another charted
version by Frank Gallagher (No. 25 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in
December 1948). Other versions recorded by Bing Crosby (1949), Eddie Fisher (1952), Al Martino
(1964), Jackie Gleason (1967), and the Salsoul Orchestra (1981).
Written in 1944 by Frank Loesser and featured in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring Esther
Williams. Other hit versions in 1949 included duets by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan, Don Cornell &
Laura Leslie (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra), and Homer & Jethro with June Carter. In March 1962, a
version by Ray Charles & Betty Carter peaked at No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. A
version by country music trio Lady Antebellum made the pop charts in 2008.
Written as a country song by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson in 1948, and first recorded by Doye O'Dell
that year. First a hit in December 1949 and January 1950 in three separate recordings by country
singer Tubb (No. 1 on Billboard's Most Played Juke Box (Country & Western) Records chart), by
bandleader Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (No. 9 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk
Jockeys chart) and by bandleader Russ Morgan and His Orchestra (No. 11 on Billboard's Best-Selling
Pop Singles chart). Also a charted hit for The Browns featuring Jim Edward Brown (1960), Vince Gill
(1998), Clay Walker (2000), and Harry Connick, Jr. (2003). Ranks as the all-time number one Christmas
single of Billboard's Country Singles chart. Still one of the most-recorded holiday tunes due to Elvis
Presley's 1957 version.
Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys charts in
December 1949. Written by Eddy Arnold & Jenny Lou Carson. Also recorded by the Ames Brothers and
Jim Reeves.
Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. Other hit versions were by Norman Luboff (1958), Mitch
Miller (1958), Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1959), Robert Rheims (1960), The Kingston Trio 1960, Harry
Simeone (1962), Chet Atkins (1963), Joan Baez (1966), Charlie Byrd (1967), Living Strings (1967), The
Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1967), Bob Ralston (1967), Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1970),
John Denver (1975), Mannheim Steamroller (1984), Anne Murray (1988), John Tesh (1992), Westwind
Ensemble (1996), Eden's Bridge (1998), Kenny Loggins (1998), Chip Davis (1998), Michael Crawford
(1999), Point of Grace (1999), Charlotte Church (2000) and Esteban (2000).
Written by Yorgesson under his real name, Harry Stewart. Peaked at #5 on Billboard's "Best Seller" and
"Most Played By Jockeys" chart, December 1949. Covered live by farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson
and the Uff da Band.

Title

Artist

Year

Additional Information

"Let's Make Christmas

Merry, Baby"

Amos Milburn and his

Aladdin Chicken-Shackers

1949 A hit on Billboard magazine's R&B Best Seller and Juke Box singles chart in 1949.[3]

"Merry Christmas"

Judy Garland

1949

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed

Reindeer"

Gene Autry & the Pinafores

1949

"Sleigh Ride"

Arthur Fiedler and the

Boston Pops

1949

"What Are You Doing New

The Orioles
Year's Eve?"

1949

"Will Santy Come to Shanty Eddy Arnold, the Tennessee

1949
Town"
Plowboy and his Guitar
"Yingle Bells"

Yogi Yorgesson

1949

"Christmas in Killarney"

Dennis Day

1950

"(Everybody's Waitin' for)

Kay Starr
the Man with the Bag"

"Frosty the Snowman"

Gene Autry and the Cass

County Boys

"Lonesome Christmas"

Lowell Fulson

"Marshmallow World"

Bing Crosby

Written by Janice Torre and Fred Spielman, for the 1949 MGM musical film In the Good Old
Summertime. Later recorded by Johnny Mathis (2002) and Bette Midler (2006).
Spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Children's Records chart from late November 1949 through
mid January 1950. Also peaked at No. 1 on both Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles and Billboard's
Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys charts in early January 1950. Autry
recorded an updated version of the song in 1957 that featured orchestration by Carl Cotner, which
debuted and peaked at No. 70 on Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart in December 1957. Covered by many
artists through the years, including charted versions by Bing Crosby (1950), Red Foley (1951), The
Cadillacs (1957), Paul Anka (1960), The Chipmunks (1960), The Temptations (1968) and Alan Jackson
(1996).
Recorded one year later (in 1950) by the song's composer Leroy Anderson (it was written in 1946). A
popular 1958 version by Johnny Mathis (backed by the Percy Faith Orchestra), was an early recording
of the vocal version, lyrics by Mitchell Parrish. A version by The Ronettes was included on the classic
1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Other hit vocal interpretations include
versions by Dolly Parton, TLC, Amy Grant, Lorrie Morgan and Garth Brooks.
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues chart in December 1949. Written by
Frank Loesser. First recorded in 1947. Other charted versions include Dant & The Evergreens (1960)
and Nancy Wilson (1965). Recorded by many other artists, including Margaret Whiting in 1947, Dick
Haymes & the Les Paul Trio in 1947, Ella Fitzgerald in 1960, Ramsey Lewis in 1960, King Curtis in
1968, Johnny Mathis in 1969, Patti LaBelle in 1990, The Stylistics in 1992, Harry Connick, Jr. in 1993,
Barbra Streisand in 2001 and Diana Krall in 2005.
Peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys chart in
December 1949. Written by Eddy Arnold, Steve Nelson and his younger brother Ed Nelson, Jr.
Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles chart in December 1949. Instrumental backing
by the Johnny Duffy Trio. Parody of "Jingle Bells."
Featuring the Mellowmen on backing vocals and instrumentation by the Henri Ren Orchestra. Another
hit version was by Percy Faith and the Shillelagh Singers in 1950. Also recorded on successful
Christmas albums by Bing Crosby, Bobby Vinton and Anne Murray.

1950 Also recorded by The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2002 and by Jane Monheit in 2005.
Other hit versions that also charted were released by Nat King Cole (1950), Guy Lombardo and His
Royal Canadians (1950), Red Foley and the Little Foleys (1951), Johnny Mathis (2002), Kimberley
1950 Locke (2007) and Whitney Wolanin (2012). Other popular versions of the song were released by the
Ronettes (1963), the Beach Boys (1964) and Jimmy Durante (1969). Locke's 2007 hit version spent one
week at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
1950 Originally charted on the R&B charts, hit the Christmas singles chart in 19641968 and 1970.
Lyrics written by Carl Sigman and music composed by Peter De Rose. Also recorded by Darlene Love
1950 for the classic 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Other popular versions
recorded by Brenda Lee in 1964 and Dean Martin in 1966.

Title

Artist

Year

Additional Information

"Mele Kalikimaka"

Bing Crosby with The

Andrews Sisters

1950 Also a hit for Jimmy Buffett in 1996 and Bette Midler in 2006.

"Santa Claus Got Stuck in

My Chimney"

Ella Fitzgerald

1950

"Silver Bells"

Bing Crosby & Carole

Richards

"There Is No Christmas
Like a Home Christmas"

Perry Como

"'Twas the Night Before

Christmas"

Arthur Godfrey

"Blue December"
"Christmas Dinner"
"It's Beginning to Look a
Lot Like Christmas"
"Shake Hands with Santa
Claus"
"Suzy Snowflake"
"Thirty-Two Feet Eight
Little Tails"

Hugo Winterhalter and his

Orchestra
Tennessee Ernie Ford

Louis Prima & His Orchestra 1951

Rosemary Clooney
Gene Autry
Eddie Fisher

"I Saw Mommy Kissing

Santa Claus"

Jimmy Boyd

"The Night Before

Christmas Song"

Rosemary Clooney & Gene

Autry

"The Christmas Blues"

Spike Jones and his City

Slickers
Dean Martin

"Christmas Dragnet (Parts I Stan Freberg with Daws

& II)"
Butler
"Cool Yule"

1951 Peaked at No. 18 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in early January 1952.

1951 B-side is "A Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus".

Peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in early January 1952 and
Perry Como and The
No. 23 on Billboard's Best Selling Pop Singles chart in December 1951. Meredith Willson composed this
Fontane Sisters with Mitchell 1951
song while writing The Music Man. For the week of December 24, 2011, a version by Michael Bubl
Ayres & His Orchestra
peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

"Christmas Day"

"Winter"

Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, and later used in the 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid starring
Bob Hope. Other popular versions were also recorded by Johnny Mathis (1958), Al Martino (1964),
1950
Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely (1962 re-release), Earl Grant (1966), Doris Day (1967), The
Supremes (1968), Kenny G (1994) and Kenny Chesney (2004).
Peaked at No. 28 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in December 1968. Featuring orchestration by
1950 Nick Perito and the Ray Charles Singers on backing vocals. Original version by Como released in 1950;
Como's 1968 charted version is a re-recording.
Peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in December 1950. The famous
1950
1823 poem written by Clement Moore with backing orchestration by Archie Bleyer.

Louis Armstrong with the

1951 Written by Sid Tepper and Roy Brodsky.

Peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in December 1951. Featuring
1951
orchestration by Carl Cotner.
Peaked at No. 22 on the popular records chart in December 1952. Features Hugo Winterhalter and his
1952
orchestra. Released within a four-record album set titled Christmas with Eddie Fisher.
Written by Tommie Connor. Other hit versions were recorded by The Ronettes, The Four Seasons, The
1952
Jackson 5, John Mellencamp, and Jessica Simpson.
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Top Popular Records - Most Played by Jockeys chart in late December
1952 1952. A recording of Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" featuring a melody
written by Johnny Marks and orchestration by Carl Cotner.
Peaked at No. 23 on the pop singles chart in early January 1953. Featuring the Mello Men on vocals. B1952
side to Jones's hit recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".
1953 Written by David Holt and Sammy Cahn. Also recorded by Jo Stafford.
Peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart in December 1953. A parody of Dragnet and
1953 the follow-up to Freberg's No. 1 hit from several months earlier, "St. George and the Dragonet". In 1954,
the same record was re-issued under the title "Yulenet (Parts I & II)".
1953 Written by Steve Allen. Also a hit remake for singer/actress Bette Midler in 2006.

Title

Artist

Year

Additional Information

Commanders
"I Want a Hippopotamus
for Christmas"
"Put Christ Back Into
Christmas"
"Santa Baby"

"Christmas Alphabet"
"Christmas Can't Be Far
Away"
"Christmas in My
Hometown" (1)
"Dig That Crazy Santa
Claus"
"I Want Eddie Fisher for
Christmas"
"(There's No Place Like)
Home for the Holidays"

"Christmas in New Orleans"

"Christmas Night in
Harlem"

"Nuttin' for Christmas"

1953

Red Foley with The Anita

Kerr Singers

1953 Peaked at No. 23 on the pop singles chart in December 1953.

Written by Tony Springer, Phil Springer & Joan Javits. In 1954, Eartha Kitt recorded a new version of
Eartha Kitt with Henri Rene
the song with new lyrics titled "This Year's Santa Baby", while Homer & Jethro also recorded a version
1953
& His Orchestra
titled "Santy Baby" in 1954. Later covered by Mae West, Madonna in 1987, and Kylie Minogue in 2000,
among others.
Peaked at No. 25 on the popular records chart in December 1954. Features orchestration by Dick
The McGuire Sisters
1954
Jacobs.
Peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Country & Western Records Most Played by Jockeys chart in January
Eddy Arnold and his Guitar 1954
1955.
Sonny James
Oscar McLollie & His Honey
Jumpers
Ralph Marterie & His
Orchestra
Betty Johnson (1954)
Spike Jones

Perry Como

Louis Armstrong with the

Benny Carter Orchestra
Louis Armstrong with the
Benny Carter Orchestra.
Art Mooney and His
Orchestra
Vocal by Barry Gordon

"Take Me Back to Toyland" Nat King Cole

"I Heard the Bells on
Christmas Day"

Written by John Rox. The original 1953 version by Gayla Peevey features orchestration by Norman
Leyden. Also recorded by The Three Stooges in 1960.

Gayla Peevey

Bing Crosby

1954 Covered by Travis Tritt in 1992.

1954
Also a hit for The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2005.
1954
Two versions released the same Christmas season during the height of the Eddie Fisher craze. Peaked
at No. 28 on the Music Vendor chart.
Peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart and at No. 18 on Billboard's Best Sellers in
Stores chart in January 1955. Featuring orchestration by Mitchell Ayres. A 1999 cover version by Garth
1954 Brooks peaked at No. 63 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 2000. On the
week of December 31, 2011, a cover version by Cyndi Lauper and Norah Jones peaked at No. 12 on
Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
1954

1955
1955 Song originated in 1934. A hit, in that year, by the Paul Whiteman orchestra.
Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Popular Records - Best Sellers in Stores chart in January 1956. Versions
by four other artists charted in December 1955 and January 1956 on one or more of Billboard's music
popularity charts: Joe Ward, Ricky Zahnd & The Blue Jeaners (titled "(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for
1955
Christmas"), The Fontane Sisters and Stan Freberg. Written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett. Eartha
Kitt released a version in 1955 with different lyrics titled "Nothin' for Christmas" with the same writer
credits. Also covered by the rock group Smash Mouth.
Peaked at No. 47 on Billboard's Top 100 Popular Records chart in January 1956. Featuring the Nelson
1955
Riddle Orchestra and Chorus.
Other singers with popular versions: Nat King Cole, The Carpenters, Harry Belafonte, Burl Ives, Johnny
1956
Mathis and Sarah McLachlan.

Title

Artist

Year

"I'm Gonna Lasso Santa

Claus"

Brenda Lee

1956

"Mary's Boy Child"

Harry Belafonte

1956

Additional Information
Written by Frankie Adams & Wilbur Jones. Credited as "Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old)" though she
turned 12 in 1956.
Written by Jester Hairston. Also a top 40 hit remake in the UK for Nina & Frederick in 1959, and a No. 1
hit remake in the UK for Boney M in 1978, as a medley titled "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord".
Written by Gordon Jenkins. Also recorded by Nat King Cole (1958).
With the Arthur Norman choir and orchestra.
Featuring backing vocals by the Anita Kerr Singers. Written by Joe Beale and Jim Boothe. Later hit
versions by Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker in 1961, Chet Atkins in 1961, Brenda Lee in 1964, Daryl
Hall & John Oates in 1983, Randy Travis in 1992, George Strait in 1999, Aaron Tippin in 2001 and
Newsboys in 2010.

"Happy New Year" (1)

Judy Garland
"How Lovely Is Christmas" Bing Crosby

1957
1957

"Jingle Bell Rock"

Bobby Helms

1957

Ruby Wright

1957 Hit various pop charts in Billboard and Music Vendor.

Jimmy Dean

1957 Novelty song performed with the Ray Ellis Orchestra.

Written by Frank Sinatra, Doc Stanford & Hank Sanicola. Selected as the theme song for the 1960
1957
Christmas Seals appeal.

"Let's Light the Christmas

Tree"
"Little Sandy Sleighfoot"
"Mistletoe And Holly"

Frank Sinatra

"Santa Bring My Baby Back

Elvis Presley
(To Me)"
"Santa Claus Is Back in
Elvis Presley
Town"
"Babes in Toyland/March
of the Toys"

Arthur Fiedler and the

Boston Pops

1957 Written by Aaron Schroeder and Claude DeMetruis.

1957
1958

"The Chipmunk Song

The Chipmunks
(Christmas Don't Be Late)"

1958

"Dnde Est Santa Claus?

Augie Rios
(Where Is Santa Claus?)"

1958

"Green Chri$tma$"

Stan Freberg

1958

"The Little Drummer Boy

(Carol of the Drum)"

Harry Simeone Chorale

1958

"The Nutcracker Suite"

Arthur Fiedler and the

Boston Pops

1958

Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. A 1997 version by Dwight Yoakam peaked at No. 60 on
Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 1998.
Written by Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough. One of the most familiar Christmas instrumentals.
Popular by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra (1939). Later recorded by Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show
Orchestra (1991).
Spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1958, and reached No. 5
on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart in January 1959. Written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville).
The most popular novelty Christmas single in the U.S. through the 1960s. Launched a 50-year music
career for the fictional character group.
Featuring orchestration by Mark Jeffrey. Peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in
December 1958. Also covered by actress Charo in 1978 and by the rock band Guster in 2003.
Featuring Daws Butler, Marvin Miller and Wil Wright in a "commercial" parody of Scrooge. National
Top 50, top five in Los Angeles.
One of the most-recorded of the modern carols. Written in 1941 by Katherine K. Davis (words and
music). A version by Lou Rawls peaked at No. 2 on Billboard magazine's special Christmas singles chart
in 1967 (it charted again in 1969). Other charted versions include Johnny Cash (1959), Joan Baez
(1966), Kenny Burrell (1967), RuPaul (1994), Wilson Phillips (2010) and Richard Marx (2012). A
version by the Vienna Boys Choir also hit big when it was featured in the Rankin/Bass animated TV
special of the same name.
Also a hit for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and many others around the world. Introduced in a
stylized jazz-big band version by Les Brown in the 1957 album "Concert Modern". Other hit rock
versions by The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Latter's version retitled "A Mad
Russian's Christmas".

Title

Artist

Year

"Rockin' Around the

Christmas Tree"

Brenda Lee

1958

"Run Rudolph Run"

Chuck Berry

1958

"The Secret of Christmas"

Bing Crosby

1959

"This Time of the Year"

Brook Benton

1959

"Wistful Willie"

Jimmie Rodgers

1959

Additional Information
Peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on the week of January 1, 1961. Written by
Johnny Marks. A 1996 version by the band Alabama peaked at No. 64 on Billboard's Hot Country
Singles & Tracks chart in January 2000. The B-side of Lee's original single is "Papa Nol," a holiday song
written by Roy Botkin.
Peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1958. The B-side of Berry's
original single is another holiday tune, a cover of "Merry Christmas Baby." A 2008 version by Luke
Bryan peaked at No. 42 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. Performed by Crosby in the 1959 film Say One for Me.
Crosby re-recorded the song in 1964 for the album 12 Songs of Christmas.
Peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart and No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart
in January 1960. Featuring orchestration by Belford Hendricks. Another version by Brenda Lee charted
in December 1964, peaking at No. 12 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart.
Peaked at No. 112 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in December 1959. Featuring
the Joe Reisman Orchestra. The flipside, "It's Christmas Once Again" reached the "Beat Of The Week Singles Coming Up" survey in Music Vendor.