Same Old Lang Syne

1980

Dan Fogelberg

I'm going to finish off my Christmas Song posts with a modern classic from a certain Mr Fogelberg...a song that I've always thought of as more of a New Years song than a Christmas song, somehow, even if it is set on Christmas Eve. I've also heard it referred to as 'The Saddest Christmas Song Ever Recorded, which I have to agree with.

But I still love the song, as do a few million other Dan Fogelberg fans world-wide. That classic piano intro tells you you're getting ready to listen to something special...but many people have no idea that, when they hear that classic intro, they're getting ready to hear a musical telling of a true story. That's right...the story Dan tells in 'The Same Old Lang Syne' really happened.

Dan Fogelberg grew up in Peoria, Illinois, and was a member of Woodruff High School's class of '69, as was a girl named Jill Anderson. The two of them dated in high school, then went to different colleges after graduation, then after college Jill got married and went to Chicago, Dan when to Colorado to pursue his passion for music.

Christmas Eve several years down the road. Both of them were back in Peoria to visit their families for Christmas, both were sent on errands. Jill was sent for eggnog, Dan headed out to find whipped cream to make Irish Coffee. Remember this was back in the Seventies, when the concept of everything staying open on Christmas Eve Night (And many convenience stores staying open on Christmas Day) was all but unheard of. There was exactly one store open in Peoria that snowy Christmas Eve, and it was at Frye Ave and Abington Rd, at the top of Prospect Hill. Being Peoriaites, both of them knew this was where they'd have to go to get the required items, and to the joy of Fogelberg fans everywhere, they fell up in there at the same time. And from there, the lyrics of the song, and the story just about parallel each other. They did indeed grab a six-pack and sat in her car talking about their lives and old times for about two hours.

Jill actually gave an interview after Dan's death in 2007, and she said that there were only two inaccuracies in the song. Her eyes are actually green (Blue was probably substituted because it fit with the lyrics and melody better) and her hubby was a Phys Ed teacher and not an architect. She heard the song about five years later and probably couldn't help but smile. And she didn't reveal her identity or the fact that the song was indeed based on a true story because she didn't want to cause problems with Dan's marriage.

Interestingly enough, 'Same Old Lang Syne' wasn't actually released as a Christmas song, it was released as a mainstream single...even though it was released in mid-December of 198, and was set during Christmas The song didn't peak until three months later, when it cracked the Billboard Hot 100's Top 10 to land at #9. It'd stay on the charts for another four weeks

'Same Old Lang Syne' would show up on playlists again when Christmas '81 rolled around, and continue to do so for the following thirty-two or so Christmases. It became a Christmas Classic, but an interesting thing about this one...while you usually hear it around Christmas, when the Oldies and Easy Listening stations switch over to Christmas Music 24-7, you just might hear it in Mid-July, probably the only Christmas-themed song you can say that about.

I have a feeling that our kids and grandkids...and their kids and grandkids...will be hearing that classic piano intro, and listening to Dan Fogelberg's story of a Christmas Eve reunion with an old high school sweetheart long after we're gone. And that's a good thing!

So Enjoy...Dan Fogelberg's musical tale of running into his old girlfriend. Same Old Lang Syne.

I found two videos that I really liked///one with Lyrics on screen, and one without, and coudn't decide which i wanted to use...so I decide to include both. So as a bonus, Video the Second...this one with the lyrics on-screen.

 

 

Gotta throw a couple of interesting facts about Dan Fogelberg's Christmas classic in!
 Dan had some help making this into the classic that it became. That classic Sax solo at the end of the song? That was Smooth Jazz Mega-artist Michael Brecker. Sadly, Dan and Michael both left us too early, both loosing their battle with cancer the same year...2007. Dan was 56, Michael Brecker was 57.

A stretch of Abington Rd...the road that the convenience store where the events that inspired 'Same Old Lang Syne is located...was renamed Fogelberg Parkway in 2008. The store is still in business.

Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas

I'm going to do something a little different for this last Christmas music post...rather than separate posts about several songs, this one's going to feature several songs by one group...all of' em instrumentals, and all of 'em covers.

Figured out who the group is yet? Hint...think 'Road Construction Equipment '

And if you guessed anything other than Mannheim Steamroller..well you must not have listened to any Christmas music over the last several decades.

The group was founded in 1974 by record producer/composer Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, and the name was originally an alias for Chip Davis, and was derived from a german musical composition technique from the 18th Century, called The Mannheim Roller, or, in German, Mannheimer Walze.

Though they're best known for their Christmas music, their original work covered all seasons. No record company would touch 'em...their classical. Jazz/pop instrumental mix did not fit in with the direction music had taken in the 70s, and with profits being the driving force in all things business and the companies not seeing Mannheim Steamroller's music as a money-maker, they rejected it...

...SO Chip Davis founded his own label, and preceded to release a string of albums featuring the instrumental style that the group's become famous for, with Jackson Burkey's stellar keyboard skills front and center. The albums were Fresh Aire 1 through 8, Save The Wildlife in 1986, and Classical Gas in 1987. 

They enjoyed a moderate amount of success, did several reportedly awesome live shows...and this music would pale, popularity-wise, to what had already started. See, in 1984, they released 'A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas', featuring modern instrumental interpretations of classic Christmas carols. Two more albums...A Fresh Aire Christmas and Christmas In The Aire...were released in 1987 and 1995 respectively,. Five more were released between 1997 and 2007...all eight of them landed at either the #2 spot, or the top spot on the Billboard Christmas Album chart for their year of release. And...their Christmas music became some of the most requested Christmas music ever.

They've also created a 12 hour radio show of Christmas music and stories (Hosted by Chip Davis), cut an album with Olivia Newton John ( The Christmas Angel, A Family Story, which was a spoken word story with The Steamroller's Christmas music throughout), made two separate line-ups of the band for touring purposes (One for East Coast tours, the other for The Midwest). An they're still going strong, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year (2013) as well as back in in 2011, playing their version of Deck The Halls both times.

I know, this is a bare-bones history of the band whose Christmas music became classic almost as soon as it was released. But I have a sneakin' suspicion you guys don't want to read...ya want to listen to Christmas Music From a group that became a Christmas Classic from the second they went in the studio to record their first Christmas album. Mannheim Steamroller's music will be around a couple of centuries from now...it's just Classic Christmas Listenin' at it's best.

So, without further ado...let's listen to some Steamroller!

Deck The Halls

First up, probably the most heard, most played Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tune, from their first Christmas album (Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, in 1984), Deck The Halls, played over scenes of Christmas decorating, modern and classic! Enjoy!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Next, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', also from their first Christmas album, played over a pretty awesome laser light show

Silent Night

Next up, the official video for Mannheim Steamrollers hauntingly beautiful rendition of Silent Night, also from Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

Carol Of The Bells (Live Performance)

Next the first of two live performances I included...Mannheim Steamroller's beautiful cover of Carol Of The Bells, from their second Christmas album, A Fresh Aire Christmas, from 1988

Joy To The World (Live Performance)

And this post's second live performance...Joy To The World, from their third album, Christmas In The Aire, from 1995.

Do You Hear What I Hear

Next...an absolutely stunning video for Mannheim Steamroller's cover of the classic and beautiful 'Do You Hear What I Hear', from their sixth Christmas album, Christmas Extraodinaire, released in 2001

Hallelujah

And finally, I'm rounding my Christmas Music post up with a very lovely video for the equally lovely classic 'Hallelujah' I ended it with this one for a reason...there's a message about the meaning of Christmas here that I think all of us need to be reminded of once in a while.

Merry Christmas!

We Need A Little Christmas

1966

Angela Lansbury

The interesting thing about the two Yuletide tunes I'm covering today is that neither of 'em have been around as long as a lot of 0people think they have...and that one of 'em wasn't actually written as primarily as a Christmas song.

The first one's 'We Need A Little Christmas'. Seems back in 1955 a musical based on a novel named 'Auntie Mame' opened off-Broadway. It spawned a couple of more novels, a critically acclaimed film,...and in 1966 a Broadway play. Hint...they shortened the title of the Broadway production by one word, and the word they kept wasn't 'Auntie'.

That's right...the Musical was a little production called 'Mame', which, as anyone with an interest in Broadway may remember, met with some small success. If 'Megahit' can be called 'Small Success'.

It starred Angela Lansbury (Best known for her starring role in 'Murder She Wrote) and a lady named Beatrice Arthur (We know her better as Bea Arthur and loved her as 'Maude' in the sitcom of that name, and even more so as 'Dorothy' in The Golden Girls') and featured music by Jerry Herman. One of the songs was a little tune called 'We Need A Little Christmas', sung originally by Angela Lansbury.

That's right, 'Murder She Wrote's Jessica Fletcher can carry a tune. She had also been acting for almost 40 years before she snagged the television role she's best known. As for her roles on Broadway...she's won five (Count 'em) five Tony Awards.

The play was set in the depression and just after and followed the adventures of the wealthy and eccentric titular character as she raised her young nephew. The song came about when Mame decided that her nephew and a couple of their servants 'Needed A Little Christmas...Right That Very Minute.

And the little Christmas tune she sang...it's been covered by a diverse collection of artists, and has become a Christmas Radio staple. You're gonna hear it, most likely Percy Faith's cover of it and probably daily...until the Holidays wind down for another year. And for years to come!

So enjoy, Angela Lansbury and the original version of 'We Need A Little Christmas'

Percy Faith's cover of 'We Need A Little Christmas' is hands down everyone's favorite version of the song, and the one that you're most likely to hear on the radio over Christmas. This version just puts those visions of sugarplums in your head big-time!

The cast of Glee also covered 'We Need A Little Christmas, and did their usual awesome job with it!

And what of Mame/Jessica Fletcher herself? Angela Lansbury's still going strong, and set to star in 'Blythe Spirit' in London for a 15 week engagement in early 2014. 

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

AKA 'So This Is Christmas'

1971

John Lennon

This one was penned by a British gentleman and his wife in a hotel room, then recorded over two days at the end of October, '71. The British Dude had only a couple of years earlier been a member of a little British band of some small renown, named after an insect as I recall. Oh, and the name everyone knows it by...is not the actual name of the song.

It was written with the title 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', but as it got airplay and became a Christmas staple, most people called by it's first line...'So This Is Christmas'...and that kind of become the recognized title of the song. The actual title, BTW, is also often written incorrectly. When John and Yoko titled it, they used the short form of 'Christmas'...'Xmas...in the title, but over the years 'Xmas' has usually been written out as the more traditional 'Christmas', again, if the correct title of the song's even used in the first place.  Whichever title's used it's become a legitimately loved Christmas favorite

John Lennon, late of The Beatles, and his wife Yoko Ono wrote this in their hotel room as a Christmas themed antiwar song (Remember, this was dead center of The Vietnam Era), and recorded it over the course of October 28^th and 29^th, 1971. Phil Spector assisted with the production, and the song was released over Christmas of that year but didn't chart. It was released in The UK in 1972, did well, and bounced back to the US.

The kids who do such an awesome job with the background vocals were the very talented young members of the Harlem Community Choir, and yes they were indeed credited. Listen closely to what they're singing...their background is 'War Is Over...If You Want It...', which was the actual central theme of the song.

It never really caught on with the record-buying public in the US, but it did get a lot of airplay, and over the years has become a Christmas staple on Christmas Music Radio, and you will I hear it repeatedly over Christmas of any year. Interestingly the majority of the people who hear it...and even sing it...have no idea that it was originally written as an antiwar song. They just know it's a really pretty modern Christmas song. And ya know...I think that's how it should be.

So Enjoy...John and Yoko's little Christmas war protest song that became a Christmas Classic!

Celine Dion's beautiful cover of John and Yoko's classic...IMHO, the only cover that does the original justice.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

1934

John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie

Covered by just about every artist known to man

This one is very literally an ‘Oldie’, but it's still managed to get covered by just about every artist who's ever even contemplated singing!

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town was originally written in 1934 by a John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, sung on Eddie Canter’s radio show in November of 1934, and apparently became a mega hit something under five minutes later. By the end of that week 100, 000  copies of the sheet music had been purchased. By Christmas Day, that number had climbed to 400, 000.

Not many songs in any  genre  can claim that kind of sales record in any pre-digital media format.

The song, of course, became as much a part of Christmas as Mistletoe, Christmas trees, and After-Christmas sales, and all of us have sung it, and heard it sung...hundreds of times. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town became the second most popular Christmas tune, ever...the only song that beat it out is a little tune about a Reindeer with a shiny nose. It’s also seriously in the running as the most covered song…of any genre…ever. Bar none..

 

The version we hear's actually missing something, though. The original first verse. Yep, the song originally had a first verse, and 'You Better Watch Out...' etc was the chorus. It's included below, in the vids. The only cover I've heard that includes it is by The Crystals, also included in the vids.

I didn’t even begin to try to listen to every version of it…but I did listen to about ten or twelve, and trust me on this there are plenty of really good covers of it out there! I picked a few that…IMHO…really rock! 

A couple of theses versions have become Christmas Radio Must-plays. And it goes without saying that Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town will get played…and covered by new artists…until time ends. 

First up, the original 1934 release of Santa Claus Is Comin' to town, which includes the long-unheard first verse that probably 95% of modern humanity...me included...had no idea even existed. This is legitimately and deservedly classic!

The Four Season's 1962 cover of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town is the only one that actually cracked the Billboard Hot 100, and they almost cracked the top 20, peaking at #23. They gave the tune a very unique flair...this is the song that pretty much ensured The Four Seasons soon to be mega-success, BTW. They were legitimate mega-stars even when facing off with The British Invasion.

The Crystals...one of the early 60's best known and best loved girl-groups...covered 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town' on the Phil Spector produced 1963 Christmas album 'A Christmas Gift For You', and when they did they kept that elusive first verse, yet went up-tempo and gave the song the high-energy beat and tempo that most modern artists have copied when they covered it. Don't let the intro fool ya on this one either...they kick it about 38 seconds in! This is a truly classic and awesome cover from a legendary group!

The Jackson 5 covered 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town' in 1970 with their signature high, high energy tempo and sound and made it one of the two covers of the song that you're most likely to hear on the radio over Christmas. The J-5 were, and still are, always fun to listen to. You can't not like their music, especially if you were a young teen about the time they came out, and you can not stay perfectly still when you listen to this. It's finger poppin, head boppin' fun at the early 70's finest! 

The cover that edges out The J-6 as the cover you're most likely to hear on the radio over Christmas? This one, by none other than 'The Boss' himself, Bruce Springsteen. It's 'The Boss'...Do I even have to say that Bruce and his E Street Band flat out nailed it? My favorite cover of this classic, and I have a feeling a few (Tens of) Million people agree with me!. The graphics on the video absolutely rock, too!

 

 

Mariah Carey covered Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town on her 1994 Christ,as Album 'Merry Christmas...it's Mariah Carey. She injected her signature style and sound into it, and turned it into a rockin' little dance tune.

Out Southern-Cali way a very lovely and talented group of sisters...six of 'em...decided they wanted to sing...not just sing but form a group. So they did!

 Meet Cimorelli, They've released a few hundred covers on YouTube, amassing millions of views and fans, and trust me on this...these gals have serious  pipes...all six of 'em. They had a blast covering 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, and made it fun to watch and listen to, at the same time proving that 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' will just continue to be loved...and get covered!

 

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

1952

Jimmy Boyd

This one’s listed as a ‘novelty’ song, but it’s become just a little too main stream over the last six decades and change for me to think of it as a novelty song. When it was released back in 1952, though, it did raise just a bit of controversy…and was almost banned in Boston while it was at it!

“Say what?!?!?”  You ask. Just how can a cute little song…written as a kids song…be controversial. Ahhh…read on!

Not only was ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ written for kids…it was performed by one. British songwriter Bobby Conner penned the lyrics to the tune, Mitch Miller over at Columbia Records, liked the song, thought it’d be perfect for one of their younger artists, and had thirteen year old Jimmy Boyd record it. 

And when it was released…well this was the early fifties. The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of The Roman Catholic Church in Boston took a listen and basically said ‘Horrors!!!!! A Christmas song about a married woman kissing a man not her husband?!?!?!?! Not on our  watch!

The Roman Catholic Church wielded great power…both politically and economically…in Boston in that era, and their condemnation of the song pretty much ensured that it wouldn’t be played...a problem that had the very real potential to domino to other major markets.

Mitch Miller arranged a meeting with the Boston Archdiocese, grabbed young Jimmy Boyd, hopped a plane to Boston and they attended said meeting, whereby Jimmy explained to the Archbishop that The titular Santa Claus was the father of the narrator dressed as Santa, which would make the equally titular Mommy his wife.

‘Oh…er…whoops!’  Was likely thought if not actually spoken. The condemnation…and banishment from the airwaves of Beantown…was lifted, and the song became a Christmas staple. 

 

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus has been covered by almost as many artists as Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town, and the same artist covered both songs on a couple of occasions. And, like the post for Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town’, I tried to grab the best several to post.

Also like Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, you will not make it through December of  any year without hearing multiple versions of it multiple times. It’ll get re-covered and re-played for all eternity...both of todays songs have transcended being a mere classics, and have become solid parts of Christmas.

So enjoy...the original release of The Christmas Song That Almost Got Banned In Beantown...'I Saw mommy Kissing Santa Claus' by Jimmy Boyd.

The Ronettes were made up of three very lovely and talented young ladies who were related to each other...two sisters and their cousin. This uber-populer 60's girl group covered I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus on their 1963 Christmas album.'A Christmas Gift For You'. Don't let the laid-back intro fool ya...the girls kick in the afterburners at 23 seconds in!

A very young Michael Jackson sang lead on The Jackson 5's 1970 cover of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. They changed the tempo a bit, tweaked the melody a scosh, added their signature energy and sound to the song, and made it into a modern classic. The commentary at the end is hilarious!

This is probably the version you'll hear on the radio over Christmas...you can not listen to this without smiling and foot tappin' or head boppin'!

John Mellencamp proved that if you're talented enough, you can turn any song into a rock song. He and his E-Street Band rocked 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' slam out in his high energy cover in 1987. He had some help from Crystal Taliefero and Pat Peterson, better known as The Fly Girls as well as the tiniest member of the group that day. The littlest band member is his 5 year old daughter Teddi Jo Mellencamp, who does an adorable job on her solo at the end of the song!

Jessica Simpson covered I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' in 2004 on her Christmas album 'ReJoyce: The Christmas Album. Jessica had and has an awesome voice that makes hearing her sing a true treasure. And her cover of this one's no exception. Her signature sound gives it a unique and memorable flair! It's always a pleasure to hear the lovely former Mrs Lachey belt out a tune!

The Cheetah Girls covered I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus on their 2005 Christmas album A Cheetah-licious Christmas. They threw some modern R&B and Hip-Hop elements into it, yet kept close to the classic original in their delightfully modern cover. The Cheetahs were immensely popular among the younger crowd, and this cover makes it obvious why. They were just plain long fun to listen to!

I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

1953

Gayla Peevey

The next few songs are for fun! The Christmas Novelty songs...

And to lead 'em off is an adorable and talented ten year old who told the world what she wanted for Christmas musically...a young lady named Gayla Peevey who's only desire on that Christmas of 1953 was a hippopotamus. That's right...a hippo.

Everyone;s heard this one over Christmas and smiled at the concept, and the imagination of a child who'd want one of the rotund creatures under their tree on Christmas Morning.

It was actually written by John Rox, and performed by Ponca City, Oklahoma native Gayla Peevey, who was already a star in her own right. Columbia Records recorded the song and released it in the Fall of '53. and watched it shoot up the charts, peaking at #24 in December of '53. It was just a cute, and endearing little tune, made all the more so by Gayla's performance of it on The Ed Sullivan show

And here's the rub...guess who actually did get a hippopotamus for Christmas?? The director of the Oklahoma City Zoo watched Gayla's little tune climb the charts and decided it would be nice to actually give her said Hippo for Christmas...so he set out on a fund-raising campaign to do just that. The first dollar came from Gayla herself, donations came in from all over the country, and the 3000 dollars needed to purchase the baby hippo was raised quickly.

The 800 pound baby Hippo was flown from Africa to New York, then from there to Oklahoma City. She arrived at the Oklahoma City airport on Christmas Eve, to be met by Gayla herself. Gayla named it Matilda and donated it to the zoo. The zoo opened at 1PM on Christmas Day to let everyone welcome Matilda,and over 10,000 people showed up to do just that. Matilda lived for 47 years, passing away in 2000. 

Gayla greets Matilda on Christmas Eve '53

 

Gayla Peevey (Now Gayla Peevey Henderson) is still going strong. Her family moved to California when she was still a child, so she could have a more normal life. At sixteen she learned guitar and recorded some more music under a contract with Joy Records under the name Jamie Horton (Gayla was not in favor of the name change>(.  She finished school, taught for several years, then owned her own successful marketing firm. Along the way she got married, had a daughter, and now has a trio of grandkids. She's still healthy, active, and she regularly gives interviews about her little novelty hit, and Matilda, the hippo that a song bought.

So enjoy! I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas!

Santa Baby

1953

Eartha Kitt

'53 was a good year for Christmas Novelty songs...two of 'em were released and both were huge hits. Santa Baby, performed by Eartha Kitts, was '53's second hit Christmas novelty tune...

Santa Baby's a humorous look at Christmas through the eyes of a very materialistic young lay who wants S.C. To bring her some very extravagant gifts. It was penned by Joan Javits, who was the niece of then-U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, and Phil Springer, and recorded by Eartha Kitt. an extremely talented singer and actress who was gifted with a very unique voice. She had several hits under her belt in July 1953 when she recorded what would become her best known hit, accompanied by Henri Rene and his orchestra,

'Santa Baby' was released in early October of the same year and became a huge hit for her, In an interview only a year or so before her death in 2008, she noted that 'Santa Baby  was also the song she had the most fun recording

So Enjoy! Eartha Kitt's Exotic Christmas list, sung to Saint Nick himself.

'Santa Baby's ' been covered extensively, possibly most famously by The Material Girl herself, Madonna. Madonna's cover was actually a cover of a more up-tempo reprisal of the song that Eartha Kitt recorded in 1963. Madge's awesome cover of the song became the version of choice on Christmas playlists and is the one you're most likely to hear today on the radio. Here's the music video she made for it. As with everything else Madge ever did, she went all out on it...needless to say, she nailed it!

Taylor Swift added a bit of Country and a lot of charm to 'Santa Baby when she covered it back in 2007. Tay's cover absolutely rocks...it's sweet and classy, just like Taylor herself.

'07 also saw Kylie Monogue's cover of Santa Baby, and a video for it. She nailed it too...ahhh, warning. The video is just a little....hmmm, what's a good word?? Steamy! Yeah! That's the ticket!

And finally, sixty Christmases after Eartha Kitt released the original, former Thirteen and Victorious cast mates, and long-time best friends Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies teamed up as a duo to cover this novelty classic. These two very lovely and uber-talented young ladies  nailed it.

Interesting little factoid...Eartha Kitt was also an actress, and was active right up to her death in 2008..Among her many roles was replacing Julie Newmar as Catwoman on th uber-popular '60s series Batman.

Little Saint Nick

1963

The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson used 'Little Deuce Coupe' as a template when he penned The Beach Boy's '63 Novelty Christmas Classic, which followed a theme that was common with early Beach Boys hits...that theme being 'cars' Santa apparently drives the Mother of all Sno-Cats!

They released 'Little Saint Nick' fifty years ago this very week, and the country..subdued, and in mourning over the just more than a month old assassination of John F Kennedy...decided they needed to have a little fun despite the country's somber mood. They took it up the charts to #3 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. The Beach boys' music was all about fun, and 'Little Saint Nick' injected a needed dose of fun into what was shaping up to be a very somber Christmas.

It's been a favorite since the very first time the kids of '63 heard 'OOOOOOHHHHHH Merry Christmas Santa!!!' and it's stayed just as popular...of course, it being a Beach Boys tune, it's popularity and success was all but assured. There's absolutely no way you can go a day without hearing this one on an Oldies or easy listening station that's in Christmas-Music mode, and I think we can rest assured that's not going to change in the next dew decades.

So enjoy! The Beach Boys' little tune about Santa's Hot Rod Sleigh!

Santa Clause And his Old Lady

1971

Cheech And Chong

Back during the '70s and '80s there was a comedy duo made up of Richard 'Cheech' Marin and Tommy Chong who were, to out it mildly, flat out hilarious...and their first single was a Christmas novelty song that's become pretty much a Christmas staple.

The song involves a not-too-talented songwriter trying to write a song about Santa Clause, asking for help from a passer by (Who's 'Not from around here, Man...I come from Pittsburg' ) and then trying to explain to him just who this Santa Clause dude is (Hint...he's not a musician).

The song was released in December of 1971, made it to #38 on The Billboard Hot 100, and became a Christmas staple while also kicking off the career of one of the most hilariously funny comedy teams from any era.

So Enjoy! Santa Claus and his Old Lady, By Cheech and Chong

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

1979

Elmo and Patsy

AHHH, here we have it...the only song to top both the 'Most Loved' and 'Most Hated' Christmas Songs list.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer was written by Randy Brooks and first performed by the husband and wife team of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979. Brooks sat in with the duo and performed it, they asked for a recording of it so they could learn it...which they did, very well I might add...and the rest, as they say, is history

By the next year they were selling cassettes of the song at their appearances in the San Francisco area...(Elmo was on the cover, dressed in drag and gray wig, as Grandma). A friend of theirs brought it to the attention of San Francisco radio station KSFO's Gene Nelson, who started playing the song locally. Other DJs and station managers heard it, and it slowly grew a following with more stations picking it up each year. 

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer was released in '79 on Elmo and Patsy's own self-titled label and as the 70s became the 80s, it became a Christmas hit. It's popularity ended up getting Elmo and Patsy noticed by and signed with Epic Records, though the two of them divorced and Patsy left the business shortly thereafter.

It's remained popular ever since and shows up regularly on Christmas playlists...and on TV.

In 2000, an animated movie depicting the song's events was made (It's for kids, so Grandma survives, and Santa was innocent...****SPOILER ALERT**** Cousin Mel did it). Elmo Shropshire

both voices Grandpa and narrates.

And admit it...when you've heard it...all of you've sung along with it ;) All of you!

SO Enjoy! Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy.

Please Come Home For Christmas

1960/1978

Charles Brown/The Eagles

Newsflash, gang...The Eagles were not the original artists to record 'Please Come Home For Christmas. Their cover of the son's the one you're most likely to hear on the radio during Christmas, and is the most popular, hands down...but they didn't cover it until about 18 years after it was originally released.

It was originally released by Blues singer and piano-player Charles Brown...add 'Songwriter to his resume' , too, because he also co-wrote 'Please Come Home For Christmas' with Gene Redd. They released it in 1960, but it didn't make it to the Hot 100 until Christmas '61, making it to #76. It charted on the Christmas Singles chart for nine straight years, peaking at #1 on that chart in 1972...and then it kind of faded slowly....

...Until a little band calling themselves 'The Eagles' got hold of it in 1978, put their extraordinary talents into their cover, at the same time introducing Timothy B Schmidt on bass as he had just replaced The Eagles original bass player Randy Meisner a few months earlier.

They gave the tune their legendary signature sound, released it just in time for Christmas of that year, and saw their cover quickly become the definite version of 'Please Come Home for Christmas'. It shot up the charts and cracked the Top 20, landing at #18 on The Billboard Hot 100, and found it's way onto Christmas playlists all on all genres of radio...but especially Top 40 and Rock stations...nationwide.

To this day it's still the version of the song that you hear most often during Christmas, and doesn't show any sign of loosing any popularity (I mean, after all, it's The Eagles!)...they convey the songs mood and feel perfectly. The four note opening on the bells that kicks their cover of the song off will be drifting form radios and stereos for generations to come!

So enjoy...The Eagles' cover of 'Please Come Home For Christmas', AKA The One We Always Hear.

The original version, by Charles Brown.

Kelly Clarkson released her more country-themed cover of 'Please Come Home For Christmas' just this year.

Merry Christmas Darling

The Carpenters little Christmas ballad's probably one of America's favorite modern Christmas songs...but most people have no clue how it came to be. It was actually written by a guy to his fiancée, who he was spending Christmas several thousand miles away from. During WW II a soldier who was serving in Germany named Frank Pooler  was sorely missing his girlfriend, so he put his feelings into the lyrics for a song, to tell her just how he felt.

Those lyrics were placed in a drawer, perhaps, and sat just waiting to have something done with them...that something happened in 1966. Frank Pooler was, by then, the choir director at California State University, Long Beach and in that choir were a brother and sister by the name of Richard and Karen Carpenter. One had a knack for writing music, and the other had one of the most beautiful voices he'd ever heard.

So he gave Richard Carpenter the lyrics, asked him if he could put them to music, and one of the best known and loved Christmas love ballads ever sung was born. It wasn't actually released until 1970, and from the first time Karen Carpenter sang 'The Greeting Cards Have All Been Sent...' it was an instant classic.

The song topped the Christmas Singles charts in both '70 and '71, skipped a year, then topped it again in '73, then was re-released  in 1978 with a slightly different arrangement that was included on their Christmas album 'A Christmas Portrait. (The singles were still the original). Richard Carpenter has been quoted in several interviews as saying that 'Merry Christmas Darling' was his sister's best work...and, given Karen Carpenters talent, and that awesome voice ( A voice that was stilled far, far too soon) that's saying something.

The song's still a Christmas favorite, and is played pretty constantly during Christmas on easy listening and Oldies stations. I think everyone has a memory or two that's touched by this one, and everyone's been away from someone they love, and missed them with that deep, hollow ache...'Merry Christmas Darling touches that ache and it's unspoken but implied promise that you'll be back together soon makes it feel a little better...

So enjoy...and this one is for everyone who's missing someone this Christmas. Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters.

 


And the 1978  remix included on 'A Christmas Portrait'.

(No Place Like ) Home For The Holidays

1954

Perry Como

'(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' could be a Thanksgiving song just as much as it could be a Christmas song...but when most of us think of 'The Holidays', Christmas is what immediately comes to mind, and it's the holiday that this classic became a part of early on. Back in 1954, Al Stillman penned the lyrics to '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' they were set to music written by Robert Allen, and made into a classic by Perry Como. He actually recorded two versions of the song,...the original in 1954, then a second, slower version in '59. The original, up-tempo version's the one that's found a permanent place on Christmas playlists, and it's become one of those Christmas classics that most of us can sing along to, at the very least, the Chorus, (With visions of the Homemade Pumpkin Pie mentioned in the chorus dancing in our heads.). It's a classic that couldn't be improved upon...

...Except that it was improved upon...by arguably the best loved brother-sister duo to ever warble a note. It was covered by The Carpenters, sung by the legendary, and incomparable Karen Carpenter...the song was all but made for her lovely voice. The Carpenters covered it in 1978, and included it on their 1985 Christmas album, 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'. Their cover of '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' was never released as a single. It did, however, find a permanent home on Christmas playlists, and is a lot of peoples' favorite version of the song. (Including yours truly)

Not to be outdone, another legend covered it about 12 years back. Barry Manilow covered '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' on his 2002 album (And second Christmas themed album) 'A Christmas Gift of Love. His version good as well (I mean it is Barry Manilow, who has been said to have a small bit of singing talent!) but it's been far overshadowed by the original, and by The Carpenters' cover.

No matter which version of  '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' you like best, it's another classic that'll be with us for a few dozen generations to come, most likely. It's become like home...comfortable and familiar, and that's as it should be!

So Enjoy...Perry Como's homage to being home for then holidays, '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' This is the original version that you're most likely to hear on Christmas radio playlists.

The Carpenters made a video for their cover of '(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' (See how many late-70s celebs you can name). Karen Carpenter was lovely, immensely talented, and the epitome of 'Class Act'.

Barry Manilow lent his own signature style to'(No Place Like) Home For The Holidays' when he covered it, but still stayed true to the original.

Christmas In Dixie

1982

Alabama

If you're from the South, this one hits home in a warm, pleasant way. Alabama released their homage to Christmas below the Mason-Dixon line back in 1982, and included it on their 1985 Christmas album Alabama Christmas.

It's an awesome little Christmas tune, and it's loaded with true feelings because the members of Alabama are singing about Christmas in the part of the country that they truly love (The named their band after their home state after all.) It's Country through and through,...not a pop movement even in the same state...but being a Christmas song it crossed all genre lines and became a Christmas favorite.

It's found a permanent home on Christmas playlists (Especially on stations in the South) and I have a feeling this is another one that our grandkids will be hearing at Christmas after we're all long gone...

A few others have tried to cover it...but in many minds and hearts there is only one version of this one that counts, and that's the original. And it's even personalized. The last couplet? (And from Fort Payne Alabama...Merry Christmas Tonite...) Fort Payne's the bands hometown.

So enjoy! Alabama's Homage To Christmas In Dixie!

Last Christmas

1984

Wham

Back in the 80s, a talented British singer/songwriter by the name of George Michael conspired with a group of musicians, and that conspiracy led to the formation of a little group called 'Wham'...a group that those who were around back then may remember as being...er...moderately successful.

They pretty much owned the British Pop charts during the 90s and racked up an impressive string of Top 10 hits in the US as well. Annnnd...the one I'm featuring in this post isn't among them because didn't chart in the US even though it's become a modern classic that's won a permanent place on the Christmas playlists. That's right, 'Wham's modern Christmas classic 'Last Christmas never cracked a chart in The U.S. Why?? I mean it's an awesome song, and everyone loves it...and it didn't chart???

Yep...never charted. Because it never saw the inside of a record store (Remember those?) because for some reason it was never released as a single in the US.

Oh, it became a Christmas favorite over here almost from the instant it appeared and it's been covered by just about every artist that's warbled a note since it's appearance during Christmas of 1984, and it's heard so much during any given December that it's stuck in everyones head until mid-January,...but on our side of the pond it was only released as a promotional 7 inch single that got massive airplay on that Christmas of '84...but was never released commercially.

It did however, get Barry Manilow's attention and not in a particularly good way. In his mind it sounded just like 'Can't Smile Without You, and hr had his lawyers inform Wham's lawyers of this perceived similarity. Wham ended up settling out of court, and the songs first years proceeds went to the Band-Aid project so everyone ended up winning on that deal (A part of me almost wonders if it was a promotional deal of some kind because...well listen to the two songs. I know I'm no musician, and no expert in the nuances of music, but I can't hear a any similarity in the two melodies...and the melody was the disputed point)

It's actually a beak-up song with a Christmas theme of course, but one with a happy ending when the singer finds that someone special...and it's got that happy, energetic up-tempo beat that you can't help bu move something to It pops up regularly in the US when the Easy listening and Oldies stations switch over to Christmas music (I heard this one and the next one I'm covering today in the space of about 40 minutes this morning). and all of us have been seen mouthing along with the lyrics, and probably bead-bopping a bit (Extra points if you do a little side to side head- bop on 'Spe-cial' in the chorus)

And it's been covered by pretty much everyone...especially the younger artists, more than a few of whom have really nailed it! It's become a holiday favorite over the last 29 years, and it's here to stay. And yep...it's another one our grand kids'll be listening to...along with their kids and grandkids!

So Enjoy!...Wham's little Christmas break-up tune with a happy ending...Last Christmas.

There are s many covers of 'Last Christmas...a lot of them legitimately awesome...that it was hard to pick just a few. I decided to concentrate on some of the newer and younger talent that'll carry these modern favorites into the next generation.

One of the best covers of this song out there, IMHO, is by the German pop group Cascada. They haven't been around but about 10 years, but they have really made a name for themselves in that decade or so, especially on the other side of the Pond...they are legitimately and deservedly loved in Europe. The group's a class act, and they nailed Last Christmas when they covered it.

The lovely Country Pop Queen of break-up songs, Taylor Swift, also covered 'Last Christmas and put her own little spin on it. As always, Tay was classy and lovely when she covered it...and as always she nailed it to the wall.

Remember 'High School Musical, and Sharpey, portrayed flawlessly by a lovely and talented young lady named Ashley Tisdale? Well the very same Ashley Tisdale...'The Tis' to her fans...covered 'Last Christmas' a couple of years back, and nailed it to the wall (And, like the original, BTW, this was never released as a single, but does show up on the radio).

Before her gig on Nickelodeon's 'Victorious' rising super-star songstress Ariana Grande was one of the stars of the hit Broadway musical '13'. This very lovely and talented young lady really nailed 'Last Christmas when she covered it, and made it her own when she did by making a few changes in the lyrics.