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!