(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.