Holiday Traditions' 25 Greatest Christmas Songs

Channel98

Channel98

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Here is – are? – Holiday Traditions' 25 Greatest Christmas Songs as determined by listeners' votes. The channel focuses on music of the 1940s-50s-60s. We can be grateful. That means no Mariah Carey, no Justin Bieber, no Michael Bublé and no Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. Frank Sinatra recorded Silent Night three times, on August 27 1945, July 17 1957 and August 27 1991. The latter recording appeared on a various-artists charity CD, The Christmas Album: A Gift Of Hope – and that is the version that made this list.

1. White Christmas – Bing Crosby/Ken Darby Singers (1942)
2. A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives & Chorus (1964)
3. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Williams/Mersey Chorus (1963)
4. The Christmas Song – Nat “King” Cole/Ralph Carmichael (1961)
5. Do You Hear What I Hear – Bing Crosby/Ralph Carmichael Chorus (1963)
6. Christmas Time Is Here – Guaraldi Trio/St. Paul's Children's Choir (1965)
7. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee (1958)
8. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Johnny Mathis (1986)
9. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms/Anita Kerr Singers (1957)
10. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley/Jordanaires (1957)
11. Merry Christmas Darling – Carpenters (1970)
12. The Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeon Chorale (1958)
13. O Holy Night – Jerry Vale (1964)
14. You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)
15. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Burl Ives & Chorus (1964)
16. A Marshmallow World – Dean Martin & Chorus (1966)
17. Silent Night – Frank Sinatra (1991)
18. Frosty The Snowman – Gene Autry/Cass County Boys (1950)
19. Baby It's Cold Outside – Dinah Shore/Buddy Clark (1949)
20. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt (1953)
21. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Andy Williams (1974)
22. I'll Be Home For Christmas – Elvis Presley (1957)
23. Angels We Have Heard On High - Percy Faith (1958)
24. We Need A Little Christmas – Johnny Mathis (1986)
25. Away In A Manger – Nat "King" Cole (1960)

Here is the original version of A Holly Jolly Christmas (1964) by the Quinto Sisters: Bonnie, Chris, Cindy, Elaine, Lee and Renee:

 
The Quinto Sisters – Quinto is a shortened form of their real name, Giaquinto – appeared on Wonderama, Ted Mack's Amateur Hour, The Jimmy Dean Show and Sing Along With Mitch in the 1960s. They released one album, Holly Jolly Christmas in November 1964, and three singles: Summer Nights backed with a remake of Annette's Pineapple Princess in June 1964, A Holly Jolly Christmas in November 1964 and You Just Can't Mend A Broken Heart in February 1975. The Quinto Sisters have their own channel on Spotify:



Here is their rendition of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer:

 
Baby It's Cold Outside was written in 1944 by Frank Loesser and sung by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams in the 1949 movie Neptune's Daughter. It won an Academy Award for best original song. Six different duos released the song as a single in 1949 – and each version was recorded before the film was released (on June 9). The version by Buddy Clark and Dinah Shore debuted on Billboard's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart in the first week of May! It reached #3 on that chart in July and got to #4 on the Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart.

Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton recorded the song in 2004:

 
Channel98 said:
Baby It's Cold Outside was written in 1944 by Frank Loesser and sung by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams in the 1949 movie Neptune's Daughter. It won an Academy Award for best original song. Six different duos released the song as a single in 1949 – and each version was recorded before the film was released (on June 9). The version by Buddy Clark and Dinah Shore debuted on Billboard's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart in the first week of May! It reached #3 on that chart in July and got to #4 on the Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart.

Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton recorded the song in 2004:

Click to expand...

Released in the summer but still considered a Christmas song.
 
Many songs played only at Christmastime are not Christmas songs. They are winter songs: Sleigh Ride, Snowfall, Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland, Frosty The Snowman, Baby It's Cold Outside, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – and then there's My Favorite Things, which isn't even a winter song but it does mention "snowflakes" and "winters that melt into springs," along with geese and kittens and ponies and apple strudel.
 
Every year since 2001, KOST 103.5 in Los Angeles has begun playing full-time Christmas music in November. Here is this year's playl;ist. Chart positions are from Billboard's annual Christmas charts. There are two versions of O Holy Night, two versions of Do You Hear What I Hear and a medley that includes The Little Drummer Boy. Everything else is secular.

A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives (13/1964)
A Holly Jolly Christmas – Lady Antebellum (LP/2012)
All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (1/1994)
Baby It's Cold Outside – Brett Eldredge/Meghan Trainor (LP/2016)
Carol Of The Bells – David Foster (LP/1993)
Carol Of The Bells – Mannheim Steamroller (LP/1988)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Mariah Carey (LP/1994)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love (LP/1963)
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (15/1995)
Deck The Halls – Nat “King” Cole (LP/1960)
Deck The Halls – Percy Faith (LP/1954)
Deck The Halls – Mannheim Steamroller (3/1984)
Deck The Halls/The Twelve Days Of Christmas – Kenny G (22/20020)
Do You Hear What I Hear – Whitney Houston (LP/1987)
Do You Hear What I Hear – Jordin Sparks (LP/2012)
Faeries – Mannheim Steamroller (LP/2001)
Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano (1/1970)
Frosty The Snowman – Beach Boys (LP/1964)
Frosty The Snowman – Ray Conniff Singers (LP/1959)
Frosty The Snowman – Bing Crosby/Johnny Mercer (LP/1962)
Frosty The Snowman – Willie Nelson (LP/1979)
Happy Holiday – Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gormé (LP/1964)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Josh Groban (LP/2007)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Lennon/Ono/Harlem Choir (3/1971)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Maroon 5 (LP/2010)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Carpenters (LP/1978)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Coldplay (EP/2001)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Sarah McLachlan (LP/2006)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Pretenders (LP/1987)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra (LP/1957)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Luther Vandross (LP/1995)
Here Comes Santa Claus – Gene Autry (1/1946)
Here Comes Santa Claus – Elvis Presley (LP/1957)
Home For The Holidays – Perry Como (3/1954)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jackson 5 (LP/1970)
I'll Be Home For Christmas – Kelly Clarkson (13/2011)
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Como/Fontane Sisters (3/1951)
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby (B/1951)
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Peabo Bryson (LP/1997)
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams (LP/1963)
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms/Anita Kerr Singers (1/1957)
Jingle Bell Rock – Brenda Lee (10/1964)
Jingle Bells – Ray Conniff Singers (LP/1959)
Jingle Bells – Barry Manilow/Exposé (LP/1990)
Jingle Bells – Frank Sinatra (LP/1957)
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas/Little Drummer Boy – Ray Conniff Singers (LP/1959)
Last Christmas – Glee Cast/Lea Michele/Corey Monteith (LP/2010)
Last Christmas – George Michael (1/1985)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Michael Bublé (LP/2003)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin (LP/1959)
Linus & Lucy – Vince Guaraldi (LP/1965)
Little Saint Nick – Beach Boys (3/1963)
Merry Christmas – Elton John/Ed Sheeran (1/2021)
O Holy Night – Mariah Carey (LP/1994)
O Holy Night – Martina McBride (LP/1996)
Please Come Home For Christmas – Kelly Clarkson (LP/2013)
Please Come Home For Christmas – Eagles (1/1978)
Please Come Home For Christmas – Aaron Neville (LP/1993)
Ring Christmas Bells – Ray Conniff Singers (LP/1962)
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee (--/1958, 1/1960)
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – LeAnn Rimes (LP/2004)
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry/Pinafores (1/1949)
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Harry Connick Jr. (LP/1993)
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Burl Ives (LP/1964)
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Dean Martin (LP/1959)
Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt (1/1953)
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Fred Astaire (LP/1970)
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Ray Conniff Singers (LP/1959)
Silver Bells – Kenny G (LP/1994)
Silver Bells – Dean Martin (LP/1966)
Silver Bells – Elvis Presley/Imperials (LP/1971)
Silver Bells – Stevie Wonder/Andantes (LP/1967)
Sleigh Ride – Amy Grant (LP/1983)
Sleigh Ride – Johnny Mathis/Percy Faith (LP/1958)
Sleigh Ride – Ronettes (LP/1963)
The Christmas Song – Nat "King" Cole (1/1953)
The Christmas Song – Al Jarreau (LP/2008)
This Christmas – Jeffrey Osborne (LP/1999)
Underneath The Tree – Kelly Clarkson (8/2013)
Up On The House Top – Kimberly Locke (LP/2007)
We Need A Little Christmas – New Christy Minstrels (LP/1966)
We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Kenny G (LP/2005)
White Christmas – Bing Crosby/Ken Darby Singers (1/1942)
White Christmas – Drifters (2/1954)
Winter Wonderland – Air Supply (LP/1987)
Winter Wonderland – Amy Grant (LP/1992)
Winter Wonderland – Andy Williams (LP/1965)
You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft (LP/1966)
 
KOST plays Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You every three hours! When will listeners finally get sick of hearing it? Ever?
 
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