Were in that time of the year when old music is hip. Holiday tunes are all around us from background Muzak in stores to what you hear when youre put on hold.
The sounds of the season are predominantly old songs, after all. Oh, sure, youve got Christine Aguileras My Kind of Christmas and Kenny Gs holiday album, but the bread-and-butter seasonal hits qualify as golden oldies.
Even the novelty songs are dated. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer was released in 1979, while Yogi Yorgessons timeless I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas goes all the way back to 1949.
Heres my list of top 20 holiday tunes, including the year the song was first produced.
1.The Christmas Song
Nat King Cole (1946)
2.Winter Wonderland
Perry Como (1946)
3.Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives (1964)
4.Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry (1949)
5.Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms (1957)
6.Little Drummer Boy Harry Simeon Chorale (1958)
7.Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Judy Garland (1944)
8.We Need a Little Christmas
Percy Faith (1966)
9.Little Saint Nick
Beach Boys (1963)
10.White Christmas Bing Crosby (1942)
11.Sleigh Ride
Leroy Anderson and
Boston Pops Orchestra
(1949)
12.Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Gene Autry (1948)
13. Merry Christmas, Baby
Charles Brown (1956)
14. Silver Bells
Bing Crosby (1950)
15. Run Rudolph Run
Chuck Berry (1958)
16. Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Andy Williams (1971)
17. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Brenda Lee (1960)
18. Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Perry Como (1951)
19. Blue Christmas
Elvis Presley (1964)
20. Let It Snow
Dean Martin (1965)
All of these ditties have been rerecorded countless times, so your favorite list may include newer versions performed by different artists, but the point is that the radio industry accepts the standards at least one month out of the year.
Christmas music is so popular, in fact, that some stations around the country go to the seasonal sound format, some starting in November. In many places, youll hear holiday sounds sprinkled about on a number of stations, with the frequency increasing as we close in on Santas big day.
Its too bad other holidays dont pack the musical muscle that Christmas carries we might actually get a little variety back on the radio. n
Holiday Hits
For the record, the oldies are still the goodies Were in that time of the year when old music is hip. Holiday tunes are all around us from background Muzak in stores to what you hear when youre put on hold.
The sounds of the season are predominantly old songs, after all. Oh, sure, youve got Christine Aguileras My Kind of Christmas and Kenny Gs holiday album, but the bread-and-butter seasonal hits qualify as golden oldies.
Even the novelty songs are dated. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer was released in 1979, while Yogi Yorgessons timeless I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas goes all the way back to 1949.
Heres my list of top 20 holiday tunes, including the year the song was first produced.
1. The Christmas Song Nat King Cole (1946).
2. Winter Wonderland Perry Como (1946).
3. Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives (1964).
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry (1949).
5. Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms (1957).
6. Little Drummer Boy Harry Simeon Chorale (1958).
7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Judy Garland (1944).
8. We Need a Little Christmas Percy Faith (1966).
9. Little Saint Nick Beach Boys (1963).
10. White Christmas Bing Crosby (1942).
11. Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson and Boston Pops Orchestra (1949).
12. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) Gene Autry (1948).
13. Merry Christmas, Baby Charles Brown (1956).
14. Silver Bells Bing Crosby (1950).
15. Run Rudolph Run Chuck Berry (1958).
16. Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Andy Williams (1971).
17. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee (1960).
18. Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Perry Como (1951).
19. Blue Christmas Elvis Presley (1964).
20. Let It Snow Dean Martin (1965).
All of these ditties have been rerecorded countless times, so your favorite list may include newer versions performed by different artists, but the point is that the radio industry accepts the standards at least one month out of the year.
Christmas music is so popular, in fact, that some stations around the country go to the seasonal sound format, some starting in November. In many places, youll hear holiday sounds sprinkled about on a number of stations, with the frequency increasing as we close in on Santas big day.
Its too bad other holidays dont pack the musical muscle that Christmas carries we might actually get a little variety back on the radio.
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