List of Christmas hit singles
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The following is an incomplete list of Christmas songs (hit singles and tracks) recorded by well known and obscure artists, many of which have hit on various charts around the world. Mostly listed here are US and UK hits (some only released in the artist's home country). A year indicates the first year of release for that artist's version. However, many were re-released as singles in subsequent years.
- Further information: Christmas music
| Song | Artist(s) / Year | Additional Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "12 Days of Christmas" | Mitch Miller and The Gang (1961) | One of the most recorded songs each year. First known recorded version was by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters in 1949. The comedy duo of Bob & Doug McKenzie also recorded a parody of this song in 1983 that still receives airplay on radio stations around the holiday season. Other wildly popular parodies include "The Twelve Pains of Christmas" by the Bob Rivers Comedy Corp (1987) and "Redneck 12 Days Of Christmas" by Jeff Foxworthy (1995). 2006's biggest version in the U.S. was by Taking Back Sunday, with a live performance video and animated clip both gaining attention. | |
| "25 December" | Everything But The Girl (1994) | ||
| "25th Of Last December" | Roberta Flack (1977) | ||
| "2000 Miles" | The Pretenders (1983) | Originally released as the B-side of the band's 1983 top 20 pop hit single "Middle Of The Road", and then on the band's 1984 album Learning to Crawl. Also recorded by Coldplay in 2003 as a download single for charity. | |
| "A New York Christmas" | Rob Thomas (2003) | Thomas is the leader and vocalist of the rock band Matchbox Twenty. | |
| "A' Soulin'" | Peter, Paul & Mary (1963) | Written by Paul Stookey, Tracy Batteste & Elaina Mezzetti. | |
| "All Alone On Christmas" | Darlene Love (1992) | Appeared in the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. | |
| "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" | Spike Jones and his City Slickers (1948) | Written by Donald Yetter Gardner. | |
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (1) | Mariah Carey (1994) | Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey. iTunes' most-downloaded Christmas song in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The band My Chemical Romance also recorded a version of this song. | |
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (2) | Foghat (1981) | Not the same as the Mariah Carey or Vince Vance and the Valiants songs of the same name. | |
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (3) | Carla Thomas (1963) | Originally released as the B-side of Carla's 1963 holiday hit, "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" (Atlantic 2212). A new version recorded by Carla hit the Billboard Christmas Singles chart in 1966. | |
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (4) | Vince Vance and the Valiants (1989) | Not to be confused with the Mariah Carey or Foghat songs of the same name. Melody is the same as Bobby Vinton's 1964 top 10 pop hit, "My Heart Belongs To Only You". First released as a single in 1989, but didn't become a country radio hit until 1993. Honored by Billboard as one of radio's most requested Christmas songs, it reached no. 31 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1994. | |
| "Alone On Christmas Day" | Travis (2004) | ||
| "Amen" | The Impressions (1964) | Featured in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field starring Sidney Poitier. First released as a single in 1964. Remake recorded by the group in 1969. | |
| "An Old Christmas Card" | Jim Reeves (1963) | ||
| "Another Lonely Christmas" | Prince and The Revolution (1984) | First released as the B-side to Prince and The Revolution's 1984 top 10 hit single, "I Would Die 4 U". | |
| "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" | Gary Glitter (1984) | ||
| "Auld Lang Syne" | Peerless Quartet (1921) | Written by Robert Burns. The most popular version of the song for years was actually by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, but Lombardo amazingly never scored a chart hit with it. Lombardo first performed the song on radio in 1929, then recorded it in 1939 and again in 1947. Popular smooth jazz musician Kenny G scored a top 10 hit in 1999 with the song. | |
| "Babes in Toyland/March of the Toys" | Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops | One of the most familiar of all instrumentals every year at Christmas. | |
| "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark (1949) Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (1949) |
Written in 1944 by Frank Loesser. Featured in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring Esther Williams. Dean Martin recorded another hit version of this classic tune in 1959. Also a number 17 pop hit single in the U.K. in 1999 for Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews. | |
| "Baby's First Christmas" | Connie Francis (1961) | Featuring the Don Costa Orchestra. | |
| "Back Door Santa" | Clarence Carter (1968) | Released on the 1968 various artists holiday soul album Soul Christmas. Also recorded by Jon Bon Jovi for the 1987 various artists holiday compilation A Very Special Christmas (though it was removed from later pressings for unknown reasons). Run-D.M.C. sampled the original version by Clarence Carter for their 1987 hit, "Christmas in Hollis" (which was also included on A Very Special Christmas). | |
| "Because It's Christmas (For All the Children)" | Barry Manilow (1990) | ||
| "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" | Herb Alpert (1968) | Co-written by Burt Bacharach, who also has recorded it. | |
| "The Bells of St. Paul" | Linda Eder (2004) | ||
| "Best Christmas Of Them All" | Shakin' Stevens (1990) | ||
| "The Blessed Dawn Of Christmas Day" | Harry Connick Jr. (1993) | ||
| "Blue Christmas" | Elvis Presley (1957) | Written as a country song by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson in 1948 and first a hit for country singer Ernest Tubb in 1949. Ranks as the all-time number 1 Christmas single of Billboard's Country Singles chart. Still one of the most-recorded holiday tunes. Also a hit for Russ Morgan and His Orchestra (1949), Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (1949), The Browns featuring Jim Edward Brown (1960), Wynonna Judd (1993), Vince Gill (1998), Clay Walker (2000) and Harry Connick Jr. (2003). | |
| "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" | Mabel Scott (1948) | Written by Leon Rene. Recorded later by Patti Page. | |
| "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)" | Amy Grant (1992) | Also a hit for Donna Summer. | |
| "Candy Cane Children" | The White Stripes (2002) | ||
| "Caroling, Caroling" | Nat King Cole (1960) | ||
| "Cashing In On Christmas" | Bad News (1992) | ||
| "Celebrate Me Home" | Kenny Loggins (1977) | ||
| "Children's Christmas Song" | The Supremes (1965) | Featuring a children's chorus on backing vocals. | |
| "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" | The Chipmunks (1958) | Written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville). The most popular novelty Christmas single in the U.S. through the 1960s. Launched a 40-year music 'career' for the fictional 'character' group. | |
| "Christmas" (1) | The Who (1969) | ||
| "Christmas" (2) | King Diamond (2003) | ||
| "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" | Eddy Arnold, The Tennessee Plowboy and his Guitar (1949) | Written by Eddy Arnold & Jenny Lou Carson. | |
| "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The One You Love)" | The O'Jays (1973) | Written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Also sometimes given the longer title of "(Christmas Ain't Christmas New Year's Ain't New Year's) Without The One You Love". | |
| "Christmas All Over Again" | Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (1992) | ||
| "Christmas At Ground Zero" | "Weird Al" Yankovic (1986) | ||
| "Christmas at K-Mart" | Root Boy Slim (1979) | ||
| "Christmas at the Zoo" | The Flaming Lips (1995) | Released on The Flaming Lips' 1995 album, Clouds Taste Metallic. Not intended to be a Christmas song, though the characteristic "jingling bells" are featured in the song, as well as talk of the holiday. | |
| "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" | Bobby Darin (1960) | ||
| "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Darlene Love (1963) | Featured on the classic 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Covered famously by U2 in 1987 for the holiday charity album A Very Special Christmas. Also covered by Mariah Carey in 1994 and by the pop trio Hanson in 1997. | |
| "The Christmas Blues" | Dean Martin (1953) | Written by David Holt and Sammy Cahn. | |
| "Christmas Canon" | Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1998) | Chord progression is based on that of Pachelbel's Canon in D major. | |
| "Christmas Day" (1) | Detroit Junior (1960) | ||
| "Christmas Day" (2) | Dido | ||
| "Christmas Day" (3) | Squeeze (1980) | ||
| "Christmas Dragnet (Parts I & II)" | Stan Freberg with Daws Butler (1953) | A parody of Dragnet and the follow-up to Freberg's # 1 hit from several months earlier, "St. George and The Dragonet". In 1954 the same record was re-issued under the title "Yulenet (Parts I & II)". | |
| "Christmas Dream" | Perry Como (1974) | From the 1974 film The Odessa File starring Jon Voight. | |
| "Christmas Eve In My Hometown" | Bobby Vinton (1970) | ||
| "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" | Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996) Savatage (1995) |
The song is a medley including "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and a hard rock version of "Carol of the Bells". First released in 1995 on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead, but the same recording was re-released in 1996 as a track on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra album Christmas Eve and Other Stories. | |
| "Christmas Hate Within" | Slipknot | ||
| "Christmas in America" | Pat Benatar (2001) | ||
| "Christmas In Dixie" | Alabama (1982) | The original version featured Alabama wishing you "Merry Christmas" near the end of the song. Lead singer Randy Owen re-recorded the song with Kenny Chesney in 2003. | |
| "Christmas In Hollis" | Run-D.M.C. (1987) | An original song written and recorded by the group for charity, with the music video a perennial favorite on the MTV through the late 1980s and 1990s. It first appeared on the 1987 various artists holiday compilation album A Very Special Christmas to benefit the Special Olympics. The track samples the 1968 tune "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter. | |
| "Christmas in Killarney" | Dennis Day (1950) | Featuring The Mellowmen on backing vocals and Henri Rene Orchestra. Another hit version was by Percy Faith and the Shillelagh Singers in 1950. | |
| "Christmas In My Hometown" (1) | Charley Pride (1970) | ||
| "Christmas In My Hometown" (2) | Sonny James (1954) | Covered by Travis Tritt in 1992 | |
| "Christmas Is" | Percy Faith (1966) | Written by Percy Faith & Spencer Maxwell. Selected as the theme song for the 1967 Christmas Seals appeal. Also a hit that year for Lou Rawls. | |
| "Christmas Is A Pain In The Arse" | The Accelerators (2003) | Written by Mike `The Hammer` Charles. A fun Christmas song from the West Country based U.K. band The Accelerators. | |
| "Christmas Is All Around" | Billy Mack (2003) | Recorded for the film Love Actually. It was released in the United Kingdom, making No23 in the chart. | |
| "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near at Hand" | Steve Winwood | ||
| "Christmas Is The Time To Say 'I Love You' " | Billy Squier (1981) | First released as the B-side of Squier's late 1981 hit single "My Kinda Lover" (Capitol 5037). | |
| "Christmas Island" | The Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1946) | Later a hit for Jimmy Buffett (1996) and The Brian Setzer Orchestra (2005). | |
| "A Christmas Kiss" | Daniel O'Donnell (1999) | ||
| "Christmas Love" | Billy Idol (2006) | ||
| "Christmas Means Love" | Joan Osbourne (2006) | ||
| "Christmas Mem'ries" | Barbra Streisand (2001) | Recorded earlier under the original title of "Christmas Memories" by Frank Sinatra in 1975, Alabama in 1985, Steve Wariner in 1992 and Rosemary Clooney in 1996. | |
| "Christmas Must Be Tonight" | The Band (1977) | Written by Robbie Robertson a member of The Band. He also recorded the song solo in 1988 for the soundtrack to the holiday comedy film, Scrooged starring Bill Murray. | |
| "Christmas My Arse" | Ricky Tomlinson (2006) | Video features Craig Phillips, first winner of TV's Big Brother series in the UK. | |
| "Christmas On 45" | Holly and The Ivys (1981) | ||
| "Christmas Rappin'" | Kurtis Blow (1979) | ||
| "Christmas Round At Ours" | Girls Aloud (2005) | ||
| "The Christmas Shoes" | NewSong (2000) | ||
| "Christmas Song" (1) | Dave Matthews Band (2000) | ||
| "Christmas Song" (2) | Gilbert O'Sullivan (1974) | A # 12 pop hit single in the UK in 1974. | |
| "A Christmas Song" | Shawn Phillips (1970) | ||
| "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | The Nat King Cole Trio (1946) | Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Torme's version also a hit. Later hits by The Carpenters, Celine Dion, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross and Toni Braxton. Remains one of the most recorded Christmas songs ever. According to research conducted in 2004, Cole's version is the most loved seasonal song (with women aged 30-49).[1] | |
| "Christmas Through Your Eyes" | Gloria Estefan (1993) | ||
| "Christmas Time" | Bryan Adams (1985) | ||
| "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" | The Darkness (2003) | ||
| "Christmas Time Is Here" (1) | Vince Guaraldi (1965) | Originally composed for the 1965 animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas, one of the very first animated Christmas special produced for network TV in the U.S. Melody has similar chord progression to the 1932 Cole Porter jazz standard "Night and Day". More recently, a hit for Toni Braxton and Johnny Mathis. | |
| "Christmas Time Is Here" (2) | Ray Parker Jr. (1982) | Later re-issued as the B-side of Parker's late 1984/early 1985 top 40 pop hit single, "Jamie". | |
| "Christmas Time Is Here Again" | The Beatles (1967) | Also recorded by group member Ringo Starr for his 1999 Christmas album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus. | |
| "The Christmas Waltz" | Harry Connick Jr. (2003) | Also a hit for Frank Sinatra in 1954, Kay Starr, Nancy Wilson, The Carpenters, Natalie Cole and Barry Manilow. | |
| "Christmas Was A Friend Of Mine" | Fay Lovsky | ||
| "A Christmas Wish" | Bobby Goldsboro (1968) | ||
| "Christmas With The Devil" | Spinal Tap (1984) | Written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer. Originally issued on Enigma Records with picture sleeve and also a special picture disc issue, both 7" | |
| "Christmas Wrapping" | The Waitresses (1981) | First appeared on the various artists holiday compilation album A Christmas Record on ZE Records in 1981. Covered in 1998 by the Spice Girls and released as a B-side on their single "Goodbye". | |
| "Christmastime" | Aimee Mann (2006) | A new standard co-written by Michael Penn, brother of Sean Penn. | |
| "Coldcut's Christmas Break" | Coldcut (1988) | ||
| "Cool Yule" | Louis Armstrong with The Commanders (1953) | Written by Steve Allen. Also a hit remake for singer/actress Bette Midler in 2006. | |
| "Cruise Into Christmas Medley" | Jane McDonald (1998) | ||
| "December Brings Me Back To You" | Andy Abraham featuring Michael Underwood | The GMTV Christmas single as a challenge for follow host, Michael Underwood. The song was written and sung with X Factor star, Andy Abraham. | |
| "December Will Be Magic Again" | Kate Bush (1980) | ||
| "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" | Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers (1954) | Also a hit for The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2005. | |
| "Ding Dong Merrily on High" | Celtic Woman (2006) | Only the latest hit version of this traditional carol. | |
| "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid (1984) | A benefit recording by an all-star group to assist famine relief in Ethiopia; organized by Bob Geldof of the British rock band The Boomtown Rats. Written by Geldof and Midge Ure of the British rock band Ultravox. Re-recorded on two other separate occasions: Band Aid II in 1989 and Band Aid 20 in 2004. | |
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" | Bing Crosby (1963) | Also a hit for the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus, Jim Nabors, Whitney Houston in 1987 and, most recently, Linda Eder in 2004. Originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1962. | |
| "Dominick The Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)" | Lou Monte (1960) | ||
| "(Mamacita) ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus? (Where Is Santa Claus?)" | Augie Rios (1958) | Featuring the Mark Jeffrey Orchestra. Also covered by actress Charo in 1978 and by the rock band Guster in 2003. | |
| "Don't Shoot Me Santa" | The Killers (2007) | ||
| "Driving Home for Christmas" | Chris Rea (1988) | ||
| "El Burrito de Belen" | Juanes (2006) | ||
| "Elf's Lament" | Barenaked Ladies (2004) | Featuring Michael Bublé | |
| "Every Day It's Christmas" | Do (2004) | ||
| "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag" | Kay Starr (1950) | Another version recorded by The Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2002. | |
| "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday" | William Bell (1967) | Covered by the Sweet Inspirations in 1969 and by Daryl Hall & John Oates in 2006. | |
| "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" | Eels (1998) | ||
| "Fairytale of New York" | The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987) | Written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan. Reached number one on the Irish single charts (where it continues to be the most popular Christmas song), but to many people's amazement was beaten to number one in the UK, by The Pet Shop Boys' "Always on My Mind". | |
| "Fall La La in Love" | David Martin (2007) | Written by David Martin. | |
| "Far Away On Christmas Day" | Bradley Joseph (2000) | ||
| "Father Christmas" | The Kinks (1977) | Written by Ray Davies of the Kinks. | |
| "Feels Like Christmas" | Cyndi Lauper | ||
| "Feliz Navidad" | José Feliciano (1970) | The best-known version of the best-known Spanish-language Christmas song. | |
| "Fifty Grand For Christmas" | Paul Holt (2004) | ||
| "Frosty The Snow Man" | Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys (1950) | Other notable artists recording the hit were Red Foley and The Little Foleys (1950), Nat King Cole (1950), Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1950), The Beach Boys (1964) and Jimmy Durante (1969). | |
| "Funky Christmas (Christmas At My House)" | RuPaul (1997) | ||
| "Gabriel's Message" | Sting (1987) | A track included on the 1987 various artists holiday compilation album A Very Special Christmas to benefit the Special Olympics. | |
| "Gaudete" | Steeleye Span (1972) | Didn't become a chart hit in the U.K. until December of 1973. | |
| "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" | Carla Thomas (1963) | Follow-up to Carla's 1961 top 10 pop and R&B hit, "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)". | |
| "The Gift" | Jim Brickman (1997) | ||
| "The Gift Of Giving" | Bill Withers (1972) | ||
| "Give Love On Christmas Day" | The Jackson 5 and Solid Harmonie (1970) | ||
| "Give U One 4 Christmas" | Hot Pantz (2005) | ||
| "Go Girlfriend (Have a Merry Christmas)" | No Secrets | ||
| "Go Tell It on the Mountain" | Garth Brooks (1992) | Garth's version of this classic spiritual was first released in 1992, but didn't make the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart until late 1998/early 1999. It is the only version of the classic song to hit any of the Billboard music charts. | |
| "Go Tell It on the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby (medley)" | Vanessa L. Williams (1993) | As is often the case, this hit single and video inspired the artist to record a full-length holiday album the following year. | |
| "Gothic Christmas" | Within Temptation | ||
| "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" | Elmo & Patsy (1979) | Originally released in 1979, then for several years following, each time a bigger hit. A new version was recorded in 1983, and this is the version that radio plays to this day. The biggest selling novelty Christmas single of all time in the U.S. | |
| "A Great Big Sled" | The Killers (2006) | ||
| "Green Chri$tma$" | Stan Freberg (1958) | Featuring Daws Butler, Marvin Miller and Wil Wright in a "commercial" parody of Scrooge. | |
| "The Greatest Gift Of All" | Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1984) | ||
| "(My) Grown-Up Christmas List" | David Foster featuring Natalie Cole (1990) | Written by David Foster (music) and Linda Thompson Jenner (lyrics). More recent hit versions include Amy Grant (1992), Barbra Streisand (2001), Michael Buble (2003), Kelly Clarkson (2003) and Clay Aiken. | |
| "Happy Holiday" | Bing Crosby (1942) | Written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film Holiday Inn, co-starring Crosby and Fred Astaire. Hit versions were recorded by Peggy Lee, Andy Williams and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme. Billy Idol recorded a recent hit version in 2006. | |
| "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | John and Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir (1971) | Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Later covered by Melissa Etheridge in 1994, The Polyphonic Spree, Celine Dion in 1997, The Idols, The Alarm, Neil Diamond, the Street Drum Corps ft. Bert McCracken of The Used, and most recently by Sarah McLachlan in 2006. | |
| "Hard Candy Christmas" | Dolly Parton (1982) | Written by Carol Hall for the movie The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. | |
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Judy Garland (1944) | Written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin for the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis starring Garland and Margaret O'Brien. A later hit for Frank Sinatra, Chicago, Amy Grant, Diana Krall, The Carpenters, Aimee Mann and many others. | |
| "A Heart to Hold You" | Keane (2004) | BBC Radio 1 referred to it as the Christmas anthem of 2005. However, it was never recorded. | |
| "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" | Gene Autry (1947) | Written and first recorded by Autry. Famously covered by Elvis Presley in 1957. | |
| "Here We Come A-Caroling" | Mormon Tabernacle Choir | ||
| "Here's Your Sign Christmas" | Bill Engvall (1998) | Engvall scored his debut hit in 1997 with "Here's Your Sign" with Travis Tritt, a top 30 hit on Billboard's Country Singles chart. | |
| "Hey Santa!" | Carnie and Wendy Wilson (1993) | ||
| "Holiday Hootenanny" | Paul & Paula (1963) | ||
| "The Holly and the Ivy" | Natalie Cole (1994) | From her 1994 same-titled Christmas album. | |
| "A Holly Jolly Christmas" | Burl Ives (1964) | Written by Johnny Marks. Made famous by Ives in the classic 1964 TV special Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and later covered by Alan Jackson. | |
| "Home For Christmas" | Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) | Not to be confused with "I'll Be Home for Christmas". | |
| "Hooray For Santa Claus" | Al Hirt (1964) | Written by Milton DeLugg and Roy Alfred. From the 1964 science fiction film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians starring John Call and Pia Zadora. | |
| "I Believe In Christmas" | The Tweenies (2001) | ||
| "I Believe In Father Christmas" | Greg Lake (1975) | Written by Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield. | |
| "I Farted on Santa's Lap (Now Christmas Is Gonna Stink for Me)" | The Little Stinkers (1998) | Novelty song first released in 1998. Charted briefly on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart in 2002. | |
| "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" | Bing Crosby (1956) | Other singers with popular versions: Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Burl Ives, Johnny Mathis and Sarah McLachlan. | |
| "I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells)" | Peggy Lee (1960) | Arranged & adapted by Billy May & Dave Cavanaugh. Orchestra conducted by Billy May. Produced by Dave Cavanaugh. | |
| "I Only Want You For Christmas" | Alan Jackson (1991) | ||
| "I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus" | RuPaul (1997) | Originally recorded by Kip Addotta in 1984. | |
| "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" | Jimmy Boyd (1952) | Written by Thomas Connor. More recent hit versions by John Mellencamp in 1987, and Jessica Simpson. | |
| "I Saw Three Ships" | Sting (1997) | This so-called 'new age' version of the traditional carol was a charity single and video. | |
| "I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas In A Nutshell)" | Girls Aloud (2005) | ||
| "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (Hippo The Hero)" | Gayla Peevey (1953)
Featuring orchestration by Norman Leyden. |
Written by John Rox. | |
| "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" | Wizzard featuring vocal backing by The Suedettes plus The Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year Choir with additional noises by Miss. Snob and Class 3C (1973) | Re-recorded by Wizzard frontman, Roy Wood as a solo version and then later covered by A*Teens and then Girls Aloud. | |
| "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday" | The Wombles with Roy Wood (2000) | ||
| "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" | Blink-182 (2001) | ||
| "I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas" | Yogi Yorgesson with The Johnny Duffy Trio (1949) | Written by Harry Stewart, who was Yogi Yorgesson. | |
| "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" | Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires and The Imperials Quartet (1966) | Written by Red West. | |
| "If We Make It Through December" | Merle Haggard (1973) | ||
| "I'll Be Home for Christmas" | Bing Crosby (1943) | Written during World War II by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram to honor soldiers overseas. Still one of the most recorded Christmas songs today. Hit singles of this song include covers by Frank Sinatra, Amy Grant, The Carpenters and Josh Groban. | |
| "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" | Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old) (1956) | Written by Frankie Adams & Wilbur Jones. | |
| "In Dulci Jubilo" | Mike Oldfield (1975) | ||
| "In the Bleak Midwinter" | James Taylor (2006) | ||
| "Is This the Way to Santa's Grotto" | Santa (2005) | A Christmas parody of "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo?" by Tony Christie. | |
| "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" | Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) | A # 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart for Daryl Hall & John Oates in 2006. | |
| "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way" | Jim Croce (1973) | ||
| "It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas" | Pet Shop Boys (1997) | ||
| "It May Be Winter Outside, (But In My Heart It's Spring)" | Love Unlimited (1973) | ||
| "It Must Have Been The Mistletoe" | Barbra Streisand | Covered by Barbara Mandrell | |
| "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" | Perry Como and The Fontaine Sisters (1951) | Meredith Wilson composed this song while writing The Music Man. Also recorded in hit versions by artists like Johnny Mathis and Bing Crosby. | |
| "It's Christmas" | Modern Talking (1987) | Written by Dieter Bohlen for the most popular men's duo in Germany pop music stage, Modern Talking. The song was included on their 1987 album, In the Garden of Venus. | |
| "It's Christmas All Over The World" | Sheena Easton (1985) | From the 1985 film Santa Claus: The Movie starring Dudley Moore and John Lithgow. | |
| "It's Christmas Time All Over The World" | Sammy Davis Jr. (1963) | ||
| "(It's Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas" | The Orioles (1948) | ||
| "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" | Barry Manilow (1977) | ||
| "It's Not the Presents Under My Tree" | Eva Cassidy | ||
| "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" | Andy Williams (1963) | Written by George Wyle & Edward Pola. Selected as the theme song for Christmas Seals in 1968 & 1976. Also a hit for Johnny Mathis and others. | |
| "Itz The Holidaze" | Westside Connection | ||
| "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" | Josh Groban (2005) | Only the most recent hit version. Most famous instrumental version is George Winston's "Joy" from the album December, an all-time holiday best-seller. | |
| "Jingle Bell Rock" | Bobby Helms (1957) | Featuring backing vocals by the Anita Kerr Singers. Written by Joe Beale and Jim Boothe. Later hit versions by Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker in 1961, Chet Atkins in 1961, Brenda Lee in 1964, Daryl Hall & John Oates in 1983, Randy Travis in 1992, George Strait in 1999 and Aaron Tippin in 2001. | |
| "Jingle Bells" | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (1941) | Featuring vocals by Tex Beneke, Ernie Caceres and The Modernaires. First known version of this song to chart was a hit version by Benny Goodman in 1935. Other hit versions recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1943), Perry Como (1946), The Keynotes with Primo Scala (1948), Les Paul (1951), The Singing Dogs (1955), The Ramsey Lewis Trio (1964), Booker T. & the MG's (1966), BeBe & CeCe Winans (1993), SheDaisy (2000) and Kenny Chesney (2003). | |
| "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" | Kenny Rogers (1981) | ||
| "Kissin' By The Mistletoe" | Aretha Franklin (1961) | ||
| "Last Christmas" | Wham! (1984) | Written by George Michael and first released in late 1984, when it reached no. 2 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-released in 1985. It has been covered by Alien Voices featuring The Three Degrees, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden, Billie Piper, Hilary Duff, Whigfield in 1995, Jimmy Eat World in 2004, Roses Are Red in 2005, and Crazy Frog in 2006, and many others. | |
| "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer" | Joe Diffie (1995) | ||
| "Let It Snow" | Boyz II Men (1993) | Co-written and co-produced by R&B singer Brian McKnight, who also provides guest vocals on the track. Not the same song as "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". | |
| "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | Vaughn Monroe (1945) | Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Dean Martin's 1959 version still a favorite, and most recently a hit single for Carly Simon in 2005. | |
| "Let's Light the Christmas Tree" | Ruby Wright (1957) | ||
| "Let's Party" | Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (1989) | A medley of three Christmas hits: "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard and finally "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" by Gary Glitter. The song was remixed again in 2004, replacing Gary Glitter with Mariah Carey singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You". This mix is only available to DJs. | |
| "Light a Single Candle" | Anne Cochran | Written by Delilah Rene. | |
| "Light Of The Stable" | Emmylou Harris (1975) | Includes backing vocals by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young. | |
| "Linus and Lucy" | Vince Guaraldi (1965) | This instrumental favorite is from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the very first animated Christmas special produced for network TV in the U.S. | |
| "Little Altar Boy" | Vic Dana (1961) | ||
| "Little Becky's Christmas Wish" | Becky Lamb (1967) | ||
| "Little Drummer Boy (Carol of the Drum)" | Harry Simeone Chorale (1958) | Written in 1941, and still one of the most-recorded of the modern carols. A version by the Vienna Boys Choir also hit big when it was featured in the Rankin/Bass animated TV special. | |
| "Little Saint Nick" | The Beach Boys (1963) | Covered by Sugar Ray in 2001. | |
| "Lonely Christmas" | Bobby Vee (1963) | ||
| "Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop)" | Adam Faith with The Children (1960) | ||
| "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud (1974) | ||
| "Los Peces en el Rio" | Mannheim Steamroller | ||
| "Love On Layaway" | Gloria Estefan | ||
| "The Man Who Would Be Santa" | Matt Scannell (of Vertical Horizon) | ||
| "The Man with All the Toys" | The Beach Boys (1964) | ||
| "(A) Marshmallow World" | Bing Crosby (1950) | Lyrics written by Carl Sigman and music composed by Peter De Rose. Also recorded by Darlene Love for the classic 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Other versions recorded by Brenda Lee in 1964 and Dean Martin in 1966. | |
| "The Marvelous Toy" | Chad Mitchell Trio (1963) | Written by Tom Paxton. Peter, Paul & Mary released a version in (1969). | |
| "Mary, Did You Know" | Kenny Rogers with Wynonna (1996) | The lyrics were written in 1984 by Mark Lowry. Buddy Greene composed the music in 1990. The song was first released on the album Michael English in 1992. Also a hit for Natalie Cole and others. | |
| "Mary's Boy Child" | Harry Belafonte (1956) | Written by Jester Hairston. Also a top 40 hit remake in the U.K. for Nina & Frederick in 1959, and a number 1 hit remake in the U.K. for the European disco act Boney M in 1978 as a medley under the title "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord". | |
| "May Christmas Bring You Happiness" | Luther (feat. Luther Vandross) (1976) | ||
| "May You Always" | Harry Harrison (1965) | Written by Larry Marks & Dick Charles. | |
| "Mele Kalikimaka" | Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters (1950) | More recently a hit for Jimmy Buffett in 1996, The Blue Hawaiians and Bette Midler in 2006. | |
| "Merry Christmas Baby" | Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (1947) | Charles Brown was the singer and pianist of Johnny Moore's Three Blazers. Brown also released a hit solo remake of the song in 1964. Popular versions were also recorded by Chuck Berry in 1958 and Bruce Springsteen in 1987. | |
| "Merry Christmas Darling" | The Carpenters (1970) | First released as a single in 1970, but didn't appear on an album until the duo recorded a remake for their 1978 holiday classic, Christmas Portrait. | |
| "Merry Christmas Everyone" | Shakin' Stevens (1985) | Produced by Dave Edmunds. | |
| "Merry Christmas From The Family" | Robert Earl Keen | ||
| "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" | 'N Sync (1998) | ||
| "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" | The Ramones (1987) | ||
| "Merry Christmas Santa Claus (You're A Lovely Guy)" | Max Headroom (1986) | ||
| "Merry Freakin' Christmas" | Calibretto | ||
| "Merry Merry Christmas Baby" | Dodie Stevens (1960) | ||
| "Merry Merry Merry Frickin' Christmas" | Frickin' A (2004) | Two versions of the song. One is a tribute to the Boston Red Sox on their winning of the 2004 World Series. The other is a satire of spending time with the family. | |
| "Merry Twistmas" | The Marcels (1961) | Written to capitalize on the U.S. dance craze called "The Twist". | |
| "Merry Xmas Everybody" | Slade (1973) | Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. Covered by Dexy's Midnight Runners in 1982, Steps, Noel Gallagher, and then Tony Christie in 2005. Has also been reissued by the band on several occasions - most recently in 2006. | |
| "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" | Mariah Carey (1994) | ||
| "Mistletoe And Holly" | Frank Sinatra (1957) | Written by Frank Sinatra, Doc Stanford & Hank Sanicola. Selected as the theme song for the 1960 Christmas Seals appeal. | |
| "Mistletoe And Wine" | Cliff Richard (1988) | ||
| "Mistress For Christmas" | AC/DC (1990) | ||
| "Money In A Card (On This Christmas Day)" | Camp Jam Allstars | Charity single written by Jeff Carlisi (38 special), Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel) and Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent) and performed by a group of teens to benefit Little Kids Rock. | |
| "Monsters' Holiday" | Bobby (Boris) Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers (1962) | Similar to Pickett's no. 1 pop hit "Monster Mash" earlier in 1962. | |
| "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" | Videocraft Chorus | Original Soundtrack, TV's Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964). | |
| "Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo" | South Park (1997) | Song debuted in the South Park episode of the same name, has appeared in several others since. | |
| "Must Be Santa" | Lorne Greene with the Jimmy Joyce Children's Choir (1966) | Written by Hal Moore & Bill Fredricks. | |
| "My Christmas Card To You" | The Partridge Family (1971) | Written by Tony Romeo. | |
| "My Christmas List" | Simple Plan | ||
| "My December" | Linkin Park | ||
| "My Favorite Things" | Tony Bennett (1968) | Originally written for the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound of Music, this most recent hit version is the best-known now (a Bennett signature tune). Was also a major '60s hit for Eddie Fisher. Other hit versions by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass in 1968 and country singer Lorrie Morgan in 1993. | |
| "My Only Wish (This Year)" | Britney Spears (2000) | ||
| "Naughty Christmas (Goblin In The Office)" | Fat Les (1998) | ||
| "New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer" | Z100 Portland (Oregon) (1990) | ||
| "New Year" | Sugababes (2000) | ||
| "A New York Christmas" | Rob Thomas (2003) | Thomas is the leader and vocalist of the rock band matchbox twenty. | |
| "The Night Before Christmas" | Carly Simon (1994) | ||
| "No Child Should Ever Cry On Christmas" | Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) | ||
| "No Presents For Christmas" | King Diamond (1986) | ||
| "The Nutcracker Suite" | Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops | Also a hit for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and many others around the world. Recent hit rock versions by The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Latter's version retitled "A Mad Russian's Christmas". | |
| "Nuttin' For Christmas" | Art Mooney and his Orchestra (1955) | Written by Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett. The Art Mooney version features vocals by child actor Barry Gordon. Another hit version by satirical comic and impersonator Stan Freberg was released that same year (1955); And yet another hit version was by Ricky Zahnd. Mooney's version was the biggest hit. Eartha Kitt released a version in 1955 with different lyrics titled "Nothin' For Christmas" with the same writer credits. Also covered by the rock group Smash Mouth. | |
| "O Holy Night" | Mahalia Jackson | Mahalia's version was a 1950s radio standard. First known recorded version was by Fred Waring in 1946. More recent hit version by Michael Crawford. | |
| "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" | Twisted Sister (2006) | Sounds eerily similar to their hit "We're Not Gonna Take It", while staying faithful to the carol's original words and melody. | |
| "Oíche Chiún (Silent Night)" | Enya (1994) | In the U.S., the best-selling Christmas single of the past 10 years. | |
| "Oi To The World" | The Vandals (1996) | Covered by No Doubt in 1997. | |
| "The Old Man's Back In Town" | Garth Brooks (1992) | ||
| "Papa Noël" | Brenda Lee (1958) | Originally released as the B-side of Lee's holiday hit single, "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree". | |
| "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" | Carl Fenton's Orchestra (1922) | Music written in 1905 for the musical revue La Chauve Souris by Leon Jessel. Hit versions also recorded by the Vincent Lopez Orchestra in 1922 and by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in 1923. A version by The Crystals was also included on the classic 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. | |
| "Pat-a-pan" | Mannheim Steamroller (1995) | ||
| "Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy" | David Bowie and Bing Crosby (1982) | Recorded on September 11, 1977 for Bing's U.K. Christmas TV special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (a little more than one month before Bing's death on October 14, 1977). The song was never released as a single until 1982, when a video clip of their duet from the TV special became an MTV staple for the remainder of the 1980s. | |
| "Perfect Christmas" | S Club 7 | ||
| "The Perfect Year" | Dina Carroll (1993) | From the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard | |
| "Please Come Home For Christmas" | Charles Brown (1960) | Written and first recorded by R&B singer/pianist Charles Brown in 1960, who also scored an R&B hit with his original version. The Eagles covered and had a hit with the song in 1978. The song was also a 1994 hit charity single in a cover version by Jon Bon Jovi that was first released on the 1992 holiday album A Very Special Christmas 2; this version also had a promo music video guest-starring supermodel Cindy Crawford. | |
| "Please Uncle Sam" | Charmels | An early Stax/Volt single, in which a lonely Christmas is expected due to the singer's lover being in Vietnam. | |
| "The Power Of Love" | Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984) | A number 1 hit in the U.K. in December of 1984. | |
| "Presents for Christmas" | Solomon Burke (1967) | Recorded in 1966. | |
| "Pretty Paper" | Roy Orbison (1963) | Written by Willie Nelson, whose version is also popular. The Orbison version was arranged by Bill Justis, with orchestra & chorus conducted by Ivor Raymond. | |
| "Proper Crimbo" | Bo' Selecta! (2003) | The video features guest appearances from various celebrities including Edith Bowman, Chris Moyles, Bob Geldof, Mel B, Christine Hamilton and Jimmy Carr. | |
| "Red Water (Christmas Mourning)" | Type O Negative (1996) | A track from the group's 1996 album, October Rust. | |
| "Redneck 12 Days Of Christmas" | Redneck Carollers (2000) | Featured Jeff Foxworthy on lead vocals. | |
| "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" | Jethro Tull (1976) | ||
| "River" | Travis (1999) | A recent Christmastime favorite. Written by Joni Mitchell; debuted on her 1971 album Blue. Also a hit for Linda Ronstadt, Barry Manilow, and Sarah McLachlan. | |
| "Rock And Roll Christmas" | George Thorogood & The Destroyers (1983) | ||
| "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" | Brenda Lee (1958) | Written by Johnny Marks. First released in 1958 but didn't become a chart hit in the U.S. until 1960. Covered by Mel Smith and Kim Wilde in 1987 for Comic Relief, and recently by Hannah Montana. | |
| "Rudi The Red Nose Reindeer" | Musical Youth | ||
| "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" | Gene Autry & The Pinafores (1949) | Later immortalized by Burl Ives in the classic 1964 TV special of the same name. | |
| "Run Rudolph Run" | Chuck Berry (1958) | Popular versions were also recorded by Dave Edmunds and Bryan Adams. | |
| "Rusty Chevrolet" | Da Yoopers (1986) | Lyrics written by Jim DeCaire & Joe Potila of the group, used with the song "Jingle Bells". | |
| "Same Old Lang Syne" | Dan Fogelberg (1980) | ||
| "Santa Baby" | Eartha Kitt with Henri Rene & His Orchestra (1953) | Written by Tony Springer, Phil Springer & Joan Javits. In 1954 Eartha Kitt recorded a new version of the song with new lyrics titled "This Year's Santa Baby". Writers listed did not change. Also in 1954 Homer & Jethro recorded a version titled "Santy Baby". Once again, writers listed did not change. Later covered by Mae West and much later by Madonna in 1987 and Kylie Minogue in 2000, among others. | |
| "Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)" | Willa Ford | ||
| "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" | Cheech & Chong (1971) | ||
| "Santa Claus And Popcorn" | Merle Haggard (1973) | ||
| "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto" | James Brown (1968) | ||
| "Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney" | Ella Fitzgerald (1950) | ||
| "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" | Elvis Presley (1957) | ||
| "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" | George Hall and the Hotel Taft Orchestra (1934) Bruce Springsteen (1981) |
Written in 1933 by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots. Springsteen's 'live' version was actually recorded on December 12, 1975 at C.W. Post College in Greenvale, New York; this version was first released as a promotional single by Columbia Records in 1981 (Columbia AE7 1332). Other notable hit versions were by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1947), The 4 Seasons (1962), The Jackson 5 (1970), The Carpenters (1975), George Strait (1995), Lonestar (2000), Steve Tyrell (2002) and Harry Connick Jr. (2003). | |
| "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay" | James Brown (1970) | ||
| "Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town" | Relient K (2001) | ||
| "Santa Claus Is Watching You" | Ray Stevens (1962) | Featuring backing vocals by The Merry Melody Singers. | |
| "Santa Claus Lane" | Hilary Duff | ||
| "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy" | Buck Owens (1965) | ||
| "Santa's Gonna Come In A Pickup Truck" | Redneck Carollers (2000) | The song is a redneck style parody of "The Chipmunk Song". Originally recorded by Alan Jackson and Alvin & the Chipmunks. | |
| "Santa's Got a Brand New Bag" | SHeDAISY (2000) | Originally the name of a James Brown Christmas compilation album released in 1988 by Rhino Records. | |
| "Santa's List" | Cliff Richard | ||
| "Save the Best For Last (Christmas version)" | Vanessa L. Williams (1992) | Previously a number one U.S. hit for 5 weeks as a non-holiday single, was reworked with a new snowy theme and wintery music video, popular on MTV for many years. | |
| "Saviour's Day" | Cliff Richard (1990) | ||
| "Senor Santa Claus" | Jim Reeves (1964) | ||
| "Shake Hands with Santa Claus" | Louis Prima (1951) | ||
| "Silent Night" | Bing Crosby (1935) | Written in 1818 in Germany under the title "Stille Nacht, Hellige Nacht". Crosby's original hit version features the Victor Young Orchestra and backing vocals by The Guardsmen Quartet. First known hit version in the U.S. was by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in 1928. Hit versions also by the Ravens (1948), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1949), Mahalia Jackson (1962), Barbra Streisand (1966), the Temptations (1969), Enya (1994) and Kenny Chesney (2004). | |
| "Silver And Gold" | Burl Ives (1964) | Written for the classic 1964 TV special, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. | |
| "Silver Bells" | Bing Crosby & Carole Richards (1952) | Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans for the 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid starring Bob Hope. Also a big hit for Johnny Mathis. | |
| "Six White Boomers" | Rolf Harris & The Chris Gage Trio (1961) on 20th Fox Records | Written by Rolf Harris & John D. Brown. A new version was recorded in 1963 on Epic Records, listed as "Rolf Harris" solely . | |
| "Sleigh Ride" | Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops (1949) | Recorded one year later (in 1950) by the song's composer Leroy Anderson (it was written in 1946). An '80s hit version by Amy Grant is among the best-known of the vocal interpretations, alongside the popular 1958 version by Johnny Mathis (backed by the Percy Faith Orchestra), which was the first recording of the vocal version. A version by The Ronettes was included on the classic 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. | |
| "Snoopy's Christmas" | The Royal Guardsmen (1967) | The third in a series of "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron" songs by The Royal Guardsmen. | |
| "Snow Flake" | Jim Reeves (1965) | Written by Ned Miller. Originally recorded by Jim Reeves on October 16, 1959. | |
| "Some Day At Christmas" | Stevie Wonder (1966) | ||
| "Song for a Winter's Night" | Sarah McLachlan (1994) | Written and originally recorded in 1967 by Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot for his album The Way I Feel. McLachlan's version of the song was recorded in 1994 and first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1994 remake of the classic holiday film Miracle on 34th Street. McLachlan also included her version on her 2006 holiday album Wintersong. | |
| "The Sound Of Christmas" | The Ramsey Lewis Trio (1961) | ||
| "A Spaceman Came Travelling" | Chris de Burgh (1986) | ||
| "Star Bright" | Vanessa L. Williams (1996) | ||
| "Step Into Christmas" | Elton John (1973) | The B-side of the 1973 single (MCA 65018) contained another holiday tune by Elton titled "Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be A Turkey At Christmas)". The British indie-rock band The Wedding Present recorded a cover of "Step Into Christmas" that first appeared on the 1991 various artists holiday compilation A Lump of Coal (for the First Warning record label). | |
| "Stop The Cavalry" | Jona Lewie (1980) | ||
| "Suzy Snowflake" | Rosemary Clooney (1951) | Written by Sid Tepper and Roy Brodsky. | |
| "Tennessee Christmas" | Amy Grant (1983) | Covered by Alabama in 1985, Steve Wariner in 1990, among other country and Contemporary Christian artists. | |
| "Thank God It's Christmas" | Queen (1984) | ||
| "Thanks For Christmas" | The Three Wise Men (1983) | The group is actually the British rock band XTC. | |
| "That Holiday Feeling" | Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme (1964) | ||
| "There Is No Christmas Like A Home Christmas" | Perry Como (1950) | Didn't chart on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart until 1968. | |
| "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays" | Perry Como (1954) | Featuring orchestration by Mitchell Ayres. This song was also featured in a notable cover by The Carpenters for their 1978 Christmas album, Christmas Portrait. | |
| "There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas In The Jungle)" | Derrik Roberts (1965) | ||
| "This Christmas" | Donny Hathaway (1970) | More recently recorded by Gloria Estefan, Joe and Dru Hill, among others. | |
| "This Christmastime (Is The Best One Ever)" | Lonestar | ||
| "This Time of the Year" | Brook Benton (1959) | Featuring orchestration by Belford Hendricks. Also a hit for Brenda Lee in 1964. | |
| "'til Santa's Gone (Milk And Cookies)" | Clint Black (1991) | ||
| "Toyland" | Doris Day | From the Victor Herbert operetta Babes in Toyland. Also popular as an instrumental by countless artists. | |
| "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" | The Supremes (1965) | ||
| "Twistin' Bells" | Santo & Johnny (1960) | "Twist-rock" version of "Jingle Bells". | |
| "Under The Mistltoe" | Blondfire (2005) | ||
| "Under the Tree" | The Waterbabies (2005) | ||
| "Up on the House Top" | Kimberley Locke (2005) | First recorded by Gene Autry, His Cass County Boys, the King Sisters & Carl Cotner's Orchestra in 1953. Also a hit for The Jackson 5 in 1970. | |
| "Upon A Christmas Night" | Michael Learns to Rock | ||
| "Walk This Sleigh" | Robbie Williams | ||
| "Walking In the Air" | Peter Auty and The Sinfonia of London | Appeared in the film The Snowman, later recorded by Aled Jones in 1985, then by Nightwish. | |
| "Warm & Fuzzy" | Billy Gilman | ||
| "We Need A Little Christmas" | Angela Lansbury and Cast (1966) | From the original Broadway cast recording, Mame. Other hit versions that same year were by Percy Faith and His Orchestra, and The New Christy Minstrels. It was then reprised in the 1974 film version of Mame, starring Lucille Ball. | |
| "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" | Nancy Wilson (1965) | Written by Frank Loesser. Recorded by many other artists, including the Les Paul Trio in 1936, Lena Horne in the 1940s, Ella Fitzgerald in 1960, Ramsey Lewis in 1960, the Orioles in 1961, King Curtis in 1968, Johnny Mathis in 1969, Patti LaBelle in 1990, the Stylistics in 1992, Harry Connick, Jr. in 1993, Barbra Streisand in 2001 and Diana Krall in 2005. | |
| "What Can You Get A Wookiee For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?)" | The Star Wars Intergalactic Droid Choir & Chorale (1980) | A novelty record featuring Star Wars' Chewbacca and included on the 1980 holiday album, Christmas in the Stars. The artist is actually disco producer Meco Monardo. | |
| "What Christmas Means To Me" | Stevie Wonder (1967) | First recorded by Bing Crosby in 1956. Later versions were recorded by British pop singer Paul Young in 1992, the pop trio Hanson in 1997 and Al Green in 2004. | |
| "What I Really Want For Christmas" | Brian Wilson (2005) | ||
| "What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin'?)" | Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang (1936) | ||
| "Whatever Happened to Christmas?" | Aimee Mann (2006) | Written by Jimmy Webb, an almost forgotten modern classic revived by Mann. Originally recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1969. | |
| "When A Child Is Born" | Johnny Mathis (1976) | A number 1 hit for Mathis in the U.K. in 1976. Another version released by Michael Holm in 1974. | |
| "When My Heart Finds Christmas" | Harry Connick, Jr. (1993) | ||
| "Where Are You Christmas?" | Faith Hill (2000) | Originally written for and intended to be sung by Mariah Carey, but she was not able to due to record label disputes. Debuted as a single by Hill instead, from the 2000 live action film Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas. | |
| "White Christmas" | Bing Crosby (1942) | Featuring the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter's Orchestra. Written by Irving Berlin. Debuted in the 1942 film Holiday Inn (sung by Crosby), then appeared in the 1954 color film titled after the song. The familiar 1947 version of the song (a re-recording by Crosby) is still the best-selling Christmas single of all time in the U.S. (estimated 50 million sold through the years), and appears on countless holiday albums as well. The Drifters also recorded a doo-wop version of the song in 1954 that became very popular on the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts. Elvis Presley's 1957 cover of the song garnered controversy when Irving Berlin called for the the song to be banned from radio airplay. | |
| "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas" | The Staple Singers (1970) | First released in 1970, but didn't hit the Billboard Christmas Singles chart until 1973. | |
| "Who Would Imagine A King" | Whitney Houston (1996) | ||
| "Why Couldn't It Be Christmas Every Day?" | Bianca Ryan (2006) | Though not officially released as a single by Columbia Records, radio stations in several countries played the song in 2006 as part of their Christmas-themed programming. | |
| "Will Santy Come To Shanty Town" | Eddy Arnold, The Tennessee Plowboy and his Guitar (1949) | Written by Eddy Arnold, Steve Nelson and his younger brother Ed Nelson, Jr. | |
| "Winter Wonderland" | Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1934) | Written in 1934 by Felix Bernard (composer) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). Also a hit in 1934 by Ted Weems and His Orchestra. Covered by hundreds of artists, including Perry Como and The Satisfiers (1946), The Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1946), Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers (1946), Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra (1952), The Chet Baker Quartet (1953), Johnny Mathis (1958), Darlene Love (1963), Connie Francis (1963), Aretha Franklin (1964), Dean Martin (1965), the Ramsey Lewis Trio (1966), Tony Bennett (1968), Dolly Parton (1984), Eurythmics (1987) and Lonestar (2000). | |
| "Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride (medley)" | Dolly Parton (1984) | ||
| A Winter's Tale" | David Essex (1982) | ||
| "Wombling Merry Christmas" | The Wombles (1974) | ||
| "Wonderful Christmastime" | Paul McCartney (1979) | Paul McCartney stated that he is now embarrassed about this record[citation needed], yet it still receives substantial airplay every year. | |
| "You Don't Have To Be Alone On Christmas" | 'N Sync (2000) | ||
| "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" | Neil Diamond (1984) | Originally appeared on his album Primitive. Later re-recorded for his 1992 release The Christmas Album. | |
| "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" | Thurl Ravenscroft (1966) | Written for the 1966 Dr. Seuss TV classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Ravenscroft was also the voice for the animated character Tony the Tiger for the TV commercials for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal. Rock and pop radio stations in the U.S. have generally opted for cover version by the Whirling Dirvishes since its 1994 release. | |
| "You're All I Want For Christmas" (1) | Frankie Laine (1948) | Written by Seger Ellis and Glen Moore. Also recorded by Frank Gallagher in 1948, Bing Crosby in 1949, Eddie Fisher in 1952, Al Martino in 1964, Jackie Gleason in 1967 and Don Patterson in 1967. | |
| "You're All I Want For Christmas" (2) | Brook Benton (1963) | Featuring orchestration by Luchi DeJesus. Different song than the same-titled hit by Frankie Laine in 1948. | |
| "'Zat You, Santa Claus?" | Louis Armstrong with The Commanders (1953) | Written by Jack Fox. Also a hit remake for Buster Poindexter (a.k.a. David Johansen) in 1987. |
[edit] Parodies
- The best-selling parody of all-time in the US is "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" (by Elmo 'N Patsy), which first appeared on radio and as an independent single in 1979. It was re-released for several years following, and grew in popularity each year. It was the best-selling of all Christmas singles in the US for many years in the 1980s and, due to that success, it spawned toys and an animated TV special that remains popular every year.
- Radio personality Bob Rivers has written countless Christmas parodies. Some of the most notable include "The Twelve Pains of Christmas" and "The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen". He has also written some original humorous holiday songs, including "The Chimney Song". These have appeared on, as of 2006, five albums: Twisted Christmas, I Am Santa Claus, More Twisted Christmas, Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire and Christmas.
- Twisted Christmas is also the name of a popular 2006 parody album by metal band Twisted Sister.
- Parody king "Weird Al" Yankovic has also recorded festive songs: "Christmas at Ground Zero", an original tune from 1986, and "The Night Santa Went Crazy", a parody of Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas".
- The US TV series "South Park" discovered their knack for holiday music parodies with an early Christmas episode (and like-named song), "Mr Hankey The Christmas Poo" in (1997). The runaway hit led to annual Christmas episodes, many including brand new songs or parodies of traditional tunes. An all-music sing-along Christmas 'special' was hosted by Mr Hankey and a full-length album of the 'new Christmas classics' from the series was released, along with videos for all the songs. Notably, the 'pilot' episode for the series was an animated short film entitled "The Spirit of Christmas" (albeit without music).
- The political satire group The Capitol Steps has released three Christmas albums: Danny's First Noel (1989), All I Want For Christmas Is A Tax Increase (1993), and O, Christmas Bush (2006). In addition, some of their other albums contain parodies of Christmas songs. The group's first performance, in 1981, was a Christmas show.
- Many Christmas songs were parodies by Floridan band, The Monsters In The Morning. They were the second disc in the Monsters Double Brown Album.
[edit] References
The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits by Fred Bronson
Billboard's Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955-2003 by Joel Whitburn
Billboard's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 by Joel Whitburn
Hit Singles: Top 20 Charts from 1954 to the Present Day by Dave McAleer
Christmas in the Charts 1920-2004 by Joel Whitburn
Complete UK Hit Singles by Graham Betts
Complete Guide to the British Charts by Neil Warwick
British Hit Singles and Albums (Guinness 19th Edition) by David Roberts
