The following is a list of popular Christmas songs recorded by various artists, many of which have hit on various charts, mostly in the United States (some only released in the artist's home country). The year indicates the original year of release for that artist's recorded version of the single or track, which may not necessarily be the first year the artist's version appeared on one or more popular music charts by various music trade publications. Many tracks were re-released as singles in subsequent years.
Peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1925. This historic record was the first electrically recorded disc to create a popular impact, and featured the largest choir popular music has ever known: some 4,800 voices (according to Columbia Records).[3] Over 150 versions of this standard have appeared in Christmas LPs since 1946.
Spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in 1948 and 1949. Also peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Children's Records chart and No. 18 on Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles chart in 1950.[11][12] Written by Donald Yetter Gardner.
Written by Andrew Charles Williams. Originally released as the B-side of Thomas's 1963 holiday hit, "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas". A new version recorded by Thomas peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1966.[13]
Peaked at No. 12 on Billboard'sRadio Songs chart and No. 6 on Billboard'sAdult Contemporary chart on the first week of January 1995,[16] and three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 2019 into early January 2020.[17] Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey.
Peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on the week ending January 8, 2011.[18] Also peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart (week ending January 8, 2011)[19] and at No. 14 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart (week ending November 10, 2012).[20]
Subtitled "SuperFestive!" Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 31, 2011.[22] Also peaked at No. 86 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart (week ending November 19, 2011),[23] at No. 20 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart (week ending December 17, 2011),[24] at No. 51 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart (week ending November 19, 2011),[25] at No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart (week ending November 19, 2011),[26] and at No. 20 on the Billboard Holiday Streaming Songs chart (week ending December 14, 2013).[27]
Peaked at No. 1 for five straight weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, from the week ending December 10, 2011, to the week ending January 7, 2012.[28] Also peaked at No. 99 on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart (week ending December 31, 2011),[29][30] at No. 3 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart (week ending November 12, 2011),[31] at No. 13 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart (week ending December 29, 2012),[32] at No. 21 on the Billboard Holiday Streaming Songs chart (week ending December 21, 2013),[33] and at No. 35 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart (week ending December 31, 2011).[34]
Featured in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart on the week ending January 9, 1965, and at No. 17 on Billboard's Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart on the week ending January 30, 1965. An updated recording by the group titled "Amen (1970)" was released in November 1969, peaking at No. 44 on Billboard's Best Selling Soul Singles chart on the week ending January 10, 1970, and at No. 110 on Billboard'sBubbling Under The Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 3, 1970.[37][38]
Reached No. 51 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart from unsolicited airplay, as a partial Christmas single from the band's album Cheap Seats. Charted again in 1994 and 1995.[40][41]
Traditional French carol known as Les Anges dans nos campagnes translated to English in 1862 by James Chadwick. Peaked at No. 21 on the BillboardChristian Songs chart in 2004. Chris Tomlin also had a hit version on the Christian Songs chart in 2006, peaking at No. 5.[42]
Peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. Originally released as the B-side of Prince and The Revolution's 1984 single "I Would Die 4 U".[39]
Peaked at No. 5 on one of the top-selling music charts in December 1921.[2][43] Written by Robert Burns as a Scots-language poem in 1788[44][45] and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud no. 6294).
First recorded and released by Decca Records in 1939 (Decca 2478) and again in 1947 (Decca 24260). A Decca re-release charted on the Music Vendor Christmas list of 1963. Lombardo first performed the song on radio in 1929.
Written by Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough.[52] Popular by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops orchestra (1958). Later recorded by Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Orchestra (1991).
With orchestra under the direction of Ted Dale. Written in 1944 by Frank Loesser. From the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton. Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, at No. 4 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart, and at No. 6 on the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Records chart in mid 1949.[54][55]
With Paul Weston and his orchestra. Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, at No. 4 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart, and at No. 8 on the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Records chart in mid 1949.[56][57]
Peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Records chart and at No. 17 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart in mid 1949.[58][59]
With Sammy Kaye and his orchestra. Peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, at No. 13 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart, and at No. 17 on the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Records chart in mid 1949.[4][60]
From Martin's 1959 album A Winter Romance (with orchestra conducted by Gus Levene). Reached No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending October 29, 2011.[62] Also peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart[63] and at No. 15 on the Billboard Holiday Streaming Songs chart on the week ending December 22, 2018.[64] First entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 45 on the week ending January 4, 2020.[65]
Peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 31, 2011,[67] and at No. 6 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending November 26, 2011.[68]
Spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart from mid December 2014 into early January 2015.[70] Also peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 13, 2014,[71] and at 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 6, 2014.[72]
Featuring the Don Costa Orchestra. Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard'sMiddle-Road Singles chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1961, and at No. 13 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1965.[75][76]
Released on the 1968 various artists holiday soul album Soul Christmas.[16] Also recorded by Bon Jovi for the 1987 various artists holiday compilation A Very Special Christmas (though it was removed from later pressings), and sampled by Run-D.M.C. for their hit, "Christmas in Hollis" (which was also included on A Very Special Christmas).
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. Charted again in 1968. Features a children's chorus on backing vocals. From the album My Christmas Dream.[77]
Peaked at No. 1 for five weeks on the BillboardHot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, and "Bubbled under" the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a peak position of #112.[79] From the 2004 film The Polar Express.
Written by A. Emmett Adams and Douglas Furber in 1917.[81] While the song has no lyrical relation to Christmas, its inclusion in the 1945 film of the same name has made it a popular choice for various artists' holiday albums.
Despite its overtly Christian tone and obvious references to Christmas, this song managed to reach No. 3 on the BillboardHot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart, and remains in regular rotation on hot adult top 40 stations.[82]
Peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Most-Played Juke Box (Country & Western) Records chart in the issue dated January 7, 1950. Also made these other Billboard music charts in December 1949 (with peak positions shown): Best-Selling Retail Folk (Country & Western) Records (No. 2), Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys (No. 2), Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys (No. 23), and Most Played Juke Box Records (No. 26).[84][85] Written as a country song by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson in 1948, and first recorded by Doye O'Dell that year. Ranks as the all-time number one holiday single on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in the issue dated January 7, 1950. Also made these other Billboard music charts in December 1949 (with peak positions shown): Most-Played Juke Box Records (No. 18) and Best Selling Pop Singles (No. 21). Re-entered Billboard's Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in December 1950, peaking at No. 20.[86][87]
Made these Billboard music charts in December 1949 (with peak positions shown): Best Selling Pop Singles (No. 11), Most-Played Juke Box Records (No. 13), and Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys (No. 18). Vocals by Russ Morgan and The Morganaires.[88][89]
From the album Elvis' Christmas Album. First released as a commercial single in 1964. Listed on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart each December from 1964 to 1970, as well as 1972, 1973, and then again from 1983 to 1985, peaking at No. 1 on this chart on the week ending December 5, 1964, and then again on the week ending December 22, 1973.[39] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 40 on the week ending January 5, 2019, peaking at No. 24 on the week ending January 7, 2023 (following its third chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Airplay (No. 55), Country Digital Song Sales (No. 22), Country Streaming Songs (No. 4), Digital Song Sales (No. 47), Global 200 (No. 35), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 89), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 18), Holiday 100 (No. 12), Holiday Airplay (No. 9), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 8), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 9), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), Hot Country Songs (No. 55), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 5), Rock Streaming Songs (No. 1), and Streaming Songs (No. 19).[90]
Virtual duet featuring Presley's archived vocals mixed with McBride's vocals and re-recorded instrumentation. Made these Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 22), Country Airplay (No. 36), and Hot Country Songs (No. 36).[90]
Peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 32 on the Country chart in 2010.[107] Originally released on the various-artists CD Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4 in 2010, and later on Rucker's 2014 album Home for the Holidays.
Mykola Leontovych adapted the music from the Ukrainian song "Shchedryk" in 1914. Peter Wilhousky rearranged the melody for orchestra and added lyrics he copywrote in 1936. The song was first made commercially available in a medley on Fred Waring And His Pennsylvanians' 1942 album 'Twas The Night Before Christmas[108]Straight No Chaser's version from their 2008 album Holiday Spirits charted Billboard'sHoliday Digital Song Sales survey in 2010. A version by Kim Walker-Smith peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in 2014.[109]
Mannheim Steamroller recorded a prog-rock version on their second Christmas studio album A Fresh Aire Christmas. Their version peaked at #44 on Billboard'sHoliday Songs chart in 2010.[110]
Title track of Loggins' 1977 debut solo album. Released as a single, the studio version reached No. 64 on the US Record World pop chart in the spring of 1978.[115] A 2015 version by LeAnn Rimes featuring Gavin DeGraw peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 2015.[116]
Spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1958, and reached No. 5 on Billboard'sHot R&B Sides chart in 1959.[9][122] Written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville). The most popular novelty Christmas single in the U.S. through the 1960s. Launched a 50-year music career for the fictional character group.
Written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The song's original title was the longer "(Christmas Ain't Christmas New Year's Ain't New Year's) Without the One You Love". Reissued by the group's record label (Philly International) in 1973 following the group's huge success.
From the 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.
Included on the 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry. First entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 15 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (following its fourth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 22), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 52), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 31), Holiday 100 (No. 7), Holiday Airplay (No. 24), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 21), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 6), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 6), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 1), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 12), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 1), and Streaming Songs (No. 8).[127]
Released on the 1987 charity album A Very Special Christmas. Peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending January 1, 2005, at No. 29 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending December 25, 2010, and at No. 30 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending January 8, 2011.[128]
Peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart and at No. 27 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart on the week ending December 29, 2012, at No. 12 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending November 26, 2011, and at No. 15 on the Billboard Holiday Streaming Songs chart on the week ending December 28, 2013.[129]
Written in 1986 and first released on Ewing's 1990 album Following Yonder Star. First charted on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1996, peaking at No. 68.[132][133]
From the 1970 children's holiday motion picture based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Scrooge. Featured in the soundtrack composed by Leslie Bricusse.
From the 2001 various artists album Christmas Cookies. Peaked at No. 33 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 2002.[121][136] Originally issued on the Target CD A Country Christmas 1999.
Peaked at No. 22 on the popular records chart. Features Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra.[58] Written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. Released within a four-record album set titled Christmas with Eddie Fisher.
Peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart.[137][138] A parody of Dragnet and the follow-up to Freberg's No. 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)".
Peaked at No. 22 on the pop singles chart on the week of January 3, 1953. Famous medley of nine songs arranged by Anderson: "Joy to the World"/"Deck the Halls"/"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"/"Good King Wenceslas"/"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"/"The First Noel"/"Silent Night"/"Jingle Bells"/O Come, All Ye Faithful".[3]
Reached No. 22 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 37 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.[142][143] Later appeared on the 2003 album Go as a hidden track.
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.[40][144]
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 two 1987 various artist holiday compilation albums: A Very Special Christmas and Christmas Rap, with the former album to benefit the Special Olympics. The track samples the 1968 soul tune "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter.[134][145]
Written by Percy Faith and Spencer Maxwell. Originally recorded by Percy Faith in 1964 as an instrumental ("Judy"). Selected as the theme song for the 1967 Christmas Seals appeal. Also a hit that year for Lou Rawls.
Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, with orchestration by Al De Lory. Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Christmas Singles survey on the week ending December 21, 1968.[91][150]
Peaked at No. 21 on the pop singles chart on the week of December 26, 1953. Medley of four songs: "White Christmas"/"Jingle Bells"/"O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)"/"Silent Night, Holy Night".[35]
A 12-minute, 8-second disco medley of holiday songs performed by the backing band for Salsoul Records, containing the songs: "Joy To The World"/"Deck The Halls"/"O Come All Ye Faithful"/"Jingle Bells"/"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"/"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"/"The Christmas Song"/"White Christmas"/"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"/"I'll Be Home For Christmas"/"Winter Wonderland"/"The First Noël"/"We Wish You A Merry Christmas". The B-side of the single was "New Year's Medley", a 7-minute, 17-second medley of new year's-related songs.
Song originated in 1934. A hit, in that year, by the Paul Whiteman orchestra.
"Christmas Party"
"Two Ton" Baker the Merry Music Maker
1948
Issued as a 2-disc (in a foldout picture sleeve) 78 rpm set on Mercury Records' Miniature Playhouse children's series (songs on the set are "The Night Before Christmas"/"Santa's Toy Shop"/"Up on the House Top"/"Deck The Halls"/"Jingle Bells").[151]
A version of the rock band's own 1977 hit "The Winter Song", but featuring alternate lyrics (both tracks featured The California Boys Choir and both were produced by Eddie Leonetti).
Written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Sometimes subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire", but originally subtitled "Merry Christmas to You." Peaked at No. 3 on both the Billboard Records Most-Played On The Air and Juke Box Race Records charts in December 1946.[158][159]
With orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle (Capitol 3561). First entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 12, 1960, peaking at No. 65 on the week ending December 29, 1962.[158]
1961
Recorded in stereo for the first time with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael; this final Cole version has charted on Billboard's Hot 100 every year since 2013 (with the exception of 2014), peaking at No. 9 on the week ending January 7, 2023. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 16), Adult R&B Airplay (No. 40), Digital Song Sales (No. 18), Global 200 (No. 16), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 38), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 4), Holiday 100 (No. 2), Holiday Airplay (No. 1), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 2), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Radio Songs (No. 30), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 2), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 1), and Streaming Songs (No. 5).[160] It remains the most popular version of the song.[161][162][163]
Peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 1, 2000.[40][167] First version of the song to make the Top 40 portion of the Hot 100 chart.
R&B hit in 1961; also charted on the Christmas Singles chart in 1964 & 1966.[46][170] Released in 1964 by The Four Seasons as the B-side to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".
A different picture sleeve was issued in 1986. Peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Christmas singles chart, and No. 35 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1985.[40][171]
Composed and recorded for the soundtrack to the 1965 animated holiday television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas (both instrumental and vocal versions of the song recorded by Guaraldi and included on the soundtrack album). First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 17 on the week ending January 17, 2017. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 1, 2022, peaking at No. 41 one week later. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 4), Global 200 (No. 82), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 27), Holiday Airplay (No. 30), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 15), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 10), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 26).[174] Melody has similar chord progression to the 1932 Cole Porter jazz standard, "Night and Day."
Written and co-produced by Swift. Debuted and peaked at No. 59 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and at No. 19 on Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 21, 2019. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 3), Adult Pop Airplay (No. 40), Global 200 (No. 147), Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), and Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 44).[180]
2021
Updated recording of the song referred to as the "Old Timey Version." First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 11, 2021, peaking at No. 62 on the week ending January 1, 2022. First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 4, 2021, peaking at No. 46 on the week ending January 1, 2022. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 22), Global 200 (No. 98), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 10), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 40), and Streaming Songs (No. 48).[180]
Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 26, 1970. Flip side of The Jackson 5's recording of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town".[77]
From the 1981 various artists holiday compilation album A Christmas Record on ZE Records. Peaked at No. 67 on Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 8, 2018. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Alternative Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Digital Song Sales (No. 48), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 12), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 6), and Rock Streaming Songs (No. 17).[185]
Peaked at No. 53 on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart and at No. 37 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Main theme song of the 1992 film Toys.[56]
Written and produced by Perry, Greg Wells and Ferras Alqaisi. Debuted on Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 53 one week later. Peaked at No. 1 for one week on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 29, 2018. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 37), Bubbling Under Hot 100 (No. 2), Global 200 (No. 76), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 108), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 79), Holiday 100 (No. 30), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 19), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 24), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 9), and Streaming Songs (No. 39).[188] Also peaked at No. 26 on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Songs chart in December 2019.
Peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Best Selling Pop Singles chart in late December 1950. Features the Jeff Alexander Chorus with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and Bing's sons Gary, Lindsay, and twins Phillip & Dennis Crosby. Medley of "That Christmas Feeling"/"I'd Like to Hitch a Ride with Santa Claus"/"The Snowman."[189]
Peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart, and released with the B-side "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" Also issued with the hit song "Mr. Lonely", as a back-to-back promotional single with a text sleeve.[14] From the album A Very Merry Christmas.
From Cole's 1960 album The Magic of Christmas. First entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart at No. 47 on the week ending December 26, 2020, peaking at No. 16 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (following its second chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 31), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 83), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 63), Holiday 100 (No. 13), Holiday Airplay (No. 36), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 12), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 2), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 4), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 4), and Streaming Songs (No. 13).[190]
From the 1984 album Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. Peaked at No. 38 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary chart (week ending January 7, 1995),[6] at No. 10 on Billboard's Holiday Airplay chart (week ending December 22, 2001),[191] and at No. 91 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart (week ending December 13, 2014).[192][193]
From the 1999 animated movie Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. Peaked at No. 61 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart (week ending January 8, 2000) and at No. 37 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (week ending January 6, 2001).[103][194]
Medley of two ancient Welsh and English folk carols. From the 2002 album Wishes: A Holiday Album. Peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 4, 2003.[46]
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.[151][199] Written by Geldof and Midge Ure of the British rock band Ultravox. A Christmas No. 1 single on the UK singles chart in 1984, and re-recorded on two other separate occasions: Band Aid II in 1989 and Band Aid 20 in 2004.
Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in December 1963. Features backing by Ralph Carmichael's chorus and orchestra.[189][200] Originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1962, which peaked at No. 66 on the Music Vendor survey.
Peaked at No. 2 for three consecutive weeks on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2007, at No. 27 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in January 2008, and at No. 90 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in January 2008. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Streaming Songs (No. 18), Holiday 100 (No. 50), Holiday Airplay (No. 17), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 23), and Radio Songs (No. 53).[202][203]
Featuring orchestration by Mark Jeffrey. Peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[134][208] Also covered by actress Charo (1978), and by the rock band Guster (2003).
Written by Feliciano. Debuted and peaked at No. 71 on Cashbox's Top 100 Singles chart on the week ending December 26, 1970.[220] First entered Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 3, 1998, peaking at No. 12 on the week ending January 8, 2000 (upon its chart re-entry).[58] First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 3 on the week ending January 7, 2012. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 7, 2017, peaking at No. 6 on the week ending January 2, 2021 (following its fourth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 35), Bubbling Under Hot 100 (No. 5), Digital Song Sales (No. 19), Global 200 (No. 5), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 7), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 6), Holiday Airplay (No. 1), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 4), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 7), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Hot Latin Songs (No. 29), Latin Airplay (No. 29), Latin Digital Song Sales (No. 1), Latin Pop Airplay (No. 28), Latin Streaming Songs (No. 1), Radio Songs (No. 16), and Streaming Songs (No. 7).[221]
With the Sid Feller orchestra. From the Rankin/Bass animated special The Cricket on the Hearth. Peaked at #24 on Billboard's "Best Bets For Christmas" survey.[13]
Peaked at No. 50 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in January 2009 and at No. 36 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart in December 2012.[226]
Peaked at No. 2 for five consecutive weeks on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in December 1950 and January 1951. Also made these other Billboard music charts in 1950 (with peak positions shown): Best Selling Pop Singles (No. 7) and Best Selling Retail Folk (Country & Western) Records (No. 4).[227][228] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Holiday 100 (No. 90) and Holiday Airplay (No. 49).[229] With orchestra under the direction of Carl Cotner.
Debuted and peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in early January 1951. Chipmunk voices provided by The Singing Pussy Cats with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo.[96][230]
Debuted and peaked at No. 28 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart in early January 1951. Vocal chorus by Kenny Gardner and the Lombardo Trio.[35][231]
Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in December 1951. The "Little Foleys" are Red's daughters Shirley, Julie and Jenny Foley.[75]
Peaked at No. 27 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart in early January 2019. Also made these other Billboard music charts in 1950 (with peak positions shown): Holiday Airplay (No. 25), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 33), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 28), and Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 46).[232] From the 1969 animated television special Frosty the Snowman.[233][234] Durante originally recorded and released the song in 1951 (on MGM S-K17), with orchestra conducted by Roy Bargy.[235]
Debuted and peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in late December 2002 and early January 2003.[48][236] Also peaked at No. 20 on Billboard's Holiday Airplay chart in early December 2002.[237]
Reached No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[242] A version of this classic spiritual by Garth Brooks was first released in 1992, but didn't make the BillboardHot Country Songs chart until late 1998/early 1999.[73][243] A medley of this song with "Mary Had a Baby" was a hit for Vanessa L. Williams in 1993, and inspired her to record a full-length holiday album the following year. Also charted by Little Big Town (2006).[244]
B-side is "Love's What You're Getting For Christmas". From his 1970 Christmas album. Contains a portion of "Silent Night". Made the Cashbox Top 100 in 1970.
Written by Randy Brooks. Originally recorded in 1979, new versions were released in 1982 and 1984. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas singles charts during the Christmas seasons of 1983–1985,[247][173] and bubbled under the Hot 100 in 1992.[132] The best-selling novelty Christmas single of all time in the U.S.,[citation needed] it spawned toys and an animated TV special that remain popular each year.
Medley arrangement of the songs "Happy Holiday" and "The Holiday Season" (the latter written by Kay Thompson in 1945). First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 12 on the week ending December 14, 2019. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 14, 2019, peaking at No. 18 on the week ending January 2, 2021 (following its first chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 56), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 23), Holiday Airplay (No. 9), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 11), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 9), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 14).[257]
Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Debuted and peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 25, 1971 (re-entering this same chart in 1972, 1983, 1984, and 1985).[169] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 38 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (upon its chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 32), Adult Pop Airplay (No. 34), Digital Song Sales (No. 34), Global 200 (No. 25), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 26), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 16), Holiday 100 (No. 9), Holiday Airplay (No. 2), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 1), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 18), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 4), Rock Streaming Songs (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 34).[258]
Peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 6, 2007, and at No. 7 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 23, 2006.[260]
Peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 3, 2018, and at No. 36 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending November 4, 2017.[261]
Debuted and peaked at No. 69 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 4, 2020. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 15), Bubbling Under Hot 100 (No. 3), Holiday 100 (No. 45), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 30), Hot R&B Songs (No. 7), and R&B Streaming Songs (No. 8).[262]
Peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard country charts. From the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.[2][263] Written by Carol Hall in 1978 and originally recorded by the female cast of the Broadway play of the same title.
First released in 1947 on Columbia 37942 as by Gene Autry with Vocal Group. Peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Best-Selling Retail Folk Records chart (week ending December 25, 1948), at No. 7 on Billboard's Most-Played Juke Box Folk Records chart (week ending December 25, 1948), at No. 8 on Billboard's Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart (week ending January 1, 1949), at No. 9 on Billboard's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart (week ending January 1, 1949), at No. 10 on Billboard's Best-Selling Children's Records chart (week ending December 24, 1949), and at No. 8 on Billboard's Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys chart (week ending January 7, 1950).[227][280] First entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 22, 2018, peaking at No. 26 on the week ending January 2, 2021, following its second chart re-entry.[281] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Streaming Songs (No. 4), Global 200 (No. 78), Holiday 100 (No. 10), Holiday Airplay (No. 8), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 8), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 2), and Streaming Songs (No. 14).[229]
Written by Johnny Marks in 1962. Peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Christmas Singles survey on the week ending December 26, 1964 (re-entering this same survey at No. 29 on the week ending December 28, 1968).[37] First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 3 on the week ending December 14, 2019. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 7, 2017, making the top 10 of this chart for the first time on the week ending January 5, 2019, and attaining an overall peak position of No. 4 one year later on the week ending January 4, 2020 (58 years and two weeks after Ives' previous top 5 single).[284] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 30), Country Digital Song Sales (No. 5), Country Streaming Songs (No. 1), Digital Song Sales (No. 14), Global 200 (No. 10), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 48), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 5), Holiday Airplay (No. 1), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 6), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 3), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), Radio Songs (No. 21), Ringtones (No. 29), and Streaming Songs (No. 3).[285] First released by The Quinto Sisters in 1964, but made famous by Ives in the 1964 animated holiday television special, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, albeit with a different recording than the one that gained popularity as a single.
From the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on the week ending January 10, 1998.[77][286]
Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 17, 2011,[287] and at No. 22 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 29, 2012.[288]
Peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 22, 2012,[289][290] and at No. 43 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 9, 2017.[67]
Written and recorded by Guryan as a demo in 1967, and also released as a single by Claudine Longet that year. Covered by Saint Etienne for a 1998 fan club single.
"I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You"
Released during the height of the Eddie Fisher craze. Peaked at No. 22 on the Music Vendor chart.[77] Also recorded by Spike Jones during the same Christmas season.
Written by Yorgesson under his real name, Harry Stewart. Peaked at #5 on Billboard's "Best Seller" and "Most Played By Jockeys" chart.[302][303] Covered live by farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson and the Uff da Band.
From the album A Christmas Present. Charted again in 1974. Made the Pop, Country, Easy Listening and Christmas surveys in Billboard in late 1973-early 1974.[197][309]
Peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart on the week ending January 5, 1952, and at No. 23 on the Billboard Best Selling Pop Singles chart on the week ending December 22, 1951.[96] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 42 on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 12 on the week ending December 26, 2020 (following its second chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 27), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 93), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 33), Holiday 100 (No. 8), Holiday Airplay (No. 41), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 5), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 4), and Streaming Songs (No. 5).[317] Composed by Meredith Willson while he was writing The Music Man.
From the 1986 album Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis. Peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart (week ending December 10, 2016),[318] at No. 3 on Billboard's Holiday Airplay chart (week ending January 3, 2009),[319] at No. 22 on Billboard's Holiday Streaming Songs chart (week ending December 10, 2016),[320] and at No. 44 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart (week ending November 23, 2019).[321]
Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 24, 2011,[322] after entering Billboard's Hot 100 chart at No. 96 one week earlier. Peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 11, 2021 (upon its second chart re-entry).[323][324] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 16), Global 200 (No. 6), Holiday 100 (No. 8), Holiday Airplay (No. 22), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 2), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), Hot Christian Songs (No. 32), and Streaming Songs (No. 11).[323]
Written in 1963 by George Wyle and Edward Pola, and selected as the theme song for Christmas Seals in both 1968 and 1976. First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 2 on the week ending December 8, 2018. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 48 on the week ending January 7, 2017, reaching the top 10 for the first time on the week ending December 29, 2018, and peaking at No. 5 two years later on the week ending January 2, 2021 (following its fourth chart re-entry; Williams' highest rank on the Hot 100 chart since 1963).[328] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 50), Global 200 (No. 7), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 10), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 7), Holiday Airplay (No. 2), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 1), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 2), Radio Songs (No. 27), and Streaming Songs (No. 3).[257]
Peaked at No. 76 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 13, 2014,[329] and at No. 7 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart on the week ending December 10, 2005.[330]
Peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and at No. 25 on the Billboard Christian AC Songs chart (both on the week ending January 3, 2009).[332][333]
Written by Joe Beale and Jim Boothe, and featuring backing vocals by the Anita Kerr Singers. Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart and at No. 7 on Billboard's Best Sellers In Stores chart on the week ending January 4, 1958.[292][335] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 22, 1958 (originally peaking at No. 35 one week later), then reaching the top 10 for the first time on the week ending January 5, 2019 (following its seventh chart re-entry), and then attaining an overall peak position of No. 3 on the week ending January 4, 2020 (setting the record for the longest wait for the first top 5 hit after an artist's initial appearance on the chart: 61 years, 4 months and 2 weeks).[336][284] First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 2 on the week ending December 24, 2016. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 18), Country Airplay (No. 60), Country Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Country Streaming Songs (No. 1), Digital Song Sales (No. 8), Global 200 (No. 4), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 5), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 3), Holiday Airplay (No. 1), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 2), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Hot Country Songs (No. 60), Radio Songs (No. 23), Streaming Songs (No. 2), Top Triller Global (No. 10), and Top Triller U.S. (No. 4).[337]
First entered the Billboard Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 19, 1964, peaking at No. 8 on this same chart on the week ending December 16, 1967.[169]
Peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart on the week ending December 13, 2008,[338] and at No. 24 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011.[339]
Peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and at No. 9 on the Billboard Christian AC Songs chart on the week ending January 8, 2011.[342][343]
Written by George Michael and first released in the United Kingdom on December 3, 1984.[361] First released in the United States as the final track on Wham!'s 1986 studio album, Music from the Edge of Heaven. Made its first appearance on a U.S. music chart on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart on the week ending January 3, 1998, peaking at No. 58 one week later (the same week it also entered and peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart).[56] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 50 on the week ending January 7, 2017, eventually peaking at No. 4 on the week ending January 7, 2023 (following its sixth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 40), Digital Song Sales (No. 5), Global 200 (No. 2), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 2), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 8), Holiday 100 (No. 3), Holiday Airplay (No. 4), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 3), Radio Songs (No. 31), and Streaming Songs (No. 3).[362] Rumored to have been written for Easter, but later changed to Christmas to boost sales.
Peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on the week ending January 5, 2008,[364] at No. 18 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending January 7, 2012,[365] at No. 7 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending January 12, 2013,[366] and at No. 12 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart on the week ending January 10, 2015.[367][368]
Performed in the 2010 Glee episode "A Very Glee Christmas". First version of song to make the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 63 on the week ending December 19, 2009.[369] Also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Songs chart on the week ending January 8, 2011,[370] and at No. 27 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 26, 2009.[371]
Peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending December 7, 2013,[372] at No. 32 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending December 14, 2013,[373] at No. 22 on the Billboard Holiday Streaming Songs chart on the week ending December 14, 2013,[374] at No. 26 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 4, 2014,[375] and at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 7, 2013.[376]
Peaked at No. 49 on Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending January 7, 2023.[378] Also debuted and peaked at No. 43 Billboard's Holiday Streaming Songs chart on the week ending December 10, 2022.[379]
Featuring backing vocals by the Norton Sisters. Spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Records Most-Played On The Air chart, five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart, and five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Records chart in January and February 1946.[88] Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.[88][383]
Made the following Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Holiday 100 (No. 45), Holiday Airplay (No. 30), and Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 23).[385]
From Martin's 1959 album, A Winter Romance (with orchestra conducted by Gus Levene). First entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 15, 2018, peaking at No. 7 on the week ending January 6, 2024 (following its fifth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 6), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 8), Holiday 100 (No. 6), Holiday Airplay (No. 7), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 9), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 5), Radio Songs (No. 35), and Streaming Songs (No. 5).[386]
Peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for three straight weeks in December 2019. Also peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late December 2019/early January 2020.
From the 1964 album Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Also included on the soundtrack album to the 1965 animated holiday television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 8, 2012, peaking at No. 17 one week later. Also debuted and peaked at No. 37 on Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 1, 2022. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 34), Holiday Airplay (No. 10), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 30), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Radio Songs (No. 45), and Streaming Songs (No. 35).[174]
Spoken-word record featuring a little girl who narrates a letter to Santa Claus about her brother Tommy, who is killed in Vietnam. Quite controversial at the time, the record went to No. 2 on the Billboard Christmas chart despite the fact many radio stations refused to play it. Little is known about Becky except for the fact that she was five years old at the time of the recording; the B-side, "Go to Sleep Little Lambs" is credited to Bill Lamb, presumably Becky's father.[169]
Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 28, 1963 (making this same chart again in 1964).[151] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 2, 2021, peaking at No. 29 on the week ending January 7, 2023 (one week after its second chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 63), Global 200 (No. 41), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 101), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 35), Holiday 100 (No. 22), Holiday Airplay (No. 14), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 9), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 20), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 21).[406]
Written by Jester Hairston.[151][415] Also a top 40 hit remake in the UK for Nina & Frederick in 1959, and a No. 1 hit remake in the UK for Boney M in 1978, as a medley titled "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord".[154]
1970s R&B vocal quintet featuring Luther Vandross on lead vocals, along with former Shades of Jade members Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire.
Spoken-word recording accompanied by "Auld Lang Syne" as its instrumental backing that peaked at No. 26 on Billboard's Top Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 25, 1965.[197] Not to be confused with the popular song of the same title. Harrison was a New York City-based radio personality and disc jockey.
This Hawaiian-themed Christmas song debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 chart at No. 36 on the week ending January 2, 2021. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 47), Holiday 100 (No. 25), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 22), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 22), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 5), and Streaming Songs (No. 22).[416]
Written by Sheeran and John. Peaked at No. 1 for one week on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 1, 2022, and at No. 42 on Billboard's main Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 31, 2022 (upon its chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 25), Digital Song Sales (No. 4), Global 200 (No. 15), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 7), Holiday 100 (No. 29), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 28), Pop Airplay (No. 36), Streaming Songs (No. 34), and Top Triller U.S. (No. 20).[418]
Novelty song which imagined Howard Cosell as Santa Claus. Performed under the pseudonym "Willis the Guard & Vigorish", the song reached No. 82 on the Billboard charts, despite limited airplay after Cosell found the song offensive.[86]
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.
Originally written for the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound of Music. Charted for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, #35 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1969.[3][432] Popular versions that charted include a minor hit for Lorrie Morgan in 1994,[88][433] a version by the band Chicago in 2001, and Kenny G in 2005.[434]
Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Best-Selling Children's Records chart in 1948. Recitation of Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" with musical background orchestrated by Victor Salon. Originally released in 1939.[189] A version by Jim Brickman featuring John Oates peaked at No. 5 on Billboard'sAdult Contemporary chart in 2014.[436]
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Top Popular Records – Most Played by Jockeys chart in late December 1952.[227][437] A recording of Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" featuring a melody written by Johnny Marks and orchestration by Carl Cotner.
The late Dan Adkins collaborated in writing the song, "The Night Was Anything But Silent." It was later recorded by Jonathan White and Shiloh. The latter group also recorded a Latin version.[439]
Written by bassist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Matt Skiba, drummer Travis Barker, who also produced the song. Lyrically, the narrative takes the typically high-spirited holiday celebrations into a metaphor for the passage of time, as well as a relationship falling apart. In the song, Hoppus laments that "depression's such a lonely business," describing a pairing in which one partner is consistently angry and the other is often apologizing. Peaked at number 16 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[440] Made an appearance at number 37 on the publication's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart in the week preceding Christmas.[441]
Also a hit for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and many others around the world. Introduced in a stylized jazz-big band version by Les Brown in the 1957 album Concert Modern. Other hit rock versions by The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Latter's version retitled "A Mad Russian's Christmas".
Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Popular Records – Best Sellers in Stores chart in 1956.[93][442] Versions by four other artists charted in December 1955 and early 1956 on one or more of Billboard's music popularity charts: Joe Ward,[14] Ricky Zahnd & The Blue Jeaners (titled "(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas"),[302]The Fontane Sisters,[75][443] and Stan Freberg.[137] Written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett. 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.
Peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. Charted again on the Christmas Singles chart and Billboard'sBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in 1965.[54][444] Introduced in 1961 by The Springfields as "Bambino (Napoli Lullaby)". Same melody as "Bagpiper's Carol" by The Mariners.
Lyrics composed in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz. Recorded by Guaraldi for the soundtrack album to the 1965 animated holiday television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. First entered Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 10, 2011, peaking at No. 29 on the week ending January 5, 2019. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 161), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 66), Holiday Airplay (No. 27), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 26), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 14), and Streaming Songs (No. 41).[174]
First single released from Carey's second holiday album, Merry Christmas II You. Spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2010 and early 2011.[454] Debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart on the week ending October 30, 2010.
New version of Carey's 2010 single released on the soundtrack to Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special. Made these Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 17), Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Hot 100 (No. 76), Holiday 100 (No. 45), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 1), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 20), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 1), R&B Songs (No. 4), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 15), and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 1).[455]
Instrumental track that peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and at No. 4 on Billboard'sMiddle-Road Singles chart in late March 1963, and at No. 20 on Billboard'sHot R&B Singles chart in April 1963.[39][460] A vocal version by The Lettermen peaked at No. 16 on Billboard's Top 40 Easy Listening chart and No. 72 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart in February 1967.[169]
Originally performed on September 11, 1977, for Crosby's final holiday television special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, and first released as a single in 1982. Appeared on Billboard'sHot 100 Singles Sales chart in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, peaking at No. 43.[154][464] A video clip of the performance from the Crosby television special became a holiday staple on MTV during the holiday season for much of the 1980s.
Peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 2021. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Streaming Songs (No. 7), Holiday 100 (No. 46), and Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 33).[465]
Peaked at No. 21 on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart on the week ending January 8, 1961, and at No. 76 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 7, 1962. Also made Billboard's Christmas Singles chart each December from 1963 to 1970 and again in both 1972 and 1973, peaking at No. 1 on the week ending December 16, 1972.[165][466] Written by Brown and Gene Redd.
Peaked at No. 18 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending January 6, 1979, and at No. 15 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 10, 1998.[132][467] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 31), Digital Song Sales (No. 74), Global 200 (No. 57), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 92), Heritage Rock (No. 37), Holiday 100 (No. 18), Holiday Airplay (No. 2), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 29), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 24), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 4), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 11), Rock Streaming Songs (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 37).[468]
Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 4, 2014, and at No. 14 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart on the week ending November 16, 2013.[474]
Peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 10 on Billboard'sMiddle-Road Singles chart in 1964. Also charted on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart, peaking at No. 27.[157][477] Written by Willie Nelson. The original recording by Orbison was arranged by Bill Justis, with orchestra and chorus conducted by Ivor Raymonde. A 2003 version by Kenny Chesney featuring Willie Nelson peaked at No. 45 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 2004.[9][478] Nelson himself released two versions: his original 1964 version (for RCA Records) and a re-recording in 1979 as the title track of his holiday album released that year.
Peaked at No. 51 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997. Single available only as a bonus CD with the purchase of Rimes's 1996 studio album Blue at Target stores during the 1996 holiday season.[387][479]
Peaked at No. 18 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1996. Parody of the traditional English song "Twelve Days of Christmas".[480] A 2000 cover version by the Redneck Carollers also featured Foxworthy on lead vocals.
Written by Johnny Marks. First entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at No. 64 on the week ending December 18, 1960, originally peaking at No. 14 two weeks later. The single re-entered the Hot 100 chart twelve times (in 1961, 1962, and each year from 2014 to 2023). It first reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart dated December 28, 2019, making it the single with the longest chart run to No. 2 since its initial chart appearance (at 59 years, one week, and three days).[169][483] Between December 2019 and January 2023, the song was No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart for nine nonconsecutive weeks, before reaching No. 1 for the first time on the week ending December 9, 2023, breaking the record for a single's first appearance on the Hot 100 chart to its ascent to No. 1 (just three days shy of 63 years).[484][485] The B-side of Lee's original 1958 single (Decca 30776) is "Papa Noël", a holiday song written by Roy Botkin.
Peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending January 8, 2005,[486] and at No. 30 on the Billboard Holiday Airplay chart on the week ending November 27, 2010.[487][488]
Spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Children's Records chart from late November 1949 through mid January 1950. Also peaked at No. 1 on both Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles and Billboard's Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disk Jockeys charts in early 1950. Autry recorded an updated version of the song in 1957 that featured orchestration by Carl Cotner, which peaked at No. 70 on Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart.[227][492] Covered by many artists through the years, including charted versions by Bing Crosby (1950),[189]Spike Jones and his City Slickers (1950),[11]Red Foley (1951),[75]The Cadillacs (1957),[91]Paul Anka (1960),[3]The Chipmunks (1960),[9]The Temptations (1968),[13] and Alan Jackson (1996).[77][493]
First entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at No. 90 on the week ending December 15, 1958, originally peaking at No. 69 two weeks later.[142][494] Re-entered the Hot 100 chart at No. 45 on the week ending January 5, 2019, attaining an overall peak position of No. 10 on the week ending January 2, 2021 (following its third chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 29), Global 200 (No. 22), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 86), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 37), Holiday 100 (No. 9), Holiday Airplay (No. 46), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 6), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 6), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 2), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 1), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 4), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 1), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Rock Streaming Songs (No. 1), Streaming Songs (No. 6), and Top Triller U.S. (No. 16).[495] The B-side of Berry's original single is another holiday tune, a cover of "Merry Christmas Baby," which also charted on the Hot 100 in December 1958, peaking at No. 71.[142]
Written by Tony Springer, Phil Springer & Joan Javits.[46][499] In 1954, Eartha Kitt recorded a new version of the song with new lyrics titled "This Year's Santa Baby", while Homer & Jethro also recorded a version titled "Santy Baby" in 1954. Later covered by Mae West (1966), Madonna (1987), Kylie Minogue (2000), and Kellie Pickler (2007).[500]
Their version peaked at #22 on the Holiday 100 in 2021. It originally hit No. 1 for 2 weeks on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1970 and charted again in 1971 and 1973 with the flip side "Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year" also from the Jackson 5 Christmas Album. [77][511]
Recorded 'live' December 12, 1975 at C.W. Post College in Greenvale, New York. First released as a promotional single from the album In Harmony 2 in 1981. Springsteen had released it as the flip side to his 1985 single "My Hometown" when it peaked at #1 on the last BillboardChristmas Hits singles chart on December 28, 1985. The song peaked at #13 on the Holiday Songs chart in 2007. It has charted every week of the Holiday 100 since 2001 peaking at #16 in 2012. [141]
Based on the melody of "The Eyes of Texas", with lyrics rewritten by Ken Darby. Originally recorded by Michael Landon in 1963 for the album Bonanza: Christmas on the Ponderosa.[16]
Co-written by Grande. First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 65 on the week ending December 13, 2014, peaking at No. 12 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (following its third chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 7), Adult Pop Airplay (No. 39), Digital Song Sales (No. 24), Global 200 (No. 5), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 6), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 19), Holiday 100 (No. 1), Holiday Airplay (No. 22), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 1), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 1), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 5), Pop Airplay (No. 39), Streaming Songs (No. 8), Top Triller Global (No. 11), and Top Triller U.S. (No. 3).[516][517]
Peaked at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart (from mid December 2017 to early January 2018). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Pop Airplay (No. 40), Global 200 (No. 109), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 115), Holiday 100 (No. 51), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 9), and Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 34).[518] Included on Sia's 2017 holiday album, Everyday Is Christmas.
Previously a No. 1 U.S. hit for 5 weeks as a non-holiday single, was reworked with a new snowy theme and wintry music video, popular on MTV for many years.
Written on Christmas Eve 1818 in Germany by Franz Gruber under the title "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht". Early popular recordings were made by The Haydn Quartet in 1905 under the title "Silent Night, Hallowed Night", Ernestine Schumann-Heink in 1908, Elsie Baker in 1912 as "Silent Night, Hallowed Night" and The Neapolitan Trio in 1917 as "Silent Night, Holy Night".[522]Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra 1928's "Silent Night, Holy Night (Melodies Pt 1)" featured uncredited baritone vocals by Bing Crosby.[56][523]
Crosby's original hit version with the Victor Young Orchestra and backing vocals by the Guardsmen Quartet peaked at #7 on Billboard's popular singles chart.[4][524] Crosby re-recorded the song in 1942 along with his new single, "White Christmas". After these master recordings were worn out by Decca Records, Crosby re-recorded both in 1947 which are the versions featured now on his classic album Merry Christmas.[525]
One of the most widely recorded Christmas songs,[526] other charted versions were recorded by Mariah Carey (1994),[446]Kenny Chesney (2004),[9]MercyMe (2004),[527]Peter Cetera (2005),[528]Josh Groban (2007),[529]
Peaked at #1 for 1 week under the title "Sleep in Heavenly Peace" on Billboard's Best Bets for Christmas. The same version appears on A Christmas Album that she released the following year. [121]
Recorded as "Oiche Chium", the single first charted in the U.S. peaking at No. 117 on Billboard'sBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in 1995. Also charted on Billboard'sHot 100 Singles Sales chart in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004, peaking at No. 11. The classic 1818 Franz Gruber carol sung in Gaelic.[132][535] Originally released as a B-side of Enya's 1988 single, "Evening Falls". Later released as the main track on a three-song EP in 1994, which was also the best-selling Christmas single in the U.S. for 10 years (1994–2004).
Featured on the various artist compilation Platinum Christmas under the title "Silent Night/Noche De Paz". The song peaked at #8 on Billboard's Holiday Songs chart in 2001.[536]
Original instrumental recording; debuted and peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Best-Selling Pop Singles chart on the week ending December 16, 1949.[154][544] Written in 1946, it was also recorded in 1950 by the song's composer, Leroy Anderson. A popular 1958 version by Johnny Mathis (backed by the Percy Faith Orchestra) was an early recording of the vocal version, with lyrics written by Mitchell Parrish.
From the 1963 holiday album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. First entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart at No. 41 on the week ending December 22, 2018, peaking at No. 8 on the week ending December 23, 2023 (following its fifth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 12), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 16), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 13), Holiday 100 (No. 7), Holiday Airplay (No. 8), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 7), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 6), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 5), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 1), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 10), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 1), Radio Songs (No. 39), and Streaming Songs (No. 8).[545]
The third in a series of "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" songs by the group. Reached No. 10 in Cashbox's pop chart, No. 1 in the Billboard Christmas chart. Re-charted in 1968 and 1969.[134]
Peaked at No. 55 on Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 31, 2022. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 27), Global 200 (No. 15), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 9), and Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 3).[518] Included on Sia's 2017 holiday album, Everyday Is Christmas.
Debuted and peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Best Selling Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 17, 1966.[86] Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult R&B Airplay (No. 33), Global 200 (No. 157), Holiday 100 (No. 56), Holiday Airplay (No. 29), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 17), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 11), and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 16).[549]
Debuted and peaked at No. 60 on Billboard'sHoliday 100 chart on the week ending December 19, 2015. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult R&B Airplay (No. 23), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Hot R&B Songs (No. 24), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 5), and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 12).[552]
Peaked at No. 59 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 31, 2022. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 18), Global 200 (No. 79), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 165), Holiday 100 (No. 39), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 36), Hot R&B Songs (No. 9), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 15), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 12), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 15), and Streaming Songs (No. 49).[553]
Written and originally recorded in 1966 by Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot for his 1967 album The Way I Feel. McLachlan's version of the song was recorded in 1994 and first appeared on the soundtrack to that year's remake of Miracle on 34th Street. McLachlan also included her version on her 2006 holiday album Wintersong.
Peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart in November 2017, and at No. 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in early 2018.
The B-side is another holiday tune by Elton titled "Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)".[77][558] The British indie-rock band The Wedding Present recorded a cover of "Step Into Christmas" that appeared on the 1991 various artists holiday compilation A Lump of Coal.
Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart on the week ending January 2, 2021. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Airplay (No. 37), Country Digital Song Sales (No. 4), Country Streaming Songs (No. 7), Digital Song Sales (No. 15), Holiday 100 (No. 25), Global 200 (No. 82), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 26), Hot 100 (No. 48), and Streaming Songs (No. 29).[560]
Lyrics and music by Irving Caesar and Gerald Marks. Peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. Charted again in 1964. Featuring orchestra by O.B. Masingill. The flip side is her version of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" that peaked at # 17 in 1963. [86][564]
Originally recorded by Como in 1950. Re-recorded version peaked at No. 28 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1968. Featuring orchestration by Nick Perito and the Ray Charles Singers on backing vocals.[96]
"There Won't Be Any Snow (Christmas in the Jungle)"
Derrik Roberts
1965
Peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1965, and at No. 105 on Billboard'sBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in 1966.[134] Included on the 1998 Westside Records compilation, Christmas Past.
Featuring accompaniment by the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers. Peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Most Played by Jockeys chart on the week ending December 29, 1954, and at No. 18 on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart one week earlier.[96][565] A second recording of the song by Como with the same backing accompaniment as the 1954 original was released in 1959. First entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 22 on the week ending January 2, 2021, following its second chart re-entry. Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 61), Holiday 100 (No. 13), Holiday Airplay (No. 14), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 50), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 10), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 8), and Streaming Songs (No. 18).[317]
Peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart on the week ending December 23, 1972.[197] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 39 on the week ending January 2, 2021, peaking at No. 37 on the week ending January 7, 2023 (one week following its chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Global 200 (No. 62), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 49), Holiday 100 (No. 25), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 32), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 27), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 10), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 10), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 6), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 23), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 6), and Streaming Songs (No. 27).[568]
Peaked at No. 58 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks in 1996. Originally released in 1990 as a single, and on the albums Home for the Holidays and A Season of Harmony with the title "Til' Santa's Gone (I Just Can't Wait)".[142][576]
The most popular song on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts in 1978 and 1979.[577] Though released in December 1978 with a theme of going home for Christmas, the song has largely lost its association with Christmas over the years and is now aired more often in general recurrent rotation (in classic hits formats) than in Christmas rotations.
A recording of Clement Moore's famous 1823 poem set to music by Ken Darby and orchestration by Harry Simeone, it first charted on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in 1949, peaking at No. 11, and again in 1952, peaking at No. 6. This first recording by Waring was released around Christmastime of 1942 on the 4-record album set, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.[56] He went on to record it two more times; again for Decca Records in 1955,[580] and a third and final time for Capitol Records in stereo in 1963.[581] This 1963 recording became the most famous of the poem's musical adaptations.[582] The song also charted by Arthur Godfrey with backing orchestration by Archie Bleyer on Billboard's Best Selling Children's Records chart in 1950.[93]
Originally released as the B-side of the band's 1983 single "Middle of the Road", and then included on the band's 1984 album Learning to Crawl. Also covered by Holly Cole in 1989, and recorded by Coldplay in 2003 as a download single for charity.
Written by Clarkson and Greg Kurstin. Spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart (from the week ending December 14, 2013, to the week ending January 4, 2014). First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 92 on the week ending December 21, 2013, peaking at No. 12 on the week ending January 2, 2021 (following its third chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Digital Song Sales (No. 17), Global 200 (No. 8), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 14), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 22), Holiday 100 (No. 8), Holiday Airplay (No. 24), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 3), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 8), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), and Streaming Songs (No. 9).[586]
Spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2005 and early 2006.[587] First released by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1953, and re-recorded by Autry for his 1957 holiday album, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer & other Christmas Favorites.
Peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Holiday Airplay chart (week ending December 10, 2005) and at No. 73 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart (week ending December 13, 2014).[589] Originally from the Broadway musical production Mame.
Peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart (week ending December 25, 2010) and at No. 16 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs Sales chart (week ending December 4, 2010).[592]
Peaked at No. 15 on Billboard'sAdult Contemporary.[594] Recorded by dozens of artists over the years, but Kenny G's 2005 recording was the first version to make any of Billboard's music charts.
Peaked at No. 75 on Billboard'sHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997. Included on the 1996 various artists album A Country Christmas.[9][597] Traditional 16th century English melody, known as "Greensleeves". Lyrics written in the 19th century by William Chatterton Dix. Also charted by Carrie Underwood (2009).[598]
Peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart 12/14/1968. Written by Jimmy Webb, and featuring the Don Costa Orchestra.[54] Covered by Aimee Mann in 2006.
Spent eleven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's National Best Selling Retail Records chart and three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard'sHarlem Hit Parade chart in late 1942. Written by Irving Berlin. Bing Crosby's original 1942 version featured the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter's Orchestra. The song debuted in the 1942 film Holiday Inn (sung by Crosby), then appeared in the 1954 color film titled after the song.[4][603] The original was re-recorded in 1947 and it is still the best-selling Christmas single of all time in the U.S. (estimated at more than 50 million sold through the years), and appears on numerous holiday albums as well. Other charting recordings in 1942 were made by Gordon Jenkins (#16), Charlie Spivak (#20)[141] and Freddy Martin (#20).[604] Spivak and Martin recharted in 1945 both peaking at #16. Crosby made #1 again in 1945 and 1947 with his single. [6]Elvis Presley's 1957 cover of the song garnered controversy when Irving Berlin called for his version to be banned from radio airplay.
The flip side of his "Blue Christmas" single peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Country & Western Records chart. A version by The Ravens peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart in January 1949 on National Records.[84]
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.
Peaked at No. 23 on the pop singles chart in early 1953. Featuring the Mello Men on vocals. B-side to Jones's hit recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".[11]
Peaked at No. 112 on Billboard'sBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. Featuring the Joe Reisman Orchestra.[134] The flipside, "It's Christmas Once Again" reached the "Beat Of The Week – Singles Coming Up" survey in Music Vendor.
Written and produced by McCartney. The single's B-side, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae," is an instrumental cover of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Debuted on Cash Box's Top 100 Singles chart on the week ending December 29, 1979, peaking at No. 83 two weeks later.[615] First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 47 on the week ending December 29, 2018, peaking at No. 28 on the week ending January 2, 2021 (two weeks following its first chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Adult Contemporary (No. 29), Adult Pop Airplay (No. 32), Christmas Singles (No. 10), Global 200 (No. 18), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 25), Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs (No. 20), Holiday 100 (No. 15), Holiday Airplay (No. 8), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 17), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 13), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 1), Radio Songs (No. 48), Rock Digital Song Sales (No. 7), Rock Streaming Songs (No. 2), and Streaming Songs (No. 23).[48][616]
Peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1965. Inspired by the famous 1897 newspaper editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".[118] A version by José Ferrer had previously reached the Australian pop chart in 1961.
Peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in early 2018, at No. 37 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart, and at No. 3 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
From the 1966 Dr. Seuss holiday TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! First entered Billboard's main Hot 100 chart at No. 49 on the week ending January 4, 2020, peaking at No. 31 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (upon its fourth chart re-entry). Also made these other Billboard music charts (with peak positions shown): Country Digital Song Sales (No. 23), Digital Song Sales (No. 33), Global 200 (No. 88), Holiday 100 (No. 14), Holiday Airplay (No. 14), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 2), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 8), Hot 100 Recurrents (No. 3), Radio Songs (No. 49), and Streaming Songs (No. 25).[621]
Words and music by Casey Shea and Andy Baldwin. Peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart. Charted again in 1964. Featuring orchestration by Luchi DeJesus.[142] Different song than the same-titled hit by Frankie Laine from 1948. It was recorded in 1964 by Don Patterson for his album Holiday Soul. In 2011 Dutch singer Caro Emerald recorded a version, sampling Benton's original recording to produce a duet.
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.
Da Yoopers released "Rusty Chevrolet" in 1986, with lyrics written by Jim DeCaire & Joe Potila used with the song "Jingle Bells".
The comedy duo of Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg reached No. 10 on the Billboard Christmas charts in 1970 with "Christmas Goose (Snowbird)", a parody of Anne Murray's "Snowbird".[141]
The US TV series South Park aired an early Christmas episode (and namesake song), "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" in 1997. This 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.
The political satire group The Capitol Steps has released four Christmas albums: Danny's First Noel (1989), All I Want for Christmas Is a Tax Increase (1993),O, Christmas Bush (2006), and Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree (2009). 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 parodied by the Floridian band, The Monsters in the Morning; they were included on the second disc of the Monsters Double Brown album.[citation needed]
^MacDonald, Dennis. "A Very Special Christmas 2". Allmusic.com. AllMusic, Netaktion LLC. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020. Release Date: October 20, 1992
^Kim, Wook (14 December 2012). "Music Yule Laugh, Yule Cry: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs". Time. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2020. Nat King Cole was the first to record the song. He did four different recordings (with his trio and as a solo performer) between 1946 and 1961—the final [1961] version is the likely the one you're most familiar with.
^Moran, Dan. "Moran: A (revised) list of the greatest Christmas songs that haven't worn out their welcome". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020. The version you hear with gently swelling strings and harps followed by Cole's velvet-smooth baritone is probably the one from 1961, after he also recorded Robert Wells and Mel Torme's relaxed tune in 1946 and 1953.
^Gates, Anita (17 December 2015). "What's On Tonight?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2020. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN... This 36-year-old animated special, narrated by Jimmy Durante, is about a snowman... what matters is Frosty's sparkling personality and the title song.
^"Columbia Records". Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020. Columbia Records #38-06432, 1986, 'Merry Christmas Baby', Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
^Garrett, Thad (19 December 2017). "The American Christmas Songbook: "Merry Christmas, Darling" (1970)". Lib.cua.edu. 620 Michigan Ave., N.E. Washington, DC 20064: The Catholic University of America. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019. In 1978, at Karen's request, the vocals were re-recorded for the release of Christmas Portrait, their first Christmas album.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Carter, Evan. "Fred Waring - The Meaning of Christmas". Allmusic.com. AllMusic, Netaktion LLC. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020. Track 2: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (6:45). Music by Ken Darby
^Carter, Evan. "Fred Waring - The Meaning of Christmas". Allmusic.com. AllMusic, Netaktion LLC. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020. The first is the Pennsylvanians' jolly [1963] six-minute rendition of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," which is probably the most famous musical adaptation ever recorded of that everlastingly popular holiday staple.