Definitive versions of Christmas songs
#1
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Definitive versions of Christmas songs
I was just sitting here, working on my Christmas comp and to kill some time I was thinking who recorded the definitive versions of certain Christmas songs. They didn't have to necessarily record the first/best version of the song or write it, but popularize it. This is what I've come up with:
"White Christmas" - Bing Crosby
"Happy Holidays" - Bing Crosby
"Sleigh Ride" - Johnny Mathis
"Little Saint Nick" - The Beach Boys
"Jingle Bell Rock" - Wayne Newton
"The Christmas Song" - toss-up between Nat King Cole and Mel Torme (though I'd give the edge to the former)
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - John Lennon
"A Holly Jolly Christmas" - Burl Ives
"Christmas Time Is Here" - Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" - Dean Martin
"Please Come Home for Christmas" - Charles Brown
"Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" - Andy Williams
"Here Comes Santa Claus" - Gene Autry
"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" - Dean Martin
What've I missed?
"White Christmas" - Bing Crosby
"Happy Holidays" - Bing Crosby
"Sleigh Ride" - Johnny Mathis
"Little Saint Nick" - The Beach Boys
"Jingle Bell Rock" - Wayne Newton
"The Christmas Song" - toss-up between Nat King Cole and Mel Torme (though I'd give the edge to the former)
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - John Lennon
"A Holly Jolly Christmas" - Burl Ives
"Christmas Time Is Here" - Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" - Dean Martin
"Please Come Home for Christmas" - Charles Brown
"Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" - Andy Williams
"Here Comes Santa Claus" - Gene Autry
"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" - Dean Martin
What've I missed?
#6
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally posted by DJLinus
I always considered the Wayne Newton version to be the popular one. Guess classifying a song as "definitive" can be pretty subjective.
I always considered the Wayne Newton version to be the popular one. Guess classifying a song as "definitive" can be pretty subjective.
Bobby Helms - 1957 (song charts at #6)
Wayne Newton - 1990 (the song has long been a holiday standard by this time)
The listing with dozens of albums with Bobby Helms's original
And Wayne Newton's two
Last edited by Burnt Alive; 12-04-04 at 03:54 AM.
#7
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
I have Newton's version on my Christmas Cocktails Part Two CD. The liner notes list that it was recorded on July 11, 1966 and taken from the album Songs for a Merry Christmas (must be OOP now). I saw Newtwon perform over the summer and, believe me, latter-period Wayne is nothing to right home about.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not disputing you. Helms probably did record the definitive version (and the chart position backs you up). For some reason, though, Wayne's is just the one that I think of when I think of that song. It's all good.
There's no mistaking Wayne's little girl voice.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not disputing you. Helms probably did record the definitive version (and the chart position backs you up). For some reason, though, Wayne's is just the one that I think of when I think of that song. It's all good.
Maybe you're just confused by the vocals?
#8
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I've never even heard Wayne Newton's version of JBR. Nor do I care to. How that man became famous and somehow still inexplicably is still baffles me. I'm sure he's a nice man and all, but I have never been able to stand his voice. As for JBR, the Bobby Helms' version is the definitive for me.
Others:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
My personal favorite version of this one:
Little Drummer Boy - The Jackson 5
Others:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
My personal favorite version of this one:
Little Drummer Boy - The Jackson 5
Last edited by gnradd21; 12-03-04 at 10:55 PM.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
"Winter Wonderland" by Stryper
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Mr. Hankey
...and I second the vote for Bob & Doug
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Mr. Hankey
...and I second the vote for Bob & Doug
#10
DVD Talk Special Edition
Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer - The Temptations
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
(Of course, I love the entire Phil Spector record, and would consider most of those versions definitive for me....)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
(Of course, I love the entire Phil Spector record, and would consider most of those versions definitive for me....)
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Nah, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer would have to be Gene Autry.
And when I hear "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" I think of Mel Torme. But that's only because I think of Home Alone as well.
"White Christmas" either Bing Crosby or the Drifters.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Little Jimmy Boyd was first, but the Jackson 5 version is good too.
"Let it Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow" Vaughn Monroe.
"Little Drummer Boy" Harry Simone Chorale.
"Mary's Boy Child" Harry Belafonte.
"Grown-Up Christmas List" Amy Grant.
"Run, Rudolph, Run" Chuck Berry
"Merry Christmas Darling" Carpenters.
"Feliz Navidad" Jose Felicano.
"Santa Baby" Eartha Kitt.
"Twelve Days Of Christmas" Ray Conniff or Englebert Humperdinck.
"Home For The Holidays" Perry Como.
Never once heard Wayne Newton do Jingle Bell Rock. Bleah. I had never heard his first big hit "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast" until about a year ago. My friend told me who was singing the song, I didn't believe him.
I agree, I don't know how he got so famous.
JP
And when I hear "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" I think of Mel Torme. But that's only because I think of Home Alone as well.
"White Christmas" either Bing Crosby or the Drifters.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Little Jimmy Boyd was first, but the Jackson 5 version is good too.
"Let it Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow" Vaughn Monroe.
"Little Drummer Boy" Harry Simone Chorale.
"Mary's Boy Child" Harry Belafonte.
"Grown-Up Christmas List" Amy Grant.
"Run, Rudolph, Run" Chuck Berry
"Merry Christmas Darling" Carpenters.
"Feliz Navidad" Jose Felicano.
"Santa Baby" Eartha Kitt.
"Twelve Days Of Christmas" Ray Conniff or Englebert Humperdinck.
"Home For The Holidays" Perry Como.
Never once heard Wayne Newton do Jingle Bell Rock. Bleah. I had never heard his first big hit "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast" until about a year ago. My friend told me who was singing the song, I didn't believe him.
I agree, I don't know how he got so famous.
JP
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
What Can You Get A Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)- Meco
Yes, John later became Jon Bon Jovi
#18
"O Holy Night" Michael Crawford
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Mahalia Jackson
"What child is this?" The Ray Connif singers
"O come all ye Faithful" Luther Vandross
"God rest ye merry Gentlemen" Julie Andrews
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Mahalia Jackson
"What child is this?" The Ray Connif singers
"O come all ye Faithful" Luther Vandross
"God rest ye merry Gentlemen" Julie Andrews
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Not to pick on you but add me to the list of questioning Wayne Newton. I had no idea anyone had even released a version of Jingle Bell Rock that has ever gotten any airplay except for Bobby Helms' version.
Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles
Unique ones but have not been covered by many others:
Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
Christmas in Dixie - Alabama
Last Christmas - Wham!
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
Don't know if it is the definitive version but I love the version of Jingle Bells sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters.
Another favorite is The Drifters version of White Christmas. To me it rivals Bing's version. Awesome!
One more - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by The Orioles.
Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles
Unique ones but have not been covered by many others:
Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
Christmas in Dixie - Alabama
Last Christmas - Wham!
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
Don't know if it is the definitive version but I love the version of Jingle Bells sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters.
Another favorite is The Drifters version of White Christmas. To me it rivals Bing's version. Awesome!
One more - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by The Orioles.
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Hmmm. I was going to start another Christmas music thread a couple of days ago (still might... Regarding the previous post, I've heard Hall and Oates version of Jingle Bell Rock plenty the last few years. But still haven't heard Wayne-O.
#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Although actually a combination of the songs "Snow Miser" and "Heat Miser" (from the Rankin/Bass Year Without a Santa Claus special), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy really hits one out-of-the-park with their cover version called "Mr. Heatmiser"
(BTW, "Snow Miser"/"Heat Miser" is an underappreciated classic - why aren't there more covers?)
(BTW, "Snow Miser"/"Heat Miser" is an underappreciated classic - why aren't there more covers?)