1935 HITS ARCHIVE: Silent Night - Bing Crosby (his early version)

Here is Bing Crosby's first recording of "Silent Night," with vocal effects by The Guardsmen Quartette.


Bing is also joined by Victor Young and His Orchestra.


Recorded in Los Angeles on November 12, 1935 and released on Decca #621.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

White Christmas - Bing Crosby - 78 RPM - Released 1942

Arguably the most famous recording of Christmas music ever made---here's Bing Crosby with his recording of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," along with the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra.


Recorded on May 29, 1942 and released on July 30 of that year as part of a Decca Records album of six 78-RPM records from the Paramount musical film Holiday Inn.

1946 Les Brown - The Christmas Song (Doris Day, vocal)

Time for "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" with Les Brown and His Orchestra.

Doris Day handles the vocal here.

Recorded on August 29, 1946 and released on Columbia #37174.

1952 HITS ARCHIVE: A Christmas Festival - Leroy Anderson (his original v...

From 1952, here's Leroy Anderson and His "Pops" Concert Orchestra with both parts one and two of his self-penned "A Christmas Festival."


Released on Decca #9-16041.

Frank Sinatra-"White Christmas" 1944 78rpm

Here's Frank Sinatra's 1944 recording of "White Christmas" with the orchestra under the direction of Axel Stordahl.


Released on Columbia #36756.

1952 Sammy Kaye - All Around The Christmas Tree (Kaye Choir, vocal)

It's time to Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye as the boys play "All Around the Christmas Tree."

Vocal for this 1952 recording is provided by The Kaye Choir.

Released on Columbia #4-39894.

1948 Ravens - White Christmas

From 1948, here are The Ravens, featuring bass singer Jimmy Ricks, with their version of "White Christmas."

Released on National #9062.

Norman Luboff Choir- "Carols for Christmas". 1955

From Columbia Records in 1955 we present The Norman Luboff Choir with "Carols For Christmas."


It's a 10-inch long-playing album (CL 2545).


Here are the selections:


0:00 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

1:04 Joy To The World

2:21 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

4:05 It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

5:44 Good King Wenceslas

6:46 Silent Night, Holy Night

8:57 Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

10:11 The First Nowell

12:03 Away in a Manger

13:20 O Little Town of Bethlehem

15:03 We Three Kings of Orient Are

16:40 O Come, All Ye Faithful

1949 Mills Brothers - My Christmas Song For You

Here are The Mills Brothers with "My Christmas Song For You."


Recorded on September 8, 1949 and released on Decca #24768.

Lawrence Welk- "Merry Christmas." 1956

"Merry Christmas" from Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music!

Here are the tracks on this 1956 Coral LP album ( CRL-57093):

0:00 Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
2:25 I Wanna Do More Than Whistle
4:51 White Christmas
7:23 Christmas Island
9:45 The Christmas Toy
12:36 Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
14:42 Winter Wonderland
17:00 Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)
19:36 Christmas Comes But Once A Year
22:05 Thanks for Christmas
24:30 Twelve Days of Christmas
27:51 High on the Housetop

Among the featured performers: The Sparklers, Alice Lon, The Lennon Sisters, Dick Dale and Larry Hooper.

MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY-Chuck Berry (Chess-1958)

From 1958, here's Chuck Berry with "Merry Christmas Baby."


Released on Chess #1714.

Mitch Miller and The Gang - "Holiday Sing Along With Mitch" (1961) [Full...

From Columbia Records in 1961, it's time for "Holiday Sing Along With Mitch," a complete stereo long-playing album with Mitch Miller and The Gang!

Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas

From 1960, here's Charles Brown with "Please Come Home For Christmas."


He co-wrote the song with Gene Redd.


Released on King #45-5405.

Jan Garber and his Orchestra- Under the Christmas Tree. 1949

Time for more Christmas music from the Idol of the Air Lanes.


Here's a 1949 Capitol long-playing album (Capitol #H-9008) entitled "Under The Christmas Tree" with Jan Garber and His Orchestra.


0:00 Winter Wonderland- vocal by Bob Grabeau with Vocal Quartet

2:59 White Christmas

5:38 Santa Claus is Comin' to Town- vocal by Ernie Mathias and Vocal Quartet

8:22 The Christmas Waltz

10:48 Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)- Vocal Quartet and Ensemble

13:14 Deck the Halls- vocal by Bob Grabeau with Vocal Ensemble

15:48 The Bells of St. Mary's- Instrumental

18:20 Jingle Bells- vocal by Bob Grabeau with Vocal Ensemble

Jan Garber- Christmas Dance Party. 1960

Time for Christmas music from the Idol of the Air Lanes.


Here's Jan Garber and His Orchestra with "Christmas Dance Party," released in 1960 on Decca long-playing album #DL 78932 in full honest-to-goodness stereo!


0:00 Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas

2:00 Sleigh Ride

4:30 Jingle Bell Rock

6:26 Silver Bells

9:12 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

11:56 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

14:31 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

16:53 White Christmas

19:04 Christmas Chopsticks ('Twas the Night before Christmas)

21:22 Winter Wonderland

23:42 There's No Place Like Home At Christmas

26:39 Jingle Bells

White Christmas

From 1954, here are The Drifters---featuring Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinckney----with Irving Berlin's immortal "White Christmas."


Released on Atlantic #1048.

The Lawrence Welk Show - Christmas Party!

Here's a real treat for you!


Here's a complete kinescope of the December 24, 1960 ABC Network telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show.


Join Lawrence, along with the Champagne Music Makers, the Lennon Sisters, and guest (still not yet the Champagne Lady) Norma Zimmer.


1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Instrumental

2. The Night Before Christmas - Aladdin

3. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Klein Kids

Dodge Commercial

4. Christmas Carols - Norma Zimmer & Lennon Sisters

5. March Of The Toys - Instrumental

6. Thanks For Christmas - Lennon Sisters

Geritol Commercial

7. High On A Housetop - Larry Hooper & Kids

8. High On A Housetop - Jim Roberts & Kids

9. Ava Maria - Norma Zimmer

Dodge Commercial

10. Santa Introductions - Aladdin Claus!!!

11. Rudolph (Puppet) - Rocky Rockwell

12. Presley Imitations - Jeff Rockwell (Rocky`s son)

Dodge Commercial

13. O Holy Night - Joe Feeney

14. Outer Space Santa - Bill Page & son Scotty

15. Merry Christmas From Our House - Lennon Sisters

Sominex Commercial

16. Ava Maria - Jimmy Getzoff

17. Christmas Comes But Once A Year - Larry Dean

18. Christmas Island - Kenny Trimble & son

19. White Christmas - Norma & Jim

Dodge Commercial

20. Jingle Bells - Jo Ann Castle

21. Silent Night

22. Aladdin passes out gifts as Santa

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SONG (Rosemary Clooney and Gene Aurty; Columbia-1952)

From Columbia Records in 1952, we present Rosemary Clooney and Gene Autry singing "The Night Before Christmas Song," with Carl Cotner and His Orchestra.

1946 HITS ARCHIVE: Christmas Island - Andrews Sisters & Guy Lombardo

Time for more Christmas music as the Andrews Sisters, along with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians bring you "Christmas Island."


This 1946 hit was released on Decca #23722.

1946 HITS ARCHIVE: The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (his original hit)

Here's the original 1946 recording of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" with the King Cole Trio and a string choir under the direction of Charles Grean.


Nat, of course, does the vocal.


Released on Capitol #311.