[78-L] The Christmas Songs

[David Lennick]

Kristjan Saag wrote:
> I wrote:
> 
>> Found this on the net: ASCAP's most-performed 'holiday' songs 2000-2004.
>> What's interesting is that about 14 och the 25 songs were launched between
>> 1934 and 1955, including the entire Top 7.
> --
> And perhaps even more interesting: 20 of the 25 were issued on 78 rpm.
> Kristjan
> ----

I get the same number..not counting 78s in India or The Philippines or Antgarctica.
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY..on 78 in Canada.
CAROL OF THE BELLS..most likely in the Robert Shaw Chorale collection.
> 
> 
> According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the
> following are the Top 25 most-performed "Holiday" songs written by ASCAP
> members for the first five years of the 21st century. The list does not
> include songs out of copyright (like "Jingle Bells") or written by members
> of Broadcast Music, Incorporated, known as BMI.
> 
> 1 "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Mel Tormé,
> Robert Wells
> 2 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
> 3 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
> 4 "Winter Wonderland" - Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
> 5 "White Christmas" - Irving Berlin
> 6 "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
> 7 "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Johnny Marks
> 8 "Jingle Bell Rock" - Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
> 9 "I'll Be Home for Christmas" - Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
> 10 "Little Drummer Boy" - Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry
> Simeone
> 11 "Sleigh Ride" - Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
NO 12 "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" - Edward Pola, George Wyle
> 13 "Silver Bells" - Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
NO 14 "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - Johnny Marks
NO 15 "Feliz Navidad" - José Feliciano
> 16 "Blue Christmas" - Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
> 17 "Frosty the Snowman" - Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
NO 18 "A Holly Jolly Christmas" - Johnny Marks
> 19 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - Tommie Connor
> 20 "Here Comes Santa Claus" (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - Gene Autry,
> Oakley Haldeman
> 21 "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Meredith Willson
> 22 "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" - Bob Allen, Al Stillman
> 23 "Carol of the Bells" - Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
> 24 "Santa Baby" - Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
NO 25 "Wonderful Christmastime" - Paul McCartney
Speaking of torture..this last one can drive me batty.

dl