Christmas Through the Years

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 4 available)

Tracklist

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1CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Sleigh Ride
engineer:
James Nichols
producer:
Nathaniel S. Johnson and John Pfeiffer (producer and engineer)
choir vocals:
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
orchestra:
The Boston ‘Pops’ Orchestra (from 1959-05-15 until 1959-05-16)
conductor:
Arthur Fiedler (conductor) (from 1959-05-15 until 1959-05-16)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Records (UK) Limited (1987–1996) (in 1962) and Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1963)
recording of:
Sleigh Ride (original instrumental version) (in 1949)
composer:
Leroy Anderson (until 1948-02-10)
publisher:
Mills Music
recording of:
Sleigh Ride (original instrumental version) (from 1959-05-15 until 1959-05-16)
composer:
Leroy Anderson (until 1948-02-10)
publisher:
Mills Music
recording of:
Sleigh Ride (on 1959-05-16)
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish (in 1950)
composer:
Leroy Anderson (until 1948-02-10)
publisher:
EMI Harmonies Limited, EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!) and Woodbury Music (aka Woodbury Music Company)
version of:
Sleigh Ride (original instrumental version)
recording of:
3 German Dances for Orchestra, K. 605: No. 3 in C major. German Dance & Trio "Die Schlittenfahrt" & Coda
composer:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (classical composer) (in 1789)
part of:
3 German Dances for Orchestra, K. 605
Boston Pops Orchestra52:59
2Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
recording of:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (on 1968-08-01)
lyricist:
Ralph Blane (in 1943)
composer:
Hugh Martin (in 1943)
publisher:
EMI April Music Inc., EMI Feist Catalog Inc., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Publishing, EMI United Partnership Ltd., J. Albert & Son, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Loew’s Incorporated (in 1943, in 1944) and Leo Feist, Inc. (in 1971, in 1972)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), フジパシフィック音楽出版 SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc. SBK Division) (until 2014-12-31) and フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) (from 2015-01-01 to present)
part of:
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944 musical film soundtrack)
Perry Como2:50
3The Little Drummer Boy
choir vocals:
The Harry Simeone Chorale
recording of:
Carol of the Drum (aka “The Little Drummer Boy”)
lyricist and composer:
Katherine K. Davis (Katherine Kennicott Davis) (in 1941)
additional composer:
Henry Onorati (in 1958) and Harry Simeone (in 1958)
publisher:
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated), International Korwin Corp., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. (in 1955) and Mills Music, Inc. (in 1964)
is based on:
Trad. (traditional Czech carol, became “Carol of the Drums”)
The Harry Simeone Chorale3:23
4Christmas Eve in My Home Town
Kate Smith3:22
5Silver Bells
vocals:
Perry Como (US pop singer & TV personality, 1912–2001)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1968)
recording of:
Silver Bells (Christmas song) (on 1968-08-01)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Evans (American songwriter) and Jay Livingston
publisher:
Famous Music Corporation (renamed since 2007‐05 as Sony/ATV Harmony/Melody), Famous Music Publishing Limited (renamed into BMG FM Music Ltd. on 2013-05-13), Jay Livingston Music Inc., Paramount Music Corporation, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd. and Sony/ATV Harmony (in 1950)
sub-publisher:
Sony/ATV Harmony Canada and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
Perry Como2:27
6Silent Night
recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Bing Crosby2:40
7(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
vocals:
Perry Como (US pop singer & TV personality, 1912–2001)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1968)
recording of:
Home for the Holidays
lyricist:
Al Stillman
composer:
Robert Allen (US songwriter/arranger/pianist)
publisher:
Charlie Deitcher Productions, Inc., Kitty Anne Music Co., Inc., Music Sales Corporation (American copyright holder in both popular and classical music) and ミュージック・セールス (Music Sales, Japan, subsidiary of Shinko Music Entertainment)
Perry Como2:57
8White Christmas
recording of:
White Christmas
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (from 1938 until 1940)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Irving Berlin Music Corp., Williamson Music Company and Irving Berlin Music Company (from 1940 to present)
sub-publisher:
EMI Allans Music Australia Pty Ltd, Irving Berlin Music Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Warner/Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited (華納音樂版權香港有限公司, 1995–2019), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
part of:
The 15th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1942 winner)
Freddy Martin and His Orchestra/Clyde Rodgers, Vocal3:02
9Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!Vaughn Monroe3:13
10The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
vocals:
Perry Como (US pop singer & TV personality, 1912–2001) (on 1953-05-05)
orchestra:
Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (on 1953-05-05)
lyricist:
Robert Wells (songwriter) (in 1945-07) and Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
composer:
Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
publisher:
Chappell/Morris Ltd., MPL Music Publishing Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd., Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Ltd., Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd. and Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.) (from 1946 to present)
Perry Como3:36
11Jolly Old St. Nicholas
The Ames Brothers2:23
12Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
background vocals:
Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires (on 1950-06-22)
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1950-06-22)
orchestra:
John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (on 1950-06-22)
cover recording of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (on 1950-06-22)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co. (on 1949-05-09) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (from 1950 to present)
arrangement of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (for voice, choir and orchestra, Elms)
cover recording of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (on 1962-10-05)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co. (on 1949-05-09) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (from 1950 to present)
arrangement of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (for voice, choir and orchestra, Elms)
Bing Crosby52:18
13Mary’s Little Boy Child
Harry Belafonte4:24
14Carol of the Bells
The Harry Simeone Chorale2:21
15Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music2:04
16Christmas in Killarney
Dennis Day2:14
17A Family Christmas
Gary Lindsay3:01
18Frosty the Snow Man
Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians2:35
19A Marshmallow World
background vocals:
The Lee Gordon Singers (on 1950-09-08)
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1950-09-08)
orchestra:
Sonny Burke and His Orchestra (on 1950-09-08)
recording of:
A Marshmallow World (on 1950-09-08)
lyricist:
Carl Sigman (in 1949)
composer:
Peter de Rose (tin pan alley era songwriter, pianist and performer on radio) (in 1949)
publisher:
Shapiro Bernstein & Co. Ltd.
Bing Crosby2:42
20Here Comes Santa Claus
Eddie Fisher2:19
21It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Perry Como2:35
2CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Spike Jones and His City Slickers3:05
2Jingle Bell Rock
guest background vocals:
Anita Kerr Singers (mixed vocal group) (on 1957-10-29)
performer:
Bobby Helms
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1957)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 4), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 4), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 8), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 14), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-22 (number: 20), Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1957 (number: 30), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2024 (number: 67), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2023 (number: 68), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2025 (number: 81), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022 (number: 86) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Jingle Bell Rock (on 1957-10-29)
writer:
Joe Beal and Jim Boothe
publisher:
Anne Rachel Music Corp, Carlin, Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA) and Essex Music of Australia Pty. Ltd.
Bobby Helms4.22:12
3Nuttin’ for Christmas
Stan Freberg2:25
4O Holy Night
The Lettermen2:37
5I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever
recording of:
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever (from 1981-12 until 1982-03)
lyricist:
Richard Burton Matheson (Author)
composer:
Nick Perito
Perry Como3:12
6Medley: Deck the Halls / Joy to the World / It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Kate Smith6:39
7Away in a Manger
Ed Ames2:23
8Do You Hear What I Hear?
recording of:
Do You Hear What I Hear?
lyricist:
Noël Regney (in 1962)
writer:
Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker
composer:
Gloria Shayne Baker (in 1962)
publisher:
Blue Ribbon Music Ltd., Campbell Connelly and Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Bing Crosby52:47
9Christmas Waltz
The Lettermen2:13
10An Old Christmas Card
cover recording of:
An Old Christmas Card
writer:
Vaughn Horton
publisher:
Southern Music (publisher)
Jim Reeves2:48
11Christmas Is
The Fireside Singers3:27
12Pretty Paper
cover recording of:
Pretty Paper
lyricist and composer:
Willie Nelson
publisher:
Sony ATV Music Publishing (1995–2020) and Tree Publishing Inc.
Roy Orbison2:47
13Jingle Bells
The Singing Dogs1:21
14Rockin’ Around the Christmas TreeBrenda Lee42:07
15Feliz Navidad
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 11), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 14), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 16), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 17), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 23), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 49) and Offizielle deutsche Charts – Single-Jahrescharts 2025 (number: 87)
recording of:
Feliz Navidad (Spanish/English)
lyricist and composer:
José Feliciano (born 1945, not Cheo Feliciano)
publisher:
DeJamus Ltd., J & H Publishing Co. and J-H Publishing
José Feliciano33:05
16Adeste Fideles
choir vocals:
Max Terr’s Mixed Chorus (on 1942-06-08)
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1942-06-08)
orchestra:
John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (on 1942-06-08)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1945)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios (Santa Monica Blvd. location since 1949) in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1942-06-08)
recording of:
Adeste fideles (Bing Crosby arrangement) (on 1942-06-08)
lyricist:
[traditional] (special purpose artist) and Frederick Oakeley
composer:
John Francis Wade
arranger:
John Scott Trotter
medley of:
O Come, All Ye Faithful (English version of Latin “Adeste fideles”)
medley of:
Adeste fideles (original latin version)
Bing Crosby3.53:13
17O Little Town of Bethlehem
Dick Haymes & The Song Spinners2:26
18Blue Christmas
Russ Morgan and His Orchestra3:06
19Winter Wonderland
recording of:
Winter Wonderland
lyricist:
Richard B. Smith (wrote lyrics to “Winter Wonderland”)
composer:
Felix Bernard
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Francis, Day & Hunter, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Chappell Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Perry Como2:34
20’Twas the Night Before Christmas
Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians7:00
3CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I’ll Be Home for Christmas
recording of:
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
lyricist:
James Kimball Gannon
additional writer:
Buck Ram
composer:
Walter Kent
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., Edward B. Marks Music Co. (founded originally as J. Stern & Co. in 1894, renamed in 1919), Gannon and Kent Music Co., Piedmont Music Company, Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Bing Crosby52:59
2Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)
Dick Haymes2:40
3Jingle Bells
recording of:
Jingle Bells
lyricist and composer:
James Lord Pierpont (in 1850)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
composed at and lyrics written at:
Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts, United States (in 1850)
Glenn Miller & His Orchestra3:25
4All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
vocals:
George Rock (on 1947-12-06)
recording of:
All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (on 1947-12-06)
lyricist and composer:
Donald Yetter Gardner (in 1944)
Spike Jones and His City Slickers33:12
5The Merry Christmas Polka
Freddy Martin and His Orchestra2:47
6I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas
performer:
Johnny Duffy Trio
recording of:
I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas
lyricist and composer:
Harry Stewart (US entertainer, aka Yogi Yorgesson)
Yogi Yorgesson3:17
7Here We Come A-Caroling (The Wassail Song)
John McCarthy Chorus2:12
8What Child Is This?
John McCarthy Chorus3:13
9Angels From the Realms of Glory
John McCarthy Chorus3:03
10O Christmas Tree
John McCarthy Chorus2:06
11I Saw Three Ships
John McCarthy Chorus2:15
12The Holly and the Ivy
John McCarthy Chorus2:24
13O Sanctissima
John McCarthy Chorus2:24
14We Wish You a Merry Christmas
John McCarthy Chorus2:03
15Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra3:26
16We Three Kings of Orient Are
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra3:37
17The Twelve Days of Christmas
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra4:29
18God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra2:37
19Angels We Have Heard on High
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra4:13