Tony Harris's Blog

Christmas Music Charts...Look Below

THarris@wmgk.com (Tony Harris) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:19:03 GMT

This is absolutely my favorite time of year. Some would call it corny or schmaltzy, but Christmas/Holiday music is some of the most beautiful and touching ever made. Songs that were written, sung, played and enjoyed in a lot of homes during the season…on the corner spinet..on radios, phonographs, hi-fi’s, 8-tracks and now on Satellite & the Web…good times…hanging out and enjoying the meal with family & good friends, wearing out our toys before we went back to school, giving your first love a gift…bad times…relocation, war, relations missing from the dinner table the following year. In going through and compiling these lists, here is a sampling of what I have found in most folks collections growing up (as well as my parents) and what was reflective of radio play here in Philadelphia. Whether you’re an exclusive hard rocker or appreciate a variety of genres (most folks do) when you ...

TOP 15 CHRISTMAS ROCK SONGS

THarris@wmgk.com (Tony Harris) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:30:19 GMT

1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Bruce Springsteen – Columbia – 19852. Happy Xmas(war is over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Apple – 19713. Please Come Home For Christmas – Eagles – Asylum – 19784. Step Into Christmas – Elton John – MCA – 19735. New Year’s Day – U2 – Island – 19836. A Hazy Shade Of Winter – Simon & Garfunkel – Columbia – 19667. Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth – David Bowie & Bing Crosby – Oglio – 19778. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas/2000 Miles – Pretenders – Sire – 19849. Father Christmas – Kinks – Arista10. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney – Columbia – 198411. Christmas Is The Time to Say I Love You – Billy Squier – 199412. Slipping Into Christmas – Leon Russell – Shelter – 1972 13. ...

Top 15 Christmas Albums (Rock Era)

THarris@wmgk.com (Tony Harris) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:26:47 GMT

1. Elvis’ Christmas Album – Elvis Presley – RCA Victor - 19572. Christmas Gift For You – Phil Spector & Various – Ronettes, Crystals, Darlene Love – Philles 19633. Christmas Is A Special Day – Fats Domino – Imperial - 19584. Christmas Portrait – Carpenters – A&M - 19735. Someday At Christmas – Stevie Wonder – Tamla/Motown - 19676. Merry Christmas From Brenda Lee – Brenda Lee – Decca - 19647. Christmas Jollies – Salsoul Orchestra arr. Vincent Montana, Jr – Salsoul - 19768. Beach Boys Christmas Album – Beach Boys – Capitol - 19649. Merry Christmas – Diana Ross & Supremes – Motown - 196510. Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs – Charles Brown – King 196411. A Very Merry Christmas – Bobby Vinton arr. Robert Morgan/Stan Appelbaum – Epic 196412. The 4 Seasons Greetings – Frankie Valli & ...

TOP 15 CHRISTMAS ALBUMS (Standard Artists)

THarris@wmgk.com (Tony Harris) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:04:16 GMT

1. A Jolly Christmas – Frank Sinatra (arr. Gordon Jenkins) – Capitol 1957 – recorded only in mono 2. Merry Christmas – Johnny Mathis (arr. Percy Faith) – Columbia 1958 3. Merry Christmas – Bing Crosby (arr. John Scott Trotter)– Decca 1957 4. Merry Christmas – Andy Williams (arr. Robert Mersey) – Columbia 1963 5. The Perry Como Christmas Album – Perry Como (arr. Nick Perito) – RCA Victor 1968 6. The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole (arrs. Charles Grean/Nelson Riddle/Ralph Carmichael) – Capitol 1963 7. Music of Christmas – Percy Faith & Orchestra (arr. Percy Faith) – Columbia 1954 8. A Christmas Album – Barbra Streisand (arr. Peter Matz) – Columbia 1967 9. Christmas Sing Along With Mitch – Mitch Miller & Gang (arr. Mitch Miller/Lenny & Jimmy Carroll) – Columbia 1958 10. Sing We Now Of Christmas/Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeone Chorale – 20th Century 1962...

TOP 15 CHRISTMAS Pop

THarris@wmgk.com (Tony Harris) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:03:28 GMT

1. The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole – Capitol – 1946, 53 & 61 2. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee – Decca – 1958 3. Happy Xmas(war is over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Apple – 1971 4. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley – RCA Victor – 1957 5. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms – Decca – 1957 6. White Christmas – Andy Williams – Columbia - 1963 7. White Christmas – Drifters – Atlantic – 1954 8. A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives – Decca – 1964 9. Merry Christmas Darling – Carpenters – A&M – 1970 10. Please Come Home For Christmas/Merry Christmas Baby – Charles Brown – King 1960 & Imperial 1964 11. White Christmas – Bing Crosby – Decca – 1935, 42 & 47 12. Little Saint Nick – Beach Boys – Capitol – 1964 13. Snoopy’s Christmas ...