Decca 8128
Producer: None listed
Track listing: Silent Night / Adeste Fideles / White Christmas / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen / Faith of Our Fathers / I’ll Be Home for Christmas / Jingle Bells / Santa Claus is Coming to Town / Silver Bells / It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas / Christmas in Killarney / Mele Kalikimaka
December 30, 1957
1 week
On December 16, 1957, Elvis’ Christmas Album became the first holiday album to top the album chart in the rock era. But when the future king of rock ‘n’ roll was just an infant, another multimedia superstar was already scoring hits with seasonal favorites. Bing Crosby, known as “Der Bingle” to his fans, recorded “Silent Night, Holy Night,” in November 13, 1935, just 10 months after Presley’s birth on January 8, 1935.
It was Jack Kapp, the head of Decca records, who convinced Crosby to record the holiday favorites that would become a staple of his catalog. Following the warm reception of “Silent Night,” Crosby went on to record several other seasonal sides, including “Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faith)” in June 1942, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” in October 1943, and “Silver Bells” in September 1950, but the holiday standard that became Crosby’s most popular seasonal song and signature tune was “White Christmas.”
It was written by Irving Berlin, known for his work on Broadway. Crosby recorded the song, accompanied by John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers, on May 29, 1942, for the film Holiday Inn. The single hit Number One in 1942, 1945, and 1946, and returned to the chart every year for two decades. Its popularity was such that the song ended inspiring a movie of the same name in 1954, starring Crosby.
Decca first released a Crosby holiday album titled Merry Christmas, compiled from the singer’s Christmas sides, in 1945. In 1956, a second Crosby Christmas set, A Christmas Sing with Bing Around the World, culled from a CBS Radio program, reached number 21. The following holiday season, a revised version of Merry Christmas was back on the charts competing with Elvis’s holiday fare.
At the time, Crosby also had a huge presence on the singles chart. “White Christmas” was once again released as a single. It reached number 34, while a second version of “Silent Night,” recorded in 1947, reached number 54. A third single, “Silver Bells,” recorded by Crosby and Carol Richards for the film The Lemon Drop Kid, reached number 78, while “How Lovely Is Christmas,” featuring Crosby backed by the Arthur Norman Choir, stalled at number 97.
The latter track was not included on Merry Christmas, but the album did include “Jingle -Bells,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and “Mele Kalikimaka,” which featured Crosby backed by the Andrews Sisters and the Vic Schoen Orchestra.
“It was a natural thing to put out a Bing Crosby Christmas album, because ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Silent Night’ were such gigantic sellers. We knew the public would accept an LP from him,” says producer Milt Gabler, then vice president of artists and repertoire for Decca Records. With the popularity of the album, Crosby became “Mr. Christmas,” Gabler says.
With his film career in full swing, Crosby allowed the executives at Decca to focus on his recording career. “He didn’t have anything to say about what went on the album, but he didn’t have to,” says Gabler. “We ran his record career in those days. He was busy making movies, playing golf, going fishing, and hunting.”
While Crosby was off enjoying the other aspects of his life, Merry Christmas hit Number One in its sixth week on the chart in 1957, knocking Elvis’ Christmas Album from the summit. Elvis would return to the top the following week. However, that wasn’t the last of Merry Christmas by any means. It returned to the album chart every Christmas from 1958 through 1962, and remains a perennial favorite on the Christmas charts.
THE TOP FIVE
Week of December 30, 1957
1. Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby
2. Elvis’ Christmas, Album Elvis Presley
3. My Fair Lady, Original Cast
4. Hymns Tennessee, Ernie Ford
5. Christmas Hymns and Carols, Robert Shaw