Month: December 2021

A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 04 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“We Need A Little Christmas” is a contemporary Christmas song recorded by the American large-ensemble folk-pop group, The New Christy Minstrels, founded by Randy Sparks in 1961. The group has recorded more than 20 albums and scored several hits, including “Green, Green”, “Saturday Night”, “Today”, “Denver”, and “This Land Is Your Land”. The group’s 1962 debut album, Presenting The New Christy Minstrels, won a Grammy Award and was on the Billboard charts for two years.

The group sold millions of records, was in demand at concerts and on television shows, and helped launch the musical careers of several musicians in the group, including, Kenny Rogers, Gene Clark, Kim Carnes, Larry Ramos, and Barry McGuire.

The single, as titled, was also a musical adaptation from the Broadway play “Mame”. “We Need A Little Christmas” was recorded and released for the holiday season on the Columbia label, November 1966.

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Source: Wikipedia

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #05 GO HERE

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CHRISTMAS, 1968: THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Televised the night of December 19, 1968 on Detroit NBC WWJ-TV (Channel 4), 10:00 p.m., 53 years ago. Guests: Dom DeLouise, Bob Newhart and Dennis Weaver.

PLUS: Cameos by dozens of celebrities, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra Jr. William Holden, Johnny Carson, announcing the sending of gifts of toys to children in hospitals and through various charities at end of show.

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Source: The Detroit Free Press; Thursday; December 19, 1968

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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 05 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“Merry, Merry Christmas Baby” is a Christmas song recorded by Dodie Stevens (born Geraldine Ann Pasquale on February 17, 1946), an American rock and pop singer, notably in late-50s and early 1960s. She is best known for her 1959 song “Pink Shoe Laces.” It debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 when Stevens was one day short of 13 years old, and eventually peaked at number 3.

Stevens’ only Holiday single, “Merry Christmas Baby” was released on Dot Records (16166) in November 1960.  Studio orchestration for the recording was conducted by Milt Rogers. The selection continues to enjoy popular airplay during the Christmas season.

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Source: Wikipedia

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #06 GO HERE

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WKNR TOP 30 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HITS: DECEMBER 20, 1971

WKNR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SURVEY GUIDE December 20, 1971

WKNR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SURVEY GUIDE December 20, 1971

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The above WKNR chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

NOTE: During the course of WKNR’s nearly nine year charts run, there had been four appearance modifications in the chart’s designs. Last week, we featured the third (and final week) of that chart’s design run (December 13; see it here). The above December 20, 1971 chart debut’s the new look for the week’s survey. The “new look” ultimately would be the final template altogether for WKNR’s chart playlists. The Keener story bears noting the station would cease publication of their music charts by the end of March, 1972.

— A MCRFB VIEWING TIP —

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over the WKNR chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

ON YOUR PC? Click on chart images 2x for largest print view.

— In Memory of George Griggs —

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

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A sincere, thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.

Above WKNR music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 06 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” is a Christmas song recorded by Motown girl group The Supremes, and released by Motown Records in November 1965. The song, produced by Harvey Fuqua, having been included in the group’s Christmas album, ‘Merry Christmas‘, added with familiar Christmas songs such as “White Christmas“, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town“, “My Favorite Things“, and “Joy To the World“.

Two originals, “Children’s Christmas Song” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me“, were issued as a single. The latter having debuted on Billboard on December 18, 1965, while the former, a week earlier, on December 11.

In 1965, “Children’s Christmas Song” peaked at number 7, whilst “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Me” peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart (according to Billboard’s Christmas in the Charts; 2004), where it re-entered at number 29 in 1967. In Singapore, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” charted at number 4 on January 1, 1966, before peaking at number 1 on January 15, 1966 — the same week it charted at number 2 in Malaysia. In February 1966, “My Favorite Things” charted at number 10 in Singapore.

In addition, their album ‘Merry Christmas’ (see it here), issued by Motown the same day as the live recording The Supremes at the Copa, was the only holiday album released by the Supremes. They charted four albums in 1965 with one hitting the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 album chart and this hitting the Top 10 of the Billboard Holiday Album Chart.

Sources: Wikipedia; Billboard’s Christmas in the Charts 1920-2004

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #07 GO HERE

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CHRISTMAS, 1978: THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpRke1CPRXs

Televised the night of December 3, 1978 on Detroit CBS WJBK-TV (Channel 2), 10:00 p.m., 43 years ago. Guests: Rita Coolidge, Steve Martin, Kris Kristofferson, June Carter Cash and the Carter Children & The Tennessee Three.

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Source: The Detroit Free Press; Sunday; December 3, 1978

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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 07 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” is a novelty Christmas song written by Ross Bagdasarian (under the stage name of David Seville) in 1958. Bagdasarian sang and recorded the song, varying the tape speeds to produce high-pitched “chipmunk” voices, with the vocals credited to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Seville’s cartoon virtual band. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958, for Best Comedy Performance, Best Children’s Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical). The song was very successful, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, becoming The Chipmunks’ first (and only), as well as David Seville’s second and final, No. 1 single.

It had the distinction of being the only Christmas record to reach No. 1 on the same chart until Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” did so 61 years later in 2019. The single sold 4.5 million copies in seven weeks, according to Ross Bagdasarian Jr.

Between 1958 and 1962, the single re-entered the Hot 100 several times, peaking at No. 41 in 1958, No. 45 in 1960, and No. 39 in 1962. (Starting in 1963, Billboard would list recurrent Christmas songs on a separate chart.) The song charted on the Hot Digital Songs for the first time in 2005, peaking at No. 35. 

Sources: Wikipedia; Billboard’s Christmas in the Charts 1920-2004

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #08 GO HERE

 

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