Audio

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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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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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 08 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“White Christmas” is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. The song was written by Berlin for the musical film Holiday Inn, released in 1942. The composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards.

Since its release, “White Christmas” has been covered by multiple artists, with the version sung by Bing Crosby being the world’s best-selling single (in terms of sales of physical media) with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. When the figures for other versions of the song are added to Crosby’s, sales of the song exceed 100 million.

In 1952, Mantovani and his orchestra reached No. 23 on Billboard‘s pop singles chart while The Drifters showcased the talents of lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the bass vocals of Bill Pinkney in 1954, peaking at No. 2 (one week) on Billboard‘s Rhythm & Blues Records chart on December 18 that year. It returned to the same chart in the next two years. The Drifters rendition of this song can be heard in the films Home Alone and The Santa Clause.

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

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #09 GO HERE

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A BIG8RADIO PRESENTATION: A TRIBUTE TO ROSALIE TROMBLEY

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Rosalie Trombley CKLW

Rosalie Trombley — ultimately, she would become known as, “The Girl With The Golden Ears.” Sadly, we lost the legendary Big 8 music director just recently, she passed away on November 23. She was 82.

If you missed our exclusive Big8radio stream this month, you now have another opportunity to listen to our Rosalie Trombley tribute — ON DEMAND — anytime, exclusively here on Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

This is our tribute presentation to our late friend, the stream covered well over SIX hours of great songs that she picked and personally play-listed while music director at CKLW, beginning the late 1960’s and going into the 1970s decade.

The stream debuted Saturday, December 11 at 12 noon ET., and encored Sunday, December 12at 4pm ET., on www.big8radio.com

Thanks to everyone who tuned in to the Rosalie Trombley Tribute show – and stayed till the end. All in all, this turned into a 6 hour plus marathon!

Finally, if you would like a PDF copy of the playlist/show notes please send an email to big8radio@gmail.com 🙂

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This audio presentation was conceived, created and was produced in its entirety by Charlie O’Brien. Courtesy and property of big8radio.com

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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 09 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“Santa Claus and His Old Lady” is a novelty bit by Cheech and Chong, one of their best-known comedy routines. It was the duo’s first single.

“Santa Claus and His Old Lady” did not appear on the duo’s eponymous debut album, although the B-side, “Dave,” did. It has since received continued airplay on radio stations during the Christmas season, particularly those that switch to temporary all-Christmas music formats. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart upon its release in 1971, then peaked again at number 3 on the same chart in 1972 and 1973.

(Entries on any given week’s Christmas Singles chart were ineligible for the corresponding edition of the Hot 100 at the time).

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

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #10 GO HERE

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A HOLIDAY RECORDS COUNTDOWN: 10 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!

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“The Little Drummer Boy” is a Christmas song instrumental performed and recorded by Detroit-born jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell in October 1966. It became a track for the Cadet album, ‘Have Yourself A Soulful Christmas’, an LP compilation of Cadet artists released for the holidays that year. The number was also released as a single, Cadet 5555, debuted on December 30, 1967, having peaked #21 for just one week only on the special Billboard Christmas chart.

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

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For previous Holiday Yule Tides Countdown record #11 GO HERE

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