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Album recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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
WKNR TOP 30 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HITS: 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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MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAYS, 1965
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Album recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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
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
MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAYS, 1963
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Album recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS, 1956
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Album recording audio remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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
