How huge a star is Brenda Lee? Well, all this tiny talent did (born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944 in Lithonia, Georgia) was register 56 Pop, 35 Country and 6 R&B hit singles from 1957 to 1973, all for Decca/MCA, which resulted in her becoming only the fourth star to be inducted into the Artist categories of both the Country (1997) and Rock & Roll (2002) Halls Of Fame!
And the magnitude of that honour is reflected in the stature of the other three: Elvis Presley in 1998 and 1986; The Everly Brothers in 2001 and 1986; and Johnny Cash in 1980 and 1992 (note that the Country Hall opened in 1961 and the R&R Hall in 1986). The only GLARING absentee from this achievement is Jerry Lee Lewis who was, of course, an original R&R inductee but who, despite racking up 65 Country hits after re-inventing his career in the early 1960s, continues to be ignored by the pompous twits at the Country Hall Of Fame.
But that's another story. This is about Brenda Lee and her best-selling Christmas Album which, first appearing in 1964 as Decca 74583, kicks off with one of THE most enduring seasonal songs ever put to record - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree. It took a while before enough record-buyers purchased it, and it began to get significant air- and jukebox-play to get it on the charts, as it was recorded when she was just 14 in 1958, coming out as Decca 30776 b/w Papa Noel (unfortunately not part of the album).
Indeed, the first time it charted was 1960 when a re-release hit # 14 Billboard Pop Top 100. After that, however, it would make an annual appearance to 1969: 1961 # 50 Hot 100; 1962 # 59 Hot 100; 1963 # 12 on the Billboard Christmas charts - same charts for all subsequent appearances; 1964 # 4; 1965 # 3; 1966 # 4; 1967 # 8; 1968 # 14; 1969 # 4. After an absence of 3 years, it returned in 1973 at # 16. In 1980 it was re-released as MCA 65027, still with Papa Noel as the flip, but only charted again in 1983 and 1984 at # 9 and # 5. In 1997 as MCA 54292, this time b/w another early recording, I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus, it made it to # 16 as well as # 62 Country.
Other tracks from the album also did well as singles, starting with her cover of the Bobby Helms smash, Jingle Bell Rock. This came out as Decca 31687 in 1964 b/w Winter Wonderland (also in the LP), and it charted at # 10 on the Christmas charts that year, and # 8 in 1967. Her cover of the Brook Benton 1959 hit, This Time Of The Year, reached # 12 in 1964 as Decca 31688, while the B-side, Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day, also charted at # 24.
Meanwhile, the LP itself was also doing well, making it to # 15 on Billboard's Christmas charts in 1964, # 17 in 1965, # 20 in 1966, # 58 in 1967, and # 33 in 1968, returning for one last gasp in 1972 when it got into the T op 10 at # 7.
If you click on the images above, kindly provided by Dana H. Sutton, you will see the track listing and times of each cut. Released by MCA as a CD in 1993, and now out of circulation, it's high time for an "expanded" version with bonus tracks (Papa Noel and I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus for example).
This CD brought back memories of being a kid and my Mom playing the ALBUM on our large stereo cabinet. Came in quick and in great quality.
I remember this as my mother played this at Christmas It was great and we had a lot of fun singing along
An excellent mix of traditional and non-traditional songs, including her signature, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." I have this cherished favorite on LP and the songs in MP3 format.
She does a great job with "Jingle Bell Rock," "Marshmallow World," "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day," "Strawberry Snow," and "This Time of Year."
"The Angel and the Little Blue Bell" is a very non-traditional song and along with the others is a perfect addition to your holiday favorites.
This album is sure to raise your holiday spirits!
