Pop and Rock Chart Archive
and Music Encyclopedia

Christmas and Holiday Songs

From the 1905 recording of Silent Night by Hayden Quartet (aka Haydn Quartet) and the 1908 recording of the song by the official record company Victor Orchestra, to the 2013 popular version of Blue Christmas by Kelly Clarkson, Christmas songs have been a staple of recorded music, traditional and modern. Here is a Tune Timeline of hundreds of the most popular Christmas and holiday classics of all time.

Related features and Christmas song version pages below

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Christmas Songs Through 1949 (1900-1949) Christmas songs and Nat King Cole discography

One of the great early Christmas classics was The Christmas Song, Merry Christmas To You from 1946 by King Cole Trio. This became one of the most popular ornaments to find at Christmas everywhere, as Nat King Cole became one of the most legendary recording artists of all time.

Bing Crosby discography Then there was Bing Crosby. The popular song list by Bing Crosby, first in the 1920s with Paul Whiteman Orchestra then for decades solo, remains far ahead of any other singer to this day. Among these recordings, in 1942, was a then old Irving Berlin composition called White Christmas. When Bing Crosby sang it, he made it the most famous Christmas song of all time. This was one of many Bing Crosby Christmas songs.


Christmas and Perry Como discography Christmas Songs Of The Early 1950s (1950-1952)

Christmas Songs Of The Mid 1950s (1953-1956)

The 1950s was a fertile period for so many of the Christmas song classics we love today.
(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays by Perry Como has been a Christmas song favorite since 1954.


Elvis Presley Christmas songs Christmas Songs Of The Late 1950s (1957-1959)

The king of rock and roll, not long after ushering in the rock era with songs like Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog, became both a Christmas rocker with songs including Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) and a traditional Christmas singer with I'll Be Home For Christmas. The Elvis Presleyversion of Blue Christmas became his most popular Christmas song, and an all-time Christmas staple.


Christmas Songs Of The 1960s First Half (1960-1964) Christmas Gift songs

Phil Spector brought his 'wall of sound' to Christmas music, in his Christmas album A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, with performances by Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans sharing the duties on performing classic Christmas songs including Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

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Barbra Streisand and Christmas
Christmas Songs Of The 1960s Second Half (1965-1969)

Stage and movie actress, singer and song writer Barbra Streisand brought her versions of many Christmas classics to the season, including Jingle Bells and My Favorite Things.


Christmas with The Jackson 5 Christmas Songs Of The 1970s
First Half
(1970-1974)

At the very beginning of the 1970s, The Jackson 5 brothers broke through with four number one songs in a row. The group quickly brought its popular mix of funk, soul, and dance to Christmas songs including the Nat King Cole classic The Christmas Song.


Carpenters Christmas Portrait Christmas Songs Of The 1970s Second Half (1975-1979)

Although brother and sister act Carpenters burst onto the popular music scene back in 1970, Carpenters did not make its long-awaited Christmas songs album Christmas Portrait until 1978. This album included the already classic Merry Christmas, Darling, and many traditional songs, including the medley Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas.


Christmas Songs Of The 1980s First Half (1980-1984)

Christmas Songs Of The 1980s Second Half (1985-1989) Very Special Christmas songs

Then current top artists including Madonna, John Mellencamp, U2, Bob Seger, Eurythmics, and many more, combined to make the superstar Christmas songs album, A Very Special Christmas, bringing classics such as Merry Christmas Baby andSanta Babyto the 80's generation. Many very special sequel albums followed.

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Amy Grant and Christmas Christmas Songs Of The Early 1990s (1990-1993)

In the early 1990s, Christian singer Amy Grant crossed-over to become a major pop star. In 1992, she came out with her popular Christmas album, Home For Christmas. Her dreamy version of It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year was well received by all.


Christmas Songs Of The Mid 1990s (1994-1996) Mariah Carey Christmas

The 1990s were all about Mariah Carey. In addition to smashing many pop music records, she released her first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, in 1994, to great fanfare with traditional Christmas music and modern Christmas classics too. Her original Christmas song, All I Want For Christmas Is You, co-written with Walter Afanasieff, reached number 16 on the pop chart. The song has already been recorded by many others.

Kenny G Christmas and discography

Christmas James Taylor

Susan Boyle Christmas Silent Night

Olivia Newton John


Christmas Songs Of The Late 1990s (1997-1999)

Every year many new Christmas song recordings come out, and some become annual classics. However, very few make the top 20. The year 1999 was unusual because three holiday songs reached the top 20. This Gift by 98 Degrees reached number 7. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) by Christina Aguilera peaked in at number 20. Just in time for the turnover of the new millennium, instrumental song Auld Lang Syne (The Millennium Mix) from Kenny G album Faith A Holiday Album skimmed the top 10.


Christmas Songs Of The 2000s First Half (2000-2004)

The early 2000s produced new Christmas music from artists including Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, Blink 182, and old-timers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and James Taylor, whose album James Taylor At Christmas was very popular.


Christmas Songs of the 2000s Second Half (2005-2009)

The late 2000s gave us new Christmas albums by Keith Sweat, Faith Hill, and other famous groups and artists. Also, new singing sensations were created through exposure on television contest programs like American Idol. One winner, Susan Boyle, mesmerized us with Silent Night.


Christmas Songs into the early 2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Gifts in the 2010s decade have already become classics. Justin Bieber introduced the new song Mistletoe. Coldplay brought us Christmas Lights. Owl City created Peppermint Winter. Also, new Christmas music was released by Chicago, Carole King, and Wilson Phillips. Olivia Newton-John got back with 70's movie Grease co-star John Travolta, to make This Christmas the title song of a new holiday duet album. Then, there were new recordings by Cee Lo Green, Lady Antebellum, Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Mary J. Blige, Jewel, Kelly Clarkson, Susan Boyle, and longtime Christmas singing sensation Johnny Mathis among the latest great Christmas offerings, year-by-year.



Related Features for Christmas and Holiday Songs:
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Christmas Song Title Pages

All the most popular versions of holiday songs by title


A Holly Jolly Christmas

A Marshmellow World

Adeste Fideles
(O Come All Ye Faithful)


All I Want For Christmas
Is My Two Front Teeth


All I Want For Christmas Is You

Auld Lang Syne

Ave Maria

Baby It's Cold Outside

Blue Christmas

Blues For Christmas

Christmas
(Baby Please Come Home)


The Christmas Song
(Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)


Christmas Wrapping

Deck The Halls

Do You Hear What I Hear

Father Christmas

The First Noel

Frosty The Snowman

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Greensleeves

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Here Comes Santa Claus
(Right Down Santa Claus Lane)


I Saw Mommy Kissing
Santa Claus


I'll Be Home For Christmas

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas

It's The Most Wonderful Time
Of The Year


Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle Bells

Joy To The World

Last Christmas

Let It Snow Let It Snow
Let It Snow


The Little Drummer Boy

Little Saint Nick

Mary's Boy Child

May You Always

Merry Christmas Baby

Merry Christmas Darling

Nut Rocker

Nuttin' For Christmas

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Holy Night

Please Come Home For Christmas

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Run Rudolph Run

Santa Baby

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silver And Gold

Silver Bells

Sleigh Ride

Someday At Christmas

This Christmas

Toyland

The Twelve Days Of Christmas

We Need A Little Christmas

What Child Is This

What Christmas Means To Me

White Christmas

Winter Wonderland

Wonderful Christmastime

You're All I Want For Christmas