CHRISTMAS SONG #1: WHITE CHRISTMAS--BING CROSBY, 1942

      There's no way we can shock you with this one.

      "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby stands alone as the #1 Christmas 
      recording of all time. It's also the #3 movie song of all time in addition 
      to being our Christmas National Anthem. It's spent the most total weeks on 
      the pop charts with 72. Only "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes with has been 
      able to come even close to challenging this record, spending 66 total 
      weeks on the chart. In addition, "White Christmas" has spent the most 
      total weeks in the Top 40 (58) and Top 10 (35).

      Plus, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is believed to be one of the three 
      biggest selling singles of all time. Accurate sales figures have always 
      been difficult to ascertain but, interestingly, when he was alive in the 
      early 1970's, Crosby claimed that his biggest selling single wasn't "White 
      Christmas," but rather, "Silent Night"--and by a hefty margin. Perhaps as 
      many as five million copies. Still, it's believed that these two Crosby 
      singles have sold well over 30 million copies and perhaps as many as 40 
      million over the years. The only single that can challenge the sales power 
      of those two singles is Elton John's "Candle In The Wind 1997," which for 
      sure has surpassed the 31 million level.

      With the exception of 1952 and 1953, this recording has made the pop 
      charts EVERY year from the year it was released in 1942 to 1962. It was 
      originally recorded in late May, 1942, for the soundtrack of the movie 
      "Holiday Inn." It was the Oscar for Best Movie Song of 1942. Irving Berlin 
      wrote it along with other classics like "God Bless America" and "Easter 
      Parade."

      Irving Berlin wasn't excited when he heard the Elvis Presley version of 
      the song. He reportedly went on a phone-call-making crusade demanding that 
      radio stations not play the version on Elvis' 1957 Christmas. Station 
      heads must've been listening. On December 12, 1957, radio station KEX in 
      Portland fired DJ Al Priddy for violating station policy and playing 
      "White Christmas."

      Only two other versions have made the pop singles chart...the Drifters and 
      Frank Sinatra.

      Michael Bolton's version of "White Christmas" charted on the Billboard Top 
      40 radio monitor in 1993. "American Top 40" has played two versions as 
      Long Distance Dedications--by Darlene Love and New Kids On The Block. 

      Here are just a few of the many others to have recorded "White Christmas": 
      Air Supply, Eddy Arnold, Pat Boone, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the 
      Chipmonks, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Cowboy Copas, Vic 
      Damone, Nelson Eddy, Percy Faith, Jose Feliciano, Gracie Fields, Eddie 
      Fisher, Jackie Gleason, Merle Haggard, Al Hibbler, Eddy Howard, the Ink 
      Spots, Mahalia Jackson, Harry James, Gordon Jenkins, Sammy Kaye, the 
      Lennon Sisters, Guy Lombardo, Henry Mancini, Barry Manilow, Mantovani, 
      Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Mitch Miller, Jim Nabors, Willie Nelson, the 
      Osmonds, the Partridge Family, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Otis Redding, Kenny 
      Rogers, the Salsoul Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, the Voices Of Watler 
      Schumann, Artie Shaw, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Kate Smith, Jo Stafford, 
      Ray Stevens, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, the Temptations, Mel Torme, 
      Ernest Tubb, Billy Vaughn, Bobby Vee, the Ventures, Fred Waring, Lawrence 
      Welk, Kitty Wells, Slim Whitman, Andy Williams, Roger Williams, Hugo 
      Winterhalter and Tammy Wynette.

      TOP 40 CHRISTMAS SONGS OF ALL TIME



      1 White Christmas--Bing Crosby, 1942

      2. Silent Night--Bing Crosby, 1935

      3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer--Gene Autry, 1949

      4. The Little Drummer Boy -- The Harry Simeone Chorale, 1958

      5. Jingle Bell Rock--Bobby Helms, 1957

      6. The Christmas Song--Nat King Cole, 1946

      7. The Chipmonk Song--David Seville and the Chipmonks, 1958

      8. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree--Brenda Lee, 1958

      9. Blue Christmas-- Elvis Presley, 1957

      10. Jingle Bells -- Benny Goodman, 1935

      11 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--Jimmy Boyd, 1952

      12. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth--Spike Jones And His 
      City Slickers, 1948

      13 Do They Know It's Christmas--Band Aid, 1984

      14. Here Comes Santa Claus -- Gene Autry, 1948

      15. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) -- John Lennon and teh Plastic Ono Band, 
      1971

      16. Winter Wonderland--Guy Lombardo, 1944

      17. Step Into Christmas -- Elton John, 1973

      18. A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, 1963

      19. Feliz Navidad -- Jose Feliciano, 1970

      20. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town -- Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, 
      1943

      21. Please Come Home For Christmas -- Charles Brown, 1960

      22. Little Saint Nick -- The Beach Boys, 1963

      23. Frosty The Snowman -- Gene Autry, 1950

      24. Sleigh Ride -- Leroy Anderson, 1950

      25. Nuttin' For Christmas--Barry Gordon with the Art Mooney Orchestra, 
1955

      26. Merry Chrirstmas Darling--the Carpenters, 1970

      27. I'll Be Home For Christmas--Bing Crosby, 1943

      28. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer--Elmo And Patsy, 1979

      29. Pretty Paper--Roy Orbison, 1963

      30. Wonderful Christmastime -- Paul McCartney, 1979

      31. Silver Bells -- Jimmy Wakelin/Margaret Whiting, 1950

      32. Holly Jolly Christmas--Burl Ives, 1964

      33. Santa Baby--Eartha Kitt, 1953

      34. Snoopy's Christmas--the Royal Guardsmen, 1967

      35. Home For The Holidays--Perry Como, 1954

      36. Mary's Boy Child--Harry Belafonte, 1956

      37. I Just Go Nuts At Christmas--Yogi Yorgesson, 1949

      38. Baby's First Christmas -- Connie Francis, 1961-62

      39. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas -- Perry Como and the 
      Fontaine Sisters, 1951

      40. Run, Rudolph, Run -- Chuck Berry, 1958