Billboard Best Bets for Christmas 1963–1973
Billboard began publishing annual Christmas/holiday singles and albums charts in 1963. Before then, holiday themed hits were only included on the Hot 100 or on their other weekly charts.[1] Billboard charted Christmas albums and singles exclusively in this section until 1972.[2] The surveys ran each holiday season between 1963 until 1973 for a total of 46 weeks.
Billboard number one Best Bets For Christmas
These are Billboard's Best Bets for Christmas number-one albums and singles (known has Christmas Records from 1963-1964 and Top Christmas Sellers in 1965.)
Top 10 Christmas Albums
These are the LPs that reached the top 10 on Billboard's Christmas Record charts from 1958 until 1973. Record collectors[51] and holiday music fans[52][53] believe that every contemporary holiday album owes a debt to one or more of the albums below. [54]
| Rank | Album | Artist | Year Rlsd. |
Peak Date |
Peak Pos. |
Weeks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Top 10 | Chart | ||||||
| 1 | The Andy Williams Christmas Album | Andy Williams | 1963 | 11/30/1963 | 1 | 9 | 23 | 30 |
| 2 | A Christmas Album | Barbra Streisand | 1967 | 12/2/1967 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 | The Little Drummer Boy | Harry Simeone Chorale | 1959 | 12/5/1964 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 35 |
| 4 | Merry Christmas | Andy Williams | 1966 | 12/10/1966 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 20 |
| 5 | Jackson 5 Christmas Album | Jackson 5 | 1970 | 12/26/1970 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | The Christmas Song | Nat King Cole | 1963 | 12/13/1969 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 35 |
| 7 | Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas | Elvis Presley | 1971 | 12/9/1972 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| 8 | Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Christmas Album | Herb Alpert | 1968 | 12/7/1968 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 9 | That Christmas Feeling | Glen Campbell | 1968 | 12/21/1968 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 10 | A Partridge Family Christmas Card | The Partridge Family | 1971 | 12/18/1971 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 11 | The Dean Martin Christmas Album | Dean Martin | 1966 | 12/3/1966 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 19 |
| 12 | Jim Nabors' Christmas Album [55] | Jim Nabors | 1967 | 12/27/1969 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 21 |
| 13 | Give Me Your Love For Christmas | Johnny Mathis | 1969 | 12/6/1969 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 14 | A Motown Christmas | Various Artists | 1973 | 2/15/1973 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 15 | Music of Christmas[56] | Percy Faith And His Orchestra | 1957 | 11/24/1958 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Elvis' Christmas Album | Elvis Presley | 1957 | 12/11/1965 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 31 |
| 17 | Merry Christmas | Johnny Mathis | 1958 | 11/30/1963 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 29 |
| 18 | Merry Christmas | Bing Crosby | 1955 | 12/26/1964 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 40 |
| 19 | Sounds of Christmas | Johnny Mathis | 1963 | 12/21/1963 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 20 |
| 20 | Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! [57] | Lou Rawls | 1967 | 12/9/1967 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 21 | Christmas with Mahalia [58] | Mahalia Jackson | 1968 | 12/13/1969 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 22 | A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra | Frank Sinatra | 1957 | 11/24/1958 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 23 | Christmas Album [59] | Bobby Sherman | 1970 | 12/19/1970 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 24 | John Gary Christmas Album [60] | John Gary | 1964 | 12/5/1964 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 17 |
| 25 | Handel: Messiah | The Philadelphia Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / Eugene Ormandy | 1959 | 12/13/1969 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 26 | The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas | Frank Sinatra featuring Frank Sinatra Jr., Nancy Sinatra and Tina Sinatra | 1969 | 12/13/1969 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 27 | This Christmas I Spend With You [61] | Robert Goulet | 1963 | 12/21/1963 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 |
| 28 | Sound of Christmas | Ramsey Lewis Trio | 1961 | 12/18/1965 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 24 |
| 29 | The Temptations Christmas Card | The Temptations | 1970 | 12/23/1972 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 30 | Merle Haggard's Christmas Present | Merle Haggard | 1973 | 12/8/1973 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | Merry Christmas[62] | Jackie Gleason | 1956 | 11/24/1958 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 32 | We Wish You A Merry Christmas | Ray Conniff | 1962 | 12/9/1972 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| 33 | Season's Greetings from Perry Como | Perry Como | 1959 | 12/7/1963 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| 34 | O' Bambino — The Little Drummer Boy [63] | Harry Simeone Chorale | 1965 | 2/3/1966 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 35 | Merry Christmas! | New Christy Minstrels | 1963 | 12/28/1963 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 36 | Christmas Carols | Mantovani | 1954 | 11/24/1958 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Noël | Joan Baez | 1966 | 12/3/1966 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 38 | Merry Christmas | The Supremes | 1965 | 12/11/1965 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 39 | Snoopy And His Friends | The Royal Guardsmen | 1967 | 12/23/1967 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 40 | The Beach Boys' Christmas Album | The Beach Boys | 1965 | 12/18/1965 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| 41 | A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector | Various Artists | 1963 | 12/23/1972 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 42 | Songs of Christmas[64] | Norman Luboff Choir | 1956 | 11/24/1958 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 43 | Merry Christmas from the Brady Bunch | The Brady Bunch | 1970 | 12/25/1971 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 44 | Christmas Greetings From Mantovani And His Orchestra [65] | Mantovani | 1963 | 12/21/1963 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| 45 | Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee | Brenda Lee | 1964 | 12/16/1972 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 46 | Christmas with Conniff | Ray Conniff | 1959 | 12/27/1969 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 47 | The Christmas Spirit | Johnny Cash | 1963 | 12/13/1969 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 48 | Now Is The Caroling Season[66] | Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians | 1957 | 11/24/1958 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 49 | Handel's Messiah | Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra | 1966 | 12/7/1968 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 50 | Christmas in My Home Town | Charley Pride | 1970 | 12/23/1972 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 51 | More Sounds of Christmas | Ramsey Lewis Trio | 1964 | 12/26/1964 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 52 | Merry Christmas [67] | Al Martino | 1964 | 12/19/1964 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 53 | Christmas with The King Family [68] | The King Family | 1965 | 12/18/1965 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 54 | The Joy of Christmas | The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / The New York Philharmonic / Leonard Bernstein | 1963 | 12/11/1965 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 55 | Soul Christmas (Atco Records 33-269) [69] | Various artists | 1968 | 12/6/1969 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 56 | Beloved Choruses [70] | The Philadelphia Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / Eugene Ormandy | 1958 | 12/18/1965 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 57 | Christmas '64 | Jimmy Smith | 1964 | 12/5/1964 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 58 | The Voices of Christmas[71] | The Voices of Walter Schumann | 1955 | 11/24/1958 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 59 | Ventures' Christmas Album [72] | The Ventures | 1965 | 12/18/1965 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 60 | Christmas Hymns & Carols [73] | Robert Shaw | 1957 | 11/24/1958 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 61 | 12 Songs Of Christmas | Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Fred Waring | 1964 | 12/19/1964 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 62 | Merry Xmas From José Feliciano | José Feliciano | 1970 | 12/8/1973 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 63 | Navidad Means Christmas [74] | Eydie Gorme & Trio Los Panchos | 1966 | 12/17/1966 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 64 | Holiday Sing Along with Mitch | Mitch Miller and The Gang | 1961 | 12/28/1963 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| 65 | Christmas with The Chipmunks Volume 2 | David Seville & The Chipmunks | 1963 | 12/21/1963 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 66 | A Christmas Treasure [75] | Julie Andrews with Andre Previn | 1967 | 12/2/1967 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 67 | A Christmas Festival [76] | Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra | 1970 | 12/19/1970 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 68 | Joy to The World[77] | Roger Wagner Chorale | 1956 | 11/24/1958 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 69 | Songs For A Merry Christmas [78] | Wayne Newton | 1966 | 12/3/1966 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 70 | Christmas Wonderland | Bert Kaempfert | 1963 | 12/7/1963 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| 71 | Christmas Present...And Past [79] | Paul Revere & the Raiders | 1967 | 12/9/1967 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 72 | Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album | Tony Bennett | 1968 | 12/14/1968 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 73 | A Soulful Christmas | James Brown | 1968 | 12/13/1969 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 74 | The Perry Como Christmas Album | Perry Como | 1968 | 12/26/1970 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 75 | The Christmas Album: 20 Great Christmas Favorites By 20 Great Artist (Columbia Records 30763) [80] | Various artists | 1972 | 12/8/1973 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
References
- https://kimsloans.wordpress.com/tag/christmas-hit-records/
- http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/History/Christmas_Countdown.htm
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 48, November 30, 1963, p. 11.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 49, December 7, 1963, p. 8.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 50, December 14, 1963, p. 8.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 51, December 21, 1963, p. 8.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 52, December 28, 1963, p. 7.
- First released on the 1957 45 EP entitled Elvis Sings Christmas Songs (EPA-4108). It was first released as a commercially available single in 1964.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 49, December 5, 1964, p. 25.
- First charted on the Hot 100 in 1958 peaking at #13
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 50, December 12, 1964, p. 22.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 51, December 19, 1964, p. 34.
- “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 52, December 26, 1964, p. 36.
- “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 50, December 11, 1965, p. 7.
- “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 51, December 18, 1965, p. 15.
- “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 52, December 25, 1965, p. 12.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 49, December 3, 1966, p. 56.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 50, December 10, 1966, p. 40.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 51, December 17, 1966, p. 36.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 52, December 24, 1966, p. 33.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 48, December 2, 1967, p. 8.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 49, December 9, 1967, p. 92.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 50, December 16, 1967, p. 61.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 51, December 23, 1967, p. 50.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 52, December 30, 1967, p. 40.
- The flip side "My Favorite Things" peaked at #45 on the Hot 100 the same year.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 49, December 7, 1968, p. 82.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 50, December 14, 1968, p. 84.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 51, December 21, 1968, p. 69.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 52, December 28, 1968, p. 57.
- First released in 1942 peaking at #1 for 11 weeks
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 49, December 6, 1969, p. 11.
- The King Cole Trio version charted at #3 in 1946. This 1953 recording with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra first charted in 1954 peaking at #29.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 50, December 13, 1969, p. 10.
- First charted on Billboard's Top 100 in 1957 peaking at #6.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 51, December 20, 1969, p. 12.
- "Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 52, December 27, 1969, p. 10.
- https://vocal.media/beat/jackson-5-gave-love-on-christmas-day-but-did-not-celebrate-the-holiday-themselves
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 82, no. 51, December 19, 1970, p. 12.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 82, no. 52, December 26, 1970, p. 59.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 83, no. 51, December 18, 1971, p. 49.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 83, no. 52, December 25, 1971, p. 49.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 51, December 9, 1972, p. 40.
- First charted on the Hot 100 in 1961 peaking at #76.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 52, December 16, 1972, p. 51.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 53, December 23, 1972, p. 4.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 49, December 8, 1973, p. 28.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 50, December 15, 1973, p. 25.
- “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 51, December 22, 1973, p. 22.
- https://www.goldminemag.com/collector-resources/collecting-christmas-records
- https://christmaslpstocd.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/billboards-best-selling-christmas-albums-of-the-1960s/
- https://christmaslpstocd.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/billboards-top-selling-christmas-album-1970s/comment-page-1/
- "Deejay's Favorite Christmas Disks." The Billboard, vol. 70, no. 47, November 24, 1958, p. 2. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 75, no. 48, November 30, 1963, p. 11. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 75, no. 49, December 7, 1963, p. 8. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 75, no. 50, December 14, 1963, p. 8. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 75, no. 51, December 21, 1963, p. 8. “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 52, December 28, 1963, p. 7. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 76, no. 49, December 5, 1964, p. 25. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 76, no. 50, December 12, 1964, p. 22. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 76, no. 51, December 19, 1964, p. 34. "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 76, no. 52, December 26, 1964, p. 36. "Billboard Top Christmas Sellers." Billboard, vol. 77, no. 50, December 11, 1965, p. 7. "Billboard Top Christmas Sellers." Billboard, vol. 77, no. 51, December 18, 1965, p. 15. "Billboard Top Christmas Sellers." Billboard, vol. 77, no. 52, December 25, 1965, p. 12. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 78, no. 49, December 3, 1966, p. 56. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 78, no. 50, December 10, 1966, p. 40. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 78, no. 51, December 17, 1966, p. 36. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 78, no. 52, December 24, 1966, p. 33. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 79, no. 48, December 2, 1967, p. 8. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 79, no. 49, December 9, 1967, p. 92. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 79, no. 50, December 16, 1967, p. 61. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 79, no. 51, December 23, 1967, p. 50. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 79, no. 52, December 30, 1967, p. 40. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 49, December 7, 1968, p. 82. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 50, December 14, 1968, p. 84. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 51, December 21, 1968, p. 69. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 52, December 28, 1968, p. 57. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 81, no. 49, December 6, 1969, p. 11. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 81, no. 50, December 13, 1969, p. 10. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 81, no. 51, December 20, 1969, p. 12. "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 81, no. 52, December 27, 1969, p. 10. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 82, no. 51, December 19, 1970, p. 12. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 82, no. 52, December 26, 1970, p. 59. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 83, no. 51, December 18, 1971, p. 49. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 83, no. 52, December 25, 1971, p. 49. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 84, no. 51, December 9, 1972, p. 40. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 84, no. 52, December 16, 1972, p. 51. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 84, no. 53, December 23, 1972, p. 4. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 85, no. 49, December 8, 1973, p. 28. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 85, no. 50, December 15, 1973, p. 25. "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 85, no. 51, December 22, 1973, p. 22.
- "Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors' Christmas Album". Discogs.
- "Percy Faith and His Orchestra - Music of Christmas". Discogs.
- "Lou Rawls - Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Mahalia Jackson - Christmas with Mahalia [Columbia] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Bobby Sherman - Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "John Gary - the John Gary Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Robert Goulet - This Christmas I Spend with You Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Jackie Gleason - Merry Christmas". Discogs.
- "Harry Simeone Chorale - O Bambino/The Little Drummer Boy Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "The Norman Luboff Choir - Songs of Christmas". Discogs.
- "Mantovani - Christmas Greetings from Mantovani and His Orchestra Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, Fred Waring - Now is the Caroling Season Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Al Martino - Merry Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "King Family - Christmas with the King Family Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- https://www.hipchristmas.com/albums/s/soul.php
- https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Mormon%20Tabernacle%20Choir%2C%20Richard%20P.%20Condie%20-%20The%20Philadelphia%20Orchestra%2C%20Eugene%20Ormandy&title=The%20Beloved%20Choruses
- "The Voices of Walter Schumann - the Voices of Christmas". Discogs.
- "The Ventures - the Ventures' Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Chorale - Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 1 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Eydie Gorme, Eydie Gorme y Trio los Panchos, el Trio los Panchos - Navidad Means Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Julie Andrews - A Christmas Treasure Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra - A Christmas Festival [Polygram] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "The Roger Wagner Chorale - Joy to the World". Discogs.
- "Wayne Newton - Songs for a Merry Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Paul Revere & the Raiders - A Christmas Present...And Past Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- https://musicbrainz.org/release/80a8d1a9-09d6-4935-83fd-ea45a2d1ca0b