List of Billboard Best Bets for Christmas 1963–1973
American music chart publisher Billboard magazine began publishing annual Christmas singles and albums charts, the Billboard Best Bets for Christmas,[a] in surveys from 1963 to 1973 for a total of 46 weeks. Each survey included a top-selling Christmas LP's and a Christmas Singles chart that ran for 3–5 weeks each holiday season expanding in size as sales activity increased. Before then, Christmas-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]
Billboard number one Best Bets For Christmas
These are Billboard's Best Bets for Christmas number-one albums and singles:
Issue date | Albums | Artist | Singles | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 30, 1963 | The Andy Williams Christmas Album | Andy Williams | "White Christmas" | Andy Williams | [3] |
December 7, 1963 | [4] | ||||
December 14, 1963 | [5] | ||||
December 21, 1963 | [6] | ||||
December 28, 1963 | [7] | ||||
December 5, 1964 | The Little Drummer Boy | Harry Simeone Chorale | "Blue Christmas" [8] | Elvis Presley | [9] |
December 12, 1964 | The Andy Williams Christmas Album | Andy Williams | "The Little Drummer Boy" [10] | Harry Simeone Chorale | [11] |
December 19, 1964 | [12] | ||||
December 26, 1964 | [13] | ||||
December 11, 1965 | [14] | ||||
December 18, 1965 | The Little Drummer Boy | Harry Simeone Chorale | [15] | ||
December 25, 1965 | [16] | ||||
December 3, 1966 | The Dean Martin Christmas Album | Dean Martin | [17] | ||
December 10, 1966 | Merry Christmas | Andy Williams | [18] | ||
December 17, 1966 | The Little Drummer Boy | Harry Simeone Chorale | [19] | ||
December 24, 1966 | Merry Christmas | Andy Williams | "Sleep in Heavenly Sleep (Silent Night)" | Barbra Streisand | [20] |
December 2, 1967 | A Christmas Album | Barbra Streisand | "Snoopy's Christmas" | The Royal Guardsmen | [21] |
December 9, 1967 | [22] | ||||
December 16, 1967 | [23] | ||||
December 23, 1967 | [24] | ||||
December 30, 1967 | [25] | ||||
December 7, 1968 | Christmas Album | Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass | "The Christmas Song" [26] | Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass | [27] |
December 14, 1968 | [28] | ||||
December 21, 1968 | That Christmas Feeling | Glen Campbell | [29] | ||
December 28, 1968 | "The Little Drummer Boy" | Harry Simeone Chorale | [30] | ||
December 6, 1969 | Give Me Your Love for Christmas | Johnny Mathis | "White Christmas" [31] | Bing Crosby | [32] |
December 13, 1969 | The Christmas Song | Nat King Cole | "The Christmas Song" [33] | Nat King Cole | [34] |
December 20, 1969 | Merry Christmas | Andy Williams | "Jingle Bell Rock" [35] | Bobby Helms | [36] |
December 27, 1969 | Jim Nabors' Christmas Album [37] | Jim Nabors | [38] | ||
December 19, 1970 | Jackson 5 Christmas Album[39] | Jackson 5 | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" | Jackson 5 | [40] |
December 26, 1970 | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | Carpenters | [41] | ||
December 18, 1971 | A Partridge Family Christmas Card | The Partridge Family | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" / "Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year" | Jackson 5 | [42] |
December 25, 1971 | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | Carpenters | [43] | ||
December 9, 1972 | Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas | Elvis Presley | "Jingle Bells" | The Singing Dogs | [44] |
December 16, 1972 | The Christmas Song | Nat King Cole | "Please Come Home for Christmas" [45] | Charles Brown | [46] |
December 23, 1972 | Jackson 5 Christmas Album | Jackson 5 | "The Christmas Song" | Nat King Cole | [47] |
December 8, 1973 | Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas | Elvis Presley | "Merry Christmas, Darling" | Carpenters | [48] |
December 15, 1973 | A Motown Christmas | Various artists | "Step into Christmas" | Elton John | [49] |
December 22, 1973 | A Christmas Album | Barbra Streisand | "Blue Christmas" | Elvis Presley | [50] |
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][55][56][57][58]
See also
- Billboard Christmas Hits 1983-1989
- Billboard Christmas Holiday Charts
Notes
- ^ Known has Christmas Records from 1963 to 1964 and Top Christmas Sellers in 1965.
References
- ^ "Christmas Hit Records".
- ^ "Appendix E: All Time Christmas Countdown".
- ^ “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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Collecting Christmas records". 14 December 2022.
- ^ "Billboard's Best Selling Christmas Albums of the 1960s". 9 January 2012.
- ^ "Billboard's Top-Selling Christmas Album – 1970s". 16 January 2012.
- ^ "Deejay's Favorite Christmas Disks." The Billboard, vol. 70, no. 47, November 24, 1958, p. 2.
- ^ "Christmas Records." Billboard, vol. 75-76, no. 48-52 & 49-52, November 30, 1963-December 26, 1964, pp. 11, 8, 8, 7, 25, 22, 22, 34 & 36.
- ^ "Billboard Top Christmas Sellers." Billboard, vol. 77, no. 50-52, December 11, 1965-December 25, 1965, pp. 7, 15 & 12.
- ^ "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 78-81, no. 49-52, 48-52, 49-52 & 49-52, December 3, 1966-December 27, 1969, pp. 56, 40, 36, 33, 8, 92, 61, 50, 40, 82, 84, 69, 57, 11, 10, 12, & 10.
- ^ "Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 82-85, no. 51-52, 51-52, 51-53 & 49-51, December 19, 1970-December 22, 1973, pp. 12, 59, 49, 49, 40, 51, 4, 28, 25 & 22.
- ^ "Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors' Christmas Album". Discogs. 1967.
- ^ "Percy Faith and His Orchestra - Music of Christmas". Discogs. 1954.
- ^ "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. 1956.
- ^ "Harry Simeone Chorale - O Bambino/The Little Drummer Boy Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "The Norman Luboff Choir - Songs of Christmas". Discogs. 1956.
- ^ "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. 1955.
- ^ "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. 1956.
- ^ "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