| Video |
 |
| Recording History |
|
101 Strings Orchestra, 2003
|
|
Clay Aiken and Kimberly Locke, 2003
|
|
Al Caiola and his Orchestra
|
|
Ronnie Aldrich
|
|
Allegro Handbell Ensemble
|
|
Alvin and the Chipmunks, 1962
|
|
America, 2002
|
|
The Ames Brothers, 1957
|
|
The Andrews Sisters with The Robert Mitchell Boys Choir
|
|
David Arkenstone, 1998
|
|
Asleep at the Wheel
|
|
Chet Atkins, 1961
|
|
Atlantic Starr, 1992
|
|
Bill Augustine and Malcolm Cecil
|
|
Gene Autry
|
|
The Belltones
|
|
Karen Benjamin and Alan Chapman
|
|
Tony Bennett, 2008
|
|
Big Tiny Little
|
|
Booker T and The MGs, 1966
|
|
Pat Boone
|
|
The Boston Pops, 1990
|
|
The Brady Bunch, 1970
|
|
Jim Brickman
|
|
Bright Eyes
|
|
Garth Brooks, 1999
|
|
Paul Brooks, 1996
|
|
Michael Bublé, Christmas (The Special Edition), Reprise, 2011
|
|
Byron Olson and his Orchestra
|
|
Canadian Brass
|
|
Henson Cargill
|
|
The Carpenters
|
|
Steve Curtis Chapman, 2005
|
|
Kristin Chenoweth, 2008
|
|
Kenny Chesney, 2003
|
|
The Clark Sisters, 2009
|
|
Rosemary Clooney
|
|
Nat King Cole
|
|
Judy Collins, 1997
|
|
Perry Como, 1968
|
|
Harry Connick, Jr., 2003
|
|
The Country Gentlemen, 1998
|
|
Billy Crash Craddock, 2006
|
|
Floyd Cramer
|
|
Dan Crary, 1997
|
|
Bing Crosby and Carole Richards
|
|
David Cullen, 2001
|
|
Lucy J. Dalton
|
|
Vic Damone
|
|
Danny Parks, Joe Caverlee and Matt McGee
|
|
John Davidson, 1969
|
|
Danny Davis and The Nashville Brass, 1970
|
|
Doris Day, 1950
|
|
Antonio Castillo De La Gala
|
|
Jimmy Dean
|
|
Jack DeMello, 2003
|
|
John Denver, 1975
|
|
Destiny's Child, 2001
|
|
Charlotte Diamond
|
|
Neil Diamond, 1992
|
|
Fats Domino
|
|
Mike Douglas, 1967
|
|
The Duke Ellington Orchestra
|
|
Dulcimer Dan and The Blue Skies Band
|
|
Candy Dulfer, 2003
|
|
Bob Dylan, 2009
|
|
Eaken Piano Trio
|
|
Eddie Howard and his Orchestra
|
|
Buddy Emmons
|
|
Trudy Erwin
|
|
Gloria Estefan, 1993
|
|
Kevin Eubanks
|
|
Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Orchestra , 1987
|
|
Merle Evans
|
|
Percy Faith, 1966
|
|
Michael Feinstein, Livingston & Evans Songbook, Concord Records, FCD-3101-2, 2002
|
|
Ferrante & Teicher , 1966
|
|
Brandon Fields
|
|
The Fontaine Sisters
|
|
The Four Aces
|
|
Frank DeVol and His Orchestra
|
|
Kenny G, 1994
|
|
Mike Garson
|
|
The Gatlin Brothers
|
|
Crystal Gayle, 2006
|
|
Bob Geresti
|
|
Giant Drag, 2004
|
|
Vince Gill, 1998
|
|
Mickey Gilley
|
|
Vestal Goodman
|
|
Danny Gottlieb and Pete Levin
|
|
Robert Goulet, 1963
|
|
Earl Grant, 1966
|
|
Eddy Grant
|
|
Larry Groce, 1979
|
|
Merle Haggard, 1973
|
|
The Hampton String Quartet, 1986
|
|
The Happy Hamsters
|
|
Larnelle Harris
|
|
P.J. Harvey
|
|
Reid Hashiro, 2005
|
|
Bobby Helms and Johnny Paycheck
|
|
Heritage Singers
|
|
Al Hirt
|
|
Don Ho, 1967
|
|
Gary Hoey
|
|
Holly Players Orchestra
|
|
Delores Hope
|
|
Jim Horn
|
|
Taylor Horn, 2005
|
|
Jim Hudson and Sydney Martin
|
|
Engelbert Humperdinck
|
|
William Hung, 2004
|
|
Ferlin Husky
|
|
Billy Idol, 2006
|
|
Burl Ives, 1965
|
|
Alan Jackson, 2002
|
|
Mahalia Jackson, 1990
|
|
Sonny James
|
|
George Jones and Gene Watson, 1985
|
|
Jack Jones, 1969
|
|
The Jordanaires, 2001
|
|
The Judds
|
|
Led Kaapana, 2000
|
|
Sammy Kaye
|
|
Ben Keith
|
|
Toby Keith, 2007
|
|
Royal Wade Kimes, 2005
|
|
Andre Kostelanetz
|
|
Dave Koz, 1997
|
|
Erich Kunzel, 2006
|
|
Christy Lane, 2006
|
|
Brenda Lee
|
|
Renee Lee
|
|
Liberace
|
|
Living Strings
|
|
Living Voices
|
|
Kimberly Locke
|
|
London Sound 70 Orchestra
|
|
Lord Inventor and the Caribbean Rhythm Band
|
|
Patty Loveless, 2002
|
|
Norman Luboff, 1964
|
|
Loretta Lynn, 1966
|
|
Barry Manilow, 2007
|
|
Mannheim Steamroller, 2001
|
|
Dean Martin, 1966
|
|
Al Martino, 1964
|
|
Masters of Harmony
|
|
Johnny Mathis, 1958
|
|
Marilyn Maxwell, 1999
|
|
Bob McGrath
|
|
Jimmy McGriff and Hank Crawford
|
|
Brian McKnight, 2008
|
|
Jo Dee Messina, 2002
|
|
Michel'le, 1996
|
|
Glenn Miller
|
|
Jacob Miller
|
|
Mitch Miller, 1961
|
|
Ronnie Milsap
|
|
The Mistletoe Dance Band
|
|
Al Morano
|
|
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1994
|
|
Gary Morris
|
|
Anne Murray
|
|
Sean Na'auao, 2003
|
|
Jim Nabors, 1972
|
|
Nashville Superpickers
|
|
Wayne Newton
|
|
Olivia Newton-John
|
|
Joe Nichols
|
|
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 1997
|
|
The Northwest Boys Choir
|
|
Daniel O'Donnell, 2002
|
|
The Oak Ridge Boys
|
|
The Osmond Family
|
|
Patti Page, 1965
|
|
Brad Paisley, 2006
|
|
Sandi Patty
|
|
Regis Philbin, 2005
|
|
Wilson Pickett, 1987
|
|
The Plantation Orchestra
|
|
The Platters
|
|
Elvis Presley, 1971
|
|
Ruth Price
|
|
John Prine
|
|
Gary Puckett, 2001
|
|
R.E.M
|
|
Boots Randolph
|
|
Lou Rawls, 1993
|
|
The Ray Charles Singers
|
|
The Ray Conniff Singers, 1959
|
|
The Raymond Lefèvre Orchestra
|
|
Jim Reeves, 1963
|
|
Relient K, 2008
|
|
Reverend Horton Heat, 2005
|
|
Don Rich, 2000
|
|
Ricky-tink
|
|
Riders in the Sky
|
|
Jeannie C. Riley, 2004
|
|
Marty Robbins
|
|
Marcus Roberts
|
|
The Roches, 1990
|
|
Rockapella
|
|
Kenny Rogers, 1989
|
|
Diana Ross
|
|
Sandler & Young, 1968
|
|
Deborah Sasson
|
|
John Schneider
|
|
Marilyn Scott
|
|
Martin Sexton, 2005
|
|
Ricky Van Shelton
|
|
Vonda Shepard, 2000
|
|
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, 1963
|
|
Supremes
|
|
Kiri Te Kanawa, 1984
|
|
Jerry Vale
|
|
Billy Vaughn
|
|
Roch Voisine
|
|
Jon Weber, It's Never Quite the Same, Mood Records, MD-1111, 1998
|
|
Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
|
|
Andy Williams
|
|
Boxcar Willie, 1996
|
|
CeCe Winans
|
|
Stevie Wonder
|
|
| Listen |
|
|
|
| Highlights |
- Written for the 1951 Paramount Pictures film The Lemon Drop Kid, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell.
- When the Lemon Drop Kid accidentally steers Moose Moran's girl away from a winning bet, he is forced to come up with $10, 000 to repay the angry gangster. Fortunately it's Christmas, a time when people can be persuaded to party with money for the right cause.
- Original tagline: "Bob Hope makes those "Silver Bells" ring out...With all the wonderful guys and gals of Damon Runyan's Broadway!"
- First performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwel in the film The Lemon Drop Kid, filmed in July and August of 1950, released in March of 1951.
- The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards, released by Decca Records in October of 1950. Their recording became so popular, Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell were called back into the studio to re-film a more elaborate production of the song for the film before it was released.
- Originally written as "Tinkle Bells", the song was changed after Jay Livingston's first wife informed the songwriters that the term "tinkle" was a term used by children to refer to urination.
- One of the few urban Christmas songs since it takes place in a city center and not in the countryside.
- Lux Radio Theater broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 10, 1951 with Bob Hope reprising his film role.
- Bob Hope made "Silver Bells" his Christmas theme, performing it every year on his annual Christmas television special. He usually sang the song as a duet with the lead female guest. Over the years he teamed up with Olivia Newton-John, Shirley Jones, Barbara Mandress and his wife Delores Hope.
- Among the most performed ASCAP standards 1979-1989.
- Charted in the UK for the first time in 2009 when a duet by Sir Terry Wogan and Aled Jones recorded for charity reached the Top 40, peaking at no. 27.
|
|
| WRITTEN BY RAY EVANS & JAY LIVINGSTON |
| COPYRIGHT 1950 |
| Lyrics |
Spoken, brightly:
Christmas makes you feel emotional.
It may bring parties or thoughts of devotional.
Whatever happens or what may be,
Here is what Christmas time means to me.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, people passing,
Meeting smile after smile,
And on ev’ry street corner you hear:
Silver bells, silver bells,
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.
Strings of city street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green,
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch,
This is Santa’s big scene,
And above all this bustle you hear:
Silver bells, silver bells,
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.
|
| SILVER BELLS As sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the Paramount Picture The Lemon Drop Kid Paramount Music Corporation, 1950 Music and Words by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans (Special Picture Release) |
|
