Jingle Bell Rock

"Jingle Bell Rock"
Single by Bobby Helms
B-side "Captain Santa Claus
(and His Reindeer Space Patrol)"
Released 1957 (1957)
Format 7-inch
Recorded October 1956
Genre Christmas, rockabilly, country
Length 2:12
Label Decca 9-30513
Writer(s) Joe Beal
Jim Boothe
Bobby Helms singles chronology
"My Special Angel"
(1957)		 "Jingle Bell Rock"
(1957)		 "Just a Little Lonesome"
(1958)

"Jingle Bell Rock" is an American popular Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal (1900–1967) and James Ross Boothe (1917–1976). Beal was a Massachusetts-born public relations professional and longtime resident of South Ocean Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Boothe was an American writer in the advertising business.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Helms recordings

"Jingle Bell Rock" has been performed by many, but Helms' version is the best known. The song's title and some of its lyrics are an extension of the old Christmas standard, "Jingle Bells." It makes brief references to other popular songs of the 1950s, such as "Rock Around the Clock," and mentions going to a "Jingle hop." An electric guitar played by Hank Garland can be heard playing the first notes of the chorus of "Jingle Bells." Backup singers were the Anita Kerr Quartet.[7]

Bobby Helms' original version, on Decca 9-30513 from 1957, was re-recorded by him on Kapp K-719 in 1965, and yet again in 1967 on Little Darlin' LD-0038. In 1970, Helms recorded an entire album titled Jingle Bell Rock on Certron C-7013, releasing the title track on Certron C-10021, with a picture sleeve. In yet another re-recording, Helms released a version on Ashley AS-4200 (year unknown). In 1983, Helms released his last recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" on Black Rose 82713.

Chart performance

Helms's original version charted at No. 13 on Billboard's Most Played C&W by Jockeys chart, a predecessor to the Hot Country Songs chart. After it was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Jingle All the Way, the original version returned to the country charts in late 1996-early 1997, reaching a peak of No. 60.

It also crossed to the pop charts, reaching #11 in the Cashbox Top 60, week ending January 11, 1958.

Bobby Helms

Chart (1957) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Most Played C&W By Jockeys 13
U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores 6
Chart (1996–1997) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks 60
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 18

George Strait

Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 69

Aaron Tippin

Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 52

Rascal Flatts

Chart (2008–09) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 29

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert

Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 37
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[12] 34

Other recordings

A notable cover version of the song was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1968 for United Artists records. Intended for a seasonal single release, it was not released and it was considered lost for nearly 30 years until it was finally issued in the mid-1990s.

Brenda Lee released a version of "Jingle Bell Rock" which made the Billboard Christmas singles chart in both 1964 and 1967.

In 1997 the song was recorded in Navajo by American singer Tatiana renamed Navidad Rock (Christmas Rock) for album Navidad Mágica; the issue became an immediate success and today considered a classic Christmas song in Mexico.

In 2013, American comedian KopShtick did a parody version entitled Chanuka Rock.[13]

Other artists to have covered the song include:

In popular culture

References

  1. ↑ Joseph Carleton Beal, in: Ancestry.com. Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009.
  2. ↑ Joseph Mills Carleton Beal, in: Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.
  3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009.
  4. ↑ Dale V. Nobbman, Christmas Music Companion Fact Book, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000, p. 101. ISBN 978-1-57424-067-2.
  5. ↑ U.S. Census, 1910, State of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk, enumeration district 1083, p. 23-A, family 578.
  6. ↑ "Historical Sacrilege Issue", The Evening Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania), 3 October 1963, p. 14.
  7. ↑ https://sonichits.com/artist/Bobby_Helms_%26_The_Anita_Kerr_Singers
  8. ↑ "George Strait – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for George Strait.
  9. ↑ "Aaron Tippin – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Aaron Tippin.
  10. ↑ "Rascal Flatts – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Rascal Flatts.
  11. ↑ "Blake Shelton – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Blake Shelton.
  12. ↑ "Blake Shelton – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Blake Shelton.
  13. ↑ Singer, Tibbi (November 27, 2013). "Music Video: KopShtick Chanuka Rock". The Jewish Press. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Happy Holidays: A Very Special Christmas Album - Billy Idol | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2006-12-04. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  15. ↑ "Song: Jingle Bell Rock | Jeremy Camp | New Album - RECKLESS Available Now!". Jeremy Camp. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  16. ↑ Video on YouTube
  17. ↑ Dennis MacDonald (1992-11-20). "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York [Original Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

External links
"Jingle Bell Rock" (2006)
A version of "Jingle Bell Rock" sung by British girl band "Girls Aloud".
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