Friday, December 23, 2011

The Golden Age of Popular Christmas Music

Was it the trauma of the depression and WWII that created a need for songs of togetherness and family? Was it the perfect storm of the standardization of records, the emergence of the movie musical and the invention of the microphone? Was there some more mystical cause? Well, in any event, in a relatively short span of years in the mid-20th century a great outpouring of Christmas music occurred. I’ve seen different dates for this golden age of popular Christmas music. But everyone agrees that it encompassed at least the 40’s and 50’s. Others include the late 30’s and still others the early 60’s. But, somehow or other, every great modern Christmas song was written within these 30 years. Except for a few isolated songs, everything since has been a cover or terrible.

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town 1934

Winter Wonderland 1934

Jingle Bells 1935

Carol of the Bells in 1936

Happy Holiday 1942

White Christmas 1942

I'll Be Home for Christmas 1943

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 1944

Let it Snow! Let it snow! Let it Snow! 1945

The Christmas Song 1946

Here Comes Santa Claus 1947

Merry Christmas, Baby 1947

Blue Christmas 1949

Baby, It's Cold Outside 1949

Sleigh Ride 1949

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1949

Frosty the Snowman 1950

Marshmallow World 1950

Silver Bells 1950

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 1951

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 1952

Santa Baby 1953

Home for the Holidays 1954

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 1956

Jingle Bell Rock 1957

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree 1958

Little Drummer Boy 1958

Do You Hear What I Hear? 1963

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 1963

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year 1963

All I Want for Christmas Is You 1963

A Holly Jolly Christmas 1964

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