Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Now THAT'S What I Call Christmas!!!


I was surprised to see that Vince Vance and the Valiants’ All I Want for Xmas Is You song isn't on that Xmas song list you ran on Sunday
Great voice and wonderful song
Bob - Bolingbrook 
It’s a Christmas favorite … trust me, you’ll hear it plenty!  (In fact, if you check Gary Theroux’s Top 100 Christmas Songs List below, you’ll see that it placed at #23!)
You can hear that special Christmas Countdown on Me-TV-FM here in Chicago and, from the sounds of things, on several other radio stations around the world.  (kk)

>>>39 / 28 - BEACH BOYS - LITTLE SAINT NICK – 1963  (Another one that should rank higher than it does, based on holiday airplay) kk  
Kent ~   
I couldn't agree with you more! 
Phil 

 
The Christmas list from yesterday? ... 
Soooooooo many thoughts there ... SO MANY! 
Hope you have a good Thanksgiving ... now about that Burl Ives and 18 -- EIGHTEEN???!!! -- Holiday channels on Sirius ... SIRIUSLY?????
Sam  
 
Hiya Kent, 
As for the top Christmas songs, how could "I Believe in Father Christmas" by ELP have been left off the list? The words aren't so uplifting but it's a great tune. I was glad to see TSO on there twice. I haven't missed their fantastic show in almost 15 years! 
Dube

Hi, Kent! 
ALL of the Christmas classics you noted that were missing from that "official" list of 2018's favorites turn up at one point or another in the new 2018 edition of 10 hour radio countdown THE 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS HITS OF ALL TIME.  

The countdown, hosted by the ever-popular Wink Martindale, will be heard in Chicagoland on ME-TV- FM and on countless other U.S. stations this December -- along with radio outlets in more than 75 countries around the world.  

Will YOUR favorite station be airing all ten hours of THE 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS HITS OF ALL TIME?  Call them to find out!  And, if not, have them contact Envision Radio Networks ASAP at 216-831-3761 to guarantee their market exclusivity (if it's still available). 

What does THE 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS HITS OF ALL TIME sound like?  You'll find the demo at the bottom of this e-mail.

Now, traditionally we don't tell anyone what exactly is included in each annually updated edition of THE 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS HITS OF ALL TIME.  We just say you'll hear every classic original Yuletide hit you can think of from yesteryear to today -- the stories behind all the songs -- plus greetings by more than 160 stars -- AND a whole lot of funny, moving and/or nostalgic surprises.  

HOWEVER -- we place the followers of Forgotten Hits in a whole special category.   And just for you, guys and gals, here is the previously secret 2018 track listing for all ten hours of THE 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS HITS OF ALL TIME.  Selections noted with an "X" are "Bonus Tracks."  Those with an asterisk (*) include an interview. 

Hour 1    

Segment 1-A (20:29) 
Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson & his Orchestra (100)
*Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Dion (99)
*White Christmas – The Drifters (98)
White Christmas – Lou Costello (1-X-A)
Steve Miller Holiday Greeting
Go Tell It on the Mountain – Jewel (97)
Christmas Canon – The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1-X-B)
Old Toy Trains – Roger Miller (96)   

Hour 1, First Commercial Break Drop-In: George Harrison (:12)   

Segment 1-B (12:37) 
Frosty the Snowman – Jimmy Durante (95)
From All of Us to All of You – Cliff “Jiminy Cricket” Edwards (1-X-C)
*Santa’s Stuck Up in the Chimney – Paul Evans (94)
The Man and the Birds – Paul Harvey (1-X-D) 

Hour 1, Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Weird Al Yankovic (:41) 

Segment 1-C (14:07) 
*Mary Did You Know – Kenny Rogers & Wynonna (93)
That’s Christmas to Me – Pentatonix (92)
*The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Rick Nelson (1-X-E)
*Here We Come A-Caroling – The Ray Conniff Singers (91)
Jingle Bells – Les Paul (1-X-F) 

Hour 2: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In:  Randy Travis (:11)

Segment 2-A (18:27) 
We Wish You a Merry Christmas – The Muppets with John Denver (90)
*Silver Bells – Bing Crosby & Carole Richards (89)
*Silent Night – The Temptations (2-X-A)
The Three Stooges Holiday Greeting (2-X-B)
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – Lorne Greene (88)
*Santa Claus Is Back In Town – Dwight Yoakam (87)
A Christmas Carol – Tom Lehrer (86) 

Hour 2 First Commercial Break Drop-In: Madonna (:18)

Segment 2-B (15:04) 
I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter – Connie Francis (85)
Christmas Cookies – George Strait (2-X-C)
You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft (2-X-D)
*Happy Holiday – Andy Williams (84)
*Come on a Sleigh Ride with Me – Freddy Cannon, Johnny Tillotson & Brian Hyland (83) 

Hour 2 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Gloria Estefan (:09) 

Segment 2-C (13:38) 
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd (82)
Bow Wow Wants a Boy For Christmas – Red Buttons (2-X-E)
*It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas – Perry Como & the Fontane Sisters (81)
*Merry Merry Christmas – The New Kids on the Block (2-X-F) 

Hour 3: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: The Bee Gees (:16)

Segment 3-A (19:20) 
*Christmas Time Is Here – “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Cast with the Vince Guaraldi Trio (80)
*Jolly Old Saint Nicholas – Eddy Arnold (79)
**Jingle Bell Rock – Chubby Checker & Bobby Rydell (78)
Jack Benny & Frank “Yesss!” Nelson Holiday Greeting (3-X-A)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – Counting Crowns (77)
Dickens' Christmas Carol – George Burns & Gracie Allen (3-X-B)
Christmas Message – The Apollo 8 Crew (3-X-C) 

Hour 3 First Commercial Break Drop-In: Pee Wee Herman (:32) 

Segment 3-B (13:18) 
You Make It Feel Like Christmas – Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton (76)
*I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus – Brenda Lee (3-X-D)
*An Old Christmas Card – Jim Reeves (75)
*Baby It’s Cold Outside – Michael Buble & Idina Menzel (74) 

Hour 3 Second Commercial Break: Reba McEntire / This Is My Prayer For You (1:32)

Segment 3-C (13:31) 
We Need a Little Christmas – The New Christy Minstrels (73)
Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens (72)
*Santa Baby – Madonna (71)
Believe – Josh Groban (3-X-E) 

Hour 4: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Fleetwood Mac (:10)

Segment 4-A (19:32) 
You’re Almost There – Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith (70)
*Mele Kalikimaka -- Jimmy Buffett (69)
Oiche Chiun (Silent Night) – Enya (68)
Shrek & Donkey Holiday Greeting (4-X-A)
Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow! – Dean Martin (67)
Christmas Together – Walter Brennan (66)
Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry (4-X-B) 

Hour 4 First Commercial Break Drop-In: Heart (:22)

Segment 4-B (17:08) 
Angels From The Realms of Glory – The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and friends (65)
Yes, Virginia (There Is A Santa Claus) – Gary Theroux & Julia Myers (4-X-C)
*Marshmallow World – Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood (4-X-D)
Fa La La – Olivia Jade Archbold (64) 

Hour 4 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Ozzy Osbourne (:11)

Segment 4-C (10:22) 
Angels We Have Heard On High – Amy Grant (62)
*Do You Hear What I Hear?  -- Bing Crosby (61)
*Christmas As I Knew It – Johnny Cash (4-X-E) 

Hour 5: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Howdy Doody (:27)

Segment 5-A (20:09)   
*Hard Candy Christmas – Dolly Parton (5-X-A) 
*Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie & Bing Crosby (60)
*‘Til Santa’s Gone (Milk and Cookies) – Clint Black (59)
M.C. Hammer Holiday Greeting
*Away In a Manger – Anne Murray (58)
*What Child is This? – The Lettermen (57) 

Hour 5 First Commercial Break Drop-in:  Abbott & Costello (:15)

Segment 5-B (20:32) 
Christmas Tonight – Dave Barnes & Hillary Scott (55)
Everywhere It’s Christmas – The Beatles (5-X-B)
*Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney (54)
My Favorite Holiday - The Smothers Brothers (5-X-C)
Peter Cetera Holiday Greeting
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings -- Barenaked Ladies with Sarah MacLachlan  (53)
*Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea (52)
All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) – Spike Jones & his City Slickers; George Rock, vocal (51) 

Hour 5 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Jimmy Dean (:12)

Segment 5-C (6:13) 
Merry Christmas Polka – Merv Griffin with Freddy Martin & his Orchestra (5-X-D)
Santa Claus is Coming in a Boogie-Woogie Choo-Choo Train – The Tractors (5-X-E) 

Hour 6: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Paul Schafer (:51)

Segment 6-A (16:40) 
Morningtown Ride to Christmas – The Seekers (50)
*Silver Bells – Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell (49)
*Silent Night – Simon & Garfunkel (6-X-A)
Where Are You, Christmas – Faith Hill (6-X-B)
Do You Want To Build A Snowman? – Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn and Katie Lopez (6-X-C) 

Hour 6 First Commercial Break Drop-In: Jan & Dean (:15)  

Segment 6-B (11:08)  
*Hallelujah – Lindsey Stirling (48)
*If We Make It Through December – Merle Haggard (47)
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Josh Groban [with messages from real soldiers] (46) 

Hour 6 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Michael Bolton (:12) 

Segment 6-C (18:38) 
The Twelve Days of Christmas – Alan Sherman (45)
*Merry Christmas / Happy Holiday – N’Sync (44)
Alice Cooper Holiday Greeting
Deck the Halls – Mannheim Steamroller (43)
*Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes (42)
Christmas Auld Lang Syne – Bobby Darin (41) 

Hour 7: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Thomas A. Edison (:22)  

Segment 7-A (13:07) 
My Grown-Up Christmas List – Amy Grant (40)
Christmas Dragnet – Stan Freberg (39)
*Christmas in Killarney – Dennis Day (38) 

Hour 7 First Commercial Break Drop-In: REO Speedwagon (:14)

Segment 7-B (14:23) 
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Barry Gordon (36)
O Holy Night – The Lettermen (7-X-A)
Let It Be Christmas – Alan Jackson (37)
*Jingle Bells – Frank Sinatra (7-X-B)
Same Auld Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg (36) 

Hour 7 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Jimmy Stewart [from “It’s A Wonderful Life”] (:45)

Segment 7-C (18:55) 
Christmas in America – Pat Benatar (35)
*It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way – Jim Croce (34)
*It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams (33)
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey (7-X-C)
*(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays – Perry Como (32)
*Santa Claus Is Back in Town – Elvis Presley (31) 

Hour 8: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Tony Bennett (:10)

Segment 8-A (23:50) 
Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte (30)
*O Little Town of Bethlehem – Johnny Mathis (8-X-A)
Christmas Shoes – Newsong (29)
Ringo Starr Holiday Greeting
Christmas Time Is Here Again – The Beatles (8-X-B)
*Happy Christmas (War is Over) – John Lennon (28)
*Snoopy’s Christmas – The Royal Guardsmen (27)
*Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano (26)

Hour 8 First Commercial Break Drop-In: “Mystery Science 3000” TV Cast (1:10)

Segment 8-B (10:57) 
Text Me Merry Christmas – Straight No Chaser with Kristin Bell (25) 
Christmas Comes But Once a Year – Grampy (Jack Mercer) with the Orphans (8-X-C)
*Frosty the Snowman – Gene Autry (24)
What Christmas Really Means For Me – Kathy Mattea (8-X-D) 

Hour 8 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Edmund Gwenn [from “Miracle on 34th St.”] (:46)

Segment 8-C (10:52)  
All I Want For Christmas Is You – Vince Vance & the Valiants; Lisa Layne, vocal (23) 
*Pretty Paper – Roy Orbison (22)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer – Elmo & Patsy (21) 

Hour 9: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Kenny Loggins (:08)

Segment 9-A (11:52) 
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love (9-X-A)
*Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid (20)
*Step Into Christmas – Elton John (19) 

Hour 9 First Commercial Break Drop-In: Gregg Allman (:14)  

Segment 9-B (9:29) 
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland (18)
*Here Comes Santa Claus – Gene Autry (17)
*I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Bing Crosby (16) 

Hour 9 Second Commercial Break Drop-In; Cheap Trick (:13) 

Segment 9-C (25:51) 
Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt (15)
*Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen (14)
*Please Come Home for Christmas – The Eagles (13)
Patti Page Holiday Greeting
The Little Drummer Boy – The Harry Simone Chorale (12)
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 – The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (9-X-B)
*All I Want For Christmas is You – Mariah Carey (11)
The Cop and the Anthem (excerpt) – Red Skelton (9-X-C)

Jingle Bells – The “Beverly Hillbillies” cast with Paul Winchell (8-X-D) 

Hour 10: 

Top of the Hour Commercial Break Drop-In: Eddie Money (:12)

Segment 10-A (8:50) 
Joy to the World [single verse] – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus (10-X-A)
*Joy to The World - Whitney Houston (10-X-B)
*Last Christmas – Wham (10-X-C) 

Hour 10 First Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Del Shannon (:10)

Segment 10-B (17:51) 
Rudolph The Red- Nosed Reindeer [single verse] – The Videocraft Orchestra with Burl Ives (10-X-D)
Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives (10)
*Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys (9)
*Merry Christmas Darling – The Carpenters (8)
*Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley (7)
*Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee (6)
*The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – The Chipmunks with David Seville (5) 

Hour 10 Second Commercial Break Drop-In: Weird Al Yankovic (:15) 

Segment 10-C (20:31) 
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms (4)
*Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry (3)
*The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire) – Nat “King” Cole (2)
Santa Claus Holiday Greeting
*White Christmas – Bing Crosby (1) 
Sing “Silent Night” – C.W. McCall (10-X-E)
Silent Night – The Carpenters (10-X-F)

All the best,
Gary ("History of Rock 'n' Roll") Theroux, producer - writer


Wink Martindale

This is a GREAT Radio Holiday Tradition ... be sure to contact YOUR favorite local radio station to see if they will be carrying Wink's Top 100 Countdown this year ... and, if not, be sure to ask for it!!!  This is Christmas Programming at its very finest!  (And now, courtesy of long-time Forgotten Hits Contributor Gary Theroux, you can follow along with your little score card / "Christmas Cheat Sheet"!!!)  kk