List of Billboard Best Bets for Christmas 1963–1973

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Rank Album Artist Year
Rlsd. 		Peak
Date 		Peak
Pos. 		Weeks
Peak Top 10 Chart
1 The Andy Williams Christmas Album Andy Williams 1963 11/30/1963 #1 9 23 30
2 A Christmas Album Barbra Streisand 1967 12/2/1967 6 16 20
3 The Little Drummer Boy Harry Simeone Chorale 1959 12/5/1964 4 25 35
4 Merry Christmas Andy Williams 1966 12/10/1966 3 12 20
5 Jackson 5 Christmas Album Jackson 5 1970 12/26/1970 10 10
6 The Christmas Song Nat King Cole 1963 12/13/1969 2 29 35
7 Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas Elvis Presley 1971 12/9/1972 8 8
8 Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Christmas Album Herb Alpert 1968 12/7/1968 6 10
9 That Christmas Feeling Glen Campbell 1968 12/21/1968 10
10 A Partridge Family Christmas Card The Partridge Family 1971 12/18/1971 3 5
11 The Dean Martin Christmas Album Dean Martin 1966 12/3/1966 1 14 19
12 Jim Nabors' Christmas Album [59] Jim Nabors 1967 12/27/1969 13 21
13 Give Me Your Love For Christmas Johnny Mathis 1969 12/6/1969 10 12
14 A Motown Christmas Various Artists 1973 2/15/1973 3 3
15 Music of Christmas[60] Percy Faith And His Orchestra 1957 11/24/1958 1 2
16 Elvis' Christmas Album Elvis Presley 1957 12/11/1965 #2 7 23 31
17 Merry Christmas Johnny Mathis 1958 11/30/1963 6 27 29
18 Merry Christmas Bing Crosby 1955 12/26/1964 3 34 40
19 Sounds of Christmas Johnny Mathis 1963 12/21/1963 2 7 20
20 Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! [61] Lou Rawls 1967 12/9/1967 1 5 10
21 Christmas with Mahalia [62] Mahalia Jackson 1968 12/13/1969 2 5
22 Christmas Album [63] Bobby Sherman 1970 12/19/1970 2 3
23 A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra 1957 11/24/1958 1 11
24 John Gary Christmas Album [64] John Gary 1964 12/5/1964 #3 1 4 17
25 Handel: Messiah The Philadelphia Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / Eugene Ormandy 1959 12/13/1969 2 6
26 The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas Frank Sinatra featuring Frank Sinatra Jr., Nancy Sinatra and Tina Sinatra 1969 12/13/1969 4
27 This Christmas I Spend With You [65] Robert Goulet 1963 12/21/1963 #4 2 6 13
28 Sound of Christmas Ramsey Lewis Trio 1961 12/18/1965 1 8 24
29 The Temptations Christmas Card The Temptations 1970 12/23/1972 5 5
30 Merle Haggard's Christmas Present Merle Haggard 1973 12/8/1973 2 3
31 Merry Christmas[66] Jackie Gleason 1956 11/24/1958 1 7
32 We Wish You A Merry Christmas Ray Conniff 1962 12/9/1972 #5 1 3 20
33 Season's Greetings from Perry Como Perry Como 1959 12/7/1963 1 2 20
34 O' Bambino — The Little Drummer Boy [67] Harry Simeone Chorale 1965 2/3/1966 5
35 Merry Christmas! New Christy Minstrels 1963 12/28/1963 1 8
36 Christmas Carols Mantovani 1954 11/24/1958 1
37 Noël Joan Baez 1966 12/3/1966 #6 4 5 13
38 Merry Christmas The Supremes 1965 12/11/1965 2 3 12
39 Snoopy And His Friends The Royal Guardsmen 1967 12/23/1967 2 7
40 The Beach Boys' Christmas Album The Beach Boys 1965 12/18/1965 1 3 13
41 A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector Various Artists 1963 12/23/1972 6
42 Songs of Christmas[68] Norman Luboff Choir 1956 11/24/1958 1 1
43 Merry Christmas from the Brady Bunch The Brady Bunch 1970 12/25/1971
44 Christmas Greetings From Mantovani And His Orchestra [69] Mantovani 1963 12/21/1963 #7 1 3 14
45 Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee Brenda Lee 1964 12/16/1972 1 15
46 Christmas with Conniff Ray Conniff 1959 12/27/1969 11
47 The Christmas Spirit Johnny Cash 1963 12/13/1969 5
48 Now Is The Caroling Season[70] Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians 1957 11/24/1958 1
49 Handel's Messiah Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra 1966 12/7/1968 #8 2 2 5
50 Christmas in My Home Town Charley Pride 1970 12/23/1972 1 3 6
51 More Sounds of Christmas Ramsey Lewis Trio 1964 12/26/1964 2 15
52 Merry Christmas [71] Al Martino 1964 12/19/1964 11
53 Christmas with The King Family [72] The King Family 1965 12/18/1965 2
54 The Joy of Christmas The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / The New York Philharmonic / Leonard Bernstein 1963 12/11/1965 11
55 Soul Christmas (Atco Records 33-269) [73] Various artists 1968 12/6/1969 6
56 Beloved Choruses [74] The Philadelphia Orchestra / The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / Eugene Ormandy 1958 12/18/1965 4
57 Christmas '64 Jimmy Smith 1964 12/5/1964
58 The Voices of Christmas[75] The Voices of Walter Schumann 1955 11/24/1958 1
59 Ventures' Christmas Album [76] The Ventures 1965 12/18/1965 #9 2 2 9
60 Christmas Hymns & Carols [77] Robert Shaw 1957 11/24/1958 8
61 12 Songs Of Christmas Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Fred Waring 1964 12/19/1964 3
62 Merry Xmas From José Feliciano José Feliciano 1970 12/8/1973
63 Navidad Means Christmas [78] Eydie Gorme & Trio Los Panchos 1966 12/17/1966 1 2 4
64 Holiday Sing Along with Mitch Mitch Miller and The Gang 1961 12/28/1963 1 17
65 Christmas with The Chipmunks Volume 2 David Seville & The Chipmunks 1963 12/21/1963 13
66 A Christmas Treasure [79] Julie Andrews with Andre Previn 1967 12/2/1967 6
67 A Christmas Festival [80] Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra 1970 12/19/1970 2
68 Joy to The World[81] Roger Wagner Chorale 1956 11/24/1958 1
69 Songs For A Merry Christmas [82] Wayne Newton 1966 12/3/1966 #10 3 3 10
70 Christmas Wonderland Bert Kaempfert 1963 12/7/1963 2 2 13
71 Christmas Present...And Past [83] Paul Revere & the Raiders 1967 12/9/1967 1 1 5
72 Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album Tony Bennett 1968 12/14/1968 3
73 A Soulful Christmas James Brown 1968 12/13/1969
74 The Perry Como Christmas Album Perry Como 1968 12/26/1970
75 The Christmas Album: 20 Great Christmas Favorites By 20 Great Artist (Columbia Records 30763) [84] Various artists 1972 12/8/1973

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Known has Christmas Records from 1963 to 1964 and Top Christmas Sellers in 1965.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Christmas Hit Records".
  2. ^ "Appendix E: All Time Christmas Countdown".
  3. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 48, November 30, 1963, p. 11.
  4. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 49, December 7, 1963, p. 8.
  5. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 50, December 14, 1963, p. 8.
  6. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 51, December 21, 1963, p. 8.
  7. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 75, no. 52, December 28, 1963, p. 7.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 49, December 5, 1964, p. 25.
  10. ^ First charted on the Hot 100 in 1958 peaking at #13
  11. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 50, December 12, 1964, p. 22.
  12. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 51, December 19, 1964, p. 34.
  13. ^ “Christmas Records.” Billboard, vol. 76, no. 52, December 26, 1964, p. 36.
  14. ^ “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 50, December 11, 1965, p. 7.
  15. ^ “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 51, December 18, 1965, p. 15.
  16. ^ “Billboard Top Christmas Sellers.” Billboard, vol. 77, no. 52, December 25, 1965, p. 12.
  17. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 49, December 3, 1966, p. 56.
  18. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 50, December 10, 1966, p. 40.
  19. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 51, December 17, 1966, p. 36.
  20. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 78, no. 52, December 24, 1966, p. 33.
  21. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 48, December 2, 1967, p. 8.
  22. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 49, December 9, 1967, p. 92.
  23. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 50, December 16, 1967, p. 61.
  24. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 51, December 23, 1967, p. 50.
  25. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 79, no. 52, December 30, 1967, p. 40.
  26. ^ The flip side "My Favorite Things" peaked at #45 on the Hot 100 the same year.
  27. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 49, December 7, 1968, p. 82.
  28. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 50, December 14, 1968, p. 84.
  29. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 51, December 21, 1968, p. 69.
  30. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 80, no. 52, December 28, 1968, p. 57.
  31. ^ First released in 1942 peaking at #1 for 11 weeks
  32. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 49, December 6, 1969, p. 11.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 50, December 13, 1969, p. 10.
  35. ^ First charted on Billboard's Top 100 in 1957 peaking at #6.
  36. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 51, December 20, 1969, p. 12.
  37. ^ "Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  38. ^ “Billboard Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 81, no. 52, December 27, 1969, p. 10.
  39. ^ "Jackson 5 gave love on Christmas Day but did not celebrate the holiday themselves".
  40. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 82, no. 51, December 19, 1970, p. 12.
  41. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 82, no. 52, December 26, 1970, p. 59.
  42. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 83, no. 51, December 18, 1971, p. 49.
  43. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 83, no. 52, December 25, 1971, p. 49.
  44. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 51, December 9, 1972, p. 40.
  45. ^ First charted on the Hot 100 in 1961 peaking at #76.
  46. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 52, December 16, 1972, p. 51.
  47. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 84, no. 53, December 23, 1972, p. 4.
  48. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 49, December 8, 1973, p. 28.
  49. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 50, December 15, 1973, p. 25.
  50. ^ “Best Bets For Christmas.” Billboard, vol. 85, no. 51, December 22, 1973, p. 22.
  51. ^ "Collecting Christmas records". 14 December 2022.
  52. ^ "Billboard's Best Selling Christmas Albums of the 1960s". 9 January 2012.
  53. ^ "Billboard's Top-Selling Christmas Album – 1970s". 16 January 2012.
  54. ^ "Deejay's Favorite Christmas Disks." The Billboard, vol. 70, no. 47, November 24, 1958, p. 2.
  55. ^ "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.
  56. ^ "Billboard Top Christmas Sellers." Billboard, vol. 77, no. 50-52, December 11, 1965-December 25, 1965, pp. 7, 15 & 12.
  57. ^ "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.
  58. ^ "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.
  59. ^ "Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors' Christmas Album". Discogs. 1967.
  60. ^ "Percy Faith and His Orchestra - Music of Christmas". Discogs. 1954.
  61. ^ "Lou Rawls - Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  62. ^ "Mahalia Jackson - Christmas with Mahalia [Columbia] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  63. ^ "Bobby Sherman - Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  64. ^ "John Gary - the John Gary Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  65. ^ "Robert Goulet - This Christmas I Spend with You Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  66. ^ "Jackie Gleason - Merry Christmas". Discogs. 1956.
  67. ^ "Harry Simeone Chorale - O Bambino/The Little Drummer Boy Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  68. ^ "The Norman Luboff Choir - Songs of Christmas". Discogs. 1956.
  69. ^ "Mantovani - Christmas Greetings from Mantovani and His Orchestra Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  70. ^ "Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, Fred Waring - Now is the Caroling Season Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  71. ^ "Al Martino - Merry Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  72. ^ "King Family - Christmas with the King Family Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  73. ^ https://www.hipchristmas.com/albums/s/soul.php
  74. ^ https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Mormon%20Tabernacle%20Choir%2C%20Richard%20P.%20Condie%20-%20The%20Philadelphia%20Orchestra%2C%20Eugene%20Ormandy&title=The%20Beloved%20Choruses
  75. ^ "The Voices of Walter Schumann - the Voices of Christmas". Discogs. 1955.
  76. ^ "The Ventures - the Ventures' Christmas Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  77. ^ "Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Chorale - Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 1 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  78. ^ "Eydie Gorme, Eydie Gorme y Trio los Panchos, el Trio los Panchos - Navidad Means Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  79. ^ "Julie Andrews - A Christmas Treasure Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  80. ^ "Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra - A Christmas Festival [Polygram] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  81. ^ "The Roger Wagner Chorale - Joy to the World". Discogs. 1956.
  82. ^ "Wayne Newton - Songs for a Merry Christmas Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  83. ^ "Paul Revere & the Raiders - A Christmas Present...And Past Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  84. ^ https://musicbrainz.org/release/80a8d1a9-09d6-4935-83fd-ea45a2d1ca0b
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