ASCAP has released a list of the 30 most-played holiday songs of the last 50 years. Data accumulated since 1966 shows that “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” written by ASCAP songwriters Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and copyrighted in 1934, is the most-played holiday song of the last five decades. The song was first performed live by singer and comedy performer, Eddie Cantor, on his radio show, and recorded by banjoist Harry Reser and his orchestra in 1934 when it topped the sheet music charts.
Here are the 30 most-played holiday songs for the recent holiday season, all written or co-written by ASCAP songwriters and composers.
1. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, 1934
2. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Written by Ralph Blaine and Hugh Martin, 1943
3. “Winter Wonderland”
Written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, 1934
4. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow”
Written by Sammy Chan and Jule Styne, 1945
5. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…)”
Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, 1946
6. “Jingle Bell Rock”
Written by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe, 1957
7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Written by Edward Pola and George Wyle 1963
8. “Sleigh Ride”
Written by Leroy Anderson and Michelle Parish, 1950
9. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Written by Johnny Marks
10. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
Written by Meredith Wilson, 1951
11. “White Christmas”
Written by Irving Berlin, 1940
12. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”
Written by Johnny Marks, 1962
13. “Carol of the Bells”
Written by Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky, 1936
14. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Written by Johnny Marks, 1958
15. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey
16. “Frosty the Snowman”
Written by Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins, 1950
17. “Blue Christmas”
Written by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson, 1948
18. “Home for the Holidays”
Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman, 1954
19. “Little Drummer Boy”
Written by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone, 1958
20. “Do You Hear What I Hear”
Written by Gloria Shayne Baker and Noël Regney, 1962
21. “Silver Bells”
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, 1950
22. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Written by Frank Loesser, 1948
23. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Written by Tommy Connor, 1952
24. “Feliz Navidad”
Written by Jose Feliciano, 1970
25. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)”
Written by Robert Kinkel, Paul O’Neill, and John Oliva
26. “Last Christmas”
Written by George Michael
27. “Here Comes Santa Claus”
Written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman, 1947
28. “Santa Baby”
Written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer, 1953
29. “Happy Holiday (From Holiday Inn)”
Written by Irving Berlin, 1948
30. “Wonderful Christmastime”
Written by Paul McCartney