20 Classic Christmas Songs of All Time

You know these songs. These are the ones heard each year, and though heard several times throughout the season, we never tire of them. They are the soundtrack to the Holidays. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without them. You'll note by the recorded date that all of the songs are at least 3 decades old-simply because they do not make them like these anymore. Therefore, I present the top 20 Christmas Classics of all time:

Top 20 Christmas Songs of All Time

20. Sleigh Ride--Leroy Anderson (1950): Everyone knows this version of Sleigh Ride. No lyrics are needed with this orchestral piece that is so familiar. Though the Boston Pops recorded it first, it is Leroy Anderson's orchestral version that is so well-known and well-loved to this day.

19. Merry Christmas Darling-The Carpenters (1970): Is it possible to not get all warm and fuzzy when listening to Karen Carpenter's comfortable and familiar voice singing a song about love at Christmas.

18. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas-Judy Garland (1944): Who can forget this classic from "Meet Me In St. Louis"? Judy Garland's original and haunting version of this song is by far the best that this song has to offer.

17. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Andy Williams (1963): The only artist to have two entries on this list, this version is so recognizable that it even made it into a back-to-school commercial for Staples some years ago. With just the introduction, you feel the spirit of Christmas pull you in and remind you that it IS the most wonderful time of the year!

16. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow-Dean Martin (1959): While never mentioning Christmas at all, this song evokes all of the thoughts and images associated with Christmas, and so became a Holiday favorite anyway. Dean Marin delivers in the smooth way that only he can, warming the listener from head to toe, in spite of the song's cold topic.It's that time of year again...a time when turning on the radio to your frequency's adult contemporary radio station means that, even before Thanksgiving, you will hear "All Christmas, From Now Through Christmas". From this point on, your radio station plays a mix of Christmas classics, new renditions of old standards and those songs that make you groan as if you've had too much fruitcake.

15. Little Drummer Boy-Harry Simeone Chorale (1965): This song is a staple during Christmas. It is easily the most recognizable version of this song and is a classic.

14. Christmastime Is Here-Vince Guaraldi (1965): Who does not get into the Christmas spirit when they hear this classic? This standard has been covered a few times and yet still, this version holds its own as the version that you must hear each year.

13. Please Come Home For Christmas-Charles Brown (1960): Out of all of the covers of this song, Charles Brown's version, which is by far the most soulful, often gets overlooked for more contemporary, yet less heartfelt versions, but it definitely stands out as a "must hear" each year.

12. Feliz Navidad-Jose Feliciano (1970): Come on, admit it. You sing along to this one! It is as standard as any of the Christmas songs you hear these days! Christmas would not be the same without this charming tune that celebrates Christmas with such energy-as a Christmas greeting should be.

11. Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy-David Bowie and Bing Crosby (1977): This classic song blends classic and contemporary. Originally recorded for what would be Bing Crosby's last Christmas special, this song has become as well known as much older songs.

10. No Place Like Home for the Holidays-Perry Como (1954): Hands down, the most recognized version of this song. In fact, on reference sites like Wikipedia, it appears with a side note that reads "Made famous by Perry Como". Great song for traveling to your own loved ones houses for the Holidays!

9. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree-Brenda Lee (1958): A Christmas party is not complete without this number! This classic is dated with lyrics like "Christmas Party Hop", yet is timeless and a favorite of many during the most festive season of the year!

8. Jingle Bell Rock-Bobby Helms (1957): Another on the list of Christmas party favorites! This song, like "Rockin'..." is dated and yet has sustained through the decades! Definitely adds a sense of fun to any holiday gathering!

7. Holly Jolly Christmas-Burl Ives (1962): Made famous by the Rankin/Bass television special, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", there is not a more recognizable version of this classic to be found! It is not possible to hear it and not feel both holly and jolly!

6. Frosty the Snowman-Jimmy Durante (1969): Recorded for another Rankin/Bass special of the same name, this version is a favorite among Holiday music connoisseurs everywhere. The history of this song is a very interesting one (trust me, Google the song sometime), but thankfully it survived and remains a children's favorite and holiday classic to this day!

5. Blue Christmas-Elvis Presley (1957): Does anyone remember earlier recordings of this song? Maybe, but once Elvis put his signature style on this tune, he, as Paula Abdul would say, "Made it his own", and it became an instant classic and a Holiday favorite.

4. Here Comes Santa Claus-Gene Autry (1947): Written by Autry after participating in a Christmas Parade in Los Angeles, this song even inspired yet another classic Rankin/Bass special. This version is one of the oldest tunes on the list, celebrating its 61^st anniversary this coming Holiday Season. Talk about a lasting impression!

3. Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season-Andy Williams (1953): Originally written in 1942 by Irving Berlin for the film "Holiday Inn", this more contemporary version remains more popular. And who doesn't like to sing along to fun, spirited lyrics like, "It's the holiday season, so whoop-de-doo..!"?

2. White Christmas-Bing Crosby (1942/1947): Also written by Irving Berlin for the film, "Holiday Inn", Bing Crosby has the most famous, notable version in the history of the song. However, it was his version re-recorded in '47 after damage to the master of the '42 version that is so popular to this day, having sold more than 100 million copies of the song, as per Guinness Book of World Records.

1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire/Merry Christmas to You)-Nat King Cole (1946): As with the other songs in the top 4 of this list, this song is one of the oldest on the list-and with good reason. This song just says (literally) "Merry Christmas, to you." Christmas simply is not Christmas without this tune and one cannot help but feel nostalgic when they hear it. If you are not able to get into the holiday spirit after hearing this classic number, then you simply need a good haunting by three spirits! This version is most notably one of the few in which the subtitle is "Merry Christmas to You" rather than "Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire") Hey, 62 years of popularity can't be wrong.

So there you have it. The top 20 most favored, most notable, most classic of all Holiday songs. Sit back with a cup of hot cocoa and turn on the radio. You're sure to hear one of these classics very soon! Enjoy and Merry Christmas to you!