7th December
Jingle Bell Rock
Beal, Joseph Carleton (1900–1967) & Boothe, James Ross (1917–1976)
First performed by Bobby Helms, there have been many varied cover versions since 1957 when this song was composed including by Neil Diamond and Girls Aloud (not together!)
Bobby Helms disputed the composers of the song saying that it was written by him and session guitarist.
In a 1992 interview, he said:
“I really didn’t want to cut it because it was such a bad song. So me and one of the musicians [Hank Garland] worked on it for about an hour putting a melody to it and we put a bridge to it”
Hank Garland recalled in a 2001 interview:
“I let it hop back to where it came from, it wasn’t any good. [Bobby and I] came up with the ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ America hears every holiday season”
It has been in and out of the charts over the years, peaking at no 3.
In this version the bells are on a stick which we recorded separately (see bottom of page).
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin’ and blowin’ up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell rock
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell rock
Recorded on David Concert Harp and jingle bell stick.
Thanks to Mozart Bear for playing the bell-stick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bell_Rock