Jingle Bell Rock

by

Bobby Helms

Album: Jingle Bell Rock     Released: 1957

US Chart: 6     

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This is considered the first mainstream Rock 'n' Roll Christmas song. Helms was a new, relatively successful Country artist with two #1 country hits in 1957, "Fraulein" and "My Special Angel," both of which were crossover hits that made it into the Pop Top 40.

Although this was released only 2 days before Christmas in 1957, the single still hit #6 on the pop chart. The song was re-released around Christmas in 1958 and again in 1960, making it back to the charts each time.

The B-side of the single is "Captain Santa Claus And His Reindeer Space Patrol."

Many artists have covered this, including Hall and Oates, The Platters, 38 Special, and The Beach Boys. The only other version to chart was by Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell. Their version hit #21 in 1962.

This song is credited to Joe Beal and Jim Boothe. Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland played guitar on this track as well as Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree." Before his death, Garland filed suit against the record label, claiming that he and Helms, not Beal and Boothe, wrote the song. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

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Comments:

Although his "Fraulein" only peaked at No. 36; it stayed in the Top 100 for 27 weeks!!!
- Barry , Sauquoit, NY

My favorite Bobby Helms song! Jingle bell Rock!
- Jennifer Harris , Grand Blanc, MI

Chris from Arizona - It's never Christmas for me until I hear this song! Also, I believe that Bobby Helms was from Mooresville, Indiana which is just south of Indianapolis.
- Stormy , Kokomo, IN

The opening guitar sounds followed by the jingle bells...ah! always usher in the Christmas season for me & keep it rockin' all the way thru to New Year's Day! A timeless classic which never gets old.
- Camille , Toronto, OH

You couldn't ask for a more upbeat Christmas tune. One of the all-time Christmas song staples. I love it.
- Camille , Toronto, OH

At the time of its release in 1957, it seemed more raucous. At that time, the big Christmas song was White Christmas.
- Dominick , New York, NY

This song has been covered many times, but there was a great version by Brenda Lee that charted in both 1964 and 1967.
- Dominick , New York, NY

hey i love this song this is my favorite christmas song ever !!! oh my god man xoxox Nichelle Taylor xoxooxox
- Nichelle , port colborne , Canada

I love this song. Chris, may I recommend a switch to decaf.
- Ralph , Newton, MA

I remember my Grandparents who bought the 45 rpm record Jingle Bell Rock back around 1958.They used to play this record for me when I was 3 yrs old on their hi-fi record player.Today my Grandparents have been long gone, but I still have that old 1957 record player and the same 45 rpm record song "Jingle Bell Rock" that they used to play.It still sounds great.I have known this song off by heart for the past 48 yrs and I still love to here this song by Bobby Helms.
- Steve , Toronto, Canada

Chris, read a book sometime. "Rock" in 1957 meant something completely different, musically, from what we think of today. You have to look at this song in an historical context. The pounding drums and ear-bleeding guitars of modern hard rock evolved from music like this.
- Dennis , Anchorage, AK

Maybe by today's standards Chris, but still a popular tune at the time. When I was a kid I don't recall having a problem with this tune. It was another part of the holiday season to me. Different strokes, I guess.
- Rick , Clare, MI

Dismal. As dismal and banal as Christmas music can conceivably get. What is "rock" about this song, I will never know. Completely unnecessary, ill-advised, a black mark against humanity.
- Chris , Marana, AZ

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