Nuttin' For Christmas by Barry Gordon

Album: Comedy For Christmas (1955)

Charted: 6

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Songfacts®:

This is about a little boy who gets nothing for Christmas because he is always doing bad things, like hiding a frog in his sister's bed and filling the sugar bowl with ants. It serves as a warning that Santa is watching.
Barry Gordon was a child actor in the '50s and '60s. He performed in a lot of TV and stage roles, including the Broadway production and 1965 movie A Thousand Clowns.
"Nuttin' For Christmas" was written by the team of Roy Bennett and Sid Tepper, who worked in New York City. Other songs they wrote include "Suzy Snowflake," "Kewpie Doll" and "Puppet On A String."
Barry Gordon, backed by Art Mooney and His Orchestra, released the first version of "Nuttin' For Christmas" in 1955. This version was the biggest hit, going to #6, but four other versions charted that same year:

Joe Ward #20
Ricky Zahnd #21
The Fontane Sisters #36
Stan Freberg #53

Comments: 13

George Duffy from Syracuse, NyI'm confused, Shirley Temple sang this song back in 1948, so how can it be written in 1955?
Cynthia from Alexandria, VaEartha Kitt did a version of this (it's on YouTube). The last line of the chorus is "I'm getting nothing for Christmas cause I didn't want to be bad "
Amanda from Branchland Wv Midkiff/stout Creak I love this song so much
Tanner Rodgers from Our Lady Of MalibuI sang this song (1984 or 85) in front of our congregation for our annual Christmas pageant. The following year I got nothing for Christmas.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 21st 1955, Barry Gordon celebrated his 7th birthday; and on that same day his version of "Nuttin' for Christmas" was at #9 on Billboard's Top 100 chart; the following week it peaked at #6 and that would also be its last week on the chart.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 24th 1955 Barry Gordon performed "Nuttin' for Christmas" on the NBC-TV program 'The Perry Como Show'...
Thirteen days earlier on December 11th it entered Billboard's Top 100 chart for just a four week stay, but did manage to peaked at #6...
Four other artists also charted with the song during 1955; Joe Ward (#20), Ricky Zahnd & the Blue Jeaners (#21), the Fontane Sisters (#36), and Stan Freberg (#53)...
The Ward, Zahnd, & Fontane Sisters' versions also entered the Top 100 on December 11th; while Freberg's version debut on December 18th.
Jim from Kennett Square, PaBarry is a very nice man (I once had the pleasure to meet him and chat for a few minutes) and after his foray into music and acting he later became the President of the Screen Actors Guild. He still shows up on the screen from time to time as Lester noted in his comment. Funny how a hit novelty single comes out from time to time featuring a really young singer!
Steve from Whittier, CaParick and Howard, you just described the same version {Stan Freberg and Daws Butler]
Lester from New York City, NyBarry Gordon continued to act, and had a decent career. He played s rabbi in 2 episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnGordon was six years old when he recorded this, setting a record for the youngest person ever to have a U.S. Top 40 hit record.
Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThere was also a cover version by Stan Freberg, who had another holiday hit with Green Chri$tma$.
Tiffany from Dover, FlI heard this song in two of Walt Disney World's holiday shows (Jolly Holiday Dinner Show in Contemporary Resort and the stage show in Magic kingdom in the early 1990's, respectively). It was sung by a gag of quadruplets, and it gave me a good laugh!
Patrick from Conyers, GaSeveral different versions of this song were released. They included different actions the bad kid did, and in one version, a burglar breaks into the house and pays the kid off for telling him where the valuables are.

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