Jingle Bell Rock
"Jingle Bell Rock" is the name of a popular Christmas song. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was written by Joe Beal & Jim Boothe.
It has been performed by many, but Helms' version is the best-known. Its title and some of its lyrics are takeoffs on the old Christmas standard, "Jingle Bells". It also makes brief references to other popular songs of the 1950s, such as "Rock Around the Clock", and mentions going to a "Jingle hop". An electric guitar can be heard playing the first notes to the chorus from the aforementioned "Jingle Bells".
Despite being titled a Jingle Bell "Rock", Helms' version of the song was performed in the crossover style known as rockabilly, and to modern ears it sounds a lot more "country" than it does "rock and roll". Example lyrics:
- What a bright time
- It's the right time
- To rock the night away
- Jingle Bell Time, it's 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' beat 1
- That's the Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms original version on Decca 9-30513 from 1957, was re-recorded by him on Kapp K-719 in 1965 and yet again in 1967 on Little Darlin' LD-0038. Then in 1970 Helms recorded an entire album titled "Jingle Bell Rock" on Certron C-7013, releasing from the album the title track on Certron C-10021 with a picture sleeve. In yet another re-recording Helms released on Ashley AS-4200, (year unknown). In 1983 Bobby Helms was back in the recording studio and released his last recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" on Black Rose 82713.
A notable cover version of the song was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets (coincidentally the originators of the referenced "Rock Around the Clock") in 1968 for United Artists records. Intended for a seasonal single release, it was decided not to release the recording, and it was considered lost for nearly 30 years until it was finally issued in the mid-1990s.
Brenda Lee also released a version of "Jingle Bell Rock" which made the Billboard Christmas singles chart in both 1964 and 1967.
Recording history
- Bond
- Kylie Minogue
- Mary Wells
- Gina Rene
- Hilary Duff
- Lindsay Lohan
- Chris Brown
- Geri Halliwell
- Girls Aloud
- Brenda Lee
- The Ventures
- Avant
- Chubby Checker with Bobby Rydell
- The Platters
- Lou Rawls
- Bobby Vee
- The Chipmunks
- Wayne Newton
- Hollyridge Strings
- Chet Atkins
- Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
- Max Bygraves
- Taylor Horn
- Hall & Oates
- K.D. Lang
- Randy Travis
- Eddie Rabbitt
- Amy Grant
- NewSong
- Los Campesinos!
- Brian Setzer
- Billy Idol
- George Strait
- Point of Grace
- Aly & AJ
- The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Konrad Pawlik
- The Fall
- Billy Gilman
- Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
- Jelly
- Arcade Fire
- Jillian Hall
- Julianne Hough
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Rascal Flatts
- Perla Meneses
- Geoff Moore and the Distance
- John Williams & the Boston Pops Orchestra
- Jonas Brothers
- Ashanti
- Ashley Tisdale
- Bill Haley & His Comets
In Popular Culture
- The recording by Bobby Helms features in the film "Cookie (1989).
References
1Transcribers of the lyrics disagree on whether Helms is saying "beat" or is redundantly repeating the word "feet" from the earlier line.