Brenda Lee continues to be Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree with her holiday classic hitting the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time since 1961.
Brenda recorded the song, written by Johnny Marks (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, A Holly Jolly Christmas), when she was only thirteen years old. Playing on the session was Floyd Cramer on piano, Grady Martin on guitar, Bob Moore on bass, Boots Randolph on sax and Buddy Harman on drums.
Originally released in 1958, it didn’t actually become a hit until 1960 after Lee had broken as a pop and rock star. The record hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart of December 31, 1960 and fell to number 18 the following week, the last time it charted.
Over the years, the record may have been able to once again hit the Hot 100 but chart rules prevented it until now. This week, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree moves 44 to 38.
For Lee, it’s also her first trip to the top 40 with any record since 1967 when she went to 37 with Ride, Ride, Ride.
Lee isn’t the only veteran artist to place a Christmas song high on this week’s Hot 100. Mariah Carey’s 1994 record All I Want For Christmas is You has hit a new peak at number 18, up from 22 last week.
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