Santa Claus is Comin ' to Town - wikipedia Santa Claus is Comin ' to Town For the television special, see Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town ( film ). Sleeve of The Carpenters ' 1974 cover of the Gillespie and Coots standard `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' is a Christmas song, written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie and was first sung on Eddie Cantor 's radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records sold within 24 hours. The version for Bluebird Records by George Hall and His Orchestra ( vocal by Sonny Schuyler ) was very popular in 1934 and reached the various charts of the day. The song has been recorded by over 200 artists, including Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, The Crystals, Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Chris Isaak and The Jackson 5. Contents 1 Melody and lyrics 2 Recordings 2.1 1950s and 1960s 2.2 1970s to 1990s 2.3 2000 and after 3 References 4 External links Melody and lyrics Haven Gillespie 's lyrics begin `` You 'd better watch out, you 'd better not cry / You 'd better not pout, I 'm telling you why / Santa Claus is coming to town ''. Recordings The earliest known recorded version of the song was by banjoist Harry Reser and his band on October 24, 1934 ( Decca 264A ) featuring Tom Stacks on vocal, the version shown in the Variety charts of December 1934. The song was a sheet music hit, reaching number 1. The song was also recorded for Victor Records ( catalog No. 25145A ) on September 26, 1935 by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with vocals by Cliff Weston and Edythe Wright. The song is a traditional Christmas standard and has been covered by numerous recording artists. Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters reached the Billboard charts briefly in 1947 with it. 1950s and 1960s The 1951 version by Perry Como was popular ; Gene Autry, the country - western artist, recorded a Christmas album with this title and featuring the song in 1953 ; and in 1963 the Four Seasons version charted at number 23 on Billboard. Also in 1963 producer Phil Spector included a version of the song on his rock album `` A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector '' performed by The Crystals. In 1970, Rankin - Bass produced Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town, an hour - long animated TV film based on the song, with Fred Astaire narrating the origin of Santa Claus. 1970s to 1990s In 1970 The Jackson 5 included the song on their best - selling album Jackson 5 Christmas Album. The Carpenters released the song as a single in 1974. A rock version by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band inspired by the Crystals 1963 version, was recorded live at C.W. Post College in Brookville, New York on December 12, 1975. This live version borrows the chorus refrain from the 1963 version by The Crystals. This version was eventually released first in 1982 as part of the Sesame Street compilation album In Harmony 2, and again in 1985 as a B - side to `` My Hometown '', a single from the Born in the U.S.A. album. Springsteen 's rendition of the song has received radio airplay perennially at Christmastime for years ; it appeared on Billboard magazine 's Hot Singles Recurrents chart each year from 2002 to 2009 due to seasonal air play. Live performances of the song often saw the band encouraging the audience to sing some of the lyrics with -- or in place of -- the band 's vocalists ( usually the line `` you 'd better be good for goodness sake '', and occasionally the key line `` Santa Claus is Comin ' to Town '' as well ). Sometimes, concert crowds would sing along with the entire song, and the band would do nothing to dissuade those audiences from doing so. This version remains a Springsteen concert favorite during the months of November and December, and the band is among the few that keep it in their roster of songs during the holidays. Other well - known versions of this song include Mariah Carey from the album Merry Christmas ( 1994 ). 2000 and after Luis Miguel recorded the song in Spanish as `` Santa Claus Llegó a La Ciudad '' for his Christmas album Navidades ( 2006 ). His version of the song peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart. References Jump up ^ `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town Composed by Haven Gillespie / J. Fred Coots ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 20 August 2014. Jump up ^ Collins, Ace ( 2010 - 10 - 05 ). Stories Behind the Greatest Hits of Christmas. ISBN 9780310597476. Retrieved 20 August 2014. Jump up ^ Collins, Ace ( 5 October 2010 ). `` 4 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town ''. Stories Behind the Greatest Hits of Christmas. Zondervan. p. 224. ISBN 0310327954. Retrieved 20 August 2014. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1986 ). Joel Whitburn 's Pop Memories 1890 - 1954. Wisconsin, USA : Record Research Inc. p. 189. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 083 - 0. Jump up ^ The Richest Songs in The World ( Television production ). BBC. 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Online Discographical Project ''. 78discography.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Online Discographical Project ''. 78discography.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1986 ). Joel Whitburn 's Pop Memories 1890 - 1954. Wisconsin, USA : Record Research Inc. p. 113. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 083 - 0. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 237. Jump up ^ Times, Music ( 20 December 2013 ). `` 12 Days of Christmas : 4 Best Versions of ' Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ' ''. Jump up ^ `` The Greatest Rock Roll Christmas Songs Pictures - Bruce Springsteen, ' Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ' ''. Rolling Stone. 2007 - 12 - 19. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 22. Jump up ^ Trust, Gary ( 2013 - 04 - 02 ). `` Ask Billboard : Belinda 's Back, JT Too, Mariah Carey 's Album Sales & More ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Navidades - Luis Miguel : Overview ''. AllMusic / Rovi. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Navidades - Luis Miguel : Awards ''. AllMusic / Rovi. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 14. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics ( as sung by Burl Ives ) `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' at AllMusic ( original lyrics ) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Bruce Springsteen Garry Tallent Roy Bittan Max Weinberg Steven Van Zandt Nils Lofgren Patti Scialfa Jake Clemons Charles Giordano Soozie Tyrell Former members Ernest Carter Clarence Clemons Danny Federici Vini Lopez David Sancious Former touring musicians Everett Bradley Barry Danielian Clark Gayton Curtis King Suki Lahav Ed Manion The Miami Horns Cindy Mizelle Michelle Moore Tom Morello Curt Ramm Jay Weinberg Studio albums Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. ( 1973 ) The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle ( 1973 ) Born to Run ( 1975 ) Darkness on the Edge of Town ( 1978 ) The River ( 1980 ) Nebraska ( 1982 ) Born in the U.S.A. ( 1984 ) Tunnel of Love ( 1987 ) Human Touch ( 1992 ) Lucky Town ( 1992 ) The Ghost of Tom Joad ( 1995 ) The Rising ( 2002 ) Devils & Dust ( 2005 ) We Shall Overcome : The Seeger Sessions ( 2006 ) Magic ( 2007 ) Working on a Dream ( 2009 ) Wrecking Ball ( 2012 ) High Hopes ( 2014 ) Live albums & Bruce Springsteen Archives Live 1975 -- 85 ( 1986 ) In Concert / MTV Plugged ( 1993 ) Live in New York City ( 2001 ) Hammersmith Odeon London ' 75 ( 2006 ) Live in Dublin ( 2007 ) Live from the Carousel ( 2011 ) Apollo Theater 3 / 09 / 12 ( 2014 ) The Agora, Cleveland 1978 ( 2015 ) Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975 ( 2015 ) Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 ( 2015 ) Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 ( 2015 ) LA Sports Arena, California 1988 ( 2015 ) Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 ( 2015 ) Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome 2013 ( 2015 ) Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 ( 2015 ) The Christic Shows 1990 ( 2016 ) HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY, 11 / 22 / 09 ( 2016 ) Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, 8 / 23 / 08 ( 2017 ) Olympiastadion, Helsinki, July 31, 2012 ( 2017 ) Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 10 / 20 / 09 ( 2017 ) Palace Theatre, Albany 1977 ( 2017 ) Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977 ( 2017 ) King 's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996 ( 2017 ) The Summit, Houston, TX December 8, 1978 ( 2017 ) Compilations Greatest Hits ( 1995 ) 18 Tracks ( 1999 ) The Essential Bruce Springsteen ( 2003 ) Greatest Hits ( 2009 ) The Promise ( 2010 ) Collection : 1973 -- 2012 ( 2013 ) Chapter and Verse ( 2016 ) Box sets The Born in the U.S.A. 12 '' Single Collection ( 1985 ) Tracks ( 1998 ) The Collection ( 2004 ) Born to Run : 30th Anniversary Edition ( 2005 ) The Collection 1973 -- 1984 ( 2010 ) The Promise : The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story ( 2010 ) The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973 -- 1984 ( 2014 ) The Ties That Bind : The River Collection ( 2015 ) EPs Live Collection ( 1987 ) Chimes of Freedom ( 1988 ) Blood Brothers ( 1996 ) PBS Exclusive ( 2007 ) Magic Tour Highlights ( 2008 ) American Beauty ( 2014 ) Singles `` Blinded by the Light '' ( 1973 ) `` Spirit in the Night '' ( 1973 ) `` 4th of July, Asbury Park ( Sandy ) '' ( 1974 ) `` Born to Run '' ( 1975 ) `` Tenth Avenue Freeze - Out '' ( 1976 ) `` Prove It All Night '' ( 1978 ) `` Badlands '' ( 1978 ) `` The Promised Land '' ( 1978 ) `` Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) '' ( 1979 ) `` Hungry Heart '' ( 1980 ) `` Fade Away '' ( 1981 ) `` Sherry Darling '' ( 1981 ) `` The River '' ( 1981 ) `` Cadillac Ranch '' ( 1981 ) `` Point Blank '' ( 1981 ) `` Atlantic City '' ( 1982 ) `` Open All Night '' ( 1982 ) `` Dancing in the Dark '' ( 1984 ) `` Cover Me '' ( 1984 ) `` Born in the U.S.A. '' ( 1984 ) `` I 'm on Fire '' ( 1985 ) `` Glory Days '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' ( 1985 ) `` My Hometown '' ( 1985 ) `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' ( 1985 ) `` War '' ( 1986 ) `` Fire '' ( 1987 ) `` Brilliant Disguise '' ( 1987 ) `` Tunnel of Love '' ( 1987 ) `` One Step Up '' ( 1988 ) `` Tougher Than the Rest '' ( 1988 ) `` Spare Parts '' ( 1988 ) `` Human Touch '' ( 1992 ) `` 57 Channels ( And Nothin ' On ) '' ( 1992 ) `` Better Days '' ( 1992 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' ( 1994 ) `` Secret Garden '' ( 1995 ) `` The Ghost of Tom Joad '' ( 1996 ) `` Sad Eyes '' ( 1999 ) `` The Rising '' ( 2002 ) `` Lonesome Day '' ( 2002 ) `` Waitin ' on a Sunny Day '' ( 2003 ) `` Devils & Dust '' ( 2005 ) `` All The Way Home '' ( 2005 ) `` Radio Nowhere '' ( 2007 ) `` Girls in Their Summer Clothes '' ( 2008 ) `` Working on a Dream '' ( 2008 ) `` My Lucky Day '' ( 2008 ) `` The Wrestler '' ( 2009 ) `` We Take Care of Our Own '' ( 2012 ) `` Death to My Hometown '' ( 2012 ) `` High Hopes '' ( 2013 ) `` Just Like Fire Would '' ( 2014 ) Charting songs `` Be True '' ( 1981 ) `` Ramrod '' ( 1981 ) `` Nebraska '' ( 1982 ) `` Johnny 99 '' ( 1982 ) `` No Surrender '' ( 1984 ) `` Stand on It '' ( 1985 ) `` Trapped '' ( live ) ( 1985 ) `` Because the Night '' ( live ) ( 1986 ) `` Chimes of Freedom '' ( live ) ( 1988 ) `` Youngstown '' ( 1995 ) `` American Skin ( 41 Shots ) '' ( 2001 ) `` Pay Me My Money Down '' ( 2006 ) `` Long Walk Home '' ( 2006 ) `` My City of Ruins '' ( 2011 ) `` Rocky Ground '' ( 2012 ) Other notable songs `` Growin ' Up '' ( 1973 ) `` For You '' ( 1973 ) `` Incident on 57th Street '' ( 1973 ) `` The Fever '' ( 1973 ) `` Thunder Road '' ( 1975 ) `` Night '' ( 1975 ) `` Backstreets '' ( 1975 ) `` She 's the One '' ( 1975 ) `` Meeting Across the River '' ( 1975 ) `` Jungleland '' ( 1975 ) `` Adam Raised a Cain '' ( 1978 ) `` Racing in the Street '' ( 1978 ) `` Darkness on the Edge of Town '' ( 1978 ) `` Stay '' ( 1979 ) `` The Ties That Bind '' ( 1980 ) `` Independence Day '' ( 1980 ) `` Out in the Street '' ( 1980 ) `` Stolen Car '' ( 1980 ) `` Wreck on the Highway '' ( 1980 ) `` Highway Patrolman '' ( 1982 ) `` Darlington County '' ( 1984 ) `` Working on the Highway '' ( 1984 ) `` Downbound Train '' ( 1984 ) `` Bobby Jean '' ( 1984 ) `` Pink Cadillac '' ( 1984 ) `` Jersey Girl '' ( 1986 ) `` Light of Day '' ( 1993 ) `` The New Timer '' ( 1995 ) `` Land of Hope and Dreams '' ( 2012 ) `` Hunter of Invisible Game '' ( 2014 ) Video releases Video Anthology / 1978 -- 88 ( 1989 ) In Concert / MTV Plugged ( 1992 ) Blood Brothers ( 1996 ) The Complete Video Anthology / 1978 -- 2000 ( 2001 ) Live in New York City ( 2001 ) Live in Barcelona ( 2003 ) VH1 Storytellers ( 2005 ) Wings For Wheels ( 2005 ) Hammersmith Odeon London ' 75 ( 2005 ) Live in Dublin ( 2007 ) Magic Tour Highlights ( 2008 ) London Calling : Live in Hyde Park ( 2010 ) The Promise : The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town ( 2010 ) Springsteen & I ( 2013 ) Born in the U.S.A. Live : London 2013 ( 2014 ) A MusiCares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen ( 2014 ) Bruce Springsteen 's High Hopes ( 2014 ) High Hopes in South Africa ( 2014 ) Hunter of Invisible Game ( 2014 ) Tours Born to Run tours ( 1974 -- 77 ) Darkness Tour ( 1978 ) The River Tour ( 1980 -- 81 ) Born in the U.S.A. Tour ( 1984 -- 85 ) Tunnel of Love Express ( 1988 ) Human Rights Now ! ( 1988 ) Bruce Springsteen 1992 -- 1993 World Tour ( 1992 -- 93 ) Ghost of Tom Joad Tour ( 1995 -- 97 ) Reunion Tour ( 1999 -- 2000 ) Rising Tour ( 2002 -- 03 ) Vote for Change ( 2004 ) Devils & Dust Tour ( 2005 ) Seeger Sessions Band Tour ( 2006 ) Magic Tour ( 2007 -- 08 ) Working on a Dream Tour ( 2009 ) Wrecking Ball Tour ( 2012 - 13 ) High Hopes Tour ( 2014 ) The River Tour 2016 ( 2016 ) Summer ' 17 ( 2017 ) Springsteen on Broadway ( 2017 - 18 ) Related Discography E Street Band Steel Mill The Sessions Band The Miami Horns Born to Run autobiography E Street Radio Little Steven 's Underground Garage Outlaw Pete Mike Appel Jon Landau Brendan O'Brien Bob Clearmountain The Max Weinberg 7 Southside Johnny Joe Grushecky Badlands : A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen 's Nebraska Greetings from E Street Book Barry Manilow singles 1970s `` Mandy '' ( 1974 ) `` Sandra '' ( 1974 ) `` It 's a Miracle '' ( 1975 ) `` Could It Be Magic '' ( 1975 ) `` I Write the Songs '' ( 1975 ) `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' ( 1976 ) `` This One 's for You '' ( 1976 ) `` Weekend in New England '' ( 1976 ) `` Looks Like We Made It '' ( 1977 ) `` Daybreak '' ( 1977 ) `` It 's Just Another New Year 's Eve '' ( 1977 ) `` Ca n't Smile Without You '' ( 1978 ) `` Even Now '' ( 1978 ) `` Copacabana '' ( 1978 ) `` Ready to Take a Chance Again '' ( 1978 ) `` Somewhere in the Night '' ( 1978 ) `` Ships '' ( 1979 ) `` When I Wanted You '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` I Do n't Want to Walk Without You '' ( 1980 ) `` Bermuda Triangle '' ( 1980 ) `` I Made It Through the Rain '' ( 1980 ) `` Lonely Together '' ( 1981 ) `` The Old Songs '' ( 1981 ) `` Somewhere Down the Road '' ( 1981 ) `` Let 's Hang On ! '' ( 1982 ) `` Oh Julie '' ( 1982 ) `` Memory '' ( 1982 ) `` I 'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter '' ( 1982 ) `` Read ' Em and Weep '' ( 1983 ) `` When October Goes '' ( 1984 ) `` Run to Me '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'm Your Man '' ( 1986 ) `` Keep Each Other Warm '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` If I Can Dream '' ( 1990 ) `` I 'd Really Love to See You Tonight '' ( 1997 ) 2000s `` River '' ( 2003 ) `` Unchained Melody '' ( 2006 ) `` Love Is a Many - Splendored Thing '' ( 2006 ) 2010s `` Santa Claus Is Coming to Town '' ( 2012 ) Luis Miguel singles Soy Como Quiero Ser `` Ahora Te Puedes Marchar '' `` Cuando Calienta El Sol '' `` Yo Que No Vivo Sin Ti '' Busca Una Mujer `` La Incondicional '' `` Fría Como el Viento '' 20 Años `` Tengo Todo Excepto a Ti '' `` Entrégate '' `` Será Que No Me Amas '' Romance `` Inolvidable '' `` No Sé Tú '' `` Contigo en la Distancia '' América & En Vivo `` América, América '' Aries `` Hasta Que Me Olvides '' `` Suave '' Segundo Romance `` El Día Que Me Quieras '' `` La Media Vuelta '' Nada Es Igual... `` Dame '' `` Cómo Es Posible Que a Mi Lado '' Romances `` Por Debajo de la Mesa '' `` Sabor a Mí '' `` Bésame Mucho '' Amarte Es un Placer `` Sol, Arena y Mar '' `` O Tú o Ninguna '' `` Dormir Contigo '' `` Amarte Es un Placer '' Mis Romances `` Amor, Amor, Amor '' Navidades `` Santa Claus Llegó a La Ciudad '' `` Mi Humilde Oración '' Cómplices `` Si Tú Te Atreves '' `` Te Desean '' Luis Miguel `` Labios de Miel '' As featured artist `` Me Gustas Tal Como Eres '' Other songs `` Sueña '' Dèja Vu Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santa_Claus_Is_Comin%27_to_Town&oldid=832403572 '' Categories : 1934 songs Songs with lyrics by Haven Gillespie Songs with music by John Frederick Coots American Christmas songs Santa Claus in fiction Mariah Carey songs Bruce Springsteen songs Perry Como songs Bluebird Records singles Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara Français 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska Türkçe Tiếng Việt 中文 11 more Edit links This page was last edited on 25 March 2018, at 20 : 04. 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Question: where did the song santa claus is coming to town come from
Answer: Eddie Cantor's radio show