The Christmas song - wikipedia The Christmas song This article is about the song by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. For other uses, see Christmas music and Christmas Song ( disambiguation ). `` The Christmas Song '' Composition Published 1945 Genre Christmas Songwriter ( s ) Robert Wells, Mel Tormé `` The Christmas Song '' ( commonly subtitled `` Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire '' or, as it was originally subtitled, `` Merry Christmas to You '' ) is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to `` stay cool by thinking cool '', the most - performed ( according to BMI ) Christmas song was born. `` I saw a spiral pad on his ( Wells ' ) piano with four lines written in pencil '', Tormé recalled. `` They started, ' Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos. ' Bob did n't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics. '' The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song early in 1946. At Cole 's behest -- and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records -- a second recording was made later the same year utilizing a small string section, this version becoming a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole again recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Cole 's 1961 version is generally regarded as definitive, and in 2004 was the most - loved seasonal song with women aged 30 -- 49, while the original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. Contents 1 Nat King Cole recordings 2 Mel Tormé recordings 3 Deana Martin Recording 4 Other notable renditions 4.1 Parodies 5 References 6 External links Nat King Cole recordings `` The Christmas Song '' Side - A label of the US 78 RPM release ( 1946 ) Single by Nat King Cole B - side `` In the Cool of Evening '' ( Capitol 311, 1945 ) `` Laguna Mood '' ( Capitol 15201, 1948 ) `` ( All I Want for Christmas Is ) My Two Front Teeth '' ( Capitol F90036, 1953 ; Capitol F2955, 1954 ) `` The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot '' ( Capitol 3561, 1956 ) Released November 1946 ( 1946 - 11 ) November 1953 ( 1953 - 11 ) Format 10 - inch, 7 - inch Recorded August 19, 1946 ( 1946 - 08 - 19 ) August 26, 1953 ( 1953 - 08 - 26 ) Genre Jazz, pop Length 3 : 10 ( 1946 recording ) 3 : 12 ( 1953 recording ) Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Robert Wells, Mel Tormé First recording : Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, June 14, 1946. Label credit : The King Cole Trio ( Nat King Cole, vocal - pianist ; Oscar Moore, guitarist ; Johnny Miller, bassist ). Not issued until 1989, when it was ( accidentally ) included on the various - artists compilation Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits ( 1935 -- 1954 ) Rhino R1 70637 ( LP ) / R2 70637 ( CD ). Second recording : Recorded at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City, August 19, 1946. First record issue. Label credit : The King Cole Trio with String Choir ( Nat King Cole, vocal - pianist, Oscar Moore, guitarist ; Johnny Miller, bassist ; Charles Randolph Grean, conductor of 4 string players, a harpist and a drummer ). Lacquer disc master # 981. Issued November 1946 as Capitol 311 ( 78rpm ). This recording is available on the 2000 Cole compilation CD Christmas for Kids : From One to Ninety - Two, as well as on a CD called The Holiday Album, which has 1940s Christmas songs recorded by Cole and Bing Crosby. Third recording : Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, August 24, 1953. This was the song 's first magnetic tape recording. Label credit : The King Cole Trio with String Choir ( Actual artists : Nat King Cole, vocal ; Buddy Cole, pianist ; John Collins, guitarist ; Charlie Harris, bassist ; Nelson Riddle, orchestra conductor ). Master # 11726, take 11. Issued November 1953 as the `` new '' Capitol 90036 ( 78rpm ) / F90036 ( 45rpm ) ( Capitol first issued 90036 in 1950 with the second recording ). Correct label credit issued on October 18, 1954 as Capitol 2955 ( 78rpm ) / F2955 ( 45rpm ). Label credit : Nat `` King '' Cole with Orchestra Conducted by Nelson Riddle. This recording is available on the 1990 Cole compilation CD Cole, Christmas, & Kids, as well as on the various - artists CD Casey Kasem Presents All Time Christmas Favorites. It was also included, along with both 1946 recordings, on the 1991 Mosaic Records box set The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio. This version is sometimes ( though quite rarely ) played on the radio during the Christmas season and is nearly identical to the popular 1961 recording. It is easy to tell apart from the 1961 version in that the final notes ( the Jingle Bells guitar bit ) sounds faster and more rushed. Fourth recording : Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York City, March 30, 1961. This rendition, the first recorded in stereo, is widely played on radio stations during the Christmas season, and is the most popular / familiar version of this song. Label credit : Nat King Cole ( Nat King Cole, vocal ; Charles Grean and Pete Rugolo, orchestration ; Ralph Carmichael, orchestra conductor ). The instrumental arrangement is nearly identical to the 1953 version, but the vocals are much deeper and more focused. Originally done for The Nat King Cole Story ( a 1961 LP devoted to stereo re-recordings of Cole 's earlier hits ), this recording was later included in a reissue of Cole 's 1960 holiday album The Magic of Christmas replacing `` God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen ''. Retitled The Christmas Song, the album was issued in 1963 as Capitol W - 1967 ( mono ) / SW - 1967 ( stereo ) and today is in print on compact disc. This recording of `` The Christmas Song '' is also available on numerous compilation albums. Some are Capitol pop standards Christmas compilations while others are broader - based. For example, it is available on WCBS - FM 's Ultimate Christmas Album Volume 3. An alternate take of the 1961 recording, featuring a different vocal and missing the solo piano on the instrumental bridge, appears on the Deluxe Edition of the 2014 compilation The Extraordinary Nat King Cole. There were several covers of Nat Cole 's original record in the 1940s. The first of these was said to be by Dick Haymes on the Decca label, but his was released first -- not recorded first. The first cover of `` The Christmas Song '' was performed by pop tenor and bandleader Eddy Howard on Majestic. Howard was a big Cole fan, and also covered Nat 's versions of `` I Want to Thank Your Folks '' and `` ( I Love You ) For Sentimental Reasons '', among others. Mel Tormé recordings Mel Tormé himself made several recordings of the song, including versions released in 1954 ( on his live Coral Records album At the Crescendo ), 1961 ( on his Verve Records album My Kind of Music ), 1970 ( on a Columbia Records Christmas single ), 1990 ( in a medley with `` Autumn Leaves '', on his live Concord Records album Mel Tormé Live at the Fujitsu -- Concord Festival 1990 ), and 1992 ( on his Telarc Records album Christmas Songs ). Tormé 's 1970 version of the song adds an opening verse. Tormé wrote this opening in 1963 while writing for the Judy Garland Show. He first performed and introduced the opening verse as a guest for the series ' Christmas Special which aired on December 22, 1963. All through the year we waited Waited through spring and fall To hear silver bells ringing, see wintertime bringing The happiest season of all Additionally, his recordings typically include a coda adapted from `` Here We Come A-wassailing '' : Love and joy come to you And to you your Christmas too And God bless you and send you a happy New Year And God send you a happy New Year Deana Martin recording Deana Martin recorded `` The Christmas Song '' on her 2011 album, White Christmas, released by Big Fish Records. Other notable renditions This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( November 2016 ) `` The Christmas Song '' CeCe Peniston recorded the composition for the Merry Arizona II : Desert Stars Shine at Christmas compilation in 1996. Problems playing this file ? See media help. `` The Christmas Song '' has been covered by numerous artists from a wide variety of genres, including : 1947 : Bing Crosby - recorded March 19, 1947 with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra. Later included in the album That Christmas Feeling 1954 : Rosemary Clooney on the album Irving Berlin 's White Christmas 1955 : Jo Stafford on the album Happy Holiday 1956 : Joni James on the album Merry Christmas from Joni 1957 : Frank Sinatra on the album A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra 1957 : Polly Bergen on the December 14 airing of her variety show, The Polly Bergen Show 1958 : Johnny Mathis on his album Merry Christmas ( also a duet with Billy Joel on Mathis ' 2013 album Sending You a Little Christmas ) 1959 : Connie Francis on the album Christmas in My Heart 1960 : Ella Fitzgerald on the album Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas 1960 : Peggy Lee on the album Christmas Carousel 1963 : Andy Williams on the album The Andy Williams Christmas Album 1963 : Judy Garland in a duet with Mel Tormé on an episode of The Judy Garland Show 1963 : Robert Goulet on the album This Christmas I Spend with You 1963 : The Miracles on the album Christmas with The Miracles 1964 : Doris Day on the album The Doris Day Christmas Album 1964 : John Gary on the album The John Gary Christmas Album 1964 : Ricky Nelson on the episode of TV 's The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet titled `` A Busy Christmas '' 1964 : Sammy Davis Jr. on the album California Suite 1965 : Hollyridge Strings on the album Christmas Favorites 1965 : The Supremes on the album Merry Christmas 1965 : Vince Guaraldi Trio on the album A Charlie Brown Christmas 1966 : Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on the album The 4 Seasons ' Christmas Album 1966 : Kenny Burrell on the album Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas 1966 : The Lettermen on the album For Christmas This Year 1967 : Barbra Streisand on her album A Christmas Album 1967 : Stevie Wonder on the album Someday at Christmas 1968 : Glen Campbell on the album That Christmas Feeling 1968 : Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass on the album Christmas Album 1968 : Tony Bennett on the album Snowfall : The Tony Bennett Christmas Album 1970 : Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass on the album Christmas with Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass 1970 : The Jackson 5 on the album Jackson 5 Christmas Album 1970 : The Temptations on the album ' The Temptations Christmas Card 1971 : The Partridge Family on the album A Partridge Family Christmas Card 1972 : Nora Aunor on the album Christmas Songs 1975 : John Denver on the album Rocky Mountain Christmas 1978 : The Carpenters on the album Christmas Portrait 1983 : Amy Grant on the album A Christmas Album 1985 : The Canadian Brass on the album A Canadian Brass Christmas 1987 : Big Bird and The Swedish Chef on the TV special A Muppet Family Christmas 1987 : Reba McEntire on the album Merry Christmas to You 1987 : Sergio Mendes and Brasil ' 66 on the album Wonderland : Yulesville 1988 : Alexander O'Neal on the album My Gift to You 1988 : James Brown on the album Santa 's Got a Brand New Bag 1988 : Ramon `` RJ '' Jacinto on his Christmas album Pasko Na Naman 1989 : New Kids on the Block on the album Merry, Merry Christmas 1989 : Randy Travis on the album An Old Time Christmas 1990 : Barry Manilow on the album Because It 's Christmas 1992 : Luther Vandross on the album A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 1992 : The Manhattan Transfer on the album The Christmas Album 1993 : Aaron Neville on the album Aaron Neville 's Soulful Christmas 1993 : Gloria Estefan on the album Christmas Through Your Eyes 1993 : Toni Braxton on the album A LaFace Family Christmas 1994 : Natalie Cole on the album Holly & Ivy ( also a duet with Nat King Cole on The Magic of Christmas ( 1999 ) ) 1994 : Tony Mottola on the album Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ' 1995 : Les Paul on the album Reindeer Rock 1996 : CeCe Peniston on the album Merry Arizona II : Desert Stars Shine at Christmas 1996 : Michael Bolton on the album This Is The Time : The Christmas Album 1997 : Dwight Yoakam on the album Come on Christmas 1997 : Hootie & the Blowfish on the album A Very Special Christmas 3 1997 : Roomful of Blues on the album Roomful of Christmas 1997 : SWV on the album A Special Christmas 1998 : Babyface on the album Christmas with Babyface 1998 : Celine Dion on the album These Are Special Times 1998 : Chicago on the album Chicago 25 : The Christmas Album 1998 : Des O'Connor on the album Christmas with Des O'Connor 1998 : Etta James on her album 12 Songs of Christmas 1998 : Kenny Rogers on the album Christmas from the Heart 1998 : Martina McBride on the album White Christmas 1998 : * NSYNC on the album Home for Christmas 1999 : Garth Brooks on the album Garth Brooks and the Magic of Christmas 1999 : George Strait on the album Merry Christmas Wherever You Are 1999 : Take 6 on the album We Wish You a Merry Christmas 2000 : Charlotte Church on the album Dream a Dream 2000 : Christina Aguilera on the album My Kind of Christmas ( No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart ; No. 22 on the Canadian RPM Top 100 Singles chart ) 2000 : June Christy with the Johnny Guarnieri Quintet on the album A Friendly Session, Vol. 1 2000 : Linda Ronstadt on the album A Merry Little Christmas 2002 : India. Arie and Stevie Wonder on the album Voyage to India ( winner of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ) 2003 : Christy Darlington on the album All the wrong moves 2003 : Michael Bublé ( # 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart ) - included on the EP Let It Snow ( EP ) 2003 : Royce Campbell on the album Jazz Guitar Christmas 2003 : Whitney Houston on the album One Wish : The Holiday Album 2004 : Clay Aiken on the album Merry Christmas with Love 2004 : Eddie Higgins on the album Christmas Night 2004 : James Taylor on the album A Christmas Album 2004 : Jessica Simpson on the album ReJoyce : The Christmas Album 2004 : LeAnn Rimes on her album What a Wonderful World 2006 : Aimee Mann on the album One More Drifter in the Snow 2006 : Aretha Franklin on the album Joy to the World 2006 : Celtic Woman on the album A Christmas Celebration 2006 : Twisted Sister on the album A Twisted Christmas 2006 : Wynonna Judd on the album A Classic Christmas 2007 : Alan Jackson on the album Let It Be Christmas 2007 : Damien Leith on a limited Christmas edition of his album Where We Land 2007 : Jed Madela on the album The Voice of Christmas 2007 : Josh Groban on the album Noël 2007 : Toby Keith on the album A Classic Christmas 2008 : Al Jarreau on the album Christmas 2008 : Brian McKnight on the album I 'll Be Home for Christmas 2008 : Gavin DeGraw on the album Four Christmases : Music from the Motion Picture 2008 : Howard Hewett with Stevie Wonder on the album Howard Hewett Christmas 2008 : Neil Sedaka on the album The Miracle of Christmas 2008 : Sheryl Crow on the album Home for Christmas 2009 : Andrea Bocelli and Natalie Cole on Bocelli 's album My Christmas 2009 : Bob Dylan on the album Christmas in the Heart 2009 : Lotta Engberg on the album Jul hos mig 2009 : Hayley Westenra on the album Winter Magic 2010 : Christian Bautista on the album A Wonderful Christmas 2010 : Joe on the album Home Is the Essence of Christmas 2010 : Olivia Olson on the album Phineas and Ferb : Holiday Favourites 2011 : Deana Martin on her album White Christmas 2011 : Justin Bieber and Usher on Bieber 's album Under the Mistletoe 2011 : She & Him on the album A Very She & Him Christmas 2011 : Smith and Burrows ( Tom Smith and Agnes Obel ) on the album Funny Looking Angels 2012 : Cascada on the album It 's Christmas Time 2012 : Cee Lo Green on his Christmas album Cee Lo 's Magic Moment 2012 : Colbie Caillat on the album Christmas In The Sand 2012 : Francesca Battistelli on the album Christmas 2012 : Kris Allen on his EP Waiting for Christmas 2012 : Lisa Matassa on her EP Somebody 's Baby 2012 : Paul McCartney on the album Kisses on the Bottom -- Complete Kisses 2012 : Richard Marx on the album Christmas Spirit 2012 : Rod Stewart on the deluxe edition of his album Merry Christmas, Baby 2012 : Thomas Anders on the album Christmas for You 2014 : Idina Menzel on her album Holiday Wishes 2014 : Seth MacFarlane on his album Holiday for Swing 2014 : Pentatonix on their album PTXmas 2016 : Sarah McLachlan on her album Wonderland Parodies 1958 : Stan Freberg 's `` Green Chri $ tma $ '' includes several snippets of holiday songs, with a segment that begins with a sincere - sounding `` Chestnuts roasting... '' and quickly segués into a mock 1950s radio or TV ad, for a brand of chestnuts 1989 : The Simpsons ' first Christmas episode is titled `` Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire '' 2000 : Bob Rivers with his album 's title track, `` Chipmunks Roasting On an Open Fire '' 2004 : Christy Darlington with a `` punk rock '' style arrangement on his album All the Wrong Moves References Jump up ^ Wook Kim ( Dec 17, 2012 ). `` Yule Laugh, Yule Cry : 10 Things You Did n't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs ( With holiday cheer in the air, TIME takes a closer look at some of the weird stories behind our favorite seasonal tunes ) ''. TIME. - `` The Christmas Song '' ( p. 4 ) Jump up ^ Edison Media Research : What We Learned From Testing Christmas Music in 2004 Retrieved November 29, 2011 Jump up ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Retrieved November 29, 2011 Jump up ^ `` A Bing Crosby Discography ''. BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Discogs.com ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Polly Bergen Show ''. Classic Television Archives. Retrieved January 9, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Discogs.com ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Discogs.com ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved September 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Jul hos mig '' ( in Swedish ). Swedish Media Database. 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` Christian christmas songs ''. External links Update page with link to `` Mark Evanier on Tormé and ' The Christmas Song ' '' PerformingSongwriter.com - The Story Behind `` The Christmas Song '' Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Nat King Cole Studio albums The King Cole Trio Nat King Cole at the Piano King Cole for Kids Penthouse Serenade Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love The Piano Style of Nat King Cole After Midnight Just One of Those Things Love Is the Thing Cole Español St. Louis Blues The Very Thought of You To Whom It May Concern Welcome to the Club A Mis Amigos Tell Me All About Yourself Every Time I Feel the Spirit Wild Is Love The Magic of Christmas The Nat King Cole Story The Touch of Your Lips Nat King Cole Sings / George Shearing Plays Ramblin ' Rose Dear Lonely Hearts More Cole Español Those Lazy - Hazy - Crazy Days of Summer Where Did Everyone Go ? Nat King Cole Sings My Fair Lady Let 's Face the Music ! I Do n't Want to Be Hurt Anymore L-O-V-E Compilation albums Top Pops Harvest of Hits Unforgettable 10th Anniversary Album Ballads of the Day This Is Nat King Cole The Beautiful Ballads For Sentimental Reasons Love Songs Tribute albums All for You : A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio Dear Mr. Cole Inspiration : A Tribute to Nat King Cole The Nat King Cole Songbook P.S. Mr. Cole A Tribute to the Great Nat `` King '' Cole With Respect to Nat You 're Lookin ' at Me ( A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs ) Songs `` Mona Lisa '' `` Night Lights '' `` To the Ends of the Earth '' `` Unforgettable '' `` The Christmas Song '' Related articles Discography Maria Cole ( wife ) Carole Cole ( daughter ) Natalie Cole ( daughter ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Christmas_Song&oldid=800680108 '' Categories : American Christmas songs Capitol Records singles 1945 songs 1999 singles 2009 singles 2012 singles Glen Campbell songs Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Mel Tormé songs Nat King Cole songs Songs written by Mel Tormé Songs written by Robert Wells ( songwriter ) Lotta Engberg songs Hidden categories : CS1 Swedish - language sources ( sv ) Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from November 2016 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Svenska Türkçe Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 15 September 2017, at 01 : 11. 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Question: who wrote chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Answer: Bob Wells