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Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)

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"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Gene Autry single cover
SinglebyGene Autry
B-side"If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas"
PublishedJanuary 12, 1949(1949-01-12)byJohn David Marks(self-published)[1]
May 9, 1949 by St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co.[1]
ReleasedSeptember 1949[2]
RecordedJune 27, 1949[2]
GenreChristmas
Length3:10
LabelColumbia38610
Songwriter(s)Johnny Marks

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"is a song by songwriterJohnny Marksbased on the 1939 storyRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeerpublished by theMontgomery WardCompany.[3]Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949.

History

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In 1939, Marks' brother-in-law,Robert L. May,created the character Rudolph as an assignment forMontgomery Ward,and Marks decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song.[4]English singer-songwriter and entertainerIan Whitcombinterviewed Marks about the creation of the song in 1972.[5]

The song had an added introduction, paraphrasing the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas"(in thepublic domainby the time the song was written), stating the names of the eight reindeer: "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?"

The song was first introduced live on New York Radio (WOR) bycroonerHarry Brannonin November 1949.[6][7]Gene Autry recorded the song on June 27, 1949,[8]and it was released as a children's record by Columbia Records in September 1949.[9]By November, Columbia had begun pushing the record to the pop music market. It hit No. 1 in the US charts during Christmas 1949.

The song had been suggested as a "B" side for a record Autry was making. He first rejected it, but his wife convinced him to use it. The official date of its No. 1 status was the week ending January 7, 1950, making it the first No. 1 song of the 1950s.[10]Autry's version of the song also holds the distinction of being the only chart-topping hit to fall completely off the chart after reaching No. 1. The success of the Christmas song gave support to Autry's subsequent popular Easter song, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail".[citation needed]

The song was also performed on the December 6, 1949,Fibber McGee and Mollyradio broadcast by Teeny (Marian Jordan'slittle girl character) and the Kingsmen vocal group. The lyrics varied greatly from the Autry version.[11]Autry's recording sold 1.75 million copies its first Christmas season and 1.5 million the following year.[12]In 1969, it was awarded a gold disk by theRIAAfor sales of 7 million, which was Columbia's highest-selling record at the time.[13]It eventually sold a total of 12.5 million. Cover versions included, sales exceed 150 million copies, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".[14][15]

Autry recorded another version of the song in the fall of 1957, and released it the same year through his own record label,Challenge Records.This version featured an accompaniment by a full orchestra and chorus. This was the only other version of the song Autry recorded and released on an album.[16]

In 1959,Chuck Berryreleased a recording of a sequel, "Run Rudolph Run"(sometimes called" Run Run Rudolph "), originally credited to Berry but subsequent releases are often credited to Marks and Marvin Brodie.

In December 2018, Autry's original version entered theBillboardHot 100 at No. 36, nearly 70 years after it first charted. It climbed to No. 27 the week ending December 22, 2018.[17]and peaked at No. 16 the week ending January 5, 2019.[18]

In 2024,Gene Autry's recording was inducted into theNational Recording Registryby theLibrary of Congressas being ''culturally, historically or aesthetically significant''.

Other notable recordings

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Charts

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See also

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References

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  • ASCAP Work ID: 480058686 (ISWCT0701273995)
  1. ^abLibrary of Congress. Copyright Office. (1949).Catalog of Copyright Entries 1949 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 3 Pt 5A.United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ^ab"GeneAutry: Music, Movies & More - The Essential Gene Autry, 1931-1953".Autry.Archived fromthe originalon December 6, 2017.RetrievedDecember 6,2017.
  3. ^Bloom, Nate (December 11, 2011)."Shining a Light on the Largely Untold Story of the Origins of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer".InterfaithFamily.Archived fromthe originalon December 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 13,2019.
  4. ^Kim, Wook (December 17, 2012)."Yule Laugh, Yule Cry: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs".Time.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2014.
  5. ^"Ian Whitcomb Interviews Johnny Marks".YouTube.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
  6. ^US Census Bureau, Census History Staff."December 2019 - History - U.S. Census Bureau".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
  7. ^"Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Daughter Gracie Showers off in Scenic Ocean Shot".Country Music.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
  8. ^George-Warren, Holly (May 7, 2007).Public Cowboy No. 1 The Life and Times of Gene Autry.Oxford University Press. pp. 250–251.ISBN978-0195177466.
  9. ^Billboard Magazine Sep. 24, 1949, page 37
  10. ^Casey KasemAmerican Top 40April 8, 1979
  11. ^VideoonYouTube
  12. ^Green, Abel(December 20, 1961). "Alltime Yule Money Songs".Variety.p. 1.
  13. ^"Goldisk Finally To Autry's 'Rudolph'".Variety.December 24, 1969. p. 2.
  14. ^Badger, Reid; Salem, James (December 22, 1996)."America's Holiday Sound– Distinctive artists".The Tuscaloosa News.RetrievedOctober 17,2013.
  15. ^Jackson, Kenneth T. (August 15, 1998).The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume 1.Gale.p. 550.ISBN9780684804927.RetrievedOctober 17,2013.,while Autry's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold more than 12.5 million copies
  16. ^"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Song Information".Geneautry.Gene Autry Entertainment. Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2019.RetrievedDecember 5,2019.
  17. ^"Gene Autry".Billboard.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
  18. ^"US Top 40 Singles Week Ending January 5, 2019".Top40Weekly.RetrievedFebruary 1,2020.
  19. ^"A Bing Crosby Discography".BING magazine.International Club Crosby.RetrievedSeptember 19,2016.
  20. ^Whitburn, Joel (2004).Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004).Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 31.ISBN0-89820-161-6.
  21. ^Whitburn p. 43
  22. ^Whitburn p. 36
  23. ^Whitburn p. 25
  24. ^Whitburn p. 49
  25. ^"Burl Ives - Chart history｜Billboard".billboard.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2016.RetrievedNovember 19,2023.
  26. ^Whitburn p. 61
  27. ^"Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer "(in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  28. ^"Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  29. ^"Billboard Global 200: Week of January 6, 2024".Billboard.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
  30. ^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ "(in Hungarian).Single (track) Top 40 lista.Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  31. ^"2023 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)"(in Lithuanian).AGATA.December 29, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 4,2024.
  32. ^"Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  33. ^"Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ".AFP Top 100 Singles.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  34. ^"Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  35. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  36. ^"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dean Martin;'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer') "(in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie.RetrievedJanuary 5,2024.
  37. ^"British single certifications – Dean Martin – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  38. ^"Burl Ives Chart History (Global 200)".Billboard.Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  39. ^"Burl Ives – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ".AFP Top 100 Singles.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  40. ^"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Burl Ives | Official Charts".OCC.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  41. ^"Burl Ives Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  42. ^"Burl Ives Chart History (Country Digital Song Sales)".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  43. ^"Burl Ives Chart History (Country Streaming Songs)".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  44. ^ab"Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  45. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  46. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Global 200)".Billboard.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  47. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  48. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  49. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  50. ^"Gene Autry Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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