Silver Bells

"Silver Bells" is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

"Silver Bells" was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in a motion picture called "The Lemon Drop Kid" in 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1952, which also became a hit in late 1952. The lyrics are unusual for a Christmas song in that they describe the holiday in the city, and not a rural setting.

History

"Silver Bells" started out as the questionable "Tinkle Bells." Said Evans, "We never thought that "tinkle" had a double meaning until Jay went home and his [first] wife said, 'Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word "tinkle" is?'" The word is child's slang for "to urinate."

First sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie "The Lemon Drop Kid", the song was inspired by the imagery of Salvation Army bellringers standing outside department stores during the Christmas season.

Recording History

*101 Strings Orchestra (2003)
*A Few Good Men (2002)
*Al Martino (1964)
*Alan Jackson (2002)
*Alvin and the Chipmunks (1962)
*America (2002)
*Andre Kostelanetz
*Andy Williams (1965)
*Anne Murray
*Ann Horstick
*Atlantic Starr (1992)
*Barry Manilow (2007)
*BeBe & CeCe Winans (1993)
*Big Tiny Little
*Billy "Crash" Craddock (2006)
*Billy Idol (2006)
*Bing Crosby (1951)
*Bing Crosby & Carol Richards (1950)
*Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald
*Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney
*Bobby Helms
*Bob McGrath
*Booker T. & the MG's (1966)
*Boston Pops Orchestra arranged by John Williams (1990)
*Boxcar Willie (1996)
*Brad Paisley (2006)
*Brenda Lee
*Bright Eyes
*Burl Ives (1965)
*Candy Dulfer (2003)
*Chet Atkins (1961)
*Clay Aiken & Kimberley Locke (2003)
*Cristy Lane (2006)
*Crystal Gayle (2006)
*Dan Crary (1997)
*Daniel O'Donnell (2002)
*Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass
*Dave Koz (1997)
*David Cullen (2001)
*David Arkenstone (1998)
*David Young
*Dean Martin (1966)
*Don Rich (2000)
*Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus (2000)
*Doris Day (1950, 1964)
*Dwight Yoakam & Beth Andersen (1997)
*Earl Grant (2002)
*Elvis Presley
*Engelbert Humperdinck
*Erich Kunzel (2006)
*Ferrante & Teicher (1966)
*Gary Hoey col-break
*Gary Puckett (2001)
*Gene Autry
*Glenn Miller Orchestra
*Gloria Estefan (1993)
*Giant Drag (2004)
*Gregg Stafford (2006)
*Hampton String Quartet (1986, 2004)
*Hank Thompson (1964)
*Harry Connick, Jr. (2003)
*Henry Mancini
*Hilary Stagg
*Hit Crew (2002)
*Jack DeMello (2003)
*Jack Jones (1969)
*Jacob Young (2006)
*Jeannie C. Riley (2004)
*Jerry Vale (1964)
*Jim Brickman
*Jim Horn
*Taylor Horn (2005)
*Jim Nabors (1972)
*Jim Reeves
*Jo Dee Messina (2002)
*John Davidson
*John Denver (1975)
*Johnny Mathis (1958)
*Jo Stafford (1964)
*Kate Smith
*Kenny G (1994)
*Kenny Chesney (2003)
*Kenny Rogers (1989)
*Kevin Eubanks
*Kiri Te Kanawa (1984)
*Lacy J. Dalton
*Larry Groce on the album "Disney's Merry Christmas Carols" (1979).
*Led Kaapana (2000)
*Loretta Lynn
*Lou Rawls (1993)
*Mahalia Jackson (1990)
*Mannheim Steamroller (2001)
*Marlene Young (2003)
*Martina McBride (1999)
*Martin Sexton (2005)
*Max Tooky
*Mel Tormé (1992)
*Merle Haggard (1973)
*Michael Feinstein (2002)
*Michel'le (1996)
*Mindy Smith (2007)
*Mitch Miller and the Gang (1961)
*Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1994)
*Nashville Superpickers
*Neil Diamond (1992)
*Norma Zimmer
*Norman Luboff Choir (1964)
*Olivia Newton-John
*Pat Boone
*Patty Loveless (2002)
*Paul Brooks (1996)
*Percy Faith (1966)
*Perry Como (1968)
*Philadelphia Orchestra (1987)
*Rachel Sweet (1995)
*Reid Hashiro (2005)
*Regis Philbin (2005)
*R.E.M.
*Reverend Horton Heat (2005)
*Roch Voisine
*Roger Williams (1992)
*Royal Wade Kimes (2005)
*Roy Hargrove (1996)
*Sean Na'auao (2003)
*Steven Curtis Chapman (2005)
*Stevie Wonder (1967)
*Sugar Ray (2000)
*SWV (2005)
*Take 6 (2003)
*Tanya Tucker
*The Ames Brothers (1957)
*The Brady Bunch (1995)
*The Country Gentlemen (1998)
*The Jordanaires (2001)
*The Judds
*The Miracles (1963)
*The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1997)
*The Platters
*The Ray Conniff Singers (1959)
*The Roches (1990)
*The Supremes (1965)
*The Temptations (1970)
*The Ventures (1965)
*The Williams Brothers (1993)
*Toby Keith (2007)
*Tompall & the Glaser Bros. (1982)
*Travis Tritt (1992)
*Trudy Erwin
*Twisted Sister (2006)
*Vestal Goodman
*Vic Damone
*Vince Gill (1998)
*Vonda Shepard (2000)
*Wayne Newton
*William Hung (2004)
*Wilson Pickett (1987)

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5068947 What's in a song? 'Silver Bells'] — NPR interviews the author Ray Evans, with audio.