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. The lyrics are unusual for a Christmas song in that they describe the holiday in the city, and not a rural setting.

Contents

History

Recording History

Charts

External Links

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."

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 ★ 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 ★ 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 (1964) ★ Dwight Yoakam & Beth Andersen (1997) ★ Earl Grant (2002) ★ Elvis Presley ★ Engelbert Humperdinck ★ Erich Kunzel (2006) ★ Ferrante & Teicher (1966)

★ Gary Hoey ★ Gary Puckett (2001) ★ Gene Autry ★ Glenn Miller Orchestra ★ Gloria Estefan (1993) ★ 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 ★ 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 ★ 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) ★ 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) ★ 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 (2004) ★ 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) ★ 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)

Charts

Charts (2003)	Peak Position
Adult Contemporary 1	16

¹ Version by Clay Aiken & Kimberly Locke.

External Links

★ What's in a song? 'Silver Bells' -- NPR interviews the author Ray Evans, with audio.