Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a song by songwriter Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company.[3] Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949.

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Gene Autry single cover
Single by Gene Autry
B-side"If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas"
PublishedJanuary 12, 1949 (1949-01-12) by John 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
LabelColumbia 38610
Songwriter(s)Johnny Marks

History

In 1939, Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May, created the character Rudolph as an assignment for Montgomery Ward, and Marks decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song.[4] English singer-songwriter and entertainer, Ian Whitcomb, interviewed 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 the public domain by 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) by crooner Harry Brannon in 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".

The song was also performed on the December 6, 1949, Fibber McGee and Molly radio broadcast by Teeny (Marian Jordan's little 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 the RIAA for 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 Berry released 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 the Billboard Hot 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]

Other notable recordings

See also

References
  • ASCAP Work ID: 480058686 (ISWC: T0701273995)
  1. Library 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. "GeneAutry.com: Music, Movies & More - The Essential Gene Autry, 1931-1953". Autry.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 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.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  4. Kim, Wook (December 17, 2012). "Yule Laugh, Yule Cry: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs". Time. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014.
  5. "Ian Whitcomb Interviews Johnny Marks". YouTube. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. US Census Bureau, Census History Staff. "December 2019 - History - U.S. Census Bureau". Census.gov. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. "Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Daughter Gracie Showers off in Scenic Ocean Shot". Country Music. Retrieved June 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. ISBN 978-0195177466.
  9. Billboard Magazine Sep. 24, 1949, page 37
  10. Casey Kasem American Top 40 April 8, 1979
  11. Video on YouTube
  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. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  15. Jackson, Kenneth T. (August 15, 1998). The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume 1. Gale. p. 550. ISBN 9780684804927. Retrieved October 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.com. Gene Autry Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  17. "Gene Autry". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  18. "US Top 40 Singles Week Ending January 5, 2019". Top40Weekly.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  19. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  20. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 31. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
  21. Whitburn p. 43
  22. Whitburn p. 36
  23. Whitburn p. 25
  24. Whitburn p. 49
  25. "'Burl Ives' Billboard 200". billboard.com.
  26. Whitburn p. 61
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