“The First Noel” charted for the first time

The First Noel Davies Gilbert

Writer(s): Davies Gilbert (see lyrics here) Published: 1823 First Charted: December 13, 2003 (Clay Aiken) Peak (all versions): 78 BB, 9 AC, 19 CW, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions – all versions): -- radio, 83.4 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “The First Noel” is a traditional English carol of Cornish origins which dates back at least to the 16th or 17th century and possibly as early as the 13th century. CFM It refers to the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus, starting with the angels appearing to the shepherds and concluding with the arrival of the three wise men. CFM The song was first known as “The First Nowell” in early modern English, an adaptation of “Noël,” a synonym of “Christmas” in French. WK It was first published in 1823 in the revised edition of Some Ancient Christmas Carols. Davies Gilbert edited and arranged it and also added some additional lyrics, hence him being credited with the song. WK The original version had nine stanzas, but generally only five of them are sung today. CFM It is generally performed as a four-part hymn as arranged by John Stainer, an English composer who published “The First Noel” in 1871 in Carols, New and Old. CFM The song has been recorded more than 1300 times SHS although surprisingly it didn’t chart until 2003 when Clay Aiken took it to #9 on the adult contemporary chart. Other versions to chart include those by Josh Groban & Faith Hill (2007, #20 AC), Mary J. Blige & the Clark Sisters (2007, #20 AC), and Gabby Barrett (2020, #78 BB, 19 CW). The highest-ranked version in the DMDB is by Nelson Eddy (1942). He had four top ten hits in 1935 and ’36, including the million-selling “Indian Love Call” with Jeanette MacDonald. PM The first recorded version was by Tally-Ho! in 1902. SHS It has since been recorded by Frankie Avalon, Pat Boone, Mariah Carey, Johnny Cash, Nat “King” Cole, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, the Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, “Tennessee” Ernie Ford, Connie Francis, the Glee Cast, Al Green, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Emmylou Harris, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Mario Lanza, Loretta Lynn, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Mitch Miller, the Miracles, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Olivia Newton-John, the Osmond Brothers, Patti Page, Elvis Presley, REO Speedwagon, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra, the Spinners, Carrie Underwood, Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, Lawrence Welk, Jackie Wilson, and Andy Williams. SHS Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Davies Gilbert CFM ClassicFM.com (12/8/2022). “What are the lyrics to ‘The First Noel,’ the popular Christmas carol?” by Maddy Shaw Roberts SHS Second Hand Songs PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 145. WK Wikipedia First posted 12/22/2023.

Today in Music (1882): “Away in a Manger” first published

Away in a Manger James Ramsey Murray (music), Charles H. Gabriel (words)

Writer(s): James Ramsey Murray (music), Charles H. Gabriel and John T. MacFarland (words) (see lyrics here) Published: January 4, 1882 First Charted: January 9, 1999 (Reba McEntire) Peak: 67 CW, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions – all versions): -- radio, 65.28 video, 74.80 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: This “beloved Christmas carol” CFM was first published in the late 19th century. 1883 marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther, a German priest from the 16th century and it is believed that “Away in a Manger” was written for the occasion. HA The original title was “Luther’s Cradle Song” and the two-stanza tune appeared in the Boston newspaper The Congregationalist on January 4, 1882. HA Because of the history of the song and its original title, it has been mistakenly credited to Luther, but this has been debunked. The only German text found for the song is from 1934 and what appears to be an awkward translation from the English original. In addition, the style of the carol is atypical of Luther. WK The song’s first appearance in a hymnal was in 1885 when it was published in the Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families. CFM It was set to the tune “St. Kilda” by J.E. Clark, but that version has not endured. HA Two years later, James Ramsey Murray published the song in Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses. This version was set to the melody of “Mueller” GB which is believe to be composed in 1837 by Jonathan Spilman. CFM In 1892, Charles H. Gabriel published Murray’s version with a third verse in Gabriel’s Vineyard Songs. This third verse has sometimes been mistakenly attributed to John T. MacFarland. In 1895, the song was adapted by the American composer William Kirkpatrick to the melody of “Cradle Song.” GB This is the version more commonly used in the UK and Ireland. GB Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for James Ramsey Murray CFM ClassicFM.com (12/6/2023). “What are the lyrics to ‘Away in a Manger,’ and why does the carol have two melodies?” by Sian Moore GB Goodandbeautiful.co (12/21/2022). “Away in a Manger, Lyrics and Song” HA HymnologyArchive.com (6/23/2021). “Away in a Manger” by Chris Fenner WK Wikipedia First posted 12/22/2023.

 

John Lennon “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” charted

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Writer(s): John Lennon, Yoko Ono (see lyrics here) Released: December 1, 1971 First Charted: December 17, 1971 Peak: 38 BB, 36 CB, 22 GR, 28 HR, 32 AC, 6 CL, 2 UK, 24 CN, 13 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 1.2 UK, 2.22 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 63.55 video, 534.78 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: While John Lennon was still with the Beatles, he recorded three experimental studio albums with his wife, Yoko Ono. After he left the Beatles, he recorded the two most acclaimed albums of his solo career with Plastic Ono Band in 1970 and Imagine in 1971. That period included the title cut from the latter album (a #3 BB, 1 UK, 1971) plus a series of non-album singles, including “Instant Karma!” (#3 BB, 5 UK, 1970), “Power to the People (#11 BB, 6 UK, 1970), and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (#38 BB, 2 UK, 1971). The song was recorded in October 1971, first with John & Yoko and the session musicians who had performed with the Plastic Ono Band. Then they added the Harlem Community Choir, which consisted of thirty children, mostly between the ages of four and twelve. WK It was produced by the legendary Phil Spector, who also oversaw the previously mentioned Lennon albums as well as the Beatles’ final album, Let It Be. Dave Thompson called the song “the Lennons’ sweetest melody and most hopeful sentiment, dropped with scathing irony into the last years of Vietnam, and still powerful whenever a new war looms.” DT It was written as a protest song that evolved out of the couple’s peace activism and bed-ins starting in March 1969 during their honeymoon. In December of that year they launched a protest against the Vietnam War with a series of black-and-white posters in twelve major cities around the world declaring “War Is Over! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from John & Yoko.” WK “John Lennon was always rock’s most Dickensian character, and here, he emulates A Christmas Carol to a tee, stopping just short of pronouncing ‘God bless us, every one!’” DM “A Christmas Carol is the best-loved of all his stories not only because it fits the season’s hopes, but because, like the best records of the Beatles and Phil Spector, the love it inspires is equal to the love it creates.” DM “Happy Xmas” has since become a Christmas classic. Other chart versions have been recorded by Idols (#5 UK, 2003), Sarah McLachlan (#5 AC, 2006), the Fray (#50 BB, 2006), and Josh Groban (#4 AC, 2017). The Alarm, Melissa Etheridge, and REO Speedwagon have also recorded the song. Resources: DM Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New American Library: New York, NY. Page 500. DT Dave Thompson (2011). 1000 Songs That Rock Your World. Krause Publications: Iola, WI. Page 27. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/22/2023.