1995 Columbia Records Christmas Of Hope
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town is a Christmas song written by J. Fred Coots (1897–1985) and Haven Gillespie (1888-1975). It was first recorded by Harry Reser and His Orchestra in 1934.
When the song was first performed live by Eddie Cantor (1892-1964) on his popular radio show in November 1934 it became a nationwide monster hit; selling over half a million copies of sheet music and 30,000 records within 24 hours.
The 78 RPM single version released on Bluebird Records by George Hall and His Orchestra (vocal by Sonny Schuyler) was also very popular in 1934, entering many of the popular music charts of the day.
Banjo player Harry Reser and His Orchestra recorded the first ever 78 RPM single version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Decca Records 264A) on October 24, 1934 (featuring lead vocalist Tom Stacks). This version appeared in Variety’s music chart in December 1934. The song was also a sheet music hit, reaching number 1 in the charts.
Very First Record Of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 78 RPM Single 1934
The song was recorded once more the following year on September 26, 1935, by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (featuring vocalists Cliff Weston and Edythe Wright) for Victor Records (25145A).
A decade later the song reached the Billboard charts once again in 1947 with a version by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.
In 1962, the Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons version cracked the Top 40 peaking at number 23 on Billboard.
The following year in 1963, legendary record producer Phil Spector included a version of the song on rock n roll’s very first rock concept album, A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, performed by The Crystals.
In the 1970s The Beatles reissued the Phil Spector Christmas album with different cover art on their own record label, Apple Records.
In 1970, Rankin & Bass produced Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, an hour-long animated television special based on the song, with Fred Astaire narrating the origin story of Santa Claus.
The same year, Motown Records’ The Jackson 5 (featuring 12 year old Michael Jackson on lead vocals), included the song on their best-selling album The Jackson 5 Christmas. Their version would chart again 50 years later peaking at #33 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 songs chart.
In 1971, television band The Partridge Family, featuring teen idol David Cassidy and veteran actress Shirley Jones, included the song on their holiday album A Partridge Family Christmas Card.
A wildly eccentric 1972 live recording of the song by Bahamian singer/guitarist Joseph Spence was once described as “a performance for the ages” by music critic Peter Margasak.
Perhaps the best known version of the song is by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Their version was recorded live on December 12, 1975, at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, New York by Record Plant audio engineers Jimmy Iovine and Thom Panunzio.
Springsteen’s version borrows the chorus refrain from the 1963 recording produced by Phil Spector for the Crystals. This recording was first released as a track on the 1981 Sesame Street compilation album In Harmony 2 as well as a 1981 Columbia Records promotional, radio play only 7 inch 45 RPM single (AE7 1332).
Four years later, this recording would also be released as the B-side to Bruce Springsteen’s “My Hometown” single from his multi platinum selling Born In The USA album.
In the modern era, Springsteen’s version has not been readily available since its CD release 30 years ago on the 1995 Columbia Records seasonal compilation Christmas Of Hope (CK 67407).
Springsteen’s rendition of the song has regularly received perennial radio airplay at Christmastime since it was first released, appearing on Billboard Magazine’s Hot Singles chart consecutively from 2002 to 2009 due to its seasonal air play.