Tag Archives: Silver and Gold

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 15

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last year this Rankin/Bass TV special turned 60 years old. It also returned to its original network-NBC-after a move to CBS in 1972 where it stayed until 2024. Whether you still watch it on traditional TV, through a streaming service or your own DVD, the tale of a misfit reindeer finding his purpose & his people remains one of the best parts of the Christmas season.

Burl Ives was the voice of the dapper sage snowman, Sam. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A group of elves and a few reindeer celebrating in song from the TV special. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A few of the residents on The Island Of Misfit Toys. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Gene Autry: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Silver & Gold” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 17

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 17

An adorable rustic Christmas tree with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments featured in Country Home Magazine.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

For someone who has loved-worshipped, actually-music her whole life, I had no idea until this year that classic Christmas songs could chart in the Billboard Hot 100. I do not know why I did not realize it, as many old songs have made the charts again when their songs were introduced to a new crowd by way of a TV show or movie (like Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” after it was featured in the 1986 movie of the same name). I always thought holiday songs had their own chart (which they do). 

The #1 song in the country right now on both charts is Brenda Lee’s “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree“, which was recorded in 1958. It got a boost when the 79 year old singer introduced a video for the song last month in honor of the 65th anniversary of its release (she is now the oldest artist to have a top-selling record).

There are five more holiday songs currently in the Top Ten, including today’s first pick which is #6. It is from the iconic Rankin-Bass TV special, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Every song on that 1964 soundtrack was written by Johnny Marks, the same man who wrote Lee’s tune. What an incredible legacy to have such a hold on the holiday. 

The two songs from the “Rudolph” soundtrack which have been my favorites forever were both sung by the wise dapper snowman, Sam. Voiced by the Burl Ives, I wait for the first of today’s songs to consider it to be the official start of the Christmas season (along with Bruce’s take on another TV special song). The second of Sam’s songs is a bonus in a very big way. Watching the nearly 60 year old special & singing along to the same songs I sang along with as a child is both a comfort and bittersweet memory of a time when all was right in my world.

Ives and Marks 2
sam the snowman

Top: Burl Ives (L) and songwriter Johnny Marks (R) circa 1964. Bottom: Ives’ Christmas alter ego, Sam The Snowman. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Burl Ives: ”Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks). 

Burl Ives: ”Silver and Gold” (1964, written by Johnny Marks). 

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2018: Day 21

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Hi, Everybody!!!  Welcome back to the countdown.

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I will admit it:  I was never enjoyed watching “Frosty The Snowman”.  Quite frankly, the Scarecrow who needed a brain in “The Wizard Of Oz” had more sense to me than Frosty.  I never understood the whole “Happy Birthday” exclamation every time he came to life.  I guess I was spoiled.  The first snowman I saw on television was the wise, articulate and adorably handsome Sam from “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”.  He was so dapper with his hat, pocket watch, vest & umbrella.  He was like the animated version of another sage soul, Mr. French from “Family Affair”.

I also liked the song Sam sang much better over the one about Frosty.  Actually Sam sang three in the special:  the title song, Silver & Gold and today’s pick, which is my favorite.  In fact, it is in my top five list of Christmas songs and it is this song that I need to hear for it to officially feel like the holiday season to me.  Written by Johnny Marks in 1962 & made famous by the very cuddly Burl Ives in 1964, it is such an incredibly festive and happy song full of good wishes to everyone who hears it.  And I just love it.

Sam the Snowman

Burl Ives:  “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Christmas Song Of The Day #8

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Hello, Vixens!!!  How are all of today?  Hope you are all on (or as close to) schedule for Christmas as possible.  But even if you are not, take a moment for some Christmas cheer through song!

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Source:  “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” TV movie 1964

Confession:  I watch Christmas specials and movies all year long.  I have my most loved ones on DVD because I enjoy watching them whenever I want.  In fact, in the height of summer, when I have had my fill of humidity and mosquito bites, I escape it all by turning the A/C as low as possible and climb under the covers with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a holiday movie.  Don’t judge-I bet the person who came up with Christmas in July or Hallmark movies in October does the same thing lol!!!  So why didn’t I come up with those splendid ideas???  Ugh!!!

One of my favorite holiday specials features an adorable-singing-banjo-playing-snowman.  It also features I place I can whole-heartedly identify with-the Island of Misfit Toys.  Oh, and a red-nosed reindeer, some elves and Santa Claus.  But the moment I wait for the most?  When the snowman, with the voice of Burl Ives, sings “Holly Jolly Christmas“.

You do have to watch the whole special as that song does not make its appearance until the end.  But the show is great so the time flies by.  Plus there are other songs to enjoy along the way, especially Ives’ other singing performance of “Silver and Gold“.   I love the message:  “What’s a Christmas tree without tinsel and pretty silver and gold decorations?”  and “Think of all the fun and joy that would be lost on Christmas morning if all the young folks didn’t get to see that sparkling happy tree?”  Exactly.  Although I must admit I prefer only silver on my tree, but hey, to each his own, right?  🙂

Please remember I do not own the rights to anything, I am just sharing some of my favorite Christmas music with you.

Enjoy!!!

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Source:  culture.com