Silver Bells (song)

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Silver Bells is a classic Christmas song, composed by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans. Silver Bells was sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in a picture called The Lemon Drop Kid in 1951. The song was first recorded 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.

[edit] 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."

[edit] Recording History

101 Strings Orchestra (2003) A Few Good Men (2002) Alan Jackson (2002) Alvin and the Chipmunks (1962) America (2002) Andy Williams Anne Murray Ann Horstick Atlantic Starr (1992) 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 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 Don Rich (2000) Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus (2000) Doris Day Dwight Yoakam & Beth Andersen (1997) Earl Grant (2002) Elvis Presley Engelbert Humperdinck Erich Kunzel (2006) Ferrante & Teicher Symphony Orchestra (2000) Gary Hoey

Gary Puckett (2001) Gene Autry Glenn Miller Orchestra Gloria Estefan (1993) Gregg Stafford (2006) Hank Thompson (1964) Harry Connick, Jr. (2003) Hilary Stagg Hit Crew (2002) Jack DeMello (2003) Jacob Young (2006) Jeannie C. Riley (2004) Jerry Vale Jim Brickman Jim Horn Jim Nabors Jim Reeves Jo Dee Messina (2002) John Davidson John Denver Johnny Mathis (1958) Jo Stafford (1964) Kate Smith Kenny G (1994) Kenny Chesney (2003) Kenny Rogers (1989) Kevin Eubanks Kiri Te Kanawa (1984) Kimberley Locke (2003) Lacy J. Dalton Led Kaapana (2000) Loretta Lynn Lou Rawls (2006) 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 & the Sing Along Gang (1961) Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1994) Nashville Superpickers Neil Diamond (1992) Norma Zimmer

Olivia Newton-John Pat Boone Patty Loveless (2002) Paul Brooks (1996) Percy Faith & His Orchestra Perry Como (1968) Philadelphia Orchestra (1987) Ray Conniff 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) Supremes 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 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)

[edit] External Links

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