Song 30 - Rockin' around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

I am writing this whilst waiting for hubby to arrive home so we can do one of the classic traditions of Christmas and decorate the Christmas tree, therefore there is no better song than Rockin' Around the Christmas tree by Brenda Lee or Mel & Kim to accompany this. Brenda Lee was only 13 when she recorded this song, written by Jonny Marks, in 1958; although it didn't really become a hit until Lee herself became an established star reaching no. 6 in the 1960s.

There is a lovely mixture of both country and rock'n'roll in the track, Lee herself would  become more a country star. The most surprising fact is that the majority of the older Christmas hits have been covered by a selection of stars, Lee's version is the still the most well known, which is a credit to her.

The song was later re-recorded by Mel Smith and Kim Wilde in 1987 as a charity single for Comic Relief. Their version of the song which starts with the lovely lines "Come on Mel, lets pull a cracker?", "Looking at you Kim, I think I already had." Their duet reached number 3 in the chart. In the middle of the video, Mel opens the doors on a choir of carol singers; played by the hit boy band of the time - Curiosity Killed The Car. Curiosity Killed The Cat

To hear Brenda Lee's version
Brenda Lee's Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

To hear Mel and Kim for a smile
Mel & Kim - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Written by Jonny Marks
Year: 1985
Album: Various Christmas Albums