Pop Music for Christmas

The song “Sleigh Ride” was written by Leroy Anderson and is just one of a number of Christmas classics from the album A Christmas Gift for You. Producer Phil Spector set the songs to his famous “wall of sound,” which means a dense layering of tones from the deepest rumble to the tiniest bell. The tracks feature singing from Spector’s usual suspects, including The Ronettes . (The album also featured Darlene Love, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, The Crystals, and other artists.) It was one of only twelve LPs released on the Philles label. The album peaked at No. 13 on Billboard magazine’s special year-end Christmas Albums sales chart in December 1963. Another piece of information about the album, is that it was released on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, that is, November 22, 1963.

The Ronettes were from New York City and included Veronica Bennett, who later professionally became Ronnie Spector, her sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. They started singing together as teenagers as The Darling Sisters. Ronnie Spector was married to Phil Spector from 1966 to 1974 and took his name professionally. She continues to tour and perform.

Here are the lyrics to “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes:

Just see those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling, “Yoo hoo”
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy and cozy are we
We’re snuggled up together like two
Birds of a feather would be

Let’s take the road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Our cheeks are nice and rosy
And comfy and cozy are we
We’re snuggled up together like two
Birds of a feather would be

Let’s take the road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

If you are interested in reading about and listening to another song by The Ronettes, please click here for “Be My Baby.”

For More Golden Oldies Music       

rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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