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Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

The festive season just would not be the same without Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. So it’s hard to believe that such a cracker flew like a turkey on its first release, 65 years ago. WORDS BY DOUGLAS Mc PHERSON
“It was magic and I think we all knew it”– Brenda Lee’s Yuletide evergreen went on to sell over 25 million copies
© Gems/Redferns/GETTY IMAGES

All Brenda Lee wanted for Christmas in 1958 was a hit with Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. Sadly, Santa didn’t deliver that year, or the next . However, after a couple of false starts the record became arguably the best-known of Lee’s career, as well as one of the most popular festive songs of all time.

LeAnn Rimes, Kacey Musgraves and Justin Bieber have all released hit versions, the latter reaching UK No.4 in 2020. But Lee’s original remains the one you are most likely to hear blasting from a radio this Christmas.

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