Description
Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – The Decca Christmas Recordings – Vinyl Record
Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree: The Decca Christmas Recordings is a warm, nostalgic, and historically significant compilation that showcases Brenda Lee’s role in shaping the sound of modern American Christmas music. Released in 2023 by UMe/Decca to celebrate the enduring legacy of her holiday recordings, the album collects all of Lee’s Christmas material from her time on Decca Records (1950s–1960s)—centered, of course, around her iconic hit, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” But beyond that immortal track, the compilation paints a broader picture of Lee’s versatility as a vocalist and her ability to make Christmas music that’s both spirited and heartfelt.
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” recorded when Brenda was just 13 years old in 1958, is the centerpiece and one of the most enduring holiday recordings of all time. It blends rockabilly energy with festive charm, anchored by a sprightly saxophone solo (by Nashville legend Boots Randolph) and an effortless vocal performance that’s far more mature than Lee’s age would suggest. Produced by Owen Bradley—best known for his work with Patsy Cline—the track bridged pop, country, and rock ‘n’ roll, helping to modernize the genre of Christmas music for a new, post-war generation. The song eventually became a perennial holiday staple, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, a staggering 65 years after its release—making Lee the oldest person (at age 78) to ever top that chart.
But this compilation goes much deeper than that one hit. It includes standout tracks from her 1964 holiday album Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee, such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Silver Bells,” “Blue Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “A Marshmallow World.” Lee brings a distinctly Southern sweetness to these songs, her voice gliding easily between playful and melancholy tones. On “Blue Christmas,” her delivery carries the torch of heartache made famous by Elvis Presley, but with a light, tear-tinged vocal that adds emotional depth. On “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Winter Wonderland,” she leans into the swing and swagger of early rock ’n’ roll, showing why she was sometimes called “Little Miss Dynamite.”
What makes this collection so appealing is not only its historical importance but also how it captures Lee’s gift for emotive phrasing and genre-blending. Whether she’s leaning into country croon, pop sparkle, or gospel warmth, her sincerity shines through. Even the lesser-known tracks, like “Christy Christmas” and “Papa Noel,” have a kitschy charm that’s hard to resist, especially for fans of vintage holiday recordings. There’s also a feeling of timeless innocence throughout the album—each song feels like it belongs beside a fireplace, with vinyl crackling and snow falling outside.
These recordings bear the fingerprints of Nashville’s A-Team session players and Owen Bradley’s polished yet lively production style. The arrangements are tasteful, with just the right mix of orchestral sweetness, country twang, and rock-and-roll rhythm, making the songs accessible across generations and genres. Lee’s ability to inhabit each song—whether playfully mischievous or tenderly nostalgic—makes her one of the most enduring voices in American holiday music.
The reissue’s packaging helps contextualize Lee’s impact—not just as a young phenom, but as one of the earliest artists to define the sound of the American pop Christmas canon. While artists like Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra shaped the more formal, crooner-based tradition, Brenda Lee injected it with youthful energy and crossover appeal.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree: The Decca Christmas Recordings is not just a festive collection; it’s a cultural artifact, capturing the moment when Christmas music became something that could rock, swing, and shimmer all at once. It’s a must-listen not just for holiday playlist lovers, but for anyone interested in the intersection of early rock, country, and pop history. And thanks to its recent chart resurgence, it proves that Brenda Lee’s voice—and her joyful, swinging Christmas spirit—continues to resonate with listeners of all ages.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Papa Noel
This Time Of The Year
Jingle Bell Rock
Christy Christmas
I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus
Winter Wonderland
Silver Bells
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
The Angel And The Little Blue Bell
Frosty the Snowman
Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day
Blue Christmas
A Marshmallow World
Strawberry Snow
White Christmas
Jingle Bells
Silent Night
