Jingle Bell Rock

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"Jingle Bell Rock"
Christmas


Jingle Bell Rock is the name of a popular Christmas song. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was written by Joe Beal & Jim Boothe. It has gone on to sell 100 million copies.

It has been performed by many, but Helms' version is the best-known. Its title and some of its lyrics are takeoffs on the old Christmas standard, "Jingle Bells". It also makes brief references to other popular songs of the 1950s, such as "Rock Around the Clock", and mentions going to a "Jingle hop". An electric guitar can be heard playing the first notes to the chorus from the aforementioned "Jingle Bells".

Despite being titled a Jingle Bell "Rock", Helms' version of the song was performed in the crossover style known as Rockabilly, and to modern ears it sounds a lot more "Country" than it does "Rock and Roll". Example lyrics:

What a bright time
It's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle Bell Time, it's a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up, Jingle Horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' beat 1
That's the Jingle Bell Rock

Bobby Helms original version on Decca 9-30513 from 1957, was re-recorded by him on Kapp K-719 in 1965 and yet again in 1967 on Little Darlin' LD-0038. Then in 1970 Helms recorded an entire album titled "Jingle Bell Rock" on Certron C-7013, releasing from the album the title track on Certron C-10021 with a picture sleeve. In yet another re-recording Helms released on Ashley AS-4200, (year unknown). In 1983 Bobby Helms was back in the recording studio and released his last recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" on Black Rose 82713.

A notable cover version of the song was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets (coincidentally the originators of the referenced "Rock Around the Clock") in 1968 for United Artists records. Intended for a seasonal single release, it was decided not to release the recording, and it was considered lost for nearly 30 years until it was finally issued in the mid-1990s.

Brenda Lee also released a version of "Jingle Bell Rock" which made the Billboard Christmas singles chart in both 1964 and 1967.

1Transcribers of the lyrics disagree on whether Helms is saying "beat" or is redundantly repeating the word "feet" from the earlier line.

Audio samples:
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