Event Recap Chat with Duke Allen about Christmas Flipsides and Flops

[Jeff Westover]

This song is better than the movie

 

[SBellsRikki]

And @Stapesblog it's a music play-a-long!

 

[e_xander]

I have actually heard this one...I believe that I heard it from the movie

 

[Storeytime]

Awesomeness!

 

[Duke Allen]

And this was the COVER version! The original was featured on the movie soundtrack, as "Hooray for SANTY Claus."

 

[MerryCarey]

Got the backstory, Duke?

 

[Jordan Rivers]

Yup, me too. Didn't know it was Al Hirt though

 

[MerryCarey]

Was it Al Hirt on the movie credits? Or did he just cover it?

 

[Duke Allen]

New Orleans trumpet virtuoso Al Hirt was huge in the 1960s. His big hit “Java” launched him on a long career as a soloist. His instrumentals were favorites on radio stations, both the teenage pop stations and the ones playing “adult contemporary” songs. Al Hirt had an unbroken string of hit singles for RCA Victor – until Christmas 1964, when he recorded “Hooray for Santa Claus.” Sank like a rock, but it’s really a very good cover record of the original version. Even has the children's chorus from the original.

 

[Duke Allen]

Hirt did only the commercial record. Almost note-for-note copy of the movie version.

 

[Storeytime]

Al Hirt was played a lot in our house. One of my Mom's favorites.

 

[MerryCarey]

Jazzier than the movie credits version.

 

[Duke Allen]

After "Hooray for Santa Claus" (which didn't chart at all, although I can see rock DJs reluctant to play a kids' chorus) Al Hirt got back on the horse and recorded more hit singles – until 1965, when he fell off the horse with another Christmas single, “Nutty Jingle Bells.” He sang on that one, which isn’t what his fans wanted to hear.

 

[MerryCarey]

I've never heard that! (Maybe I wouldn't want to?)

 

[Duke Allen]

Here comes a song you may or may not know. 1960. Anyone remember Johnny Preston?

 

[Jeff Westover]

Herb Alpert did the same thing

 

[MerryCarey]

 

[Storeytime]

We had every Herb Albert album, but I don't remember us ever having the Christmas album. I heard those songs for the first time on one of the DISH network channels at Christmas a few years ago.

 

[SBellsRikki]

wow... now that has a definite vintage vibe

 

[Jordan Rivers]

It does.