Lee still 'Rockin' at Christmas time

Q. The first time I heard Brenda Lee singing "Rockin' Around theChristmas Tree," I thought it was one of the greatest records evermade--Christmas or otherwise. That was around 1961 or '62. Myhusband, who is a tad my senior, says this tune was really from themid-'50s, and that it was already an oldie but goodie when I firstheard it. He also says you can confirm this, and so we ask you to setthe record on this record straight.

A. Here is the straight scoop. Except for the ever-so-slight slip-up in calling 1958 the mid-'50s, hubby has this one nailed. Brenda'sfirst release of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" came along inNovember 1958, just shortly after Johnny Marks wrote the tune. Whenyou hear "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" being played this year--as you surely will--that will make 43 consecutive years it hasbrightened the holiday season.

Q. With great interest, I read your recent column about "TheLittle Drummer Boy." Although your answer about the Harry SimeoneChoral and Johnny Cash recordings is correct, Harry Simeone did notrelease the first recording of the song. My father, Jack Halloran,did the original choral arrangement and recorded it for Dot Recordsin 1957 (one year before Simeone), with the title "Carol of theDrum." This is its original name, as a Czech carol--simplisticallyarranged for church choirs by Katherine K. Davis--as found on the1957 "Christmas is a-Comin' " album by the Jack Halloran Singers.

A producer on the project was Henry Onorati, who took the chartfrom the original recording session to Harry Simeone, urging him torecord it and get it out before the Dot release. Simeone, I am told,made a few changes to the chart, added finger cymbals (my father'sversion is a cappella), changed the title, hired all the samesingers, and recorded it.

Dot unfortunately didn't put the single out for the 1957 Christmasseason. My father's album was eventually repackaged in 1959, with thetitle changed to "The Little Drummer Boy," but by then it was toolate. Total credit for "The Little Drummer Boy" will always remainwith Harry Simeone.

A. Thanks to you for providing some fascinating, previouslyunknown background on one of the most famous Christmas tunes of alltime. After some research, I found the selection numbers for the Dotreleases you mention. "Christmas Is a-Comin' " is Dot DLP-3076. Therepackaged "Little Drummer Boy" LP is DLP-3233/25233 (Mono/Stereo),and the 1961 "Little Drummer Boy" single, backed with "Mary's LittleBoy Chile," is Dot 16275.

IZ ZAT SO? "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is Brenda Lee'sbest-known Christmas song, but it was not her first. That would be"I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus," backed with "Christy Christmas,"issued in 1956, with credits reading "Little Brenda Lee" (Decca88215).

Jerry Osborne is a syndicated columnist. Write to him c/o: ChicagoSun-Times, Features Dept., 401 N. Wabash, Chicago, 60611.