Home for the Holidays (song)
Encyclopedia
" Home for the Holidays" is a popular
song
, commonly associated with the Christmas
season although the lyrics are more applicable to the Thanksgiving
holidays.
The music was written by Robert Allen
, the lyrics by Al Stillman
. The song was published in 1954
.
The best-known recordings were made by Perry Como
, who recorded the song twice. The first recording, done on November 16, 1954, was released as a single for Christmas
, 1954, by RCA
(catalog number 20-5950-B on 78rpm and 47-5950-B on 45rpm). The flip side was "Silk Stockings" (which appeared in the Cash Box magazine top 50). "Home for the Holidays" reached #8 on the Billboard magazine chart in the United States
. The next Christmas it was released again, with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
" as the flip side, as RCA 20-6321-A and 47-6321-A. The same recorded version was released in the United Kingdom
by HMV
with the catalog number POP-103, with the flip side "Tina Marie
". This recording has appeared on many compilation albums over the years and remains a Christmas radio staple.
Como's second recording of the song, in stereo
and with a different musical arrangement, was made on July 15, 1959
. It was released as a 33rpm single (RCA catalog # VP-2066), with flip side "Winter Wonderland
" in the US, and as a 45rpm single by HMV in the UK (catalog number RCA-1215). This 1959 version was also included on the album Season's Greetings from Perry Como
and has appeared on many compilations.
The Carpenters
recorded a popular cover version that was eventually released on their 1984 album An Old-Fashioned Christmas
.
In 2002, Barry Manilow
covered the song for his second Christmas-themed album, A Christmas Gift of Love
.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, commonly associated with the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season although the lyrics are more applicable to the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
holidays.
The music was written by Robert Allen
Robert Allen (musicwriter)
Robert Allen Deitcher was a pianist and an arranger and writer of music for popular songs.He was born in Troy, New York and had 4 children: a son, Gordon, and 3 daughters, Pamela, Diana, Katie....
, the lyrics by Al Stillman
Al Stillman
Al Stillman was an American lyricist.-Biography:Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family. He was Jewish. He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P...
. The song was published in 1954
1954 in music
-Events:*January 14 - First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York, New York...
.
The best-known recordings were made by Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, who recorded the song twice. The first recording, done on November 16, 1954, was released as a single for Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, 1954, by RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
(catalog number 20-5950-B on 78rpm and 47-5950-B on 45rpm). The flip side was "Silk Stockings" (which appeared in the Cash Box magazine top 50). "Home for the Holidays" reached #8 on the Billboard magazine chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The next Christmas it was released again, with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is an English traditional Christmas carol. The melody is in Aeolian mode. It was published by William B...
" as the flip side, as RCA 20-6321-A and 47-6321-A. The same recorded version was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
with the catalog number POP-103, with the flip side "Tina Marie
Tina Marie
"Teena Marie" is a popular song. It was written by Bob Merrill and was published in 1955.This record reached position #5 on the Billboard chart.deOn June 21, 1955, Perry Como recorded the song...
". This recording has appeared on many compilation albums over the years and remains a Christmas radio staple.
Como's second recording of the song, in stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
and with a different musical arrangement, was made on July 15, 1959
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
. It was released as a 33rpm single (RCA catalog # VP-2066), with flip side "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
" in the US, and as a 45rpm single by HMV in the UK (catalog number RCA-1215). This 1959 version was also included on the album Season's Greetings from Perry Como
Season's Greetings from Perry Como
Season's Greetings from Perry Como, originally released in 1959, was Perry Como's sixth RCA Victor 12" long-play album and the fourth recorded in full "living" stereophonic sound, as well as his first full-length Christmas album....
and has appeared on many compilations.
The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
recorded a popular cover version that was eventually released on their 1984 album An Old-Fashioned Christmas
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
An Old-Fashioned Christmas is a Christmas album from The Carpenters, released in 1984 after the death of singer/drummer Karen Carpenter.The album project had its genesis in several unused tracks from the Carpenters' previous Christmas album, 1978's Christmas Portrait. Richard Carpenter took these...
.
In 2002, Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
covered the song for his second Christmas-themed album, A Christmas Gift of Love
A Christmas Gift of Love
A Christmas Gift of Love was an album released in 2002 by singer and songwriter Barry Manilow. As Manilow's second compilation of Christmas songs, the album did quite well, and went Gold. Oddly enough, the album was done with Columbia Records instead of his usual label of Concord Records...
.