Let’s just cut right to the chase.
Anyone who knows even just a little about me can probably guess what my all-time favorite Christmas song is.
As a hint, the song just happens to also be sung by my favorite musical artist.
You guessed it – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Bruce Sprinsgteen and the E-Street Band.
Here’s a link to the audio of the version many of you are probably most familiar with (you can scroll down to see a live video performance of the song). The audio version starts with a little dialogue from Bruce, and features Clarence Clemons on the sax and laughing like Santa, and just pure joy from the entire band. This performance was recorded live at C. W. Post College (now Long Island University – Post) in Brookville, New York on December 12, 1975.
Live performances of the song often saw the band encouraging the audience to sing some of the lyrics with—or in place of—the band’s vocalists (usually the line “you’d better be good for goodness sake”, and occasionally the key line “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” as well). Sometimes, concert crowds would sing along with the entire song, and the band would do nothing to dissuade those audiences from doing so. This version remains a Springsteen concert favorite during the months of November and December (often concluding the show), and the band is among the few that keep it in their roster of songs during the holidays. (Wikipedia)
Here’s a little background on that 1975 performance from David J. Criblez at Newsday.com.
The day of the show a massive snowstorm hit Long Island with the temperature dropping to 12 degrees, causing the show to be delayed for an hour.
People waited on line starting at 1 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show, drinking peppermint schnapps just to keep warm.
The performance of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” came as the second song of the encore and took the crowd by surprise.
The song features one of Springsteen’s storytelling raps at the beginning as sleigh bells jingle in the background mixed with seasonal sounds of singular piano notes.
“It’s everything you want from The E Street Band — it’s got playfulness, a killer sax solo and the arrangement totally rocks,” says Steve Prisco, 65, of East Northport, who was at the Post show.. “Bruce always had a comedy element to his shows making jokes with saxophonist Clarence Clemons and the rest of the band. You can see he was excited to pull the song off.”
Concert attendee Wayne Belfer, 63, adds, “They began by laughing then everyone started to get into it by singing along. Bruce and Clarence were hamming it up on stage. It was a joyous moment.”
Springsteen’s rendition was based on the arrangement producer Phil Spector had the Crystals record on his 1963 holiday album, “A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.”
“Bruce completely reworked that song. He made it swing and rock,” says Darren Gallagher, 55, of West Islip, who runs a Springsteen tribute band called Badlands that plays the song live and even recorded it. “Sometimes when you hear a remake it sounds just like every other version of the song. This particular one sounds undeniably like Bruce Springsteen.”
When former Newsday pop music critic Wayne Robins reviewed the show, he wrote that the song “caused pandemonium” and described Springsteen as “more mensch than macho.”
“It was the time of the macho rock star — Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith,” says Robins, who will be inducted in the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. “Bruce came on like he was your neighbor.”
Here is a more recent live video version of the song that includes Paul McCartney and the cast of a Saturday Night Live Christmas Special from 2015. Still as great as ever.
And here is a little behind the scenes interview with Tina Fey on the Howard Stern Show where she talks about what it was like to be singing with Bruce.
So Merry Christmas to all, and be sure to keep Bruce’s words in mind, “You better be good for goodness sake.”
this is a great one, and the performance story – wow! an excellent choice
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glad you enjoyed it!
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That’s a very cheerful rendition. I can’t help but smile, watching it. I also love a good Howard Stern interview, so that was enjoyable too.
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Howard had no filter…
Glad you enjoyed it.
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Oh man, that was fun. Nobody can work a crowd like Springsteen. I had a feeling this was going to be your #1.
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glad you enjoyed it, Pete!
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Fantastic! Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to you!
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Thanks!
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This may be the best Santa Clause is coming to town version I have heard! Fun to watch! I was laughing having just finished my post and then seeing this! You will understand! LOL!
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glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I see the connection, with the rocks turning into instruments. happy to see that one was a sax!
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I was humming this as I read your post title!
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what a coincidence!
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Springsteen rocks the world with his version of this merry Christmas song. It’s a great pick for number 1.
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glad you enjoyed it, John!
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I had a feeling you could not do a list of three songs and one of them not be by “the Boss”. But this is a worthy choice of Christmas ear candy. I loved the background and the interview. I am wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!
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glad you enjoyed it, Brad. Happy holiday to you as well!
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It’s a good one.
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it’s hard not to like 🙂
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This is a great song, Jim. Not my favourite, but a really good choice.
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glad you enjoyed it, Robbie! What are some of your favorites?
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My all time favourite Christmas song is this one, Jim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9OVjlEZho. I have been know to sing it with my sister in the car park outside the theatre. We danced the cancan too. Terence and Justin hid behind the car.
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I haven’t heard that song in a while, but I agree, it is a great song. And is there a video of you and your sister – seems like that would be blog worthy 🙂
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Sadly, Terence and Justin couldn’t film it, the cars were in the way. Hahaha.
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you could have been an Internet sensation!
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One of my favourites too, and thank you for the backstory, which I hadn’t heard before. And I’m not in the least surprised that it was your #1!
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I know this is one of the ones we share in common. It’s a song that just makes you happy…
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It sure does! Just right for this time of year, in normal times…
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👍
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Great pick!! Merry Christmas!!
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same to you!
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Nice Christmas songs!
Wow, so strange for me to see Bruce Springsteen now as an older man. I don’t have TV so I only see his face in my favorite songs from him mostly when he was younger 😁
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I think Bruce, and his music, have aged quite well!
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Great pick…it gives one such a sense of happiness.. I couldn’t pick a favourite as I love so many Christmas songs…I hope you had a great one, Jim 🙂 x
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we did have a nice Christmas. I hope you did as well!
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We did Jim thank you 🙂 x
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👍
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