Billboard's Greatest Christmas Hits - Volumes 1 & 2 (1989)

Rhino's Billboard's Greatest Christmas Hits, Volume 1 (1935-1954) and Volume 2 (1955- Present) contain twenty classic songs, ten on each disc. All were top 40 hits or million sellers over the decades since they were recorded. Most have become perennial classics, heard every December, until you can't stand it anymore.

Volume 1 contains Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Gene Autry's original versions of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and "Here Comes Santa Claus." Also included are "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," from twelve year old Jimmy Boyd, a one hit wonder in 1952, Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby," and "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" by Spike Jones.





Volume 2 is even better due to the presence of much loved Christmas songs such as Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock," "The Chipmunk Song," Elvis's "Blue Christmas," Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Nuttin' for Christmas," by Barry Gordon, and Elmo & Patsy's "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer."

These two discs highlight the fun side of Christmas, but beware. Each one loses a star because they are very short. All of the music featured here could easily fit onto one CD. The combined playing time for both discs is under 60 minutes. Because each one is offered at regular retail prices consumers are victims of a major ripoff.