21. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" - Josh Groban (2007)
Courtesy Reprise
Unitarian pastor Edmund Sears wrote the words to "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" in 1849. Josh Groban lent his golden pipes to the song on his 4 times platinum album Noel.
22. "Christmas In Hollis" - Run DMC (1987)
Courtesy A&M
The ultimate Christmas rap classic was put together by Run DMC for the Special Olympics fundraising album A Very Special Christmas, released in 1987.
23. "Christmas Time Is Here" - Vince Guaraldi (1965)
Courtesy Fantasy
Jazz pianist Guaraldi will forever be identified with the music he wrote for Peanuts TV specials. This song written for A Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic.
24. "Christmas Wrapping" - Spice Girls (1998)
Photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images
The Waitresses, a moderately successful punk band, put together this classic Christmas hit in 1981. It remains a clever combination of punk attitude and experimentation with the young genre of rap. The Spice Girls recorded their own version as the B-side to their hit single "Goodbye."
25. "The Chipmunk Song" - David Seville
Courtesy RCA
Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. recorded under the pseudonym David Seville. His first major hit single was "The Witch Doctor" in 1958. It included experiments with speeded up audio tracks. Those experiments ultimately led to the creation of the Chipmunks whose voices were speeded up human voice. "The Chipmunk Song," released later in 1958, was a #1 smash. The Chipmunks have become durable pop culture characters even performing in their own movie.
26. "Sleigh Ride" - JoJo (2005)
Photo by Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Leroy Anderson's classic orchestral piece became something of a signature tune for Arthur Fiedler's Boston Pops Orchestra after they recorded "Sleigh Ride" in 1949. JoJo performed the song as part of a Christmas in Washington TV special.
27. "Frosty the Snowman" - Leon Redbone and Dr. John (1987)
Courtesy Rounder Records
Recorded as a follow up to the success of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" gave Gene Autry a top 10 pop hit in 1950. Ultimately the song was adapted into a popular perennial TV special.
28. "Angels We Have Heard on High" - Relient K (2007)
Courtesy Capitol Records
"Angels We Have Heard On High" originated as a French carol but was translated into the English version we know well in the mid 1800's. Christian rock band Relient K add a bit of a pop punk feel to their interpretation.
29. "Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley (1957)
Courtesy RCA
"Blue Christmas" was best known as a country Christmas song in a version recorded by Ernest Tubbs in 1948 until Elvis Presley made it a rock and roll classic with his 1957 recording.
30. "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" - Elmo and Patsy (1983)
Courtesy Sony
This novelty classic was performed on stage in 1978 and quickly spread in popularity through exposure on pop radio.
