======================================================================
= Sleigh Ride =
======================================================================
Introduction
======================================================================
"Sleigh Ride" is a light orchestra standard composed by Leroy
Anderson. He formed the idea for the piece during a heat wave in July
1946, and finished it in February 1948. Its first performance was by
the Boston Pops Orchestra, with Arthur Fiedler conducting, on May 4,
1948.
The original recordings were instrumental versions: it was first
recorded in 1949 by Fiedler and the Boston Pops. As a 45 rpm version
issued on red vinyl, "Sleigh Ride" was a hit record on RCA Victor Red
Seal, and has become one of the orchestra's most well-known works. The
Pops have recorded the piece numerous times, with Fiedler as well as
John Williams, their conductor from 1979 to 1995, and Keith Lockhart,
their current conductor.
The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other wintertime activities,
were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950. Anderson also made
arrangements for wind band and piano.
The Ronettes recorded a cover of "Sleigh Ride" in 1963 for Phil
Spector's 'A Christmas Gift for You', which was commercially
successful in the United States and featured in various media. The
song has since been associated with the Christmas and holiday season.
Details
======================================================================
Leroy Anderson's own recording of "Sleigh Ride" was made on September
11, 1950, and was released on his album "Leroy Anderson Conducts His
Own Compositions" on the Decca label in 1951. Also released that year
as a 78-rpm single, then reissued as a 45-rpm single the following
year when it reached #26 on the 'Cash Box' bestsellers' chart.
The main melody of "Sleigh Ride" was used, but without crediting
Anderson, as the main theme of Victor Young's score for the 1949
Western 'Streets of Laredo.' Mitchell Parish worked with Young at this
approximate time, writing the lyrics for Young's recording of Hoagy
Carmichael's previously instrumental "Stardust." In 1950, the Andrews
Sisters recorded the first vocal version of "Sleigh Ride", using the
lyrics Parish had written. Although the song is often associated with
Christmas and appears on Christmas compilation albums, its lyrics do
not mention any holidays.
The piece is noted for the sounds of a horse clip-clopping, and a whip
used to get the horse moving. In most performances, a percussionist
provides these sounds on temple blocks and a slapstick, respectively.
Toward the end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of a horse
whinnying.
According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
(ASCAP), "Sleigh Ride" consistently ranks as one of the top 10
most-performed songs written by ASCAP members. ASCAP named "Sleigh
Ride" the most popular piece of Christmas music in the U.S. between
2009 and 2012 based on performance data from over 2,500 radio
stations. Anderson's recording remains the most popular instrumental
version, while Johnny Mathis's has become the most popular vocal
version.
Biographer Steve Metcalf said, "'Sleigh Ride'... has been performed
and recorded by a wider array of musical artists than any other piece
in the history of Western music."
"Sleigh Ride" is written in seven-part rondo form (though performers
sometimes omit the final B section, effectively rendering it a
five-part rondo).
The Ronettes version
======================================================================
"Sleigh Ride" was covered by the American girl group the Ronettes. The
Phil Spector-produced recording has become the most popular version
outside the traditional pop standard genre, charting yearly in
'Billboard's' Top Ten U.S. Holiday 100 and reaching #8 in 2023 in its
26th week in the Hot 100. After achieving a new peak of 8 in 2023, it
became the group's second-highest chart hit in the US after "Be My
Baby". It features the well-known "Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding"
background vocals, and the clip-clop and whinny of a horse at its
beginning and end. Both bridge sections were omitted from this
version, leaving only the refrains intact.
Charts
========
Chart performance for "Sleigh Ride"
Chart (2020) Peak position
US Holiday Digital Song Sales ('Billboard') 6
Chart (2020) Peak position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs ('Billboard') 25
Chart (2020-24) Peak position
UK Streaming Chart (OCC) 93
Weekly charts
===============
Chart (1963-2024) Peak position
Australia (ARIA) 9
France (SNEP) 15
Greece International (IFPI) 13
Italy (FIMI) 46
Latvia (LAIPA) 9
Lithuania (AGATA) 11
Luxembourg ('Billboard') 11
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 9
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 12
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 47
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 38
US Holiday 100 ('Billboard') 7
US 'Rolling Stone' Top 100 10
Year-end charts
=================
Year-end chart performance for "Sleigh Ride" Chart (2023) Position
Hungary (Single Top 40) 96
Background and release
========================
Stefani released her fourth studio album, 'You Make It Feel Like
Christmas' through Interscope Records, on October 6, 2017, a
collection of six original songs and six cover versions of Christmas
standards. The album was preceded by the release of lead single "You
Make It Feel Like Christmas", a duet with her boyfriend, American
singer Blake Shelton. According to Stefani, the album's initial
release generated a positive response, allowing her to return to the
studio with collaborators busbee and Justin Tranter. The following
year, 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas' was reissued with five new
bonus tracks and a proper music video for the title track was
released.
In 2019, Stefani duetted with Shelton again on "Nobody but You", a new
track recorded for his compilation album, 'Fully Loaded: God's
Country'. The song was released as a single and distributed to US
country radio outlets on January 21, 2020. It became a hit, topping
'Billboard's' Country Airplay and Digital Songs charts and becoming
Stefani's highest-charting effort on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 since
2007. In late 2020, rumors of new solo music from Stefani circulated
after it was announced she would be returning as a judge to the
American television series 'The Voice'. Stefani then confirmed plans
to release new music during a promotional advertisement made for the
show. Her cover of "Sleigh Ride" was announced as a surprise to her
fans on October 12, 2020, the day before its scheduled release. It is
expected to appear as the eighteenth track on an upcoming reissue of
'You Make It Feel Like Christmas', due for release later in 2020.
"Sleigh Ride" was produced by American musicians Brent Kutzle and
Brandon Collins. It is the first track from 'You Make It Feel Like
Christmas' that was not produced by busbee or Eric Valentine; busbee
had previously co-written all of the original songs on the parent
album with Stefani and Tranter, but died in September 2019 after a
battle with glioblastoma. Stefani's cover of "Sleigh Ride" credits
Anderson and Parish as composers. The song was released to music
retailers for digital download and streaming on October 13, 2020,
through Interscope Records. A promotional audio video of the song was
uploaded to Stefani's YouTube channel the same day of its release. It
serves as first solo release since the rest of 'You Make It Feel Like
Christmas'. Alongside the release of "Sleigh Ride", Stefani teased
that there was "more to come" the following week.
Composition
=============
Stefani's version of "Sleigh Ride" has been described as a
holiday-themed song with a "lushly" arranged orchestra. American
musician Ryan Tedder contributes as a vocal producer of the song, and
Stefani is accompanied by American singer Laura Cooksey for background
vocals.
Critical reception
====================
Sophie Smith from the entertainment website 'uDiscover Music' was
positive about Stefani's cover, calling it a "cheery" and "festive"
new track. A contributor to WSRW felt that Stefani got "in the holiday
spirit" with her cover, but felt that it was released too early before
the holiday season.
Credits and personnel
=======================
Credits adapted from AllMusic.
* Gwen Stefaniprimary artist
* Brandon Collinsproducer, strings contractor
* Brent Kutzleproducer, keyboards
* Leroy Andersoncomposer
* Mitchell Parishcomposer
* Ryan Teddervocal producer
* John Nathanielvocal producer, mixing
* Grant Pittmanengineer, keyboards
* Doug Sarrettengineer
* Tyler Spryengineer
* Mike Wilsonengineer
* Chris Gehringermastering engineer
* Laura Cookseybackground vocals
* Luke Sullivantacoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Matt Meltonbass
* Paul Nelsoncello
* Jon Hyrkasdrums
* Betsy Lambviola, violin
* David Angellviolin
* David Davidsonviolin
Release history
=================
Release dates and formats for "Sleigh Ride"
Region Date Format(s) Label
Various October 13, 2020
Other notable recordings
======================================================================
* 1949 - Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, RCA Victor Red Seal
10-1484 (78 rpm) and 49-01515 (45 rpm). The original hit recording,
this version was unavailable on CD until its inclusion on the 2023
Real Gone Music compilation 'The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party'.
* 1951 - Leroy Anderson and His "Pops" Concert Orchestra, Decca Gold
Label Series 16000 (78 rpm) 9-16000 (45 rpm). Released both
individually and as part of the 10" album 'Leroy Anderson Conducts His
Own Compositions'. This version (recorded September 1950) receives
frequent airplay during the holiday season and has appeared on various
compilations. Leroy Anderson re-recorded "Sleigh Ride" in stereo for
the 1959 Decca LP 'Leroy Anderson Conducts Leroy Anderson'.
* 1950 - The Andrews Sisters (the first vocal version)
* 1952 - Bing Crosby, included on 1998's 'The Voice of Christmas'
* 1958 - Johnny Mathis - 'Merry Christmas'
* 1959 - Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra - 'Joy to the World:
Music for Christmas'. This version subsequently appeared on his 1963
LP 'Wonderland of Christmas', as well as on numerous compilations.
* 1960 - Ella Fitzgerald - 'Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas';
this version was later featured in the 2003 film 'Elf'.
* 1965 - Andy Williams - 'Merry Christmas'
* 1978 - The Carpenters - 'Christmas Portrait'
* 1987 - Air Supply - 'The Christmas Album'
* 1998 - Squirrel Nut Zippers - 'Christmas Caravan'
* 2012 - Sufjan Stevens released a version of the song as part of the
ninth volume of the 'Silver & Gold' Christmas box set. Stevens
uses many different gadgets to make sounds, reminiscent of the style
of Spike Jones, who recorded the song in 1956.
Mariah Carey version
======================
In 2020, American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey recorded a cover of
"Sleigh Ride" for her second soundtrack album, 'Mariah Carey's Magical
Christmas Special' (2020).
External links
======================================================================
* [http://www.leroyandersonfoundation.org/sleigh_ride.php Sleigh Ride]
on the Leroy Anderson Foundation webpage
* [http://www.leroyanderson.com/lyrics.php#sleighride Lyrics] to
Sleigh Ride
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTMc-WAjL-I Performance] by the
United States Navy Band
License
=========
All content on Gopherpedia comes from Wikipedia, and is licensed under CC-BY-SA
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Original Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleigh_Ride