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Sleigh Ride
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Wikipedia article
"'Sleigh Ride'" is a light orchestra standard composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had formed the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946, and he finished the work in February 1948. The original recordings were instrumental versions. The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other fun wintertime activities, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.'Christmas in New England,' Commonwealth Editions 2006, pages 116121 Anderson also made arrangements for wind band and piano.
The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. "Sleigh Ride" was a hit record on RCA Victor Red Seal, and has become one of the orchestra's signature songs. The 45 rpm version was originally issued on red vinyl. The Pops have also recorded the song with John Williams, their conductor from 1979 to 1995, and Keith Lockhart, their current conductor.
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. American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani recorded a cover in October 2020 for the reissued deluxe edition of her fourth studio album, 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas'.
Details
by Currier and Ives, 1867. The song's lyrics refer to a "picture print by Currier and Ives," whose lithographs were popular in the 19th century.
Leroy Anderson's own 1950 recording of "Sleigh Ride" on Decca reached 'Cashbox's bestsellers' chart when re-released in 1952.
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 version 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 "Sleigh Ride" is often associated with Christmas and appears on Christmas compilation albums, its lyrics do not mention any holidays. (Certain recordings, such as those by the Carpenters, Walter Schumann, and Air Supply, substitute "Christmas party" instead of "birthday party" in the song's bridge.)
The song 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 20092012 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.
Steve Metcalf says "'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 in seven-part rondo form. The first rondo episode utilizes an unusual, unprepared modulation to the mediant, then the supertonic.
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 was #26 in 2018 in the Hot 100. After achieving a new peak of ten in 2021, 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.
In media
The song was also featured in the episode "Holidays of Future Passed" from the American comedy 'The Simpsons', during a scene involving a compilation of Christmas cards.Charts
Certifications and sales
Gwen Stefani version
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 passed away 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
Charts
Release history
Other recordings
* 1949 Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. The original hit recording, this version has never been available on CD. Other Boston Pops recordings have been made under conductors Fiedler (1959, 1970, 1972, and 1976), John Williams (1991), and Keith Lockhart (1998, 2004, and 2011).
* 1950 Leroy Anderson. The Decca Gold Label Series singles (#16000, both 45 and 78 rpm) referenced above were not issued as individual records, but were part of the four-disc set 'Leroy Anderson Conducts His Own Compositions'. This version is played mostly during the holiday season, and has appeared in various compilations. 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)
* 1958 Johnny Mathis 'Merry Christmas'
* 1960 Ella Fitzgerald 'Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas'; this version was later featured in the 2003 film 'Elf'.
* 1965 - The Ventures arranged an instrumental version of the song in the style of their hit recording of "Walk: Don't Run!" and made it, "Sleigh-ride" the leadoff track on their popular LP, 'The Ventures Christmas Album'. It was also released as a Ventures 45RPM record and was then, still is, a mainstay in seasonal radio music. Later, at least two other popular versions that are inspired by The Ventures have been recorded, by Los Straitjackets, and by Jon and the Nightriders.
* 1978 The Carpenters 'Christmas Portrait'
* 1983 Amy Grant 'A Christmas Album'
* 1987 Air Supply 'The Christmas Album'
* 1993 TLC recorded a version of the song for the 1992 film 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' that was later included on the 1993 holiday album, 'A LaFace Family Christmas', featuring them and other artists signed to the LaFace Records label. Their version features a rap written and performed by Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.
* 1996 Spice Girls recorded a version of the song, which appeared as a B-side for 2 Become 1 and also feature on the 1998 film, 'Jack Frost', soundtrack.
* 2002 S Club Juniors, the junior spin off of S Club 7, released their version as part of a double-a-side with their version of Paul Anka's "Puppy Love". Reaching #6 in December that year, it is still the only version of the song to have charted in the UK.
* 2012 - Sufjan Stevens released a version of the song as part of the ninth volume of the 'Silver & Gold' Christmas box set.
* 2015 - Miley Cyrus and Bill Murray performed the song together in the Christmas musical comedy 'A Very Murray Christmas'.
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).
Charts
Ella Fitzgerald version
Classical "Sleigh Ride" pieces
The "Troika" movement of 'Lieutenant Kij' by Sergei Prokofiev is also a musical sleigh ride, referring to a three-horse team drawing a carriage (troika means "group of three"). Christmas carol expert William Studwell wrote that Prokofiev's work was "even better" than "Sleigh Ride", having a more "exhilarating" style and imagery.
References
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