The top Christmas song every year since 1958

Best Bets For Christmas (1963-1973)

As Christmas music was becoming a genre of its own, Billboard transitioned away from listing Christmas singles on its traditional Hot 100 list. Instead, the "Best Bets For Christmas" list was put out. Until 1973, no Christmas songs were listed on the Hot 100, making Best Bets the best source for information about what songs were hot in the 1960s.

1963: Andy Williams, "White Christmas," 1963

Did you know...

While Andy Williams is known for his holiday hit "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," his record company insisted on his cover of "White Christmas" being the album's single.

1964: Harry Simeone Chorale, "Little Drummer Boy," 1958

1965: Harry Simeone Chorale, "Little Drummer Boy," 1958

1966: Harry Simeone Chorale, "Little Drummer Boy," 1958

1967: The Royal Guardsmen, "Snoopy's Christmas," 1967

1968: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, "The Christmas Song," 1968

1969: Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock, 1957

1970: Jackson 5, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," 1970
The Carpenters, "Merry Christmas, Darling," 1970

Did you know...

The song "Feliz Navidad" actually came out in 1970. "Feliz Navidad" is one of the most-downloaded and most-aired Christmas songs of all time, but it only came to prominence in 1998. For its first 20+ years, it remained a fairly niche track.

1971: Jackson 5, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" / "Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year," 1970
The Carpenters, "Merry Christmas, Darling," 1970

1972: The Singing Dogs, "Jingle Bells," 1955
Charles Brown, "Please Come Home for Christmas," 1960
Nat King Cole, "The Christmas Song," 1961

1973: The Carpenters, "Merry Christmas, Darling," 1970
Elton John, "Step into Christmas," 1973
Elvis Presley, "Blue Christmas," 1964