Harry Simeone Choral - Little Drummer Boy
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10053
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 8:25am
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Topic: Harry Simeone Choral - Little Drummer Boy
Posted By: PopArchivist
Subject: Harry Simeone Choral - Little Drummer Boy
Date Posted: 19 February 2024 at 1:28pm
So in 1962 this hit charted in the Top 40. Does anyone know the difference between this 1962 version and the 1958 mono version?
I know in 1965 there was a re-recording (in stereo), which seems to be on many xmas comps since then and the most recognized version.
If anyone can point me to the 1958 mono or explain the 1962 difference (if any) thanks.
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Replies:
Posted By: thecdguy
Date Posted: 19 February 2024 at 5:13pm
I was under the impression that there was just
a '58 and '65 version. Is it possible that the
version that charted in '62 was just a re-
release of the '58 version?
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Dan In Philly
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Posted By: CountryPD
Date Posted: 20 February 2024 at 7:11am
According to Joel's Whitburn's Christmas In The Charts 1920-
2004 book, Harry Simeone Chorale's 1958 version of The
Little Drummer Boy charted every holiday season from 1958 to
1962 as 20th Fox single 45-121. B side was Die Lorelei.
https://www.45cat.com/record/45121us2
In 1963 the 1958 recording of The Little Drummer Boy was
reissued as 20th Century-Fox 429 with a picture sleeve and a
different B side, O Holy Night. That single charted every holiday
season from 1963 to 1966.
https://www.45cat.com/record/429us
A new catalog number was assigned to The Little Drummer Boy
b/w O Holy Night single and it was reissued as 20th Century Fox
6429. That coincided with ABC Records assuming distribution of
the 20th Century Fox label. This version charted again each
year from 1967 to 1970.
https://www.45cat.com/record/6429
A new version of The Little Drummer Boy b/w Hallelujah was
released by the Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra in 1965 as
Kapp single K-711. This single did not chart.
https://www.45cat.com/record/k711us
The 1965 recording of The Little Drummer Boy was re-released
on the Kapp Winners Circle oldies 45 series in 1968 with a
different B side O' Bambino (One Cold And Blessed Winter) as
Kapp KJB-86. That single charted on the Billboard Christmas
survey in 1972 & 1973.[Note: O' Bambino b/w Sing Of A
Merry Christmas had previously charted as Kapp 628 on the
Billboard Christmas charts in 1964 & 1965]
https://www.45cat.com/record/kjb86
The 1968 Kapp Winners Circle single was re-released on MCA-
65030 in 1973. It appeared for one week at #10 on the 1983
Billboard Christmas chart.
https://www.45cat.com/record/mca65030
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Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 20 February 2024 at 10:51am
Thanks for the detailed info, CountryPD.
The 1958 and 1965 recordings were owned by different entities until the
1998 merger between Polygram (owner of the 1958 version) and Universal
(owner of the 1965 version).
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Posted By: CountryPD
Date Posted: 21 February 2024 at 6:10am
The original 1958 version of The Little Drummer Boy is available
on the The Little Drummer Boy CD [Casablanca 822 744-2] This
is the CD version of the 1959 20th Fox Sing We Now Of
Christmas vinyl album.
https://www.discogs.com/release/15000775-The-Harry-
Simeone-Chorale-The-Little-Drummer-Boy
I recall seeing an online post a while back indicating that the
original version was also included on several various artist
holiday comps.
In 2021 a newly created DES [STEREO] version of the original
1958 single was released on the Hit Parade CD Amazing
Stereo Christmas Album
https://www.ericrecords.com/AmazingStereoXmas.html
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