"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.[1]

"Sleigh Ride"
Song
LanguageEnglish
Published1948 (1948) by Mills Music
GenreLight
Composer(s)Leroy Anderson
Lyricist(s)Mitchell Parish

The original recordings were instrumental versions: it was first recorded in 1949 by Fiedler and the Boston Pops.[2] 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.[3] Anderson also made arrangements for wind band and piano.[4][5]

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 edit

 
"American Homestead, Winter," a lithograph 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 recording of "Sleigh Ride", released on the Decca label in 1951, reached the Cash Box bestsellers' chart when reissued the following year.

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.[6] ASCAP named "Sleigh Ride" the most popular piece of Christmas music in the U.S. between 2009–2012 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.[7]

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."[2]

"Sleigh Ride" is written in seven-part rondo form (though performers sometimes omit the final B section, effectively rendering it a five-part rondo).[8]

The Ronettes version edit

"Sleigh Ride"
Single by the Ronettes
from the album A Christmas Gift for You
ReleasedNovember 22, 1963 (1963-11-22)
Recorded1963
GenreChristmas
Length3:01
LabelPhilles

"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.[9] 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".[10] 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 edit

Certifications and sales edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[42] Platinum 90,000
Italy (FIMI)[43] Gold 35,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44] Gold 15,000
Portugal (AFP)[45] Gold 5,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[46] Gold 30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[48] 3× Platinum 3,000,000
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[49] Gold 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Gwen Stefani version edit

"Sleigh Ride"
 
Promotional single by Gwen Stefani
from the album You Make It Feel Like Christmas
ReleasedOctober 13, 2020 (2020-10-13)
Recorded2020
GenreChristmas
Length2:33
LabelInterscope
Composer(s)
  • Leroy Anderson
  • Mitchell Parish
Producer(s)

Background and release edit

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.[50] 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.[51] 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.[52][53] 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.[54][55]

In 2019, Stefani duetted with Shelton again on "Nobody but You", a new track recorded for his compilation album, Fully Loaded: God's Country.[56] The song was released as a single and distributed to US country radio outlets on January 21, 2020.[57] 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.[58][59][60] 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.[61] Stefani then confirmed plans to release new music during a promotional advertisement made for the show.[62] 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.[63]

"Sleigh Ride" was produced by American musicians Brent Kutzle and Brandon Collins.[63] 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.[64][65] Stefani's cover of "Sleigh Ride" credits Anderson and Parish as composers.[66] The song was released to music retailers for digital download and streaming on October 13, 2020, through Interscope Records.[67] A promotional audio video of the song was uploaded to Stefani's YouTube channel the same day of its release.[68] It serves as first solo release since the rest of You Make It Feel Like Christmas.[69] Alongside the release of "Sleigh Ride", Stefani teased that there was "more to come" the following week.[70]

Composition edit

Stefani's version of "Sleigh Ride" has been described as a holiday-themed song with a "lushly" arranged orchestra.[69] American musician Ryan Tedder contributes as a vocal producer of the song, and Stefani is accompanied by American singer Laura Cooksey for background vocals.[66]

Critical reception edit

Sophie Smith from the entertainment website uDiscover Music was positive about Stefani's cover, calling it a "cheery" and "festive" new track.[69] 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.[70]

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[66]

  • Gwen Stefani – primary artist
  • Brandon Collins – producer, strings contractor
  • Brent Kutzle – producer, keyboards
  • Leroy Anderson – composer
  • Mitchell Parish – composer
  • Ryan Tedder – vocal producer
  • John Nathaniel – vocal producer, mixing
  • Grant Pittman – engineer, keyboards
  • Doug Sarrett – engineer
  • Tyler Spry – engineer
  • Mike Wilson – engineer
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
  • Laura Cooksey – background vocals
  • Luke Sullivant – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Matt Melton – bass
  • Paul Nelson – cello
  • Jon Hyrkas – drums
  • Betsy Lamb – viola, violin
  • David Angell – violin
  • David Davidson – violin

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Sleigh Ride"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[71] 6

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Sleigh Ride"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various October 13, 2020 Interscope [67]

Other notable recordings edit

Mariah Carey version edit

"Sleigh Ride"
Song by Mariah Carey
from the album Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack)
ReleasedDecember 4, 2020 (2020-12-04)
Recorded2020
GenreChristmas
Length2:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

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 edit

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40)[76] 25
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[77] 25

Ella Fitzgerald version edit

Charts edit

Chart (2020–24) Peak
position
Portugal (AFP)[78] 162
UK Streaming Chart (OCC)[79] 93

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "The story of how Sleigh Ride was written". Leroy Anderson Foundation.
  2. ^ a b Speed, Burgess (2004). Leroy Anderson: A Bio-bibliography. Eleanor Anderson, Steve Metcalf. Praeger. pp. 25–81. ISBN 0-313-32176-0. OCLC 55948259.
  3. ^ Christmas in New England, Commonwealth Editions 2006, pages 116–121
  4. ^ Pease, Andy (2020-12-14). "Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson". Wind Band Literature. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  5. ^ LLC, Woodbury Music Company. "Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson". www.leroyanderson.com. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  6. ^ "ASCAP Announces Top 25 Holiday Songs – "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting ...)" Tops List". Archived from the original on 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  7. ^ "ASCAP Members Reign Over Top Ten Most-Played Holiday Songs List". ASCAP. 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  8. ^ Wieland, William. "Listen for Form Answer Key". Northern State University. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "The Ronettes Sleigh Ride Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  10. ^ "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Holds Atop Hot 100, The Ronettes' 'Sleigh Ride' Hits Top 10". Billboard. December 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 2, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  12. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "The Ronettes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  16. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202351+52 into search. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "Top Singles (Week 52, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "The Ronettes Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week 52/2023". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 52. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  26. ^ "2023 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  27. ^ "The Ronettes Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  28. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  29. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  30. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  33. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202351+52 into search. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  34. ^ "Top 100 Canciones – Semana 52: del 24.12.2021 al 30.12.2021". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  35. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 52, 2023". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  36. ^ "The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  38. ^ "The Ronettes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  39. ^ "The Ronettes Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  40. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  41. ^ "Single Top 100 - digitális és fizikai értékesítés alapján - 2023" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  42. ^ "Danish single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  43. ^ "Italian single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  44. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  45. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  46. ^ "Spanish single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  48. ^ "American single certifications – The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  49. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  50. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Gwen Stefani – You Make It Feel Like Christmas". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  51. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana (September 21, 2017). "Gwen Stefani Teases 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas' Album: Watch Preview". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  52. ^ Atkinson, Katie; Caulfield, Keith (December 4, 2018). "Gwen Stefani Talks Deluxe Edition of 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas' & 'Magical' Art of Holiday Songwriting". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  53. ^ Lenniger, Shea (October 26, 2018). "Gwen Stefani Releases Deluxe Edition of Her Christmas Album: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  54. ^ Myers, Justin (October 16, 2018). "Christmas albums released in 2018". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  55. ^ Stein, Megan (November 20, 2018). "Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Just Released a Video for 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas'". Country Living. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  56. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (October 23, 2019). "Blake Shelton Reveals Details for Upcoming Album, 'Fully Loaded: God's Country'". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  57. ^ Stefano, Angela. "Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Duet on New Single 'Nobody but You' [Listen]". The Boot. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  58. ^ Asker, Jim (April 28, 2020). "Blake Shelton Tops Country Airplay With Gwen Stefani Duet 'Nobody But You': 'I Connect With Every Lyric'". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  59. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  60. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  61. ^ Kile, Meredith B. (October 8, 2020). "Blake Shelton Says It's 'Comforting' to Have Gwen Stefani Back on 'The Voice'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  62. ^ Dresdale, Andrea (October 19, 2020). "Gwen Stefani's back on 'The Voice,' armed with t-shirt cannon, new music & a peek at Kelly's new album". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  63. ^ a b "Sleigh Ride" (Spotify digital single). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2020. Spotify URI: 5J41NKbYKuA0LD47G3If6H.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  64. ^ You Make It Feel Like Christmas (CD liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2017. 02557-84801.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  65. ^ Wood, Mikael (September 30, 2019). "Busbee, Grammy-nominated country and pop songwriter, dies at 43". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  66. ^ a b c "Gwen Stefani – Sleigh Ride: Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  67. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Sleigh Ride (Audio Video)". YouTube. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  68. ^ a b c Smith, Sophie (October 13, 2020). "Gwen Stefani Gets Festive with 'Sleigh Ride'". uDiscover Music. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  69. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Gets In The Holiday Spirit with 'Sleigh Ride'". WSRW. October 14, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  70. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  71. ^ "Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson: Complete reference". Leroyanderson.com. Woodbury Music Company LLC 06798. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019. [1.] Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, 1949, Naxos 8120649 [2.]Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, 1959, RCA 144665, RCA 61237, RCA 61685 [3.]Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, 1976, DG 419414 [4.]Boston Pops Orchestra, John Williams, 1992, Sony 48232 [5.]Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, 2004, Boston Pops Recordings 2 [6].Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, 2011, BSO Classics1305
  72. ^ "Arthur Fiedler The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party! (2-CD Set)". Real Gone Music. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  73. ^ a b c d Hermelin, C.D. (21 December 2018). "The 10 Best Versions of the Song 'Sleigh Ride'". Vulture. Vox Media. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  74. ^ Stevens, Sufjan. "Sufjan Stevens, "Sleigh Ride" [Track 4/9, Vol. 9]". YouTube. Asthmatic Kitty Records. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  75. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  76. ^ "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  77. ^ "Ella Fitzgerald – Sleigh Ride". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  78. ^ "Official Streaming Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  79. ^ "British single certifications – Ella Fitzgerald – Sleigh Ride". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 16, 2022.

External links edit