Best versions of Jingle Bells?

[Rhythmdvl]

I have been asked by a dear family friend, one who I cannot say no to, to make her a compilation CD of the song “Jingle Bells.”

...blank stare...

A mix CD? How 2004. Jingle Bells? How ... how uniform.

Though I’m usually the go-to person for all things music (for my wife’s family at least), I have no idea where to start. I’m generally not a Christmas music aficionado. Heck, I’m downright carol-averse. I’d much rather put together a bunch of Medeski Martin and Wood or P-Funk and tell her it’s Jingle Bells. She doesn’t speak English (so I might get away with it), but the rest of the family does (so I won’t).

Okay then.

Help. Please help.

I’m sure there are some lovely standards out there, and if I can find the barking dogs version, fantastic, but I’d really like to find some good things to put on it. Miles? Coltrane? Hendrix? Nina? Anyone?

The only criteria I have are that the songs have to be easily, safely, and legally found. I have a Rhapsody subscription, so that’s a start.

I hope you can help because my only other thought is to do a title search and listen to the various tracks until I find ten or twelve that will do. As it is, I’ll still have to listen to ten to twelve versions of the song, so the better/funkier/jazzier/jammier the better.

Help!

[NDP]

Ella Fitzgerald's version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59xvZhJFQRQ)of this overly-familiar Chistmas song is fun. She also sings the other verses to "Jingle Bells" that most people leave out.

[Wolverine]

I've always enjoyed the Barenaked Ladies version from their Christmas album, Barenaked for the Holidays. Jingle Bells (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043X687O/ref=dm_dp_trk1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292834441&sr=8-5) (as found on Amazon)

It's both slow/sweet & fun/rambunctious. Plus Batman makes an appearance.

[cochrane]

You're in luck. Rhapsody definitely has the Singing Dogs Jingle Bells. :D

My favorite version is by the Brian Setzer Orchestra from their album "Boogie Woogie Christmas." Here's their performance of the song on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUyQdolNop0)

[Gary T]

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters did a nice swing version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKY29YW3erc).

[jayjay]

I'd suggest also looking for the Puppini Sisters' version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBmlj2VDcBA), which is very jazzy and upbeat.

[txtumbleweed]

Try the Statler Brothers, I always liked their version, plus, banjos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVjurtT3xE

[Wheelz]

My two favorite renditions are by the above-mentioned Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Frank Sinatra. You can't go wrong with Frank.

[lost4life]

Yello released an electronic version a few years back. It's rather peppy sounding.

[blondebear]

The Ventures do a version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhG_JV9lteM) that seems to be a mash-up with "What I'd Say".

[ZipperJJ]

"Swingin Them Jingle Bells (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_25?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=swingin+them+jingle+bells&x=0&y=0&sprefix=swingin+them+jingle+bells)" is awesome. A must-have.

"Ring Dem Bells" by Duke Ellington is obviously a riff on "Jingle Bells" too, but not sure if everyone would be able to hear it.

[Hampshire]

Yello released an electronic version a few years back. It's rather peppy sounding.

I was going to suggest that one. It's like the "techno" version of jingle-bells. It was made for Tim Allen's The Santa Clause movie but never made it onto the film.

[John Mace]

My new favorite can be found over the Aussie Christmas Carols thread. Nice twist on the lyrics for a place where Christmas is in summer!

[Hampshire]

The first track I would put on the disc (or maybe last?) would be the short audio clip from The Christmas Story with Ralphie, Randy, and mom singing the batman smells version ending with THHHHBBB!!!! and mom laughing.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Santo & Johnny "Twistin' Bells". (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgcuCuAnuas)

[Rhythmdvl]

Wow, this is fantastic. I dreaded this, but woah.... THANKS!

[bouv]

Barking Dogs is the clear winner. Fact.

[Spit]

If you don't like them, you can always include this horrid version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNSX5YzDSs) by Streisand.

[Lute Skywatcher]

If you don't like them, you can always include this horrid version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNSX5YzDSs) by Streisand.If only she would have picked a tempo and stayed there...

[UncleRojelio]

Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg ...

[RandMcnally]

I actually enjoy Glee's version of Jingle Bells.

[Wheelz]

If you don't like them, you can always include this horrid version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNSX5YzDSs) by Streisand.Oh my god, my wife and I actually heard that at the grocery store last weekend. I Shazam'ed it just to see who was perpetrating this atrocity on humanity, and was quite surprised to find that it was Babs. Utterly awful.

[kaylasdad99]

I guess the reason I never hear the Streisand version on the radio is because I'm the only person who likes it...

[Johnny Q]

There's always this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LKb4v3Aac0)

[Yookeroo]

I like the downtempo version by Sub Santa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg0-P9AbF2E)


How about the Bombay Dub Orchestra remixing Joe Williams (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6koe7vlxIE)

The Roches (http://ilike.myspacecdn.com/play#The+Roches:Jingle+Bells:1481516:s11465.1953.3008652.1.1.38%2Cstd_24fbe571a62dae4fcb2fd252a3fced d8)