# Best versions of Jingle Bells? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818 "2010-12-20T08:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/1 "2010-12-20T08:13:50Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/2 "2010-12-20T08:23:06Z")
[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. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/3 "2010-12-20T08:45:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/4 "2010-12-20T08:51:54Z")
You’re in luck. Rhapsody definitely has the Singing Dogs Jingle Bells. 😃 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) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/5 "2010-12-20T09:26:34Z")
Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters did a [nice swing version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKY29YW3erc). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/6 "2010-12-20T14:07:54Z")
I’d suggest also looking for the [Puppini Sisters’ version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBmlj2VDcBA), which is very jazzy and upbeat. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/7 "2010-12-20T14:14:37Z")
Try the Statler Brothers, I always liked their version, plus, banjos! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVjurtT3xE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVjurtT3xE) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/8 "2010-12-20T14:19:26Z")
My two favorite renditions are by the above-mentioned Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Frank Sinatra. You can’t go wrong with Frank. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/9 "2010-12-20T14:38:55Z")
**Yello** released an electronic version a few years back. It’s rather peppy sounding. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/10 "2010-12-20T15:32:47Z")
[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”. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/11 "2010-12-20T15:56:07Z")
“[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. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/12 "2010-12-20T16:03:54Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > **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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/13 "2010-12-20T16:40:14Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/14 "2010-12-20T16:53:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/15 "2010-12-20T16:58:37Z")
[Santo & Johnny “Twistin’ Bells”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgcuCuAnuas) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/16 "2010-12-20T19:42:22Z")
Wow, this is fantastic. I dreaded this, but woah… THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/17 "2010-12-20T19:44:09Z")
Barking Dogs is the clear winner. Fact. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/18 "2010-12-20T19:45:29Z")
If you don’t like them, you can always include [this horrid version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNSX5YzDSs) by Streisand. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/19 "2010-12-20T20:22:48Z")
> [@Spit](#): > > 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… ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818/20 "2010-12-20T20:36:44Z")
Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-versions-of-jingle-bells/564818.md?page=2)