Top 10 Favorite Rankin/Bass Songs

I’ve talked before about the classic Rankin/Bass specials, for better and for worst, but one of the reasons I love coming back to these every year is the music. These are either Christmas songs that have been recorded a million times by a million people, but these versions always stand out from them, or they are original songs that you can never forget.

This was a lot harder than I expected it to be, but here is my top 10.



#10.We Wanna Wake Up To A Big Surprise (Life and Adventures of Santa Claus)
I hate this special, based on the Frank Baum book, but this song is a highlight.

#9.Christmas Chimes Are Calling Santa (Twas The Night Before Christmas)
This special is far, far from perfect but I do love this song. The big song “Every Miracle Needs a Hand” is ok but this is the one I come back to.

#8.Snow Miser/Heat Miser (Year Without a Santa Claus)
I love all the songs in this one so having only a couple on here is not easy. But this is a classic that everyone knows, so I had to include it. High because I didn’t love it as a kid but it sure grew on me.

#7.I Believe in Santa Claus (Year Without a Santa Claus)
There isn’t much to say about this one, it’s a beautiful song that I love. It was either this or the Blue Christmas that came from here, but since I already talked about that elsewhere we’ll go with this one.

#6.Island of Misfit Toys (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer)
 Rudolph is the grandaddy of these specials and as you may imagine that includes the music. The whole soundtrack is excellent, except maybe "There's Always Tomorrow".

#5.One Foot in Front of the Other (Santa Claus is Comin to Town)
This is a great upbeat song that will have you tapping your feet so much you’ll forget the song has nothing to do with Christmas at all.

#4,Here Comes Santa Claus (Year) & We are Santa’s Elves (Rudolph)
I always need one tie, and these two are short and sweet. I was never a fan of Here until I heard this version, the same as the Blue Christmas cover. As for Santa’s Elves, well Santa may have hated but I love it. It was either this or “We are a Couple of Misfits” and man was it a hard choice

#3.Santa Claus is Comin To Town
The title song for the special is perfectly sung by Fred Astaire. Go ahead, try not to sing along. This clip begins with one of my favorite speeches from these specials, it’s still applies today!

#2.Frosty the Snowman
Why can I say? Jimmy Durante is pitch perfect here and this version of the song is played on the radio all the time!

#1.Holly Jolly Christmas (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)
The whole soundtrack is excellent but I had to pick my favoirie. It wasn’t a hard choice. Burl Ives is synonymous with this song and it’s easy to see why.

And of course I have to leave this one…..

Did I miss your favorite? Comment and let me know.