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"Jingle Bell Rock" is the name of a popular Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas time since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal (1900–1967), and James Ross Boothe (1917–1976). The biographical drama/motion picture Crazy claimed Hank Garland to be the original writer of Jingle Bell Rock.

Beal was a Massachusetts-born public relations man and longtime resident of South Ocean Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Boothe was a Texan writer in the advertising business.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Helms recordings [link]

"Jingle Bell Rock" has been performed by many, but Helms' version is the most known in the world. Its title and some of its lyrics are takeoffs on the old Christmas standard, "Jingle Bells." It makes brief references to other popular songs of the 1950s, such as "Rock Around the Clock," and mentions going to a "Jingle hop." An electric guitar played by Hank Garland can be heard playing the first notes to the chorus from "Jingle Bells."

Despite being titled a Jingle Bell "Rock", Helms' version of the song was performed in the crossover style known as rockabilly.

Bobby Helms' original version on Decca 9-30513 from 1957, was re-recorded by him on Kapp K-719 in 1965 and yet again in 1967 on Little Darlin' LD-0038. In 1970, Helms recorded an entire album titled "Jingle Bell Rock" on Certron C-7013, releasing from the album the title track on Certron C-10021 with a picture sleeve. In yet another re-recording, Helms released a version on Ashley AS-4200 (year unknown). In 1983, Bobby Helms released his last recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" on Black Rose 82713.

Other recordings [link]

A notable cover version of the song was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1968 for United Artists records. Intended for a seasonal single release, it was not released and it was considered lost for nearly 30 years until it was finally issued in the mid-1990s.

Brenda Lee released a version of "Jingle Bell Rock" which made the Billboard Christmas singles chart in both 1964 and 1967.

Other artists to have covered the song include:

In popular culture [link]

• It is the opening theme from the 1987 movie Lethal Weapon.
• Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem performed the song in the 1987 Christmas television special A Muppet Family Christmas.
• The recording by Bobby Helms features in the film Cookie (1989).
• The song was featured in the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.^[7]
• Jingle Bell Rock is an animated Christmas special first seen in 1995 on ABC, which was produced by DIC Enterprises and featured Milton Berle as one of the voice actors.
• In the 2004 Lindsay Lohan comedy Mean Girls the song is performed by Cady Heron, Regina George, Gretchen Weiners, and Karen Smith in their annual Christmas talent show.
• It was used in the 2008 Christmas episode of Chuck, Season 2 (Chuck Versus Santa Claus).
• In the 2009, Season 7 Episode 11 of Two and a Half Men, Alan and Evelyn sing the song, as Charlie Harper plays the piano.

References [link]

External links [link]

• Lyrics to Jingle Bell Rock

	"Jingle Bell Rock" (2006) noicon A version of "Jingle Bell Rock" sung by British girl band "Girls Aloud".
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