There aren’t many department store coloring books that go on to become part of Christmas lore. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is part of this exclusive club, starting out as a cheap way for Montgomery Ward to give away coloring books during the Depression. Robert L. May, a copywriter in Chicago, was tasked with the job of writing a story that could be used in Montgomery Ward coloring books, saving the department store chain from buying books. The coloring book became a hit and in 1947, Maxton Books published the story as a mass-market book.
A few years later, in 1949, May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, adapted the story, changed some things around, added an intro that called back to the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” and created the song version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the second biggest selling Christmas song of all time (when all cover versions are combined). The most popular and best version is, without a doubt, Gene Autry’s. It’s interesting to note that when Autry was first approached to record the song, he declined. When his wife heard the song, she insisted Autry record it. He relented and ended up with a number one hit record – the very first number one record of the 1950s.
There are few versions that come close to the greatness of Autry’s. Dean Martin’s slurry rendition, with its random, nonsensical German section, has its charm, as does Ella Fitzgerald’s from the classic album, “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.”
A few years ago, a video surfaced of DMX at a radio station, singing the tune. The unpretentious and downright festive performance is a yearly watch for me, and anyone who sees the video instantly gets in the holiday spirit up in here, up in here.
The worst version comes from horrible holiday music repeat offender, Paul McCartney. Featured as the b-side to his garbage $400,000-a-year earner, “Wonderful Christmastime,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae” is plodding, uninteresting, and grating, somehow only lasting a minute and 45 seconds – the longest minute and 45 seconds ever.
Merry 