OldGuitarMonkey
Point Of Grace
Vincent Ingala
.jpg#/media/File:The_Most_Wonderful_Time_of_the_Year_(Take_6_album).jpg)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Andy Williams | |
| from the album The Andy Williams Christmas Album | |
| B-side | “The Christmas Song“ |
| Released | October 14, 1963 |
| Genre | Christmas |
| Length | 2:31 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriters | Edward Pola George Wyle |
| Producer | Robert Mersey |
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a popular Christmas song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that year by pop singer Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, The Andy Williams Christmas Album.
However, the song was not released as a promotional single by Williams’ record label (Columbia Records) that year, as they instead opted to promote his cover of “White Christmas” as the official promo single from the album, and was instead released as a single in the UK in 2007.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” has consistently made it onto pop singles charts around the world in the 2010s and 2020s. It peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 2020 and at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart in 2021.
History
Song content
.JPG)
The song is a celebration and description of activities associated with the Christmas season, focusing primarily on get-togethers between friends and families. Among the activities included in the song is the telling of “scary ghost stories,” a Victorian Christmas tradition that has mostly fallen into disuse, but survives in the seasonal popularity of numerous adaptations of Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol.
Other activities mentioned include hosting parties, spontaneous visits from friends, universal social gaiety, spending time with loved ones, sledding for children, roasting marshmallows, sharing stories about previous Christmases, and singing Christmas carols in winter weather.
In a 2005 interview, Williams discusses how The Andy Williams Show figured into his recording of the song, first introduced in the 1962 Christmas episode:
George Wyle, who is a vocal director, who wrote all of the choir stuff and all of the duets and trios and things that I did with all the guests, he wrote a song just for the show – I think the second Christmas show we did – called ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’. So I did that, you know, every Christmas, and then other people started doing it. And then suddenly it’s become – not suddenly but over 30 years – it’s become a big standard. I think it’s one of the top 10 Christmas songs of all time now.
Although Williams recorded multiple other versions throughout his life, the original 1963 version remains the most popular and well-known.
The song was selected as the theme song for Christmas Seals in 1968, 1976, 2009 and 2012.
Other notable versions
- 1986: Johnny Mathis, for his album Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis. This recording later made both the Billboard Holiday 100 and Holiday Airplay charts during the 2000s and 2010s.
- 1999: Garth Brooks, for his album Garth Brooks and the Magic of Christmas. Brooks also became the first artist to chart a version of the song in North America, as his remake peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on the week ending January 8, 2000.
- 2003/2004: Andy Williams, in a shorter, more upbeat version for the 2004 film Surviving Christmas.
- 2008: Harry Connick Jr., for his album What a Night! A Christmas Album. This recording peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 20, 2008.
- 2008: BarlowGirl, for their album, Home for Christmas. This recording peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and at No. 25 on the Billboard Christian AC Songs charts (both on the week ending January 3, 2009).
- 2020: Stevie Mackey, Jennifer Lopez and The Eleven for Mackey’s album, The Most Wonderful Time. This recording peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on the week ending December 19, 2021.
- A very Merry Sesame Street Sing- along
- Peabo Bryson
- Amy Grant
- Pentatonix
- Diana Ross
- Sutton Foster and The Tabernacle Choir
- It’s the most wonderful time of the year versión español
Use in advertising and parodies
Since 1994, the song was used humorously in the Staples office supply retail chain’s annual back to school advertising campaign. In the commercials, the parents joyously shop for school supplies to this song in anticipation of the upcoming school year while their children sullenly follow.
The UK travel retailer On the Beach has used the song in its advertising since 2021.
The song is a favorite of radio stations that broadcast Christmas music as a “first song” marking the flip to its original format; in 2024, among a sample of 20 stations that changed early (before Veterans Day), five of those stations chose the song (four used the original, while a fifth chose the Johnny Mathis cover version), tied for the most with Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Chart performance
In the issue of Billboard magazine dated November 28, 2009, the list of the “Top 10 Holiday Songs (Since 2001)” places the Williams recording of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at number five. 2001 also marked the first year in which the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) started compiling data regarding the radio airplay of holiday songs, and although the Williams classic started out at number 25 of twenty-five songs that were ranked that year, it gained steam over the next ten years, reaching number 18 in 2002, number 13 in 2003, and eventually getting to number four in 2010.
Because of its use in an advertisement for Marks & Spencer, a CD single of the Williams recording was released in the UK in 2007 and gave the song its first of many annual appearances on the UK singles chart. In December 2011, Billboard returned to the practice of publishing a seasonal Christmas singles chart, and the Williams song debuted at number eight on the newly christened Holiday 100, where it has reappeared every year since. In December 2016, Williams’ original version began a series of annual chart runs on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top 10 for the first time in December 2018. On the Hot 100 chart from the 2020 holiday season dated January 2, 2021, it reached an all-time peak position of No. 5.
Weekly charts
Andy Williams version
Weekly chart performance for “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams (2007)
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 21 |
Weekly chart performance (2008)
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 63 |
|---|
Weekly chart performance (2009)
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 85 |
Weekly chart performance (2011)
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 8 |
Weekly chart performance (2012)
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 42 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 6 |
Weekly chart performance (2013)
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 71 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 33 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 90 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 7 |
Weekly chart performance (2014)
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Hungary (Stream Top 40) | 35 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 75 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 69 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 51 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 61 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 10 |
Weekly chart performance (2015)
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA) | 65 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 36 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 57 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 61 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 12 |
Weekly chart performance (2016)
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 43 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 86 |
| Hungary (Stream Top 40) | 35 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 29 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 20 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 85 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 31 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 68 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 24 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 48 |
Weekly chart performance (2017)
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 17 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 92 |
| Hungary (Stream Top 40) | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 25 |
| Latvia (DigiTop100) | 41 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 40 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 24 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 21 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 91 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 17 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 32 |
Weekly chart performance (2018)
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 46 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 21 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 10 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 36 |
| France (SNEP) | 186 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 42 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 13 |
| Hungary (Stream Top 40) | 7 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 21 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 94 |
| Latvia (DigiTop100) | 12 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 10 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 14 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 23 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 5 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 78 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 19 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 28 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 29 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
Weekly chart performance (2019)
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Rolling Stone Top 100 | 6 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 25 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 13 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 24 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 95 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 22 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 37 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 14 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 9 |
| Latvia (LaIPA) | 6 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 81 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 18 |
| Hungary (Stream Top 40) | 6 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 21 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 42 |
| France (SNEP) | 87 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 31 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 34 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 13 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 44 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 16 |
Weekly chart performance (2020)
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 25 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 7 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 23 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 27 |
| France (SNEP) | 76 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 22 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 7 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 7 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 39 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 16 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 48 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 5 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 22 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 13 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 8 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan | 15 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 19 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 23 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 4 |
| US Rolling Stone Top 100 | 4 |
Weekly chart performance (2021)
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 35 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 10 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 37 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 38 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 18 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 37 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 8 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 10 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 28 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 8 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 28 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 33 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 25 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 37 |
| South Africa (RISA) | 60 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 18 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 11 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 9 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
Weekly chart performance (2022)
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 8 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 22 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 17 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 14 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 7 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 29 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 24 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 17 |
| France (SNEP) | 37 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 24 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 8 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 9 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 21 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 9 |
| Luxembourg (Billboard) | 7 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 8 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 13 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 23 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 17 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 10 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 59 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 9 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 11 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 10 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
Weekly chart performance (2023)
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 8 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 23 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 8 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 9 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 6 |
| Croatia (Billboard) | 20 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 17 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 18 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 28 |
| France (SNEP) | 10 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 26 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 7 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 8 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 12 |
| Iceland (Tónlistinn) | 17 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 12 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 11 |
| Latvia (LaIPA) | 7 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 10 |
| Luxembourg (Billboard) | 8 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 6 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 8 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 14 |
| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) | 65 |
| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) | 13 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 15 |
| Singapore (RIAS) | 29 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 11 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 47 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 12 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 12 |
| United Arab Emirates (IFPI) | 17 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 9 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
Weekly chart performance (2024)
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 10 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 26 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 48 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 39 |
| Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 5 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 63 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 25 |
| Estonia Airplay (TopHit) | 13 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 21 |
| France (SNEP) | 14 |
| Germany (Offiziele Deutsche Charts) | 34 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 12 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 15 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 18 |
| Iceland (Tónlistinn) | 25 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 13 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 6 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 11 |
| Luxembourg (Billboard) | 10 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 9 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 22 |
| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) | 39 |
| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) | 18 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 118 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 21 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 32 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 10 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 14 |
| UK (Official Charts Company) | 11 |
| US Holiday 100 (Billboard) | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
Weekly chart performance (2025)
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Iceland (Tónlistinn) | 22 |
Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams
| Chart (2023) | Position |
|---|---|
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 65 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 300,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
| Streaming | ||
| Greece (IFPI Greece) | Platinum | 2,000,000† |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. | ||
The Andy Williams Christmas Album
| The Andy Williams Christmas Album | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Andy Williams | |
| Released | October 14, 1963 |
| Recorded | September 9–13, 1963 |
| Genre | Christmas early pop/rock standards traditional pop |
| Length | 33:29 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Producer | Robert Mersey |
| Andy Williams chronology | |
| Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests (1963)The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963)The Wonderful World of Andy Williams (1964) | |
The Andy Williams Christmas Album is the first Christmas holiday album released by singer Andy Williams and his twelfth studio album overall. It was issued by Columbia Records in 1963, the first of eight Christmas albums released by Williams. Though it was also the album that introduced Williams’s perennial holiday classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year“, Columbia instead released Williams’s cover of “White Christmas” as the album’s promotional single at the time.
A front-page story in Billboard magazine on November 23, 1963, made clear that the album was already destined to be a big hit: “Though the majority of retailers around the country that were contacted reported that Christmas product sales were just starting, they have already singled out the new ‘Andy Williams Christmas Album’ as the probably No. 1 LP for the next two months; at least of those albums thus far on the market. It is already registering heavy sales, as is his single ‘White Christmas.'”
From 1963 to 1973, Billboard published special weekly Christmas Albums and Christmas Singles sales charts. For all five weeks that these special charts were published in 1963 (for the weeks ending November 30, through December 28, 1963), The Andy Williams Christmas Album was the top-selling Christmas album, while Williams’ cover of “White Christmas” was the number one selling Christmas single. The Andy Williams Christmas Album spent three weeks as the best-selling Christmas album in the holiday season of 1964, and one week as the best-Christmas album in the holiday season of 1965. It charted on Billboard’s Christmas Albums chart at least one week for each of the years that the chart was published. In 2018, when separate Christmas rankings were not published in the magazine, the album made its debut on the Billboard 200 chart at number 152, peaking at number 14 in January 2022 following its third chart re-entry. it also debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated November 23, 1963, and remained on the chart for in a total of 12 weeks, peaking at number seven.
On December 14, 1964, The Andy Williams Christmas Album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States. The album was reissued with a different cover in the UK in 1975 and was awarded Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry in 1976 for selling 60,000 units. Platinum certification in the United States was awarded on November 21, 1986.
Reception
Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  |
| Record Mirror | |
Aaron Latham of AllMusic summed up the release as an “album of wonderful holiday songs perfectly performed” and singled out several noteworthy tracks, describing Williams as “at his playful best on the irresistibly raucous ‘Kay Thompson‘s Jingle Bells.’ He also wraps his voice around chestnuts like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ with all the warmth of a favorite blanket, while a soaring version of ‘O Holy Night’ is both enchanting and moving. His tender reading of the lesser-known ‘Sweet Little Jesus Boy’ is as beautiful and serene as a crystal clear winter’s night, but it is the instantly catchy opening line of ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ that people remember the most.”
“Strong arranging, good programming, and the sincerity of Williams’ performing” were the high points of the album for Billboard magazine that they mentioned in their capsule review at the time of its release.
Cashbox notes “Williams continues with lyrical and flavorful readings of ‘The Christmas Song’, ‘O Holy Night’, and ‘The Little Drummer Boy”.”
Track listing
Side one is made up of secular Christmas songs, whereas side two covers traditional spirituals and carols.
Side one
- “White Christmas” (Irving Berlin) – 2:29
2. “Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season” (Irving Berlin/Kay Thompson) – 2:38
3. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) – 2:34
4. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (Edward Pola, George Wyle) – 2:33
5. “A Song and a Christmas Tree (The Twelve Days of Christmas)” (Traditional) – 3:57
6. “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells” (James Pierpont, Kay Thompson) – 2:06
Side two
- “The First Noël” (Traditional) – 3:08
2. “O Holy Night” (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight) – 3:24
3. “Away in a Manger” (Traditional) – 2:51
4. “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” (Robert MacGimsey) – 3:17
5. “The Little Drummer Boy” (Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone) – 2:17
6. “Silent Night, Holy Night” (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr) – 2:15
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
In a 2005 interview Williams discusses how The Andy Williams Show figured into his recording of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year“: “George Wyle, who’s a vocal director, who wrote all of the choir stuff and all of the duets and trios and things that I did with all the guests, he wrote a song just for the show—I think the second Christmas show we did—called “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. So I did that, you know, every Christmas, and then other people started doing it. And then suddenly it’s become—not suddenly but over 30 years—it’s become a big standard. I think it’s one of the top 10 Christmas songs of all time now.”
In the issue of Billboard magazine dated November 28, 2009, the list of the “Top 10 Holiday Songs (Since 2001)” places the Williams recording of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at number five. 2001 also marks the first year in which the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (also known as ASCAP) started compiling data regarding the radio airplay of holiday songs, and although the Williams classic started out at number 25 of 25 songs that were ranked that year, it gained steam over the next 10 years, reaching number 18 in 2002, number 13 in 2003, and eventually getting to number four in 2010.
In December 2017, Williams’ original version of the song entered the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, and peaked at #34.
Personnel
From the liner notes for the original album:
- Andy Williams – vocals
- Robert Mersey – arranger (except as noted), conductor, producer
- Marty Paich – arranger (“Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season”)
- Johnny Mandel – arranger (“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells”)
- George Wyle – arranger (“A Song and a Christmas Tree (The Twelve Days of Christmas)”, “Silent Night, Holy Night”)
Charts
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year may refer to:
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008 film), a Christmas-themed television film
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008 Film)
| The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | |
|---|---|
| |
| Written by | Bruce Graham |
| Directed by | Michael Scott |
| Starring | Brooke Burns Henry Winkler Warren Christie |
| Theme music composer | Philip Giffin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Harvey Kahn |
| Cinematography | Adam Sliwinski |
| Editor | Jason Pielak |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Hallmark Channel |
| Release | December 13, 2008 |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a 2008 American made-for-television Christmas film directed by Michael Scott. The film premiered on Hallmark Channel on December 13, 2008.
Plot
Ralph is a retired police officer who has worked as a New York cop for over 38 years. He plans on visiting his niece Jennifer in Naperville, Illinois for the holidays. Jennifer is a successful businesswoman and the single mother of her young son Brian. She grew up all her life mostly at Ralph’s, as her mother was constantly traveling and her father died when she was very young. Since then, she has lost her Christmas spirit. At the airport, Ralph does not know where to go to check in for his flight, and is helped by co-traveler Morgan Derby, a 30-year-old chef with a carefree spirit. When it turns out his second flight to Denver is canceled, Ralph invites Morgan to stay at Jennifer’s house.
Although Jennifer is initially reluctant to take in Morgan, Ralph convinces her to allow it since Morgan is a chef and she needs help cooking a turkey. Morgan and Jennifer soon realize that they are two completely different people. Jennifer is irritated by Morgan’s careless and adventurous behavior, and Morgan feels that Jennifer is a cynical control freak, which is mostly the result of being deserted by Brian’s father and dating the successful but materialistic businessman Richard Windom. Ralph, however, feels that Jennifer and Morgan are perfect for each other, and tries to prevent Jennifer from sending Morgan away.
When Jennifer takes Morgan to the airport, Morgan cannot board his flight because he doesn’t have his passport. Jennifer realizes that Ralph has stolen his passport so he can stay another day. Jennifer and Morgan end up spending the entire day together and bond. Morgan is able to help Jennifer get Brian the one Christmas gift he wished for: a “Rocketwheel” bicycle. Later that night, on Christmas Eve, Morgan makes Brian believe in Santa Claus again, by climbing on the roof and pretending to be one of Santa’s helpers. Meanwhile, Jennifer and Richard attend a formal party. Richard proposes to Jennifer, putting her on the spot. Nervous what to say, she accepts.
Morgan feels disappointed by the engagement and leaves at Richard’s request. Richard then steals a Thank-you note Morgan left for Jennifer. Jennifer is mad when she finds out Morgan left, but softens when Ralph tells her that Morgan nearly killed himself on the roof, trying to make Brian believe in Christmas again. Jennifer finally realizes she’s in love with Morgan, and breaks off the engagement with Richard after discovering he stole Morgan’s note. She rushes to the airport to find him, and accidentally broadcasts her feelings over the PA system. Morgan hears her confession and rushes to find her. They reconcile and return to Jennifer’s home to celebrate Christmas.
Cast
- Brooke Burns as Jennifer ‘Jen’ Cullen
- Henry Winkler as Uncle Ralph(Kendall)
- Warren Christie as Morgan Derby
- Connor Levins as Brian Cullen
- Woody Jeffreys as Richard Windom
- Serge Houde as Stephen Windom
- Rebecca Toolan as Winnie Windom
- Michael Roberds as Chet Wojorski
- Rukiya Bernard as Denise
Home media
The film was released on DVD on October 13, 2009.
Watch The Movie
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2024 film), a Simpsons short film
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Mormon Tabernacle Choir album), 2010
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Mormon Tabernacle Choir Album)
| Glad Christmas Tidings | |
|---|---|
| |
| Live album by Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Natalie Cole | |
| Released | August 24, 2010 |
| Recorded | 2009 |
| Genre | Christmas |
| Length | 65:32 |
| Label | Mormon Tabernacle Choir |
| Producer | Mack Wilberg, Bruce Leek, Fred Vogler |
| Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Natalie Cole chronology | |
| Ring Christmas Bells (2009)Glad Christmas Tidings (2010)Glad Christmas Tidings (2011) | |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year was recorded during the Mormon Tabernacle Choir‘s 2009 Christmas shows in the LDS Conference Center with special guests Natalie Cole and David McCullough. The album was released on August 24, 2010 along with a concert DVD. A national PBS special of the show aired in December 2010.
Track listing
CD
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Processional: Come, O Come” | Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 4:46 |
| 2. | “Dance and Sing (Il Est Né)” | Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 2:44 |
|---|
| 3. | “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” | Natalie Cole with Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 3:02 |
|---|
| 4. | “Grown-Up Christmas List” | Natalie Cole with Orchestra | 3:43 |
|---|
| 5. | “Caroling, Caroling” | Natalie Cole with Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 3:12 |
|---|
| 6. | “For Unto Us a Child is Born, from Messiah“ | Choir and Orchestra | 4:20 |
|---|
| 7. | “O Holy Night” | Choir and Orchestra | 6:32 |
|---|
| 8. | “The Holly and the Ivy” | Natalie Cole with Orchestra | 4:27 |
|---|
| 9. | “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” | Natalie Cole with Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 3:57 |
|---|
| 10. | “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” | Natalie Cole with Orchestra | 3:43 |
|---|
| 11. | “Good King Wenceslas” | Richard Elliott | 3:11 |
|---|
| 12. | “Christmas Carols in the Air” | Choir and Orchestra | 11:28 |
|---|
| 13. | “In the Bleak Midwinter” | Choir and Orchestra | 5:47 |
|---|
| 14. | “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” | Natalie Cole with Choir, Orchestra, and Bells | 4:40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total length: | 65:32 | ||
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 185 |
| US Billboard Holiday | 12 |
| US Billboard Classical | 2 |
| US Billboard Independent | 11 |
| US Billboard R&B | 31 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2011) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Classical Albums | 16 |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Take 6 Album)
| The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Take 6 | |
| Released | October 5, 2010 |
| Genre | Gospel music |
| Label | Heads Up |
| Take 6 chronology | |
| The Standard (2008)The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2010)One (2012) | |
Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz | (4/5) |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, released on October 5, 2010, on Heads Up, is a Gospel music album and also the 3rd Christmas album by the American contemporary Gospel music group Take 6. The album charted in December 2010 for a single week, reaching number 70
Apart from pianist Vince Guaraldi‘s piece, “Christmas Time Is Here” (which features pianist/singer Shelea Frazier as a guest), the rest of the album is all sung a cappella.
Track listing
2. “White Christmas
3. “Grinch Introduction/ The Grinch/”You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch“
4. “Sleigh Ride“
5. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas“
6. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear“
7. “The Sugarplum Dance (Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy)“
8. “I Saw Three Ships“
9. “Jingle Bells“
10. “Christmas Time Is Here” (featuring Shelea Frazier)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Scott Weiland Album)
| The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Scott Weiland | |
| Released | October 4, 2011 |
| Recorded | 2009–2011 |
| Genre | Christmas music |
| Length | 31:22 |
| Label | Softdrive/Atco |
| Scott Weiland chronology | |
| A Compilation of Scott Weiland Cover Songs (2011)The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2011)Blaster (2015) | |
| Alternative cover | |
| |
| Cover of deluxe edition release | |
Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Snobsmusic.net | 5/10 |
| Atlanta Music Guide | (positive) |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is the third and final solo album from former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver lead singer Scott Weiland. It features his versions of traditional Christmas songs. A deluxe edition of the album was released on November 4, 2022.
The album idea originated from a 2006 performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” that Weiland sang on the Jay Leno Show, a clip of which was released on the official Scott Weiland YouTube channel on December 1, 2025.
Promotion
Milwaukee radio station WLUM-FM 102.1 produced “A Very Scott Weiland Christmas,” in which they played the album repeatedly for 24 hours starting Christmas Eve and ending on Christmas Day.
Music Videos
On November 17, 2011, an official music video was published for “Winter Wonderland” on the Stone Temple Pilots YouTube channel. The video description states:
The official music video for Scott Weiland’s “Winter Wonderland,” his rock interpretation of the classic holiday song originally written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934. This version appeared on Weiland’s 2011 holiday album “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Weiland recorded the album with his band at Lavish Studios in California, putting his distinctive rock twist on traditional Christmas classics. The album featured both traditional holiday standards and original compositions. Weiland’s “Winter Wonderland” showcases his versatility as a vocalist, moving from hard rock into seasonal music while maintaining his unique style. The holiday album was one of Weiland’s solo projects during his career beyond Stone Temple Pilots.
An official lyric video was published on the RHINO YouTube channel for the “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” deluxe album song in September 2022.
Deluxe Album Release
On November 4 2022 a deluxe version was released in two vinyl versions with limited editions of both red and green albums. The “newly expanded” album contains previously unreleased tracks including “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” and studio rehearsal versions of “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland.” The new release tracks were recorded at Weiland’s Lavish music studio.
As of December 2025 the “red” deluxe album is still available for order on the Scott Weiland Official Website and sells for $25.00. The website notes that the deluxe album is the “first posthumous music to be released from the Weiland vault.”
Track Listing (Original)
| No. | Title | Composer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “The Christmas Song“ | Mel Torme, Robert Wells | 3:23 |
| 2. | “I’ll Be Home for Christmas“ | Kim Gannon | 3:05 |
|---|
| 3. | “White Christmas“ | Irving Berlin | 2:37 |
|---|
| 4. | “Silent Night“ | Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr | 3:07 |
|---|
| 5. | “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year“ | Edward Pola, George Wyle | 2:31 |
|---|
| 6. | “What Child is This?“ | William Chatterton Dix | 3:39 |
|---|
xxx
| 7. | “Winter Wonderland“ | Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith | 2:21 |
|---|
| 8. | “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas“ | Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin | 2:57 |
|---|
| 9. | “Happy Christmas and Many More” | Doug Grean, Scott Weiland | 3:29 |
|---|
| 10. | “O Holy Night“ | Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight | 4:13 |
|---|
xxx
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Mark Vincent Album)
| The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Mark Vincent | |
| Released | 26 October 2018 |
| Genre | Christmas |
| Label | Sony Music Australia |
| Mark Vincent chronology | |
| A Tribute to Mario Lanza (2017)The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2018) | |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is the eighth studio and first Christmas album by Australian tenor, Mark Vincent. The album was released through Sony Music Australia on 26 October 2018.
Upon announcement Vincent said: “I have long dreamed of recording a Christmas album that captures the beautiful traditions of the festive season. Over the years these songs have brought so much joy to my family and I, and it is my pleasure to give back that same joy by making this album; it was my time to record a Christmas album, as Christmas is the most beautiful day of the year.”[1]
Vincent will be performing two special shows in support; at The Palms at Crown in Melbourne on 14 December and at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre in Sydney on 23 December.
Track listing
2. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – 3:35
3. “White Christmas” – 3:10
4. “The Holy City” – 4:14
5. “Angels We Have Heard on High” (with Marina Prior) – 3:17
6. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – 3:33
7. “Deck the Halls (Nos Galan)” – 1:59
8. “Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)” – 3:36
9. “The First Noel” – 4:06
10. “The Little Drummer Boy” (with Russell Watson) – 4:26
11. “O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël)” – 4:48
12. “Silent Night” – 4:34
Charts
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 16 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 26 October 2018 | CD digital download | Sony Music Australia | 19075898612 |
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
){kind=link}
Comments