Sleigh Ride


"Sleigh Ride" is a light orchestra standard composed by Leroy Anderson, who formed the idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1947, and finished it in February 1948. Its first performance was by the Boston Pops Orchestra, with Arthur Fiedler conducting, on May 4, 1948. Anderson also made additional parts and arrangements for wind band and piano.
The earliest recordings were made before lyrics were added to Anderson's instrumental composition: it was first recorded in 1949 by Fiedler and the Boston Pops. As a 45 rpm version issued on red vinyl, "Sleigh Ride" was a hit record on RCA Victor Red Seal and has become one of the orchestra's best-known works. The Pops have recorded the piece numerous times, with Fiedler as well as John Williams, their conductor from 1979 to 1995, and Keith Lockhart, their current conductor.
In 1950, publisher Mills Music commissioned Mitchell Parish to write lyrics, describing riding in a sleigh and other wintertime activities.
The Ronettes recorded a cover of "Sleigh Ride" in 1963 for Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift for You, which was commercially successful in the United States and featured in various media. The song has since been associated with the Christmas and holiday season.

History

Composer Leroy Anderson wrote Sleigh Ride during the summer of 1946, although it was completed in 1948. The piece was originally conceived as a short orchestral work intended to be part of a set of holiday music. Anderson came up with the idea after being inspired by the sound of sleigh bells and the imagery of wintertime.
The first performance of Sleigh Ride was on May 4, 1948, with the Boston Pops Orchestra, conducted by Arthur Fiedler. It was a non-seasonal performance, since it was spring, but the piece still made a strong impression. Originally, Sleigh Ride was an instrumental piece, but in 1950, Mitchell Parish, a lyricist known for his work on songs like Stardust, wrote lyrics for it.

Details

Leroy Anderson's own recording of "Sleigh Ride" was made on September 11, 1950, and was released on his album "Leroy Anderson Conducts His Own Compositions" on the Decca label in 1951. Also released that year as a 78-rpm single, then reissued as a 45-rpm single the following year when it reached #26 on the Cash Box bestsellers' chart.
The main melody of "Sleigh Ride" was used, but without crediting Anderson, as the main theme of Victor Young's score for the 1949 Western Streets of Laredo. Mitchell Parish worked with Young at this approximate time, writing the lyrics for Young's recording of Hoagy Carmichael's previously instrumental "Stardust". In 1950, the Andrews Sisters recorded the first vocal version of "Sleigh Ride", using the lyrics Parish had written. Although the song is often associated with Christmas and appears on Christmas compilation albums, its lyrics do not mention any holidays.
The piece is noted for the sounds of a horse clip-clopping, and a whip used to get the horse moving. In most performances, a percussionist provides these sounds on temple blocks and a slapstick, respectively. Toward the end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of a horse whinnying.
According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, "Sleigh Ride" consistently ranks as one of the top 10 most-performed songs written by ASCAP members. ASCAP named "Sleigh Ride" the most popular piece of Christmas music in the U.S. between 2009 and 2012 based on performance data from over 2,500 radio stations. Anderson's recording remains the most popular instrumental version, while Johnny Mathis's has become the most popular vocal version.
Biographer Steve Metcalf said, "'Sleigh Ride'... has been performed and recorded by a wider array of musical artists than any other piece in the history of Western music."
"Sleigh Ride" is written in seven-part rondo form.

The Ronettes version

"Sleigh Ride" was covered by the American girl group the Ronettes. The Phil Spector-produced recording has become the most popular version outside the traditional pop standard genre, charting yearly in Billboards Top Ten U.S. Holiday 100 and reaching #8 in 2023 in its 26th week in the Hot 100. After achieving a new peak of 8 in 2023, it became the group's second-highest chart hit in the US after "Be My Baby". It features the well-known "Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding" background vocals, and the clip-clop and whinny of a horse at its beginning and end. Both bridge sections were omitted from this version, leaving only the refrains intact.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Gwen Stefani version

Background and release

Stefani released her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas through Interscope Records, on October 6, 2017, a collection of six original songs and six cover versions of Christmas standards. The album was preceded by the release of lead single "You Make It Feel Like Christmas", a duet with her boyfriend, American singer Blake Shelton. According to Stefani, the album's initial release generated a positive response, allowing her to return to the studio with collaborators busbee and Justin Tranter. The following year, You Make It Feel Like Christmas was reissued with five new bonus tracks and a proper music video for the title track was released.
In 2019, Stefani duetted with Shelton again on "Nobody but You", a new track recorded for his compilation album, Fully Loaded: God's Country. The song was released as a single and distributed to US country radio outlets on January 21, 2020. It became a hit, topping Billboards Country Airplay and Digital Songs charts and becoming Stefani's highest-charting effort on the Billboard Hot 100 since 2007. In late 2020, rumors of new solo music from Stefani circulated after it was announced she would be returning as a judge to the American television series The Voice. Stefani then confirmed plans to release new music during a promotional advertisement made for the show. Her cover of "Sleigh Ride" was announced as a surprise to her fans on October 12, 2020, the day before its scheduled release. It is expected to appear as the eighteenth track on an upcoming reissue of You Make It Feel Like Christmas, due for release later in 2020.
"Sleigh Ride" was produced by American musicians Brent Kutzle and Brandon Collins. It is the first track from You Make It Feel Like Christmas that was not produced by busbee or Eric Valentine; busbee had previously co-written all of the original songs on the parent album with Stefani and Tranter, but died in September 2019 after a battle with glioblastoma. Stefani's cover of "Sleigh Ride" credits Anderson and Parish as composers. The song was released to music retailers for digital download and streaming on October 13, 2020, through Interscope Records. A promotional audio video of the song was uploaded to Stefani's YouTube channel the same day of its release. It serves as first solo release since the rest of You Make It Feel Like Christmas. Alongside the release of "Sleigh Ride", Stefani teased that there was "more to come" the following week.

Composition

Stefani's version of "Sleigh Ride" has been described as a holiday-themed song with a "lushly" arranged orchestra. American musician Ryan Tedder contributes as a vocal producer of the song, and Stefani is accompanied by American singer Laura Cooksey for background vocals.

Critical reception

Sophie Smith from the entertainment website uDiscover Music was positive about Stefani's cover, calling it a "cheery" and "festive" new track. A contributor to WSRW felt that Stefani got "in the holiday spirit" with her cover, but felt that it was released too early before the holiday season.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.
  • Gwen Stefaniprimary artist
  • Brandon Collinsproducer, strings contractor
  • Brent Kutzleproducer, keyboards
  • Leroy Andersoncomposer
  • Mitchell Parishcomposer
  • Ryan Teddervocal producer
  • John Nathanielvocal producer, mixing
  • Grant Pittmanengineer, keyboards
  • Doug Sarrettengineer
  • Tyler Spryengineer
  • Mike Wilsonengineer
  • Chris Gehringermastering engineer
  • Laura Cookseybackground vocals
  • Luke Sullivantacoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Matt Meltonbass
  • Paul Nelsoncello
  • Jon Hyrkasdrums
  • Betsy Lambviola, violin
  • David Angellviolin
  • David Davidsonviolin

    Charts

Release history

Other notable recordings

As of 2025, there were 16 versions of "Sleigh Ride" among the 500 most-played records on the Christmas music radio format, the fourth-most of any song.
  • 1949 – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, RCA Victor Red Seal 10-1484 and 49-01515. The original hit recording, this version was unavailable on CD until its inclusion on the 2023 Real Gone Music compilation The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party.
  • 1951 – Leroy Anderson and His "Pops" Concert Orchestra, Decca Gold Label Series 16000 9-16000. Released both individually and as part of the 10" album Leroy Anderson Conducts His Own Compositions. This version receives frequent airplay during the holiday season and has appeared on various compilations. Leroy Anderson re-recorded "Sleigh Ride" in stereo for the 1959 Decca LP Leroy Anderson Conducts Leroy Anderson.
  • 1950 – The Andrews Sisters
  • 1952 – Bing Crosby, included on 1998's The Voice of Christmas
  • 1958 – Johnny Mathis – Merry Christmas
  • 1959 – Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra – Joy to the World: Music for Christmas. This version subsequently appeared on his 1963 LP Wonderland of Christmas, as well as on numerous compilations.
  • 1960 – Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas; this version was later featured in the 2003 film Elf.
  • 1965 – Andy Williams – Merry Christmas
  • 1978 – The Carpenters – Christmas Portrait
  • 1983 – Amy Grant – A Christmas Album
  • 1987 – Air Supply – The Christmas Album
  • 1992 – Debbie Gibson - A Very Special Christmas 2
  • 1996 - Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 single and Jack Frost soundtrack
  • 1998 – Squirrel Nut Zippers – Christmas Caravan
  • 2002 – S Club Juniors – Puppy Love / Sleigh Ride
  • 2012 – Sufjan Stevens released a version of the song on "Let It Snow", the ninth volume of his series of Christmas EPs, included among Vols. 6-10 in the Silver & Gold box set. Stevens uses several different gadgets to make sounds, reminiscent of the style of Spike Jones, who recorded the song in 1956.
  • 2020 – Tori Kelly – A Tori Kelly Christmas
  • 2022 – Lindsey Stirling – Snow Waltz
  • 2023 – Seth MacFarlane and Elizabeth Gillies released a version of the song.
  • 2024 – The Philly Specials featuring Immanuel Wilkins – A Philly Special Christmas Party
  • 2025 – jschlatt – ''A Very 1999 Christmas ''