As adjuncts to our popular “America’s Greatest Hits” series of collections for each calendar year in the 50s and early ‘60s, we have already produced collections based on landmark moments in the Billboard charts – “The First Top 100 Nov. 1955” (ACQCD7062), “The First Hot 100 Aug. 1958” (ACQCD7083), “The First Hot 100 of the '60s” (ACQCD7097), “The 'Heartbreak Hotel' Top 100” (ACQCD7122)and “The Day The Music Died - Feb 3rd 1959 Hot 100” (ACQCD7134), “The 'Telstar' Hot 100 December 22nd 1962” (ACQCD7144), “The Twist” Hot 100 Jan. 25th 1962”, “The 1000th Billboard Chart 7th September 1959”(ACQCD7164),  “The American Bandstand Us Top 100 5th Aug. 1957”,  “The JFK Inauguration Hot 100 20th January 1961” (ACQCD781) and “The 20th Anniversary Billboard Chart July 1960“. 

Rather than try to find another landmark anniversary this year, we have chosen to home in on the Christmas charts, which were often important in people’s lives, and start with 1956, a hugely important “turning point” year in pop, as rock ‘n’ roll got fully established. 

This collection features just about every record from the Hot 100 of 22nd December 1956, apart from two titles which are unfortunately unavailable for copyright reasons.  

It provides a fascinating and evocative snapshot of the music scene at what was a dynamic and exciting time as new names and new music made their impact. 

We reckon the Top 5 was about as brilliant a line-up as any you could wish to see. 

As always with these chart collections, it includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings towards the bottom of the chart, of which even seasoned pop enthusiasts may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information.

CD 1
1. SINGING THE BLUES  Guy Mitchell (Columbia 40769)  
2. LOVE ME TENDER  Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor 20-6643)  
3. JUST WALKING IN THE RAIN  Johnny Ray (Columbia 49729)  
4. BLUEBERRY HILL  Fats Domino (Imperial 5407)  
5. TRUE LOVE  Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (Capitol 3407)  
6. HEY! JEALOUS LOVER  Frank Sinatra (Capitol 3553)  
7. ROSE AND A BABY RUTH  George Hamilton IV (ABC Paramount 9765)  
8. LOVE ME   Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor EPA 992)  
9. GREEN DOOR  Jim Lowe (Dot 15486)  
10. CINDY OH CINDY  Eddie Fisher (RCA-Victor 20-6677)  
11. CINDY OH CINDY  Vince Martin with The Tarriers (Glory 247)  
12. GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW  Patience And Prudence (Liberty 55040)  
13. GARDEN OF EDEN  Joe Valino (Vik 226)  
14. DON'T BE CRUEL  Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor 20-6604)  
15. FRIENDLY PERSUASION (THEE I LOVE)  Pat Boone (Dot 15490)  
16. MAMA FROM THE TRAIN   Patti Page (Mercury 70971)  
17. ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY (WITH A DIXIE MELODY)  Jerry Lewis (Decca 30124)  
18. SINCE I MET YOU BABY  Ivory Joe Hunter (Atlantic 1111)  
19. CONFIDENTIAL  Sonny Knight (Dot 15507)  
20. NIGHT LIGHTS  Nat King Cole (Capitol 3551)  
21. TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS  Don Rondo (Jubilee 5256)  
22. JAMAICA FAREWELL  Harry Belafonte (RCA-Victor 20-6663)  
23. MOONLIGHT GAMBLER  Frankie Laine (Columbia 40780)  
24. MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY  Teresa Brewer (Coral 9-61737)  
25. CANADIAN SUNSET  Eddie Heywood & Hugo Winterhalter (RCA-Victor 20-6637)  

CD 2  
1. I WALK THE LINE  Johnny Cash (Sun 241)  
2. SLOW WALK  Sil Austin (Mercury 70963)  
3. AUCTIONEER  Leroy Van Dyke (Dot 15503)  
4. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW  The Platters (Mercury 70948)  
5. SINGING THE BLUES  Marty Robbins (Columbia 21545)  
6. PRISCILLA  Eddie Cooley & The Dimples (Roost 621)  
7. BABY DOLL  Andy Williams (Cadence 1303)  
8. GOODNIGHT MY LOVE, PLEASANT DREAMS  The McGuire Sisters (Coral 9-61748)  
9. HOUND DOG  Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor 20-6604)  
10. PETTICOATS OF PORTUGAL  Dick Jacobs & His Chorus & Orchestra (Coral 9-61724)  
11. ON LONDON BRIDGE  Jo Stafford (Columbia 40782)  
12. TRA LA LA  Georgia Gibbs (Mercury 70998)  
13. I DREAMED  Betty Johnson (Bally 1020)  
14. CITY OF ANGELS  The Highlights (Bally 1016)  
15. LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS  The Chordettes (Cadence 1299)  
16. DON'T FORBID ME  Pat Boone (Dot 15521)  
17. WHEN MY BLUE MOON TURNS TO GOLD AGAIN  Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor EPA 992)  
18. WISDOM OF A FOOL  The Five Keys (Capitol F3597)  
19. ARMEN'S THEME  Joe Reisman & His Orchestra (RCA-Victor 47-6740)  
20. STAR YOU WISHED UPON LAST NIGHT  Gisele Mackenzie (Vik 4X-0233)  
21. ARMEN'S THEME  The Music Of David Seville (Liberty F55041)  
22. MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY  Eddy Arnold & Jaye P. Morgan (RCA-Victor 47-6708)  
23. BANANA BOAT SONG  Tarriers (Glory 249)  
24. JUST IN TIME  Tony Bennett (Columbia 4-40770)  
25. ANASTASIA  Pat Boone (Dot 15521)  

CD 3
1. MARY'S BOY CHILD  Harry Belafonte (RCA-Victor 47-6735)  
2. AIN'T GOT NO HOME  Clarence  Henry (Argo 5259)  
3. A FADED SUMMER LOVE  Georgie Shaw (Decca 9-30078)  
4. SINCE I MET YOU BABY  Mindy Carson (Columbia 40789)  
5. MONEY TREE  Margaret Whiting (Capitol 3546)  
6. SOMEONE TO LOVE (SEUL UN HOMME PEUT FAIRE CA)  The Four Aces (Decca 9-30123)  
7. ANY WAY YOU WANT ME (THAT'S HOW I WILL BE)  Elvie Presley (RCA-Victor EPA 965)  
8. I FEEL GOOD  Shirley & Lee (Aladdin 3338)  
9. IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT  The Five Satins (Ember E-1005)  
10. TRUE LOVE  Jane Powell (Verve 2018)  
11. TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME  Patience And Prudence (Liberty F55022)  
12. GIVE ME  Eileen Rodgers (Columbia 4-40791)  
13. I WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN  Eddy Arnold (RCA-Victor 47-6699)  
14. CANADIAN SUNSET  Andy Williams (Cadence 1297)  
15. TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS  Jane Morgan & Roger Williams (Kapp K-161)  
16. AUTUMN WALTZ  Tony Bennett (Columbia 4-40770)  
17. FIRST BORN  Tennessee Ernie Ford (Capitol F3553)  
18. I SAW ESAU  The Ames Brothers (RCA-Victor 20-6720)  
19. WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE (QUE SERA SERA)  Doris Day (Columbia 40704)  
20. LOVE ME TENDER  Henri Rene & His Orchestra & Chorus (RCA-Victor 47-6728)  
21. THE PARTY'S OVER  Doris Day (Columbia 4-40798)  
22. I LOVE MY BABY (MY BABY LOVES ME)  Jill Corey (Columbia 4-40794)  
23. FRIENDLY PERSUASION (THEE I LOVE)  The Four Aces (Decca 9-30041)  
24. THOUSAND MILES AWAY  The Heartbeats (Rama RR-216)  
25. ONE IN A MILLION  The Platters (Mercury 71011)  

CD 4
1. DANCING CHANDELIER  Sylvia Syms (Decca 9-30143)  
2. A CHEAT  Sanford Clark (Dot 15516)  
3. CONFESSIONS OF A SINNER  The Stylers (Jubilee 5253)  
4. MONEY TREE  Patience And Prudence (Liberty F550054)  
5. LEFT ARM OF BUDDHA  Les Baxter's Orchestra (Capitol F3573)  
6. TEENAGE GOODNIGHT  The Chordettes (Cadence 1299)  
7. MOONLIGHT LOVE  Perry Como (RCA-Victor 20-6670)  
8. CRAZY WITH LOVE  Teresa Brewer (Coral 9-61737)  
9. WHEN THE WHITE LILACS BLOOM AGAIN  Florian Zabach Orchestra (Mercury 70936)  
10. YOU DON'T KNOW ME  Jerry Vale (Columbia 40710)  
11. I MISS YOU  Chris Connor (Atlantic 1105)  
12. BLUE MOON  Elvis Presley (RCA-Victor EPA 830)  
13. IT ISN'T RIGHT  The Platters (Mercury 70948)  
14. AUCTIONEER  Chuck Miller (Mercury 71001)  
15. RUDY'S ROCK  Bill Haley & His Comets (Decca 30085)  
16. WRITTEN ON THE WIND  The Four Aces (Decca 9-30123)  
17. CRAZY WITH LOVE  Guy Mitchell (Columbia 40769)  
18. TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH  Nat King Cole (Capitol 3551)  
19. JULIE  Doris Day (Columbia 4-40758)  
20. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL  Shirley & Lee (Aladdin 3325)  
21. DREAMY EYES  The Four Preps (Capitol F3576)  
22. CHINCHERINCHEE  Perry Como (RCA-Victor 47-6670)  
23. SADIE'S SHAWL  Bob Sharples (London 1661)  
24. WAR AND PEACE  Vic Damone (Columbia 4-40733)