CHRISTMAS CAR TUNES:"RUN RUN RUDOLPH"-CHUCK BERRY BILLBOARD CHART # 69 1958

Back in 1958 when you clicked on that car radio in your 58 Fairlane rectractable hardtop you often heard  rock and roll music.

It scared the heck out of your parents.

Chuck Berry was one of those scary 50s rock and roll guys...

He was living the rock and roll lifestyle when guys like Mick Jagger were barely in high school so Chuck Berry music was automatically hated by parents.

But Chuck got a little closer to mainstream when he cut this rock and roll version of a Christmas song. By then the weather dictated that you put that hardtop up for months at a time on your Ford but this classic little song warmed up Christmas back in 58. 

Even parents who were typically horrified by the "Devil's music" he played gave in a little when the Chucker cut this 45 rpm piece of Christmas cheer.

Chuck picked a kiddie legend like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, added his trademark guitar riff and headed to number 69 on the Billboard charts with Run Run Rudolph.

Ironically, the 58 other songs that beat Run Run Rudolph out in 1958 rarely get played but Chuck's Christmas classic is guaranteed air time every December.

He couldn't miss-he had rock and roll on his side and he tamed down the lyrics for an excited kid audience "Out of all the reindeers you know you're the mastermind,Run, run Rudolph, Randalph ain't too far behind,Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down,Run, run Rudolph 'cause I'm reelin?like a merry-go-round".

Chuck Berry had a truckload of rock and roll hits in the 50s but only one will definitely be playing during the Christmas season in 2009 to a huge audience

And it ain't Johnny B Good...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVu4c7dhDRE&feature=related

Jerry Sutherland