Who says you can't have anything new for one of the most beloved songs of the holiday season.
Brenda Lee was surprised that it took more than half a century to produce a video for "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
Brenda says, "The first time that a video has ever been produced for 'Rockin',' which I guess some people might find unbelievable. I kinda find it unbelievable, myself. But I really never thought about it till they said it. And it's out on vinyl -- green vinyl. I might add."
The compilation Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree -- The Decca Christmas Recordings made its vinyl debut this year. Part of the joy of Lee's signature song is its fun, almost casual sound. She said that was mood producer Owen Bradley created when working with her and such standout session players as keyboardist Floyd Cramer and sax man Boots Randolph.
Brenda recalls the almost spontaneous feel of the recording session with pianist Floyd Cramer and sax player Boots Randolph for "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree":
Floyd might say, 'I'm going to tinkle right here' and Boots'll say, 'Well, I'll come in there.' We never had anything written. We talked about it before we did it. It was just really, I don't want to say, 'off the cuff,' but it was off the cuff. It was what we called head arrangements."
Brenda was pleased to have been one of the stars who appeared on Ken Burns' multi-part documentary on country music. She tells us, "He did an absolutely fantastic job... They just let the cameras roll and we just talked. And things might have come out of us that we might not have said, otherwise. It's a wonderful look back at the people who started country music, the history of it. It's just wonderful."
As is Brenda Lee. Turning 75 today, she considers herself "semi-retired," and loves spending time with her family, but is always happy to do charity shows in and around her longtime home, Nashville.