Throwback Video Of The Week: Daryl Hall & John Oates “Jingle Bell Rock”
(L-R) Daryl Hall and John Oates of Hall & Oates perform at the Ryman Auditorium on June 2, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
Bobby Helms made it a hit in 1957 and lots of people covered it after that. One of our favorite versions of “Jingle Bell Rock” is the one recorded by Daryl Hall and John Oates. The duo and their band released it in 1983 as a non-album single. According to Songfacts, Daryl Hall was going through a rockabilly phase at the time and wanted to do a Christmas song in that style.
The campy video got a lot of airplay on MTV. There are actually two versions: one with Daryl Hall (below) on lead vocals and another with John Oates singing lead. Both versions feature former Saturday Night Live bandleader G. E. Smith dressed as an elderly woman playing the guitar with white gloves.
Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.
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