Rockin' Rudolph

For the 1963 Doo-Wop song, see The Uniques (Louisiana band).

Rockin' Rudolph is the third Christmas album by The Brian Setzer Orchestra, released on October 16, 2015, through Surfdog Records. Produced by Peter Collins, it is the band's first Christmas album in ten years and their most recent album to date.^[3]

Rockin' Rudolph
Studio album by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Released	October 16, 2015
Genre	Swing rockabilly[1]
Length	33:53
Label	Surfdog
Producer	Peter Collins
The Brian Setzer Orchestra chronology
Don't Mess with a Big Band (Live!) (2010) Rockin' Rudolph (2015)
Singles from Rockin' Rudolph
"Yabba-Dabba Yuletide" Released: October 2, 2015[2]

Promotion

In support of the album, The Brian Setzer Orchestra embarked on the 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour.^[4] In the midst of the tour they performed at an invitation-only event for SiriusXM at The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. The concert was broadcast across SiriusXM channels in the days that followed.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album three out of five stars and states: "Rockin' Rudolph deserves to sit proudly alongside the Brian Setzer Orchestra's other Christmas albums because it serves up snazzy seasonal swingers, tunes that revel in their retro-kitsch."^[1]

Track listing

Rockin' Rudolph track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"	Johnny Marks	2:31
2.	"Yabba-Dabba Yuletide"	Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, Hoyt Curtin	2:01
3.	"Most Wonderful Time of the Year"	Edward Pola, George Wyle	2:11
4.	"Rockabilly Rudolph"	Marks	2:51
5.	"Here Comes Santa Claus"	Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman	4:17
6.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane	3:29
7.	"Swingin' Joy"	Traditional	2:20
8.	"Carol of the Bells"	Mykola Leontovych, Peter Wilhousky	2:23
9.	"Little Jack Frost"	Al Stillman, Seger Ellis	2:53
10.	"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"	Charles Wesley	2:26
11.	"O Little Town of Bethlehem"	Phillips Brooks	2:51
12.	"Yabba-Dabba Yuletide (extended)"	Barbera, Hanna, Curtin	3:40

Rockin' Rudolph – Deluxe PledgeMusic exclusive version (bonus tracks)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Little Drummer Boy (instrumental)"	Harry Simeone, K.K. Davis, Henry Onorati
14.	"Deck the Halls (instrumental)"	Traditional

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic:^[6]

Production Brian Setzer – arranger Peter Collins – producer Steve Gibson – producer Terry Christian – engineer, mixing Don Cobb – mastering Eric Conn – mastering Dave Darling – additional production Frank Comstock – arranger Mark Jones – arranger Dave Kaplan – executive producer Tim Messina – music director Jody Nardone – vocal arrangement Kristen Carranza – production coordination Joey Waterman – production coordination Tyler Sweet – guitar technician Derek Yaniger – cover art Scott Anderson – layout

Musicians Brian Setzer – guitar, vocals Roy Agee – trombone Sean Billings – trumpet Ron Blake – trumpet Mike Briones – trombone Shannon Brown – vocals (background) Barry Green – trombone John Hatton – bass guitar Mike Haynes – trumpet Robbie Hioki – trombone Jamie Hovorka – trumpet Paul Leim – drums Sam Levine – saxophone Jeremy Levy – trombone Kerry Loeschen – trombone Tim Messina – saxophone Eric Morones – saxophone Jody Nardone – vocals (background) Steve Patrick – trumpet Charlie Peterson – saxophone Tony Pia – drums Steve Reid – trumpet Matt Rollings – piano Julie Setzer – vocals (background) Leslie Spencer – vocals (background) David Spicher – bass Jim Youngstrom – saxophone Matt Zebly – saxophone

Chart performance

Chart performance for Rockin' Rudolph

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7]	192
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8]	9
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[9]	3

Release history

Release history and formats for Rockin' Rudolph

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label
United States	October 16, 2015	CD digital download vinyl	Surfdog

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rockin' Rudolph - The Brian Setzer Orchestra — Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
2. "Yabba-Dabba Yuletide: Brian Setzer: MP3 Downloads". ASIN B0144NT2VQ. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
3. DeRiso, Nick (August 2, 2015). "Brian Setzer Announces First Christmas Album in a Decade". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
4. "Brian Setzer Announces 'Rockin' Rudolph' Christmas Album". Guitar World. Harris Publications. July 28, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
5. "Christmas Rocks: The Brian Setzer Orchestra to perform on Outlaw Country and Holly". SiriusXM. November 20, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
6. "Rockin' Rudolph - The Brian Setzer Orchestra Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
7. "Ultratop.be – The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Rockin' Rudolph" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
8. "The Brian Setzer Orchestra Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
9. "The Brian Setzer Orchestra Chart history: Top Holiday Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.