Sold Date: December 9, 2022
Start Date: December 2, 2022
Final Price: $19.99 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 842
Buyer Feedback: 64

Gene Autry's original 78 rpm recording of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer".
excellent condition (no chips or scratches on either disc) Here is the opportunity to own the original red label Columbia release
- AND -
the popular reissue with the classic picture sleeve.
The story of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer was written in 1939 by Robert L. May, a 34-year-old copywriter for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department stores, as a promotional gift for the store's customers. The stores had bought and distributed coloring books every Christmas and saw writing their own story as a way to save money. Montgomery Ward distributed 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet in 1939. A total of 6 million copies had been given out by the end of 1946, even though wartime paper shortages restricted printing.
Rudolph's story was made into a song when May's brother-in-law, the songwriter Johnny Marks, developed the lyrics and melody for it. He offered it to Bing Crosby who turned it down - not wanting to do another Chrstmas song.
Marks' musical version was finally recorded by Gene Autry (in 1949).
Because Autry's reputation was that of a Western star, he didn't feel suited to sing a Christmas song. Marks, however, was determined to change Autry's mind (even though he'd never met him). He enlisted an unknown singer named Al Cernik (aka Guy Mitchell) to record a demo in the style of Autry and shipped it to the star in California. After a long wait - and some prodding from his wife - Autry agreed to record the tune, and it went on to become the second biggest-selling Christmas song of all time, next to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." Crosby finally gave in and also recorded "Rudolph" (his version landed at #14 on the pop chart in 1950).

will combine multiple wins to save on shipping