THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 20th, 2008

Once again, another Saturday and more puzzles for you to ponder the solutions to.

Being deep into the holiday season with Christmas next Thursday, this week I thought we would try something a little different with our "reindeer games".
Listed below are ten famous Christmas carols.
Now there have been many recordings of these classics and much debate can be made over whose version is the best.
But your challenge is to name the VERY FIRST recording artist(s) for each song.
Ready?

01. Frosty the Snowman
02. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas e
03. Here Comes Santa Claus
04. Jingle Bell Rock
05. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
06. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
07. Santa Baby
08. Santa Claus is Coming to Town K
09. Silver Bells
...and for an extra challenge:
10. Sleigh Ride P
This tune has been recorded as both an instrumental and with lyrics.
Can you name the first artist(s) for each version?

Of course, the answers will appear next weekend. But for now, here are the results from December 13th.

TRIVIA TIME
Although he has since transcended his retail roots and become part of the Christmas iconic folklore, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started life as part of the Montgomery Wards Department Stores annual Christmas sales campaign when he was created by Wards employee Robert L. May in 1939.

REBUS
And for an extra special Christmas treat. The answer will be provided by guest commentator BradW8 courtsey of AOL.com.

The Christmas carol in question is The First Noel.
All three lines are missing the letter L. So when said, or sang, aloud:
Noel. Noel. Noel. (Born is the King of Israel.)
I live in Arlington, Texas; and would you believe that with a population of over 300K we are the largest city in America without any sort of mass transit. In other words, unlike Chicago, all year 'round we have no "el."

See you folks next Saturday for more Puzzle Corner!