Harry Reser - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

First performance: 20/12/1973


Coverinfo

Santa Claus is comin' to town became a signature for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band who have been regularly performing the song live in concert since 1973, mostly around the months of November and December. Their officially released live 12 Dec 1975 version of the song and has become one of the most popular versions of this Christmas standard. 
 
 
 
 
Bruce covered the song 172 times 
 
 
2024-11-16 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
2024-11-13 Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
2024-11-09 Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
2024-11-06 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON  
 
Rainforest Fund Concert

2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
During a TV appearance on Saturday Night Live. The song was played in its E Street Band arrangement, with Sir Paul McCartney, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and the full Saturday Night Live cast (and some of the crew) joining the band on stage.
 
2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
2012-12-10 Palacio De Los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
2012-12-06 Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, AZ
2012-12-04 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
2012-11-30 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
2012-11-28 Rose Garden, Portland, OR
2012-11-26 Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
2012-11-19 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
2012-11-17 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
2012-11-15 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE
2009-11-22 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
2009-11-20 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
2009-11-18 Sommet Center, Nashville, TN
2009-11-15 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
2009-07-26 Estadio San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain
2009-06-13 Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN
2009-06-02 Ratinan Stadion, Tampere, Finland

2008-12-22 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ
Hope Concert

2008-07-11 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2007-12-19 O2 Arena (The), London, England
2007-12-17 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2007-12-15 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
2007-12-13 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany
2007-12-12 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
2007-12-10 Globen, Stockholm, Sweden
2007-12-04 Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
2007-12-02 SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
2007-12-01 Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2006-12-12 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 
Bobby Bandiera All-Star Holiday Concert

2006-12-02 Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
Light of Day
 
2005-11-22 Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ
2004-12-19 Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ (Late)
2004-12-19 Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ (Early)

2004-12-02 Heinz Hall For The Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
Concert for Flood Aid

2003-12-19 Holy Cross Church, Rumson, NJ
John Mulheren funeral
  
2003-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2003-12-07 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2003-12-05 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2002-12-17 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
2002-12-16 Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
2002-12-13 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
2002-12-09 Carolina Center, Columbia, SC
2002-12-08 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
2002-12-05 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2002-12-04 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

2001-12-15 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
Holiday Express

2001-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2001-12-07 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2001-12-06 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2001-12-04 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2001-12-03 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2000-12-18 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2000-12-17 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ

1999-12-20 McLoone's Rum Runner, Sea Bright, NJ
During his annual Christmas party at McLoone's Rum Runner in Sea Bright, NJ. Though the date is not certain it seems the party took place on December 20, and Bruce joined Bobby Bandiera's band for well over an hour, performing Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival songs among other classics.
 

1999-11-29 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
1999-11-28 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
1998-12-21 McLoone's Rum Runner, Sea Bright, NJ
1994-12-20 Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ
1992-12-17 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
1992-12-16 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
1992-12-14 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1992-12-13 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1992-12-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1992-12-07 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1992-12-05 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1992-12-03 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
1992-12-02 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX

1988-12-18 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
Friends of Special Children Benefit

1985-09-06 Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN
1985-09-01 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
1985-03-28 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
1985-01-26 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
1985-01-24 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI
1985-01-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
1985-01-15 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
1985-01-13 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC
1985-01-10 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY
1985-01-08 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1985-01-07 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1985-01-05 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1985-01-04 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1984-12-17 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1984-12-16 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA
1984-12-14 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN
1984-12-13 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN
1984-12-11 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
1984-12-09 Murphy Center, Murfreesboro, TN
1984-12-07 Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, FL
1984-12-06 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena, Birmingham, AL
1984-12-02 LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA
1984-11-30 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1984-11-29 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1984-11-26 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
1984-11-25 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
1984-11-23 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
1984-11-19 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
1984-11-18 Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE
1984-11-16 Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA
1984-11-15 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
1984-11-12 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1984-11-11 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1984-11-08 ASU Activity Center, Tempe, AZ
1984-11-04 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-31 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
1984-10-22 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA
1984-10-19 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
1984-10-15 Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC
1984-09-25 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
1984-09-22 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
1984-09-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

1983-12-28 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ
La Bamba's Holiday Hurrah Benefit

1980-12-31 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-12-29 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-12-28 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-12-19 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1980-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1980-12-16 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1980-12-15 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1980-12-12 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
1980-12-11 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI
1980-12-09 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1980-12-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1980-12-06 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
1980-12-04 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
1979-01-01 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1978-12-31 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1978-12-30 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
1978-12-28 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
1978-12-27 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
1978-12-20 Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA
1978-12-19 Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR
1978-12-16 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
1978-12-15 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
1978-12-13 Tucson Community Center Arena, Tucson, AZ
1978-12-09 Dallas Convention Center Arena, Dallas, TX

1978-12-08 Summit (The), Houston, TX
This was reportedly the only show of the tour that was filmed in its entirety, and this could be the very reason it was chosen for official release as part of The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010.

1978-12-07 Special Events Center, Austin, TX
1978-12-05 LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA
1978-12-03 SIU Arena, Carbondale, IL
1978-12-01 Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK
1978-11-29 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN
1978-11-28 Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, WI
1978-11-27 Mecca Arena, Milwaukee, WI
1978-09-30 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
1978-09-25 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1978-09-21 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
1978-09-20 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
1975-12-21 Seneca Field House, Toronto, ON
1975-12-20 National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON
1975-12-19 Théâtre Maisonneuve, Montreal, QC
1975-12-17 Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, NY
1975-12-16 Laker Hall Gym, Oswego, NY

1975-12-12 Post Dome, Greenvale, NY
This is the concert that the official "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" was recorded at, and the resulting recording is now on heavy rotation on radio every Christmas. In fact, the entire show was professionally recorded (along with several other shows in December) under the guidance of Jimmy Iovine as part of a plan to release a live album. Was first released in 1981 on the various artists children album " In Harmony 2". The song was also included on several promotional singles that were released in conjunction with the album. In Harmony 2 is a benefit album; according to the album's back cover, "A royalty is being donated to the Children's Television Workshop and various children's charities." It won a Grammy Award for Best Recording For Children in 1983. The live 12 Dec 1975 version of Santa Claus is comin' to town was also released as the B-side to My hometown in November 1985.
 

1975-12-11 Walsh Auditorium, South Orange, NJ
1975-12-10 Davis Gym, Lewisburg, PA
1975-12-07 McDonough Arena, Washington, DC
1975-12-06 McDonough Arena, Washington, DC
1975-12-05 McDonough Arena, Washington, DC
1975-12-03 Music Hall, Boston, MA
1975-12-02 Music Hall, Boston, MA
1973-12-23 Rova Farm Function Center, Jackson, NJ

1973-12-20 Bristol Motor Inn, Bristol, RI 
The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour : One show, with Bruce and the boys the only act on the bill. Unusual show in that it was an official Roger Williams University school event but it was held off campus, inside the nightclub of the Bristol Motor Inn. This was an 100-minute show. Partial setlist above comes from a newspaper review of the performance. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" is likely to have been performed at many of the gigs in this December Christmas period.
 

Songinfo

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to town"is a Christmas song, written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records sold within 24 hours. The version for Bluebird Records by George Hall and His Orchestra (vocal by Sonny Schuyler) was very popular in 1934 and reached the various charts of the day. The earliest known recorded version of the song was by banjoist Harry Reser and his band on October 24, 1934 . The song has been recorded by over 200 artists.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

2020-12-16 SiriusXM Studio, New York City
Bruce plays the song during his 16 th episode of 'From My Home To Yours'. The episode was titled "Hits Of The Week" ( Single version)

Lyrics

I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I called on dear old Santa Claus to see what I could see
He took me to his workshop and told his plans to me

So you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're a wake
He knows if you've been good or bad so be good for goodness sake

Oh you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

Oh you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town