Other Random Facts

  • The song is commonly subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
  • Torme says the song was written during a blistering hot summer in an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool."
  • Torme walked by Wells piano and saw a spiral notebook with the following lines written on it:
    • Chestnuts roasting...
    • Jack Frost nipping...
    • Yuletide carols...
    • Folks dressed up like Eskimos...
  • Wells wasn't writing songs lyrics though. He was just trying to immerse himself in cold thoughts. But 40 minutes later, the song was written.
  • Nat King Cole recorded the song multiple times through the years with different arrangements.
  • Mel Torme himself also recorded multiple versions of the song.
  • The song has charted with version by...
    • Christina Aguilera on the 2000 album My Kind of Christmas. The song hit number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
    • Michael Buble on the 2003 EP Let It Snow. The song hit number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

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