![]() ![]() The Epic Records version charted at #64 on the country charts in 1998 and #48 in 1999. By the end of 1984, it was reported that sales of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" were, by record label: Oink: 50,000 45s sold Soundwaves: 175,000 45s sold Epic: 150,000 45s sold and 90,000 LPs sold. Epic's 1984 re-release of the 1982 Oink LP was a straight re-issue, on Epic #39931. The Epic #04703 45 opted to replace the Oink 45's B-side, "Christmas", with a track from the LP, ("Percy, the Puny Poinsettia"). Soon after, Epic Records acquired the rights to both, from Elmo and Patsy. In 1984, with the song now a big hit nationally, CBS Records was interested in re-issuing both the 1982 Oink 45 re-recording, and the 1982 Oink LP. An entire LP, named after their hit song, was also recorded in 1982, and was initially released as Oink #8223. That is the easiest way (aside from listening to the 45 itself) to differentiate between the original 1979 Oink #2984 recording and its now-much-more familiar, 1982 re-recording. Re-recorded Oink #2984 45 copies appeared on a white label, not a cream-colored label, however. ![]() But this time, Oink chose to handle all nationwide product distribution themselves, ending the old NSD-Soundwaves agreement. In 1982, the duo both re-recorded and re-released the song as a single, again as Oink #2984. Oink Records, still based in Windsor, California, continued distribution of the 45 rpm record in the western U.S., with "Nationwide Sound Distributors" (NSD) of Nashville, Tennessee, pressing and distributing the song on its Soundwaves Records in the eastern U.S., peaking at #92 on the country singles charts. By the early 1980s, the song was becoming a seasonal hit, first on country stations and then on Top 40 stations. Meanwhile, the duo's names were moved to the bottom of the label, below the song title. Once initial copies had sold out, later-pressed #2984 cream-colored 45 label copies retained the same pig sketch, but decided to both move the sketch, and add the word "Oink", to the top of the 45's label. Initial copies appeared on a cream-colored label, with a sketch of a pig clearly visible, at left. The song was originally self-released in San Francisco by the Shropshires in 1979 on their own record label (on "Elmo 'n' Patsy" #2984), with the B-side titled "Christmas". A year later, they were selling 45s of the song from the stage, with Elmo himself appearing in drag on the album cover as "Grandma". In the music video, where Elmo plays both Grandma and Grandpa and Patsy plays Cousin Mel, Grandma survives the attack and makes a triumphant return through the chimney.Īccording to Brooks, he played the song while sitting in with Elmo and Patsy at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe in December 1978, and after the show they had him make a cassette of the song for them to learn. In closing, the singer warns listeners to "better watch out for yourselves", because "a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves" is unfit to carry a driver's license. Christmas dinner otherwise goes on as normal, with a centerpiece of roast goose, figgy pudding for dessert, and candles that match Grandma's wig. Grandpa is unfazed by his wife's demise and spends the holiday "watching football, drinking beer and playing cards with Cousin Mel," while the rest of the family mourns Grandma's death and wonders if her gifts should be returned (agreeing unanimously that they should). She is found the next day, trampled Santa Claus and his reindeer are determined to be the culprits when "incriminating Claus marks" are found on her back. The lyrics tell the story of a grandmother celebrating Christmas Eve with her family when she ventures out into a snowstorm while drunk on eggnog, despite everyone beseeching her not to. Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by the then-husband-and-wife duo of Elmo Shropshire and Patsy Trigg in 1979. " Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is a novelty Christmas song. "Christmas" (Elmo 'n' Patsy Oink Soundwaves). ![]()
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