Keith Richards Releases Music Video for His Cover of 'Run Run Rudolph'

Keith Richards Releases Music Video for His Cover of ‘Run Run Rudolph’

2020-12-02

Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

Watch a new, animated lyrics video for Keith Richards’ 1978 rendition of Chuck Berry’s Christmas song, “Run Run Rudolph”

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has rolled out a new, animated music video for his 1978 rendition of Chuck Berry’s Christmas song, “Run Run Rudolph.” The video depicts a city view, with snow falling atop buildings as the lyrics for the video roll across the screen.

Richards makes an appearance, too, in the form of a photo of Richards with a bottle of whiskey. It’s the same image that appeared on the cover of the limited-edition “Run Run Rudolph” single released in 2018 for Record Store Day Black Friday.

Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie wrote “Run Run Ruldolph” in 1958, and Berry released it the same year. Richards released his version of the holiday classic in December 1978, marking his first-ever solo single. Rolling Stones touring pianist Ian Stewart also appears on the track.

“To me, it’s the hippest Christmas song there is,” Richards said during a 2018 Q&A about “Run Run Ruldoph.” “Beautiful lyrics, a beautiful, joyful feeling about it, an it tells the story, short and snappy. And what a great track, the sound of it is amazing.”

Richards isn’t the first rocker to take on “Run Run Rudolph.” Back in 2008, Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Grohl and Billy F. Gibbons teamed up for a rocked-out version of the holiday classics, which can be streamed here.

In other news, last month, Richards released a deluxe box-set reissue of his 1991 “Live at the Hollywood Palladium” album, which was recorded during a Dec. 15, 1988, concert that Keith and his solo group, The X-Pensive Winos, performed in Los Angeles.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.