Unrepentant

Merry Christmas, Baby – Charles Brown

While it’s not uncommon to find multiple versions of popular Christmas recordings done by different artists, I think that Charles Brown holds the all-time record for multiple recordings of the same song, his perennial classic Merry Christmas, Baby. Originally released by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers (featuring singer/pianist Charles Brown) the combo was one of the hottest blues attractions on the West Coast when their recording of “Merry Christmas Baby” reached position #3 on Billboard’s R&B Juke Box chart during the Christmas of 1947.

Charles Brown was a major musical figure in the pre-rock and roll era of the late Forties and early Fifties. As a member of Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers and also as the leader of his own trio and a solo artist, the West Coast-based singer/pianist recorded a string of R&B hits in his self-described “blue ballad” style. Brown also became well known for his seasonal-themed blues songs, particularly “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Please Come Home for Christmas” (1961′s Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs).

While his self-penned “Please Come Home for Christmas” was a huge hit in it’s own right, I’ve always preferred “Merry Christmas, Baby” and thought of it as the definitive Charles Brown Christmas tune, and I think I have 5 or 6 different versions of this track, all featuring Charles with different backing groups and styling differences. While the Charles Brown/Bonnie Raitt version (A Very Special Christmas 2) is a great, contemporary duet of the classic, I’ve chosen instead to feature this version taken from the 1956 Hollywood Records compilation “Merry Christmas Baby – Intimate Christmas Music For Lovers”, for no other reason than the album cover makes me howl with laughter – nothing like Christmas Music and a cigarette to stir up those intimate moments.

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The 12 Days of Christmas Music

1. Call Collect on Christmas – James King Band
2. Christmas Day – Oscar Jordan Band
3. Baby It’s Cold Outside – Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
4. Good King Wenceslas – The Skydiggers