Merry Christmas Baby

Background

Charles Brown recounts that Johnny Moore arranged the deal with Lou Baxter and added his own name to the writing credit. Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, a leading West Coast blues attraction, saw their recording of "Merry Christmas Baby" reach number three on Billboard's R&B Juke Box chart during the 1947 Christmas season. The group featured guitarist Johnny Moore, Charles Brown, bassist Eddie Williams, and guitarist Oscar Moore, Johnny's brother and then a member of the King Cole Trio. Brown later recorded many versions of the song for various labels, including a popular 1956 release on Aladdin Records.

Renditions

Chuck Berry put his spin on "Merry Christmas Baby" for Chess Records in 1958, with the single coming off his album St. Louis to Liverpool and landing at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ike and Tina Turner followed with their own single version on Warner Bros Records in 1964. Elvis Presley cut a bluesy take in 1971, featuring on both his album Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas and as a single; the original eight-minute recording was cut down to 5:44 for the LP. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have played the song live, and their rendition showed up on the 1987 compilation A Very Special Christmas.

Did You Know?

• Elvis Presley's 1971 version was originally recorded as an 8-minute take but was cut to 5:44 for the album.
• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's live cover appeared on the 1987 compilation A Very Special Christmas.
• Chuck Berry's 1958 single of the song reached number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100.