Blue Christmas

12 tracks
Side one "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" "White Christmas" "Here Comes Santa Claus" "I'll Be Home for Christmas" "Blue Christmas" "Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" Side two "O Little Town of Bethlehem" "Silent Night" "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" "I Believe" "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)

"Blue Christmas"

Single by The Beach Boys

from the album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album

A-side

"The Man with All the Toys"

Released

November 9, 1964^[1]

Format

7-inch

Recorded

June 24, 1964 - June 28, 1964^[2]

Genre

Christmas, Pop, Rock

Length

4:41 (for both songs)

Label

Capitol Records

Writer(s)

Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson

Producer(s)

Brian Wilson

The Beach Boys singles chronology

"Dance, Dance, Dance"
(1964)

"The Man with All the Toys"
(1964)

"Do You Wanna Dance?"
(1965)

"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. It is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre.

Initial recordings and major versions

The song was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948,^[3] and was popularized the following year in three separate recordings: one by country artist Ernest Tubb; one by bandleader Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra; and one by bandleader Russ Morgan and his orchestra (the latter featuring lead vocals by Morgan and backing vocals by singers credited as the Morganaires).^[4] Tubb's version spent the first week of January 1950 at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Most-Played Juke Box (Country & Western) Records chart, while Winterhalter's version peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart and Morgan's version reached No. 11 on Billboard's Best-Selling Pop Singles chart.^[5] Also in 1950 Hugo Winterhalter released a new version, this time sung by Billy Eckstine, with shortened lyrics in a variation close to what is now the common standard for this song.

Elvis Presley cemented the status of "Blue Christmas" as a rock-and-roll holiday classic^{[citation needed]} by recording it for his 1957 LP Elvis' Christmas Album. Presley's version is notable musicologically as well as culturally in that the vocal group the Jordanaires (especially in the soprano line, sung by Millie Kirkham), replace many major and just minor thirds with neutral and septimal minor thirds, respectively.^{[citation needed]} In addition to contributing to the overall tone of the song, the resulting "blue notes" constitute a musical play on words that provides an "inside joke" or "Easter egg" to trained ears.^{[citation needed]}. "Blue Christmas" was also included on a 1957 45 EP (Extended Play) entitled "Elvis Sings Christmas Songs" (EPA-4108), which also included "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" on side one, with "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on side two. Presley's original 1957 version was released as a commercially-available single for the first time in 1964. This single was also a hit in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 11 on the British singles chart during the week of 26 December 1964.^{[citation needed]}

American rock band The Beach Boys recorded a version featuring Brian Wilson on lead vocals, releasing it in the US on November 16, 1964, in two separate formats simultaneously:
(a) the B-side of the "The Man with All the Toys" single.
(b) a track on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

The Beach Boys' version reached No. 3 on the U.S. Christmas charts but did not chart in the U.K.

Cover versions

Following the success of Presley's version, the song has been recorded by a host of rock and country artists, as well as some working in other genres, with over sixty-five recorded versions^{[citation needed]}:

A 1960 version recorded by The Browns peaked at No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1960.^[6]

In 1963, The Platters recorded their version of the song on album Christmas With The Platters.

In 1963, Johnny Cash recorded his version of the song for his album The Christmas Spirit.

In 1963, Patti Labelle and The BlueBelles recorded their version on album Sleigh bells, Jingle bells, and Bluebelles.

In 1964, twenty-year-old Brenda Lee recorded her version for the album Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee.

In 1972, Nora Aunor recorded the version of the song for her album Christmas Song.

In 1978, Misfits recorded live the song at Max's Kansas City

The most successful version of the song in the United Kingdom was recorded by Shakin' Stevens. His 1982 version of the song peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart (behind "Save Your Love" by Renée and Renato).

In 1985 a novelty version was recorded live in a small club from Seymour Swine and the Squealers featuring comedian/singer Denny Brownlee and musician Bill Lynn.

In 1995, alt-rock band Collective Soul's version was included in the "You Sleigh Me: Alternative Christmas Hits" compilation. The previous year, it was included in the band's fan club CD.

In 1997, ska band The Toasters covered the song on their album Christma-ska.

In 1998, Celine Dion covered the song on her Christmas album These Are Special Times.

In 1999, Low covered the song on their album Christmas.

In 1999, Mary Margaret O'Hara (sister of actress Catherine O'Hara) released The Christmas E.P., featuring a slow, bluesy version of the song, with strong support from Hugh Marsh (violin), Rusty McCarthy (guitar), David Piltch (bass), Don Rooke (lap-steel), and Michael Sloski (drums).

In 2005, Kelly Clarkson performed the song at the Sony Ericsson Christmas Calling television special that aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.^[7]^[8] In 2013, she recorded a studio cover of the song for her sixth studio album Wrapped in Red.^[9]

Bruce Springsteen sang the song live at The Carousel in Asbury Park, New Jersey on December 7, 2010 with the E Street Band. The intimate concert, in front of approximately 60 fans, was Clarence Clemons' last performance with the E Street Band. The performance of the song "Blue Christmas" was then included in the bonus part of the Bruce Springsteen DVD The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town in 2011 with four other tracks from the concert.

A 2011 version of the song recorded by Michael Bublé was included on his holiday album Christmas. Capitalizing on the blues influence of earlier covers, the Bublé recording applies the fire of traditional New Orleans polyphonic jazz and a larger big band sound.

In 2013 Polkadot Cadaver recorded a cover of the song featured on their Christmas EP From Bethlehem to Oblivion.

In 2013, Misfits re recorded the song for their Christmas EP Horror Xmas

Use in film and television

In 1974, the song was featured in the children's Christmas special The Year Without a Santa Claus.
In 2009, Elvis' version was used in a TV commercial for Verizon Wireless.
In 2011, Damian McGinty (as his character Rory Flanagan) sang the Elvis version of the song in the Christmas episode of TV series Glee, titled "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" (aired on December 13).^[10]

References

↑ Badman, Keith. The Beach Boys. The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band: On Stage and in the Studio Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California, 2004. ISBN 0-87930-818-4 p. 72
↑ Badman, Keith. The Beach Boys. The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band: On Stage and in the Studio Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California, 2004. ISBN 0-87930-818-4 p. 58
↑ Greene, Andy (30 November 2011). "Readers' Poll: The Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenner. Retrieved 08 December 2011.
↑ http://www.russmorganorchestra.com/russ.html: see table section "Vocalists with Band Included"
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920-2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 50,62. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920-2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 25. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
↑ Sony Ericsson Christmas Calling: The Soundtrack to Your Season. December 11, 2005. 60 minutes in. Channel 4. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495514/.
↑ Kelly Clarkson: Blue Christmas: Christmas Calling (Video) (Television production). Youtube. 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
↑ Malach, Maggie (September 5, 2013). "Kelly Clarkson Releases 'Wrapped in Red' Track Listing". PopCrush. Townsquare Media. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
↑ http://www.wetpaint.com/glee/video/damian-mcginty-sings-blue-christmas-in-glee-season-3-episode-9-extraordinary-merry-christmas-listen

External links

Blue Christmas lyrics
Music video featuring Elvis Presley and a superimposed Martina McBride
Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Elvis Presley singles discography

1950s

1954	"That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Good Rockin' Tonight" / "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" "Milkcow Blues Boogie"

1955	"Baby Let's Play House" "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train"

1956	"Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Tutti Frutti" "Money Honey" "I Got a Woman" "Tryin' to Get to You" "Blue Moon" "I'll Never Let You Go (Lil' Darlin')" / "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)" "Shake, Rattle and Roll" / "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" "Love Me Tender" "Love Me" "Paralyzed"

1957	"Too Much" "All Shook Up" "Peace in the Valley "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" "Jailhouse Rock"

1958	"Don't" "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" "Hard Headed Woman" "One Night"

1959	"I Need Your Love Tonight" / "A Fool Such as I" "A Big Hunk o' Love"

1960s

1960	"Stuck on You" "It's Now or Never" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

1961	"Surrender" "I Feel So Bad" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby"

1962	"Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part of You" "She's Not You" "Return to Sender"

1963	"One Broken Heart for Sale" "(You're The) Devil in Disguise" "Bossa Nova Baby"

1964	"Kissin' Cousins" / "It Hurts Me" "What'd I Say" / "Viva Las Vegas" "Blue Christmas"

1965	"Do the Clam" / "You'll Be Gone" "Crying in the Chapel "(Such an) Easy Question" "I'm Yours" "Puppet on a String" / Wooden Heart"

1966	"Tell Me Why" "Frankie and Johnny" "Love Letters" "Spinout" / "All That I Am" "If Every Day Was Like Christmas"

1967	"Indescribably Blue" "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)" / "That's Someone You Never Forget" "There's Always Me" "Big Boss Man" / "You Don't Know Me"

1968	"Guitar Man" "U.S. Male" "You'll Never Walk Alone" "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby" / "Let Yourself Go" "A Little Less Conversation" "If I Can Dream"

1969	"Memories" "How Great Thou Art" "In the Ghetto" / "Any Day Now" "Suspicious Minds" "Don't Cry Daddy"

1970s

1970	"Kentucky Rain" "The Wonder of You" "I've Lost You" "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Patch It Up" "I Really Don't Want to Know" / "There Goes My Everything"

1971	"Rags to Riches" "Life" "I'm Leavin'" "It's Only Love" "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful"

1972	"Until It's Time for You to Go" "He Touched Me" "An American Trilogy" / "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "Burning Love" "Separate Ways" / "Always on My Mind"

1973	"Steamroller Blues" "Raised on Rock" / "For Ol' Times Sake"

1974	"I've Got a Thing About You Baby" "If You Talk In Your Sleep" "Promised Land"

1975	"My Boy" "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" "Bringing It Back" / "Pieces of My Life"

1976	"Hurt" / "For the Heart" "Moody Blue"

1977	"Way Down" "My Way" / "America the Beautiful"

1978	"Unchained Melody" / "Softly as I Leave You"

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Themed	Stack-O-Tracks Ultimate Christmas Classics Selected by Brian Wilson Summer Love Songs

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The Beach Boys singles discography

1960s

1961	"Surfin'" / "Luau"

1962	"Surfin' Safari" / "409" "Ten Little Indians" / "County Fair"

1963	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "Shut Down" "Surfer Girl" / "Little Deuce Coupe" "Be True to Your School" / "In My Room" "Little Saint Nick" / "The Lord's Prayer"

1964	"Hawaii" / "The Rocking Surfer" "Fun, Fun, Fun" / "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" "I Get Around" / "Don't Worry Baby" "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" / "She Knows Me Too Well" "Little Honda" / "Wendy" "Dance, Dance, Dance" / "The Warmth of the Sun" "The Man with All the Toys" / "Blue Christmas"

1965	"Do You Wanna Dance?" / "Please Let Me Wonder" "Help Me, Rhonda" / "Kiss Me, Baby" "California Girls"/ "Let Him Run Wild" "The Little Girl I Once Knew" / "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" "Barbara Ann" / "Girl Don't Tell Me"

1966	"Caroline, No" / "Summer Means New Love" "Sloop John B" / "You're So Good to Me" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "God Only Knows" "Good Vibrations" / "Let's Go Away for Awhile"

1967	"Then I Kissed Her" / "Mountain of Love" "Heroes and Villains" / "You're Welcome" "Gettin' Hungry" / "Devoted to You" "Wild Honey" / "Wind Chimes" "Darlin'" / "Here Today"

1968	"Friends" / "Little Bird" "Do It Again" / "Wake the World" "Bluebirds over the Mountain" / "Never Learn Not to Love"

1969	"I Can Hear Music" / "All I Want to Do" "Break Away" / "Celebrate the News"

1970s

1970	"Add Some Music to Your Day" / "Susie Cincinnati" "Cottonfields" / "The Nearest Faraway Place" "Slip on Through" / "This Whole World" "Tears in the Morning" / "It's About Time"

1971	"Cool, Cool Water" / "Forever" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (live) / "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (by Merry Clayton) "Long Promised Road" / "Deirdre" "Long Promised Road" / "'Til I Die" "Surf's Up" / "Don't Go Near the Water"

1972	"Student Demonstration Time" / "Don't Go Near the Water" "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" / "Cuddle Up" "Marcella" / "Hold On Dear Brother"

1973	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You" "California Saga: California" / "Funky Pretty"

1974	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "The Warmth of the Sun" "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" / "Susie Cincinnati"

1975	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You"

1976	"Rock and Roll Music" / "T M Song" "It's O.K." / "Had to Phone Ya" "Everyone's in Love with You" / "Susie Cincinnati"

1977	"Honkin' Down the Highway" / "Solar System"

1978	"Peggy Sue" / "Hey, Little Tomboy"

1979	"Here Comes the Night" / "Baby Blue" "Good Timin'" / "Love Surrounds Me" "Lady Lynda" / "Full Sail" "It's a Beautiful Day" / "Sumahama"

1980s

1980	"Goin' On" / "Endless Harmony" "Livin' with a Heartache" / "Santa Ana Winds"

1981	"The Beach Boys Medley" / "God Only Knows" "Come Go with Me" / "Don't Go Near the Water"

1985	"Getcha Back" / "Male Ego" "It's Gettin' Late" / "It's O.K." "She Believes in Love Again" / "It's Just a Matter of Time"

1986	"Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue" / "Good Vibrations" (live) "California Dreamin'" / "Lady Liberty"

1987	"Happy Endings" (with Little Richard) / "California Girls" (live)

1988	"Kokomo" / "Tutti Frutti" (Little Richard)

1989	"Still Cruisin'" / "Kokomo"

1990s

1990	"Somewhere Near Japan" / "Kokomo" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "The Beach Boys Medley" "Problem Child" / "Problem Child" (instrumental)

1992	"Hot Fun in the Summertime" / "Summer of Love"

1996	"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" / "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "Here Today"

2010s

2011	"Good Vibrations" / "Heroes and Villains" "Don't Fight the Sea" / "Friends" "Cabin Essence" / "Wonderful"

2012	"That's Why God Made the Radio" / "That's Why God Made the Radio" (instrumental) "Isn't It Time" / Live in Chicago

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Brian Wilson

Studio albums

Brian Wilson
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Orange Crate Art (with Van Dyke Parks)
Imagination
Gettin' In Over My Head
Brian Wilson Presents Smile
What I Really Want for Christmas
That Lucky Old Sun
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
In the Key of Disney

Live albums

Singles

"Caroline, No"
"Gettin' Hungry" (with Mike Love)
"Let's Go to Heaven In My Car"
"Love and Mercy"
"Night Time"
"Melt Away"
"Do It Again"
"Your Imagination"
"Wonderful"
"Good Vibrations"
"Our Prayer (Freeform Reform)"
"Walking Down the Path of Life / Love & Mercy"
"What I Really Want for Christmas"
"Midnight's Another Day"
"What Love Can Do"

Compilations

Articles	Discography Songs Recordings Brian Wilson's home studio The 50th Reunion Tour "A Tribute to Brian Wilson" "Brian Wilson"

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Bands	American Spring The Beach Boys The Honeys Wilson Phillips The Wondermints The Wrecking Crew

Albums	Pet Sounds (Sessions) Smile (Sessions) Sweet Insanity Spring A World of Peace Must Come The Wilsons Making God Smile Smiling Pets

Films	I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995) Love and Mercy (2014)

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v t e Dennis Wilson

Albums	Pacific Ocean Blue Bambu (unfinished)

Singles	"Sound of Free" / "Lady" "River Song" / "Farewell My Friend" "You and I" / "Friday Night"

Related articles	Songs Murry Wilson Brian Wilson Carl Wilson Mike Love Al Jardine The Beach Boys Two-Lane Blacktop "You Are So Beautiful" Christine McVie Charles Manson

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys' Christmas Album

Songs

Side one	"Little Saint Nick" "The Man with All the Toys" "Santa's Beard" "Merry Christmas, Baby" "Christmas Day" "Frosty the Snowman"

Side two	"We Three Kings of Orient Are" "Blue Christmas" "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" "White Christmas" "I'll Be Home for Christmas" "Auld Lang Syne"

1962–1965
1966–1977
1978–2012

v t e Andrea Bocelli singles

Il mare calmo della sera	"Il mare calmo della sera"

Bocelli	"Con te partirò"/"Vivere" "Macchine da Guerra" "Per amore" "Vivo per lei"

Romanza	"Vivo por ella" "Time to Say Goodbye" "Ich lebe für sie" "Je vis pour elle"

Sogno	"The Prayer" "Canto della Terra"

Sacred Arias	"Ave Maria"

Cieli di Toscana	"Melodramma" "Mille Lune Mille Onde" "L'abitudine"

Andrea	"Dell'amore non si sa" "Un nuovo giorno"

Amore	"Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" "Because We Believe" "Ama Credi E Vai"

Vivere	"Dare to Live (Vivere)" "Vive Ya"

My Christmas	"White Christmas/Bianco Natale" "What Child Is This"

Other singles	"Bridge over Troubled Water"

Other songs	"The Power of Love" "Bésame Mucho" "Amapola" "Can't Help Falling in Love" "Panis Angelicus" "Adeste Fideles" "Blue Christmas"

Category Media

v t e Clay Walker singles

Clay Walker	"What's It to You" "Live Until I Die" "Where Do I Fit in the Picture" "Dreaming with My Eyes Open"

If I Could Make a Living	"If I Could Make a Living" "This Woman and This Man" "My Heart Will Never Know"

Hypnotize the Moon	"Who Needs You Baby" "Hypnotize the Moon" "Only on Days That End in "Y"" "Bury the Shovel"

Rumor Has It	"Rumor Has It" "One, Two, I Love You" "Watch This" "Then What?"

Greatest Hits	"Ordinary People" "You're Beginning to Get to Me"

Live, Laugh, Love	"She's Always Right" "Live, Laugh, Love" "The Chain of Love" "Once in a Lifetime Love"

Say No More	"Say No More" "If You Ever Feel Like Lovin' Me Again"

A Few Questions	"A Few Questions" "I Can't Sleep" "Jesus Was a Country Boy"

Fall	"'Fore She Was Mama" "Fall" "She Likes It in the Morning"

She Won't Be Lonely Long	"She Won't Be Lonely Long" "Where Do I Go from You" "Like We Never Said Goodbye" "Jesse James"

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