A Charles Brown Christmas Blues Playlist

Charles Brown was a pioneer of postwar rhythm and blues who not only had many hit recordings but influenced countless blues and pop artists. He was also identified with several Christmas songs that have become standards. To celebrate today, I have a playlist of some of his Christmas blues classics. Here he is part of Johnny Moore's Three Blazers' with the original Merry Christmas Baby.

Another famous Charles Brown recording was Please Come Home For Christmas.

Here is Christmas (Comes Once a Year) that Charles co-wrote with Amos Milburn.

Here is Its Christmas Time from the album Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs.

Here is Let's Make Everyday a Christmas Day.

When his career took off again in the 1980s and 1990s, Charles recorded a new album of Christmas blues, Cool Christmas Blues, for Rounder's Bullseye Blues label. Here is Santa's Blues.

From this same album is A Song For Christmas.

While Charles redid Merry Christmas Baby for this album, we close this playlist with Charles and Bonnie Raitt performing this classic on the Tonight Show.

A Playlist of Christmas Blues Recordings

Blues (and Jazz) artists have been recording blues about the holidays almost as long as such music has been recorded. Here are a few gems to help celebrate the holiday. Here Blind Lemon Jefferson sings Christmas Eve Blues.

Here is Charlie Jordan singing Christmas Christmas Blues and that is (unless I am deaf) the Devil's Son-in-Law, Peetie Wheatstraw on piano.

And now the great Blind Blake singing Lonesome Christmas Blues.

Moving a head a few decades we get the second Sonny Boy Williamson's, Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues.

Lightnin' Hopkins gives his take on Merry Christmas.

Now Freddie King has Christmas Tears.

But Eddie C. Campbell has found out that Santa's Messin' With the Kid.

But Denise Lasalle says that Santa's Got the Christmas Blues.

This is my favorite Louis Armstrong Christmas song, 'Zat You, Santa Claus?

No Charles Brown today (I will hold his holiday songs for Christmas Day itself. As Marvn Sease say, may you have  a Funky Christmas.