Please Come Home for Christmas is a Christmas song, released in 1960, by the American blues singer and pianist Charles Brown. Hitting Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune Brown co-wrote with Gene Redd peaked at 76.
Sleigh Ride is a Christmas song composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter’s day with another person, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.
“O Tannenbaum”, or, in its English version, “O Christmas Tree”, is a Christmas carol of German origin. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree or Christmas tree. The first known “Tannenbaum” song lyrics date back to 1550.
Jingle Bell Rock is considered the first mainstream Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas song. Although this was released only 2 days before Christmas in 1957, Jingle Bell Rock still hit number 6 on the pop chart. The song was re-released around Christmas in 1958 and again in 1960, making it back to the charts each time.
“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, also known as “Let It Snow”, is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in 1945. It was written in July 1945 in Hollywood, California during one of the hottest days on record.
Really, Ray Charles can do no wrong. It’s a truism that holds for this, his first ever Christmas album. Released in 1985, The Spirit of Christmas arrived at a surprisingly late date in Charles’ career for a first anything—he was 55 at the time—but it demonstrates a man who still knew how to control his voice and his fingers like few other performers ever could.
“Back Door Santa” is a song written by Clarence Carter in collaboration with Marcus Daniel, and originally performed by Carter. It was released on a compilation album Soul Christmas in 1968. The track is in a 12-bar blues format.
Originally written in German as Stille Nacht by Josef Mohr (1792-1848), an Austrian priest. The tune was composed by Franz X. Gruber (1787-1863), an organist and school teacher. This Christmas carol was first performed at the Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria on Christmas day 1818.
Originally recorded in 1950 by Ernest Tubb, Elvis Presley recorded this song in 1957 for his Elvis’ Christmas Album. It wasn’t released as a single until 1964, when in the US it was backed with “Wooden Heart” from Elvis’ soundtrack to his film G.I. Blues, but from 1965 and on, it was backed with “Santa Claus Is Back In Town.”
