Please Come Home for Christmas

"Please Come Home for Christmas"
"Please Come Home for Christmas"
Single by Bon Jovi
B-side	"I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas"; "Back Door Santa";
Released	December 5, 1994
Genre	Christmas, pop rock, blues rock
Length	2:53
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Charles Brown, Gene Redd
Producer(s)	Jimmy Iovine

"Please Come Home for Christmas"
"Please Come Home for Christmas"
Single by Eagles
B-side	"Funky New Year"
Released	November 27, 1978
Recorded	1978 at Bayshore Recording Studios, Coconut Grove, Florida
Genre	Rock, rhythm and blues, Christmas music
Length	2:57
Label	Asylum 45555
Songwriter(s)	Charles Brown, Gene Redd
Producer(s)	Bill Szymczyk
Eagles singles chronology

"Please Come Home for Christmas"
"Please Come Home for Christmas"
Single by Charles Brown
from the album Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs
B-side	"Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)" by Amos Milburn
Released	1960
Recorded	September 21, 1960
Genre	R&B, Christmas
Length	2:50
Label	King 45-5405
Songwriter(s)	Charles Brown, Gene Redd
Charles Brown singles chronology

"Please Come Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song, written in 1960 and released the same year by American blues singer and pianist Charles Brown.^[3] Hitting the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune, which Brown co-wrote with Gene Redd^{[note 1]}, peaked at position #76. It appeared on the Christmas Singles chart for nine seasons, hitting #1 in 1972.^[4]^{[note 2]} It includes a number of characteristics of Christmas music, such as multiple references in the lyrics to the Christmas season and Christmas traditions, and the use of a church bell type sound, created using tubular bells, at the start of the song. It is sometimes referred to by its incipit, "Bells Will Be Ringing".^{[citation needed]} The song has been covered by many artists, including in 1978 by the Eagles in a popular 1978 recording.

Personnel[]

Charles Brown – vocals, piano

Eagles version[]

In 1978, the rock band Eagles covered and released the song as a holiday single. Their version peaked at #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the first Christmas song to reach the Top 20 on that chart since Roy Orbison's "Pretty Paper" in 1963. This was the first Eagles song to feature Timothy B. Schmit on bass (having replaced founding member Randy Meisner the previous year). The lineup features Don Henley (drums/lead vocals), Glenn Frey (piano, backing vocals), Joe Walsh (guitar, backing vocals), Schmit (bass/backing vocals), and Don Felder (lead guitar). Originally released as a vinyl 7" single, it was re-released as a CD single in 1995, reaching #15 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. This version includes the lyrics "bells will be ringing the sad, sad news" (that is, a Christmas alone) as opposed to Brown's original version which references the "glad, glad news" (that is, Christmas in general).

Forty-two years after it first charted, the Eagles' 1978 recording of "Please Come Home for Christmas" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 45 (on the chart dated January 2, 2021).^[6]

Jon Bon Jovi/Bon Jovi version[]

Jon Bon Jovi also covered the song on the 1992 holiday album A Very Special Christmas 2 in the style of the Eagles. A promo music video that featured supermodel Cindy Crawford was made to accompany that release. In 1994 the same recording was released as a charity single in Europe, but this time instead of being credited as a solo recording by Jon Bon Jovi it was released under the band name Bon Jovi. The 1994 single release reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Don Felder of the Eagles also featured on guitar in this version of the song.

Chart performance[]

Charles Brown[]

Chart (1962)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	76

Eagles[]

Chart (1978–1979)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[9]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[10]	28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[11]	15
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	30
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	18
Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	15
Chart (2005)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs	74
Chart (2018)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[14]	94
Chart (2019)	Peak position
US Rolling Stone Top 100^[15]	35
Chart (2020)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[16]	48

Bon Jovi[]

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[17]	20
Ireland (IRMA)^[18]	6
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[19]	10
Scotland (OCC)^[20]	8
UK Singles (OCC)^[21]	7

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[22]	97

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Slovenia (SloTop50)^[23]	30

Gary Allan[]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[24]	70

Lee Roy Parnell[]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[25]	71

Willie Nelson[]

Chart (2004)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[26]	50

Josh Gracin[]

Chart (2006)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[27]	51

Martina McBride[]

Chart (2011–12)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[28]	51

Kelly Clarkson[]

Chart (2013–14)	Peak position
Canada AC (Billboard)^[29]	14
South Korea International Singles (GAON)^[30]	97
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[31]	6
US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)^[32]	14

Notes[]

^ Brown claimed to have written the song alone.^[3]
^ Of the many versions Brown recorded and released over the years through various labels,^[5] his original 1960 recording was his most popular.^[3]^[4]

References[]

^ Kelly, Red (Dec 19, 2005). "Amos Milburn – Christmas (Comes But Once A Year) (KING 5405)". The B Side. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
^ "The Top 40 Christmas Oldies Songs and Holiday Music – #4". Oldies.about.com. 1960-09-21. Archived from the original on 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Christmas song has local roots" (Online Newspaper). Cincinnati.com. USA Today Network. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. ...the original version was recorded in 1960 at Evanston's King Records studio by Charles Brown. [...] In 1960, word of Brown's presence in town reached Syd Nathan of King Records. In [a] 1990 interview, Brown recalled that Nathan asked him, "'Could you write something as good as 'Merry Christmas Baby?' I said, 'I don't know how good it will be, but I'll write.' He said, 'You and [Milburn] Amos go write one apiece and let me hear what you done.' When we brought it to Syd Nathan he fell in love with mine." Milburn's "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" ended up as the B-side of Brown's King single... Brown subsequently recorded other singles and even an album of Christmas songs for Nathan, but never had another hit. While Brown claimed he wrote "Please Come Home" alone, the credits listed Redd as co-writer.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b CD sleeve: Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits (1955 – Present), 1989 Rhino Records Inc.
^ Anthony, Randall. "Charles Brown blues". Hipchristmas.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. Merry Christmas Baby," first recorded with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in 1947, and "Please Come Home For Christmas," a 1960 hit on King Records covered with great success the Eagles in 1978. Brown recorded both of these songs many times...
^ "The Hot 100: The week of January 2, 2021". billboard.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 3, 1994. p. 31. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
^ "Ultratop.be – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Charts.nz – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas". Singles Top 100.
^ "Eagles: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
^ "Eagles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "ARIA Chart Watch #505". auspOp. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
^ "Eagles Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Please Come Home for Christmas". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 1. January 7, 1995. p. 11. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ "Gary Allan Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Lee Roy Parnell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Josh Gracin Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
^ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 11월 5주차" (in Korean). GAON. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
^ "Kelly Clarkson Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Holiday Digital Songs for Kelly Clarkson. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 7, 2014.

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

[4] Brown claimed to have written the song alone.^[3]

[7] Of the many versions Brown recorded and released over the years through various labels,^[5] his original 1960 recording was his most popular.^[3]^[4]

[1] Kelly, Red (Dec 19, 2005). "Amos Milburn – Christmas (Comes But Once A Year) (KING 5405)". The B Side. Retrieved April 2, 2010.

[2] "The Top 40 Christmas Oldies Songs and Holiday Music – #4". Oldies.about.com. 1960-09-21. Archived from the original on 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2014-05-24.

[CincinnatiNewspaper-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Christmas song has local roots" (Online Newspaper). Cincinnati.com. USA Today Network. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. ...the original version was recorded in 1960 at Evanston's King Records studio by Charles Brown. [...] In 1960, word of Brown's presence in town reached Syd Nathan of King Records. In [a] 1990 interview, Brown recalled that Nathan asked him, "'Could you write something as good as 'Merry Christmas Baby?' I said, 'I don't know how good it will be, but I'll write.' He said, 'You and [Milburn] Amos go write one apiece and let me hear what you done.' When we brought it to Syd Nathan he fell in love with mine." Milburn's "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" ended up as the B-side of Brown's King single... Brown subsequently recorded other singles and even an album of Christmas songs for Nathan, but never had another hit. While Brown claimed he wrote "Please Come Home" alone, the credits listed Redd as co-writer.

[1989Sleeve-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b CD sleeve: Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits (1955 – Present), 1989 Rhino Records Inc.

[6] Anthony, Randall. "Charles Brown blues". Hipchristmas.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. Merry Christmas Baby," first recorded with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers in 1947, and "Please Come Home For Christmas," a 1960 hit on King Records covered with great success the Eagles in 1978. Brown recorded both of these songs many times...

[8] "The Hot 100: The week of January 2, 2021". billboard.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.

[9] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 3, 1994. p. 31. Retrieved June 23, 2021.

[sc_Flanders_Eagles-10] "Ultratop.be – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Dutch100_Eagles-11] "Dutchcharts.nl – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Eagles-12] "Charts.nz – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Sweden_Eagles-13] "Swedishcharts.com – Eagles – Please Come Home for Christmas". Singles Top 100.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Eagles-14] "Eagles: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Eagles-15] "Eagles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[16] "ARIA Chart Watch #505". auspOp. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.

[17] "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.

[sc_Canada_Eagles-18] "Eagles Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

[Book-19] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[joviire-20] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Please Come Home for Christmas". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

[21] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 1. January 7, 1995. p. 11. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

[joviscot-22] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

[joviuk-23] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

[sc_Poland_-24] "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

[25] "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Gary_Allan-26] "Gary Allan Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Lee_Roy_Parnell-27] "Lee Roy Parnell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Willie_Nelson-28] "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Josh_Gracin-29] "Josh Gracin Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Martina_McBride-30] "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcanadaac_Kelly_Clarkson-31] "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2014.

[32] "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 11월 5주차" (in Korean). GAON. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Kelly_Clarkson-33] "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2014.

[34] "Kelly Clarkson Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Holiday Digital Songs for Kelly Clarkson. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 7, 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[note 1]

[4]

[note 2]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[5]

show v t Eagles
Don Henley Joe Walsh Timothy B. Schmit Deacon Frey Vince Gill Glenn Frey Bernie Leadon Randy Meisner Don Felder
Studio albums	Eagles Desperado On the Border One of These Nights Hotel California The Long Run Long Road Out of Eden
Compilation	Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 The Very Best of the Eagles Selected Works: 1972–1999 The Very Best Of Eagles
Live releases	Eagles Live Hell Freezes Over Farewell 1 Tour: Live from Melbourne Live from the Forum MMXVIII
Singles	"Take It Easy" "Witchy Woman" "Peaceful Easy Feeling" "Tequila Sunrise" "Outlaw Man" "Already Gone" "James Dean" "Best of My Love" "One of These Nights" "Lyin' Eyes" "Take It to the Limit" "New Kid in Town" "Hotel California" "Life in the Fast Lane" "Please Come Home for Christmas" "Heartache Tonight" "The Long Run" "I Can't Tell You Why" "Seven Bridges Road" "Get Over It" "Love Will Keep Us Alive" "Hole in the World" "How Long" "Busy Being Fabulous"
Other songs	"Desperado" "Ol' '55" "The Last Resort" "In the City"
Tours	Long Road Out of Eden Tour History of the Eagles Tour Hotel California 2020 Tour
People	Linda Ronstadt Jackson Browne J. D. Souther Jack Tempchin Bill Szymczyk Glyn Johns Deacon Frey Vince Gill
Related	Discography Poco Flying Burrito Brothers Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles History of the Eagles Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001) Standin' on the Corner Park
Category

show v t Jon Bon Jovi
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Blaze of Glory Destination Anywhere
Compilations	The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings
Singles	"Blaze of Glory" "Miracle" "Never Say Die" "Levon" "Please Come Home for Christmas" "Midnight in Chelsea" "Queen of New Orleans" "Janie, Don't Take Your Love to Town" "Ugly"
Featured singles	"Bang a Drum"
Related articles	Bon Jovi Bon Jovi discography The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

show v t Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi Tico Torres David Bryan Hugh McDonald Phil X Alec John Such Dave Sabo Richie Sambora
Studio albums	Bon Jovi 7800° Fahrenheit Slippery When Wet New Jersey Keep the Faith These Days Crush Bounce Have a Nice Day Lost Highway The Circle What About Now Burning Bridges This House Is Not for Sale 2020
Compilation albums	Hard & Hot (Best of Bon Jovi) Cross Road Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi This Left Feels Right 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong Greatest Hits
Live albums	One Wild Night Live 1985–2001 Inside Out This House Is Not for Sale – Live from the London Palladium
Singles	"Runaway" "She Don't Know Me" "Burning for Love" "Only Lonely" "In and Out of Love" "The Hardest Part Is the Night" "Silent Night" "You Give Love a Bad Name" "Livin' on a Prayer" "Wanted Dead or Alive" "Never Say Goodbye" "Edge of a Broken Heart" "Bad Medicine" "Born to Be My Baby" "I'll Be There for You" "Lay Your Hands on Me" "Living in Sin" "Keep the Faith" "Bed of Roses" "In These Arms" "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" "I Believe" "Dry County" "Please Come Home for Christmas" "Always" "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" "This Ain't a Love Song" "Something for the Pain" "Lie to Me" "These Days" "Hey God" "Real Life" "It's My Life" "Say It Isn't So" "Thank You for Loving Me" "One Wild Night" "Everyday" "Misunderstood" "All About Lovin' You" "Bounce" (promo single) "The Distance" "Have a Nice Day" "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (with Jennifer Nettles) "Welcome to Wherever You Are" "(You Want to) Make a Memory" "Lost Highway" "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (with LeAnn Rimes) "Summertime" "Whole Lot of Leavin'" "We Weren't Born to Follow" "Superman Tonight" "When We Were Beautiful" "What Do You Got?" "No Apologies" "This Is Our House" (promo single) "Because We Can" "We Don't Run" "This House Is Not for Sale" "When We Were Us" "Do What You Can" (with Jennifer Nettles)
Video albums	Breakout: Video Singles Slippery When Wet: The Videos New Jersey: The Videos Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey Keep the Faith: An Evening with Bon Jovi Keep the Faith: The Videos Cross Road Live from London The Crush Tour This Left Feels Right Live Lost Highway: The Concert When We Were Beautiful Live at Madison Square Garden Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection
Concert tours	Runaway Tour Slippery When Wet Tour Jersey Syndicate Tour I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Tour These Days Tour One Wild Night Tour Have a Nice Day Tour Lost Highway Tour The Circle Tour Bon Jovi Live Because We Can Bon Jovi Live! This House Is Not for Sale Tour
Solo albums	Blaze of Glory (Jon Bon Jovi) Stranger in This Town (Sambora) On a Full Moon (Bryan) Destination Anywhere (Jon Bon Jovi) Undiscovered Soul (Sambora) Lunar Eclipse (Bryan) The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings (Jon Bon Jovi) Aftermath of the Lowdown (Sambora)
Related articles	Discography Songs recorded Awards
Category

show v t Kimberley Locke
Albums	One Love Based on a True Story Christmas
Singles	"8th World Wonder" "Wrong" "Coulda Been" "I Could" "Up on the House Top" "Jingle Bells" "Change" "Band of Gold" "Frosty the Snowman" "Fall" "We Need a Little Christmas" "Strobelight" "Silver Bells"
Featured singles	"Silver Bells" "Come Together Now" "Please Come Home for Christmas"
Related articles	Discography