cool christmas blues

Some of the finest Christmas albums ever made are blues albums. Here are three of the best:

Charles Brown – Cool Christmas Blues (1994) (iTunes) Recorded at Russian Hill Studios, it doesn’t get any cooler than this. I loved listening to Charles Brown sing, and this album showcases many of his own songs: “Santa’s Blues,” “Christmas Comes But Once a Year,” “Stay With Me,” “To Someone That I Love,” and “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

Santa’s Blues

B.B. King – A Christmas Celebration of Hope (2001) (iTunes) Produced to raise money for The City of Hope, this is B.B. King at his finest, laid back guitar and gritty vocals. The song selection is perfect: the beautiful “Christmas is Heaven;” three songs written by Charles Brown; and, some blues favorites like “Back Door Santa” (he’ll make the women happy while the men are out at play).

Please Come Home for Christmas

Lou Rawls – Merry Christmas Baby (2006) (iTunes) Capitol Records has just re-released this 1967 masterpiece along with 7 cuts from 1993’s Christmas is the Time and 2 songs from his final recording session. All of the classics are here, presented in Mr. Rawls’ smooth, bluesy style.

Little Drummer Boy

Charles and Lou - you are missed