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Please Come Home for Christmas#Eagles version

{{Short description|1960 single by Charles Brown}}

{{Distinguish|Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Please Come Home for Christmas

| cover = Charles Brown - Please Come Home for Christmas.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Charles Brown

| album = Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs

| B-side = "Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)" by Amos Milburn{{cite web

| last = Kelly

| first = Red

| title = Amos Milburn – Christmas (Comes But Once A Year) (KING 5405)

| work = The B Side

| date = December 19, 2005

| url = http://redkelly.blogspot.com/2005/12/amos-milburn-christmas-comes-but-once.html

| access-date = April 2, 2010}}

| released = 1960

| recorded = September 21, 1960{{cite web |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/theculture/a/christmas4.htm |title=The Top 40 Christmas Oldies Songs and Holiday Music – #4 |publisher=Oldies.about.com |date=September 21, 1960 |access-date=May 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412225247/http://oldies.about.com/od/theculture/a/christmas4.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2014}}

| studio =

| genre = R&B, Christmas

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=50}}

| label = King 45-5405

| writer = Charles Brown, Gene Redd

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Angel Baby (Charles Brown & Group)

| next_year = 1961

}}

"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.{{cite web |title=Christmas song has local roots |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/18/christmas-song-mysterious-local-roots/20590047/ |website=Cincinnati.com |publisher=USA Today Network |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191212145104/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/18/christmas-song-mysterious-local-roots/20590047/ |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |language=en |format=Online Newspaper |date=December 18, 2014 |quote="...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." |url-status=live }} Hitting the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune, which Brown co-wrote with Gene Redd{{refn|group=note|Brown claimed to have written the song alone.}}, peaked at position number 76. It appeared on the Christmas Singles chart for nine seasons, hitting number 1 in 1972.CD sleeve: Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits (1955 – Present), 1989 Rhino Records Inc.{{refn|group=note|Of the many versions Brown recorded and released over the years through various labels,{{cite web |last1=Anthony |first1=Randall |title=Charles Brown blues |url=http://www.hipchristmas.com/artists/b/brown_charles.php |website=Hipchristmas.com |access-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191212124932/http://www.hipchristmas.com/artists/b/brown_charles.php |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |language=en |quote="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..."}} his original 1960 recording was his most popular.}} 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. The song has been covered by many artists, including by Eagles, Etta James, U2 and Cher.

Eagles version

{{Infobox song

| name = Please Come Home for Christmas

| cover = Pleasecomehomeforchristmas(Eagles) coverart.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Eagles

| album =

| B-side = "Funky New Year"

| released = November 27, 1978

| recorded = 1978 at Bayshore Recording Studios, Coconut Grove, Florida

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock, {{nowrap|rhythm and blues}}, {{nowrap|Christmas music}}

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=57}}

| label = Asylum 45555

| writer = Charles Brown, Gene Redd

| producer = Bill Szymczyk

| prev_title = Life in the Fast Lane

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = Heartache Tonight

| next_year = 1979

}}

In 1978, the rock band Eagles covered and released the song as a holiday single. Their version peaked at number 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 number 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).

A live version of the song was included on the compilation 4-CD box set called Selected Works: 1972–1999 released in 2000. This particular version was recorded in concert on December 31, 1999, in Los Angeles.

Forty-two years after it first charted, 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).{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2021-01-02|title=The Hot 100: The week of January 2, 2021|publisher=billboard.com|access-date=January 1, 2021}}

Jon Bon Jovi/Bon Jovi version

{{Infobox song

| name = Please Come Home for Christmas

| cover = Please Come Home for Christmas (Bon Jovi) coverart.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Bon Jovi

| album = A Very Special Christmas 2

| B-side =

| released = {{start date|1994|12|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-12-03.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=December 3, 1994|access-date=June 23, 2021}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Christmas

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=53}}

| label = Mercury

| writer = Charles Brown, Gene Redd

| producer = Jimmy Iovine

| prev_title = Always

| prev_year = 1994

| next_title = Someday I'll Be Saturday Night

| next_year = 1995

}}

Jon Bon Jovi also covered the song on the 1992 holiday album A Very Special Christmas 2 in the style of Eagles. 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. A promo music video that featured supermodel Cindy Crawford was made to accompany that release. The 1994 single release reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy. Don Felder of Eagles also featured on guitar in this version of the song.

=Critical reception=

Stuart Bailie from NME wrote, "Sleighbells, big choirs, some hammond organ. Cindy Crawford snogs Jon on the cover for charidee {sic} (well, she'd have to, wouldn't she?). Alright, but not as nice as The Eagles' versh of the song."{{cite magazine|first=Stuart|last=Bailie|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53345294134/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=December 10, 1994|page=40|access-date=November 28, 2023}}

Charts

=Charles Brown=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1962)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100

| 76

=Eagles=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1978–1979)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders|19|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|5|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|28|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|15|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|30|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|18|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1995)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks

| 15

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2005)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot Digital Songs

| 74

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/12/aria-chart-watch-505/|title=ARIA Chart Watch #505|publisher=auspOp|date=December 29, 2018|access-date=December 29, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411005235/https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/12/aria-chart-watch-505/|url-status=dead}}

| 94

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2019)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Rolling Stone Top 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-12-24/|title=Top 100 Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231173333/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-12-24/|url-status=dead}}

| 35

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Canada|48|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true|access-date=December 29, 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-01-01|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=January 1, 2024|access-date=December 29, 2023}}

| 34

{{single chart|Austria|33|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2024}}
{{single chart|Canada|23|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2024|refname=Canada2023}}
{{single chart|Germany|28|songid=41465|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=December 30, 2022}}
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|36|artist=Eagles|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2024}}
{{single chart|Ireland4|49|date=20231229|rowheader=true|access-date=December 29, 2023}}
scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s52-2/|title=2023 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=December 29, 2023|access-date=January 4, 2024}}

| 43

{{single chart|Portugal|97|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2024}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|37|artist=Eagles|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=December 31, 2023}}

=Bon Jovi=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1994)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=52|page=8|date=December 24, 1994}}

| 28

scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}

| 20

{{single chart|Ireland2|6|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2019|refname="joviire"}}
scope="row"| Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-01-07.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=1|page=11|date=January 7, 1995|access-date=November 25, 2019}}

| 10

{{single chart|Scotland|8|date=19941217|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2019|refname="joviscot"}}
{{single chart|UK|7|date=19941217|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2019|refname="joviuk"}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020–2023)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay|publisher=OLiS|language=pl|access-date=December 27, 2023|type=Select week 16.12.2023–22.12.2023.}}

| 78

scope="row"| Slovenia (SloTop50){{cite web|url=http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2020&week=52|title=SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart|publisher=slotop50.si|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110040951/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2020&week=52|url-status=dead}}

| 30

=Gary Allan=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|70|artist=Gary Allan|rowheader=true}}

=Lee Roy Parnell=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|71|artist=Lee Roy Parnell|rowheader=true}}

=Willie Nelson=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2004)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|50|artist=Willie Nelson|rowheader=true}}

=Josh Gracin=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2006)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|51|artist=Josh Gracin|rowheader=true}}

=Martina McBride=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2011–2012)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|51|artist=Martina McBride|rowheader=true}}

=Kelly Clarkson=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"| Chart (2013–2014)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardcanadaac |14| artist=Kelly Clarkson |rowheader=true |access-date=February 7, 2014}}
scope="row"| South Korea International Singles (GAON){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/index.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=10¤t_week=48&chart_Time=week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203171217/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/index.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=10¤t_week=48&chart_Time=week |title=Gaon Album Chart 2013년 11월 5주차 |language=ko |publisher=GAON |access-date=November 29, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013}}

| 97

{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary |6| artist=Kelly Clarkson |rowheader=true |access-date=November 11, 2014}}
scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)

{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/305681/kelly+clarkson/chart?f=1184 |title=Kelly Clarkson Album & Song Chart History |magazine=Billboard Holiday Digital Songs for Kelly Clarkson |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=February 7, 2014}}

| 14

=George Ezra=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2022)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Croatia (HRT){{cite web|url=https://api.hrt.hr/media/26/83/arc-100-2023-01-02-20230103144413.pdf|title=HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1060 - Issue Date: January 2nd 2023|access-date=January 8, 2023|date=January 3, 2023|lang=en|publisher=Hrvatska Radiotelevizija}}

| 20

{{single chart|Germany|100|songid=2235231|artist=George Ezra|song=Please Come Home for Christmas|rowheader=true|access-date=December 30, 2022}}
{{single chart|Poland|52|chartid=4310|year=2022|rowheader=true|access-date=December 27, 2022|refname=Poland}}
{{single chart|UK|8|date=20211231|rowheader=true|access-date=December 31, 2021}}

Certifications and sales

=Eagles=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The Eagles|title=Please Come Home for Christmas|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1978|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 27, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Eagles|title=Please Come Home for Christmas|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=17748-663-1|access-date=January 6, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

=Jon Bon Jovi=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Jon Bon Jovi|title=Please Come Home for Christmas|award=Silver|relyear=2011|certyear=2021|id=17748-1548-1|access-date=December 28, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Eagles}}

{{Jon Bon Jovi}}

{{Bon Jovi songs}}

{{Kimberley Locke}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1960 singles

Category:1978 singles

Category:1994 singles

Category:Eagles (band) songs

Category:American Christmas songs

Category:Aaron Neville songs

Category:Jon Bon Jovi songs

Category:Charles Brown (musician) songs

Category:Kimberley Locke songs

Category:Josh Gracin songs

Category:Gary Allan songs

Category:Willie Nelson songs

Category:Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes songs

Category:Music videos directed by Herb Ritts

Category:Asylum Records singles

Category:Mercury Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Bill Szymczyk

Category:1960 songs

Category:King Records (United States) singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Iovine