MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY

Live 31 Dec 1980 version

Bring it down, band!

Now, I just came here tonight to say...
I just wanna say...
I just wanna say...

Merry Christmas baby, you surely treat me nice
Come on, merry Christmas baby, you surely treat me nice
I feel just like I'm living, living in paradise

Now listen
Now you see, I feel real good tonight
And I got music on the radio
And I feel real good tonight
And I got music on the radio
And the boys in the band are playing pretty good!
Now, I feel just like I wanna kiss you
Underneath my mistletoe

But now listen
Santa came down chimney, half past three
With lots of nice little presents for my baby and me
Merry Christmas baby, you surely treat me nice
And I feel like I'm living, just living in paradise
Come on boys!

Well now, Santa came down chimney, half past three
With lots of nice little presents for my baby and me
Merry Christmas baby, you surely treat me nice
I feel like I'm living, I'm living in paradise

And I just came down to say
Merry Christmas baby
I just wanna say, merry Christmas baby
I just wanna say, merry Christmas baby
I just wanna say, merry Christmas baby
And happy New Year, too!
Oh yeah!
Play it boys, go!
Merry Christmas
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-happy New Year
Ohhhh!

Oh yeah!
Merry Christmas baby!

Page last updated: 13 Dec 2009

Intro

MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY is written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore and originally recorded by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers who released it in 1947. See the original Johnny Moore's Three Blazers version for more details.

The Christmas song was covered by many recording artists including Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band whose live 31 Dec 1980 performance of the song was first officially released in November 1986 as b-side to the WAR single; see the below official releases for more details. That version is perhaps the most notable cover of the song.

Live History

Bruce Springsteen performed MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY live on some occasions over the years, starting in 1980, all during the Holiday period and mostly off-tour.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band rounded up the 1980 part of The River Tour with a 3-dates residency at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, in late December. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY was performed on each of the three nights; it was the opener of the first show, and played in the middle of the set on the last two nights. The live 31 Dec 1980 version was recorded and officially released 1986; see the below official releases for more details. The above lyrics transcription corresponds to that live 31 Dec 1980 version. That show is arguably the longest Springsteen ever did, and is regarded as one of the best of his career.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 1980 performances list]

On 20 Dec 1994, Springsteen made an off-tour guest appearance with Tim McClone's Holiday Express at The Tradewinds in Sea Bright, NJ. He was onstage for 3 songs including MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY. On 16 Dec 1997, Springsteen had his annual Christmas party at McLoone's Rum Runner Restaurant in Sea Bright, NJ. Bobby Bandiera was hired for the entertainment but Bruce played for two hours, and MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY was among the song reported to have been played by him.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 1994 and 1997 off-tour performances list]

The 2000, 2001, and 2003 Asbury Park holiday shows were billed as "Bruce Springsteen with The Max Weinberg 7 with Friends". The Max Weinberg 7 and the Redheaded Women (Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, and Lisa Lowell) served as the house band, with Springsteen bringing others in and out the stage. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY was played during all 2000 and 2001 shows, and on the last of the three 2003 shows. Note that the song was reportedly sound-checked on 05 Dec 2003 before the first of the three 2003 shows, was not played that night during the regular show.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 2000, 2001, and 2003 holiday shows performances list]

On 15 Dec 2001, the "Holiday Express Concert" was held at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, only a week after the close of the Asbury Park holiday shows. Springsteen turned up midway through the show to perform two holiday songs with Tim McCloon's Holiday Express, MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY and SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN. With no Asbury Park Holiday shows planned that year, Springsteen made guest spot appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on 11 Dec 2002. Backed by the Max Weinberg 7, he delivered one of his best television performances. Kicking off with an eight minute version of KITTY'S BACK, Springsteen looked remarkably young and certifiably "loose". After a commercial break they went right in to MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY with Conan O'Brien helping out on rhythm guitar. Springsteen even changed a line of lyrics to namedrop the Late Night show. After beckoning Santa Claus up on stage, Bruce presented Max with a blow-up sex doll, gave Conan a George Foreman grill that "the whole band pitched in" to get, and worked his way into the audience to throw out candy. Springsteen performed two shows (4:30 PM and 8:30 PM) on 19 Dec 2004 during a Holiday jam held at Harry's Roadhouse in Asbury Park, NJ, backed by Bobby Bandiera and his band. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY was played on the second show only. Springsteen showed up at Bobby Bandiera's 2008 Hope Concert at the newly renovated Count Basie Theatre. He joined the festivities for a few songs including MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 2001_2002_2004_2008 performances list (excluding the Asbury Park holiday shows)]

MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY was played on the last date of the Working On A Dream Tour, 22 Nov 2009 in Buffalo, NY. That was the first on-tour performance of the song since 1980, and the last performance of the song by the time this page was last updated.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 2009 performances list]

Official Releases

Several live tracks from the 31 Dec 1980 show at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, were officially released over the years. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980], produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon landau, and Chuck Plotkin, was first released on 10 Nov 1986 as b-side to WAR, the first single from the Live/1975-85 box set. The single was released worldwide on 7-inch vinyl, and 12-inch vinyl versions were also pressed in Greece, Holland, and the UK.

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Australia, 1986 - catalogue # CBS BA 3504

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Canada, 1986 - catalogue # COL 38-06432

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  12-inch single - Greece, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 6

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Holland, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7
  12-inch single - Holland, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 6

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Ireland, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Italy, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Japan, 1986 - catalogue # CBS/SONY 07SP 1000
  The Japanese promotional issue is identical to the commercial one with the exception of a Japanese "promo" writing upon the catalogue number on the labels.

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Philippines, 1986 - catalogue # CBS CS-10154

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Portugal, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - Spain, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - UK, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 7
  12-inch single - UK, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 6
  12-inch single, with fold-out poster sleeve - UK, 1986 - catalogue # CBS 650193 8

• "WAR / MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]"
  7-inch single - USA, 1986 - catalogue # COL 38-06432
  7-inch single, "Collectables" edition - USA, 1987 - catalogue # COL 13-68705
  7-inch single, "Hall Of Fame" edition - USA, 1987 - catalogue # COL 13-68705

In 1987 MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980] was included on the various artists charity album A Very Special Christmas. See the below section about the A Very Special Christmas series below. The album was issued internationally on LP, CD, and cassette tape.

LP, Australia, catalogue # A&M 393 911-1 [scan below]
LP, Canada, catalogue # A&M SP 3911 [scan below]
LP, France, catalogue # A&M 393 911-1 [scan below]
LP, Germany, catalogue # A&M 393 911-1 [scan below]
LP, USA, catalogue # A&M 393 911-1 [scan below]

CD, Australia, catalogue # A&M 393 911-2 [scan above]
CD, Canada, catalogue # A&M 3911-4 [scan above]
CD, France, catalogue # A&M 393 911-2 [scan above]
CD, Germany, catalogue # A&M CDA 3911 [scan above]
CD, USA, catalogue # A&M 3911-4 [scan above]
CD, USA, catalogue # A&M CD 3911 DX 2159 [scan above]
CD, USA, catalogue # Mobile Fidelity, UDCD508 [scan below]

Cassette, Australia, catalogue # A&M 393 911-4 [scan below]
Cassette, Canada, catalogue # A&M CS-3911 [scan below]
Cassette, France, catalogue # A&M 393 911-4 [scan below]
Cassette, Germany, catalogue # A&M 393 911-4 [scan below]
Cassette, USA, catalogue # A&M CS-3911 [scan below]

A promotional EP containing MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980] accompanied the A Very Special Christmas album.

Track list:
Side A, 01- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [U2]
Side A, 02- MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980]
Side B, 01- Back Door Santa [Bon Jovi]
Side B, 02- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus [John Cougar Mellencamp]

The EP was issued in Holland in 1987 (catalogue # A&M 871169-1) and Australia in 1988 (catalogue # FESTIVAL MX-71301). Disc for the Dutch issue were pressed in Germany. The Aussie issue was pressed in two variants, red and green vinyl limited to a reported 300 copies each, released to commemorate the first release anniversary of the A Very Special Christmas album.

In addition to A Very Special Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY [live 31 Dec 1980] was also included on several various artists compilation album, including:

• Sampler Claus: A Columbia Stocking Stuffer
  CD - USA, 1992 - catalogue # COL CSK 4900

• The Return Of Sampler Claus: Hits From The North Pole
  CD - USA, 1994 - catalogue # COL CSK 6666
  Columbia demo album, also includes SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN [live 12 Dec 1975]

• Superstar Christmas
  CD - USA, 1997 - catalogue # EPIC EK 68750
  Charity album with partial proceeds to the T.J. Martell Foundation for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS research

• Sampler Claus 2006
  CD - USA, 2006 - catalogue # COL 88697 01961 2
  Columbia demo album, also includes SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN [live 12 Dec 1975]

• Platinum Christmas III
  CD - Europe, 2006 - catalogue # SONY/BMG ???

A Very Special Christmas series

A Very Special Christmas is an ongoing series of Christmas music compilation albums that benefit Special Olympics. It features songs performed by artists from a variety of genres. The series was the brainchild of music producer Jimmy Iovine who wanted to produce a Christmas album as a memorial to his father. The idea of the record benefiting Special Olympics was suggested by Iovine's wife Vicki, as she was a volunteer for the organization. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the founders of A&M Records, along with Bobby Shriver, helped the Iovines realize the project. Since the release of the first album in 1987, the series has raised over $100 million for Special Olympics, more than any other benefit series. The album cover art is designed by artist Keith Haring.

By the time this page was last updated, 7 volumes had been released:

• A Very Special Christmas [1987]
• A Very Special Christmas 2 [1992]
• A Very Special Christmas 3 [1997]
• A Very Special Christmas Live [1999]
• A Very Special Christmas 5 [2001]
• A Very Special Acoustic Christmas [2003]
• A Very Special Christmas 7 [2009]

Available Versions

List of available versions of MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY on this website:

• Live 31 Dec 1980 version
• Original Johnny Moore's Three Blazers version

Credits / References

Info about the A Very Special Christmas series is taken from Wikipedia. Much of the info about the live history of the song is taken from Brucebase and Backstreets. Scans and info for some of the above official releases are taken from the Lost In The Flood website and Schrefel's Springsteen Collection page. Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for transcribing these lyrics and for the additional help on this page. Thanks Massimo Truchet for the help on some of the official releases.

Request

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