Song:Run Rudolph Run
Album:A Jumpin', Rockin', R&B Christmas
Of course Chuck Berry is an all time great. And he never recorded a Christmas album. But he did record a Christmas single in 1958. On one side was the Charles Brown classic Merry Christmas Baby and on the other side was Run Rudolph Run. Both songs charted but Run Rudolph Run is more popular today because it's an original song. Berry wrote the song but on the label it is credited to Marvin Brodie. As it was Brodie's only credit, it's probably a phony name. Of course the song is based on the Christmas classic Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. And because Berry used the name Rudolph in the title, he was forced to give Johnny Marks a songwriting credit. Berry still gets credit through the phony name. Besides the melody is identical to Berry's hit Johnny B. Goode. Run Rudolph Run was never released on an album until 1973. You can get it on several Berry greatest hits comps like The Great 28. But I like this various artists CD from the French retail chain FNAC. It has 25 Christmas classics from the 50s including Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms, Merry Christmas Baby by Charles Brown and Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt. It's a great Rock 'N' Roll Christmas album. Run Rudolph Run still gets radio play. There are plenty of covers including country versions by Luke Bryan and Justin Moore. Here's a video for Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry.
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