Released 1968 Length 2:10 | Genre R&B, Christmas Label Atlantic | |
B-side "That Old Time Feeling" Writer(s) Clarence Carter, Marcus Daniel | ||
"Back Door Santa" is a song written by Clarence Carter and Marcus Daniel, and originally performed by Carter. It was released as single in 1968 and included on the compilation album Soul Christmas that same year. The track is in a 12-bar blues format. The lyrics are sexually suggestive, not having much to do with Christmas as a holiday.
Run-D.M.C. sampled the song for "Christmas in Hollis".
It was also performed by Bon Jovi and released on the A Very Special Christmas compilation album produced to benefit the Special Olympics. It was replaced on later pressings of with the song "I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas" also performed by Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi later released the track along with two other Christmas themed songs on the single for "Please Come Home for Christmas".
In 1987, Brad Delp covered this song on his holiday themed album Christmas Jammin' with Brad Delp.
The Australian band Jet has also covered this song. It is available on their Japanese-only Rare Tracks compilation album.
In late December 2005, The Black Crowes released a free download version of this song, complete with a horn section. This track can be heard in the films Mission: Impossible III and Jingle All the Way.
In 2008, Elliott Yamin included a cover of the song in his Christmas album My Kind of Holiday.
The song also appeared on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother Season 2 Episode 11: "How Lily Stole Christmas", as well as being included on Paul DeGeorge's 2012 Christmas mixtape and the 2013 film Filth.
The song features on the 2015 Christmas album release Back Door Santa, Got the Blues for Christmas by the John Verity Band.