Dear David,

I loved your review of Elvis Christmas Album, the 1957 version, which none other than Phil Spector called the greatest Christmas rock album of all time. However I must correct you on one tiny fact. This was not the album that sold 9 million copies and which remains, to this day, the highest selling Christmas album in history.

That record goes to Elvis' Christmas album, the 1970 version, which has two songs that were dufferent and therefore, forced the RIAA, according to its rules, to have a separate sales count for it.

So, the one your dad bought is certified 3X Platinum by the RIAA, which probably would make it land inside the list of the top twenty Christmas albums of all time but, as I said, the top seller of all time is still Elvis' 1970 version, which is certified 9X Platinum by the RIAA.

Here's its tracklist

BLUE CHRISTMAS
SILENT NIGHT
WHITE CHRISTMAS
SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN
I'll BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
If everyday was like Chrsitmas
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK (TO ME)
Mama likes the roses.

*Songs included in the original 1957 version are capitalized.

Sorry, I meant your grand dad

Many thanks David. A fine account of the 1957 "Elvis' Christmas Album". It was the first Vinyl I ever purchased back then. Very expensive at the time on these shores. The picture of Elvis on the UK and Ireland sleeve was different to the American version.

The controversy at the time was a little over the top considering like you said, Elvis genuinely loved the Gospel music.

Yes our parents bought that album....... a little later :-)

Thanks Jim for the accuracy of your posts.

That was a beautiful review of Elvis' Christmas album.
As a child growing up in the 70's it was the only Elvis album I had, the later version, & so I knew just how precious Elvis' voice was. Here was the King Of Rock'n'Roll but it was this gentler, and spiritual side to him I heard.
More than anything it was Elvis that taught me the true meaning of Christmas thru the songs on the album.

David,

Thanks for the review of Elvis'Christmas Album. I still have the original release and it remains a perennial favourite.

As a piece of constructive criticism I would just mention that the album cover shown in your article is not the Cristmas Album but 'Elvis Live At Madison Square Garden' recorded in 1972.

I remember vividly listening to it, for the first time, at a friend's house aa a group of three or four families got together on December 24th, 1961, when I was 11 years old, and hearing something about the controversy, from the parents as the night wore on, but what stuck in my mind ever since was the joy all of us kids felt as someone raised the volume the moment "Santa bring my baby back" began.

Incredibly, I have no recollection of hearing "Santa Claus is back in town", which remains, to this date, my all time Christmas favourite, and in my top ten list of Elvis songs, ever...

"Santa Claus is Back in Town" is so HOT it is a wonder it doesn't melt all the snow every winter!

Love Elvis' Christmas music and I think most everyone does. Elvis' Christmas music has become an annual tradition of the season and a beautiful tradition it is!

Presley had the ability to sing the blues, or songs that had similar elements painted all over it, like "Santa Claus is black in town" or, many years later "Steamroller Blues", with a voice that sounded different every time.

When another non-african american male singer, say, Eric Clapton, sings straight blues, you immediately notive he, or whoever else is singing, forces his registry to sound like an African american blues singer. nothing wrong with that, as long as it is a sincere delivery, a demostration of the person's love for the blues.

But, when Elvis sang the blues, he just presses the buttom, and out pops something that was stored in his mind since a very early age (in most cases, anyways), and then proceeds to deliver it with whatever voice he happens to have, at that precise moment.

That's why " That's all right", "Good Rocking tonight", "Milk Cow Blues", "Baby, let's play house", Mystery train", "My babe left me". "So glad you're mine", "I need you so", "Santa Claus is back in town", "Reconsider Baby", "Stranger in my own home town", "Steamroller Blues" and "Merry Christmas, Baby", to give but thirteen examples, all sound as if sang by a different singer.

That's why Elvis is Elvis...

Then, there's the Bob Dylan way of singing the blues, or songs that have the blues feeling. Like Elvis, he does not force the registry. He sings it his way. Unlike Elvis, he always ends up sounding the same, especially when singing the blues.

And that's another reason why Elvis is Elvis...(LOL)