Elvis’ Christmas Album – Elvis Presley
I just mentioned that She & Him could fit right in with a Christmas playlist featuring Elvis Presley, but let’s be honest, nobody can compete with the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll! Elvis released his Christmas album, appropriately titled Elvis’ Christmas Album (though later re-released as It’s Christmas Time) in 1957. Over the last six decades, the album and its many reissues have raked in over 17 million sales in the United States alone, and is considered the best-selling Christmas album of all-time in the U.S. as well. Clearly he did something right if we’re still talking about it today.
The album featured eight Christmas songs, like “White Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Claus”, and also four gospel songs. Aside from the classic Christmas carols, there were also two new songs, the bluesy hit “Santa Claus Is Back in Town” and “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)”.
But of course, I couldn’t talk about Elvis’ Christmas music and not bring up possibly his most famous holiday song: “Blue Christmas.” While many think it’s an Elvis original, it was actually first recorded in 1948 by Doye O’Dell and popularized by several other artists in the years to come. Elvis took on the track in 1957 and made it a holiday classic that has been covered by artists like Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Loretta Lynn, and of course, She & Him.
Elvis wasn’t done with Christmas just yet! He recorded another album, Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas in 1971 which featured more classics like “The First Noel” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”