
Elvis’ Christmas Album
Released:Oct. 15, 1957For all of Elvis’ stated reservations about making a Christmas album, and many months of uncertainty on RCA’s part as to whether he could be induced to go into the studio for this purpose at all, Elvis cut eight Christmas tracks in September, which, together with the four tracks from his religious EP, created an alternately commercial and inspirational message in the spirit of the season. Unfortunately, not everyone took it that way. Irving Berlin, composer of the eternal evergreen, “White Christmas,” objected vociferously to Elvis’ interpretation of his song, which was in fact modeled directly on the Drifters’ inspired version. As a result, many stations pulled airplay not just of the song but of the entire album, but the record still sold 200,000 copies, and, taking into account its many latter-day variants and iterations, became probably the steadiest long-term seller of Elvis’ career.
Tracklist
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Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller. Recorded September 7, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
White Christmas
Irving Berlin. Recorded September 6, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Gene Autry/Oakley Haldeman. Recorded September 6, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Kim Gannon/Walter Kent/Buck Ram. Recorded September 7, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
Blue Christmas
Billy Hayes/Jay Johnson. Recorded September 5, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
Aaron Schroeder/Claude DeMetrius. Recorded September 7, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
Philips Brooks/Lewis Redner. Recorded September 7, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
Silent Night
Joseph Mohr/Franz Gruber. Recorded September 6, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Vocals: Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires -
(There’ll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
Thomas A. Dorsey. Recorded January 13, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Gordon Stoker. Vocals: The Jordanaires -
I Believe
Ervin Drake/Irvin Graham/Jimmy Shirl/Al Stillman. Recorded January 12, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Gordon Stoker. Vocals: The Jordanaires -
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Thomas A. Dorsey. Recorded January 13, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Gordon Stoker. Vocals: The Jordanaires -
It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
Stuart Hamblen. Recorded January 19, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks. Organ: Hoyt Hawkins. Vocals: The Jordanaires
Credits
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Elvis Presleyvocals, acoustic guitar
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Scotty Mooreelectric guitar
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Dudley Brookspiano
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Gordon Stokerpiano
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Hoyt Hawkinsorgan
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Bill Blackdouble bass
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D. J. Fontanadrums
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The Jordanairesbacking vocals
What do you think?
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