"Elvis'
Christmas Album"
Reviewed by:
George Nelson 2002/05/20
LOC-1035 (1957)
LPM-1951 (1958)
PCD1-5486 (1985)
I know this
is the wrong time of year but to review these in chronological
order I had to include the classic 1957
album, Elvis' Christmas Album. Even
in the middle of May it's a great album. There have been no upgrades of this album,
unless you would like to count White Christmas, released
in 2000. So this means no bonus songs. When released in 1957
this album was banned
by several radio stations. Adults considered Elvis' singing of Christmas and religious
tunes, sacrilegious at the time. Even Bing
Crosby took offense to Elvis' Recording of White Christmas.
The original Elvis Christmas
Album came with a book of color photos of Elvis.
Then in 1958 RCA re-released it as Elvis Sings Christmas Songs,
Elvis' Christmas Album.
The only difference between the two were the covers
and the fact that the 2nd issue didn't come with a full color
booklet. The 1958 cover
would be used in pressings until 1985. In 1985 RCA released Elvis' Christmas Album
on CD. The CD cover was an exact copy of the
original 1957 version, including the full color booklet .
I think the sound is far
more better than on the compilation albums. Even thought there's more echo to them, I think
it gives the album more life. Elvis'
Christmas Album only contained 8 Christmas songs. The rest
of the LP was rounded
out with songs from his gospel extended play Peace in The Valley.
Following the response
of Elvis' performance on the Ed Sullivan Show of the song
Peace in the Valley, Elvis went back into Radio Recorders
to start work on a gospel single, which turned out to be an
extended play. On January 12, 1957 Elvis recorded the gospel
song I Believe. Elvis does a great performance and his vocal
fits the song perfectly.
The following day
Elvis recorded two more gospel songs. Peace in the valley,
which was his mother's favorite song, and Take my hand, Precious
Lord. Take my hand is as gospel as you can get. It's a beautiful
performance by Elvis.
On January 19, 1957
Elvis recorded the last gospel song for his Extended play.
It is no Secret (What God Can do) is along the same line as
Take my hand. It's really slow but it's yet again another
beautiful performance.
On September 05
- 07, 1957 Elvis was to start work on a Christmas Album. These
3 days of recording yielded the first Rock and Roll Christmas
album and some of Elvis' finest performances. The first holiday
track recorded was Blue Christmas. Blue Christmas has been
a classic every year since 1957 and can be heard on just about
every radio station during the holiday season. The Jordanaires
did not like there vocal arrangements and they didn't think
it would be the success that it was. It's reported that Steve
Sholes must have liked it though, because he put it out as
promo 45 for d.j.'s.
White Christmas
is next. It became one of the most controversial versions
of the song ever recorded. Irvin Berlin, the writer of the
song, even called radio stations himself, to beg D.J's not
to play it. However by this time, most rocks had no clue who
Berlin was. Bing Crosby, recorded the first version, was appalled
someone had done what Elvis had done to this song. Bing issued
the statement Elvis never contributed a damn thing to music
(Quotable King). What Bing and Irvin did not realize was Elvis'
version was based off of the Drifters 1955 version. We get
some some studio chatter at the beginning of this song.
Here Comes Santa
Claus was done by Gene Autry. Elvis' version was a little
bit more up tempo than Autry's version. Elvis' version was
also shorter in length.
Bing Crosby had
a hit with Silent night back in the and Elvis' version
was more traditional than his version of White Christmas.
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem was also done in a traditional
arrangement. There were no differences in the tunes as far
as tempo and tune wise, but Elvis did a great job on them.
In 1957 there were
not many rock Christmas songs, because no one had dared to
do a Christmas album with a Rock and roll star, and the fact
that Rock was fairly new also contributed. Santa Bring my
Baby Back (to me) was one of the few to appear on the album.
Elvis had to rely mostly on traditional Christmas songs.
As luck would have
it Leiber and Stoller, the song writers who wrote Hound Dog
and Jailhouse Rock, were present at the session. Elvis needed
another song to sing, so the 2 writers sat down and wrote
a song. Santa Claus is Back in Town was the result. This song
kicked off the album. The Jordanairs Christmas, Christmas,
Christmas.... the the drums begin to beat and Elvis tears
into Well It's Christmas time Pretty Baby.........' A great
rocker and a great opening song.
Finally Elvis needed
one more song to finish the session. Elvis once again chose
a song from Bing Crosby's repitore. I'll be home for Christmas.
I'll be home for Christmas had been a song that was written
for troops in the 2nd world war. It had been a holiday tradition
ever since.
I must confess I
would have loved to have gotten more rockers on this album
or more Christmas songs. Unfortunately we get what we get.
This is still a wonderful album. To bad no alternate takes
of these Christmas recordings exist.
Well Merry Christmas
early. lol.
TRACK LISTING:
Santa Claus is Back
in Town / White Christmas / Here Comes Santa Claus / I'll
Be Home for Christmas / Blue Christmas / Santa Bring my baby
back (to me) / Oh Little Town of Bethlehem / Silent Night
/ Peace in the Valley / I Believe / Take My Hand, Precious
Lord / It is no Secret (What God Can Do)