Elvis: Blue Christmas

Performer: Elvis Presley
Producer: Felton Jarvis; Steve Sholes
Distributor: BMG Special Products

Notes: Over the course of his career, Elvis Presley recorded two complete Christmas albums. The first, 1957's ELVIS' CHRISTMAS ALBUM, quickly entered the pantheon of the all-time greatest seasonal discs. The second, 1971's ELVIS SINGS THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS is nearly as good. Every few years, RCA Records compiles a variety of songs from these two records to produce a "new" Elvis Christmas album. BLUE CHRISTMAS, released in 1992 (and re-released in 2007) is one such record. Half of BLUE CHRISTMAS's eight tracks are drawn from the King's first Christmas album, among them the title track, the lovely seasonal standards "Silent Night" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas," and a faithful take on Clyde McPhatter's version of "White Christmas." The later tracks, like many of Presley's recordings from the 1970s, are more lavishly and dramatically produced. Those interested in collecting all of Elvis's Christmas recordings on a single CD should consider the compilation WHY CAN'T EVERY DAY BE CHRISTMAS, but BLUE CHRISTMAS works as a classy overview.

"Before Elvis, there was nothing," John Lennon once said. An overstatement, of course, but Elvis Presley's ascendance to superstardom in the mid-1950s kicked off a musical and social revolution whose impact has yet to abate. After the charming young man from Tupelo, Mississippi was discovered by Sun Records honcho Sam Phillips, the wise studio owner took Presley under his wing, leading to the landmark recording of his first single, "That's All Right (Mama)." The rest, of course, is well-documented history, with Elvis going on to conquer the pop charts, the box office, and beyond. He truly was the King, and his blend of country, pop, and R&B became the cornerstone of rock & roll.

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