Elvis Presley recorded over 20 songs dedicated to his favorite time of year, Christmas. However, when it came to recording the iconic holiday tune “Blue Christmas” he had a Grinch moment, saying “Let’s get this over with.”
Recording ‘Blue Christmas’ wasn’t one of Elvis Presley’s favorite moments
Elvis Presley recorded “Blue Christmas” with Nashville singer Millie Kirkham as one of the background vocalists on Sept. 5, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It was included on Elvis’ Christmas Album, released on Oct. 15, 1957.
Kirkham recalled recording with Elvis in 2012 as reported by The Tennessean. She revealed he had been asked to re-record the song, and wasn’t really into the prospect of doing it.
“He turned around to us,” Kirkham said. “The musicians and the singers, and he said, ‘OK, let’s just get this over with.”
She continued that he said, “‘Just do anything. Have fun, have a good time, do something silly.’ So I started going, ‘Woooo,’ and he motioned for me to keep doing it, and grinned at me.”
Kirkham continued, “So I just did it all the way through the whole song. When we got through, we all laughed and said, ‘Well, that’s one record that the record company will never release.’ (laughs). But they did, and if I was getting royalties, I’d be a rich old woman.”
The King of Rock and Roll’s Christmas album was his only release to achieve Diamond certification
Elvis’ Christmas Album, released in 1957, was a blockbuster collection of holiday tunes that topped the pop charts a month after its release. This recording was one of the most popular albums of Elvis’ career.
Elvis received his only Diamond Award for the holiday album. Graceland’s Vice President of Archives and Exhibits Angie Marchese said in a Gates of Graceland video that Elvis’ Christmas recording was “one of his biggest selling albums.”
She explained, “In 2014, Graceland received an award from his record label, and it’s the only Diamond Award Elvis ever received.” The award is inscribed, “Diamond Award presented to Elvis Presley in recognition of Elvis’ Christmas Album on RCA Camden & Pickwick. Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America with 10 million in U.S. Sales.”
Marchese explained, “Diamond is the largest award you can get. We have one of them and it’s for his Christmas record.” The award remains on display at Graceland.
What songs other than ‘Blue Christmas’ were on ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album?’
The original tracklist for Elvis Christmas Album includes a mix of traditional Christmas songs and religious-inspired tunes. The secular Christmas songs including “Blue Christmas” were on side one, while the gospel songs and carols were on side two.
Side one contained the songs, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “White Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” and “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).”
On the flip side, the songs included, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me),” “I Believe,” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “It Is No Secret (What God Can Do).”
In 1971, a Camden/Pickwick reissue of the recording changed some of the songs on side B of the album. Added were “If Every Day Were Like Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Mama Liked the Roses.” The total number of songs on the reissue was 10 compared to 12 on the original recording.
Forbes reported on Dec. 4, 2024, that Elvis’ Christmas Album reappeared on four different Billboard charts including the Top Rock Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Country Albums, and Billboard 200 chart.
