Elvis' Christmas Album

by Neal Umphred

This combines the four tracks from the Peace in the Valley EP with recordings of seasonal standards and popular Christmas classics (Elvis does outstanding versions of "Blue Christmas" and covers The Drifters' arrangement of "White Christmas"). But the album comes together with the lascivious "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," penned by Leiber And Stoller at the sessions so Elvis could have something original on the album. The definitive rock & roll Christmas album of the period, it stands with A Christmas Gift to You from Phil Spector as the very best of its genre.