ALBUM (1957)

Elvis' Christmas Album Elvis Presley RCA Victor Records

Snow rarely falls on Graceland, Elvis Presley's home - Memphis is too far south for such inclement weather. But that didn't stop the King from recording two highly successful Christmas albums.

The first, 1957's Elvis' Christmas Album, features some rocking tracks and Presley's original backing band, the Scotty Moore Trio. The second LP, Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas, was released in 1970. It's a less involving affair, suffocated by the blandness that marred much of his later work. Both LPs have been reissued together on CD as If Everyday Was Like Christmas, a set which also features a brilliant pop-up model Graceland covered in snow.

Rock'n'roll was young in 1957, and no rockers had yet thought to record Christmas songs. It was Presley's producer, Steve Sholes, who had the idea of a Christmas package, surmising that it would be a seasonal way to cash in on the Elvis-mania that was still sweeping the US. The main problem was songs - very few rocking Christmas numbers had been written. Presley, a practising Christian, had already cut a successful gospel EP, Peace in the Valley. Those tracks were selected for the new LP, along with standards such as White Christmas and the more upbeat Blue Christmas. A few carols, including O Little Town of Bethlehem, filled out the record.

Record distribution was a slow process back then, so the LP was recorded in September to give time to ship the discs. The recording took place in Los Angeles in a very un-Christmassy atmosphere. Sholes tried to whip up some Christmas spirit by setting up a Christmas tree in the studio and surrounding it with real presents.

The best track on the album, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, was recorded as an afterthought.