ELVIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM

ALWAYS ELVIS PURE GOLD STUDIO E | VOLUME 1 CHRISTMAS PROMO ELVIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM RECORDED: SEPTEMBER 5-7, 1957 LOCATION: RADIO RECORDER STUDIO 1, HOLLYWOOD, CA RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 15, 1957

Elvis cut eight Christmas tracks in September of 1957 and with the additional four tracks from his religious EP, created an alternately commercial and inspirational message in the spirit of the season.

Original 1957 copies of Elvis’ Christmas Album were issued in a red booklet like album cover that included a gold foiled tag attached to the shrink wrap reading “To: and From:” followed by “Elvis Sings” and the track list. Photos in the booklet included promotional photos from Elvis’ third movie Jailhouse Rock.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Elvis’ Christmas Album along with its reissues has shipped at least 17 million copies in the United States and is the first Elvis release to obtain Diamond certification by the RIAA. It remains one of the best- selling Christmas albums and one of the best selling albums of all time. ELVIS SINGS CHRISTMAS SONGS RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 16, 1957

Released the day after the album release on October 16, 1957 the Extended Play (EP) sold over half a million copies more than twice of the album sales.

This may have been because the record was more affordable to the teenagers as well as many may not have had a record player capable of playing long playing (LP) recordings. The four songs released in this format were Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me), Blue Christmas, Santa Clause Is Back In Town and I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

CHRISTMAS WITH ELVIS RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 13, 1959

These were the last songs from the Christmas album not released on EP. Although the EP was not a commercial success, the ‘Elvis Christmas Album’ had continued to sell as well as it had done on its original release.

The four songs on this release included White Christmas, Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane), Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem and Silent Night.

BLUE CHRISTMAS / WOODEN HEART RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 1964

‘Blue Christmas’ with the flip side of Wooden Heart was the first single released over 7 years after the album release.

SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN / BLUE CHRISTMAS RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 26, 1965

For a second year in a row a single was released from the Elvis’ Christmas Album this time pairing the Leiber and Stoller classic with Blue Christmas.

ELVIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM (CAMDEN RELEASE) RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 1970

The re-release of the original 1957 Christmas album on the budget Camden label included the original 8 Christmas tracks plus Mama Like The Roses. It became the highest selling domestic album of Elvis’ career. SANTA CLAUSE IS BACK IN TOWN HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS MASTER: TAKE 7 MASTER: TAKE 2 SONGWRITERS: BILLY HAYES / JAY W. JOHNSON SONGWRITERS: GENE AUTRY / OAKLEY HALDEMAN

Well, it's Christmas time, pretty baby Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus And the snow is fallin' on the ground Right down Santa Claus Lane Well, it's Christmas time, pretty baby And the snow is falling down Vixen, Blitzen, all his reindeer Well, you be a real good little girl Pulling on the reins Santa Claus is back in town Bells are ringing, children singing All is merry and bright. Got no sleigh with reindeer, no sack on my back Hang your stockings and say your prayer You're gonna see me comin' in a big black Cadillac 'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight

Whoa, oh, it's Christmas time, pretty baby Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus And the snow is fallin' on the ground Right down Santa Claus Lane Well, you be a real good little baby Santa Claus is back in town He's got a bag that's filled with toys For boys and girls again Hang up your pretty stockings Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle Turn off the light What a beautiful sight Santa Claus is comin' down your chimney tonight Jump in bed and cover up your head Because Santa Claus comes tonight Whoa, oh, oh, oh, it's Christmas time, baby And the snow is fallin' on the ground Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus Well, you be a real good little baby Riding down Santa Claus Lane Santa Claus is back in town He doesn't care if you're a rich or poor boy WHITE CHRISTMAS He loves you just the same Santa knows that we're God's children MASTER: TAKE 9 That makes everything right SONGWRITER: IRVING BERLIN Fill your hearts with Christmas cheer 'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Well, here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus Just like the ones I used to know Riding down Santa Claus Lane Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow He'll come around when the chimes ring out It's Christmas morn again I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Peace on Earth will come to all With every Christmas card I write If we just follow the light May your days be merry and bright Let's give thanks to the Lord above And may all your Christmases be white 'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, 'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight Just like the ones I used to know May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmas’s be white I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS MASTER: TAKE 15 SONGWRITERS: BUCK RAM / KIM GANNON / WALTER KENT

I'll be home for Christmas You can plan on me Please have snow and mistletoe And presents for the tree

Christmas Eve will find me Where the love light leads I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams (I'll be home for Christmas) BLUE CHRISTMAS MASTER: TAKE 3 SONGWRITERS: BILLY HAYES / JAY W. JOHNSON

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you I'll be so blue just thinking about you Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree Won't be the same dear, if you're not here with me

And when those blue snowflakes start falling That's when those blue memories start calling You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas

You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK TO ME OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM SILENT NIGHT MASTER: TAKE 9 MASTER: TAKE 4 MASTER: TAKE 9 SONGWRITERS: CLAUDE DEMETRIUS / AARON SCHROEDER SONGWRITERS: PHILLIPS BROOKS / LEWIS REDNER SONGWRITERS: JOSEPH MOHR / FRANZ GUHBER

I don't need a lot of presents Oh little town of Bethlehem, Silent night, holy night To make my Christmas bright How still we see thee lie! All is calm and all is bright I just need my baby's arms Above thy deep and dreamless sleep Round yon virgin, mother and child Wound around me tight The silent stars go by; Holy infant, so tender and mild Uh-ho, Santa hear my plea Yet in thy dark streets shineth Sleep in heavenly peace Santa bring my baby back to me The everlasting Light; Sleep in heavenly peace The hopes and fears of all the years The Christmas tree is ready Are met in thee tonight. Silent night, holy night The candles all aglow Shepherds quake at the sight But with my Baby far away For Christ is born of Mary, Glories streams from heaven afar What good is mistletoe And gathered all above, Heavenly hosts sing, alleluia Uh-ho, Santa, hear my plea While mortals sleep, the angels keep Christ the savior is born Santa bring my baby back to me Their watch of wondering love. Christ the savior is born Oh morning stars, together Please make these reindeer hurry Proclaim the holy birth! Well the time is drawing near And praises sing to God the King, It sure won't seem like Christmas And peace to men on earth. Unless my Baby's here Oh little town of Bethlehem, Don't fill my sock with candy How still we see thee lie! Or no bright and shiny toy Above thy deep and dreamless sleep You wanna make me happy The silent stars go by; And fill my heart with joy Yet in thy dark streets shineth Then Santa, hear my plea The everlasting Light; Santa bring my baby back to me The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

The two album sides were divided in the program of secular music on side one, two traditional Christmas carols and the gospel numbers on side two.

The four gospel tracks were from a previously released EP ‘Peace In The Valley’ from April 1957. Those recordings were done on January 12, 13 and 19 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California.

The religious EP may have been prompted by public response to Elvis’ performance of ‘Peace In The Valley’ in his third and final appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957.

With initial sales of 400,000 for the EP, the record remained one of Elvis’ proudest achievements early in his career. 123

(THERE’LL BE) PEACE IN THE VALLEY (FOR ME) I believe above the storm the smallest prayer IT IS NO SECRET MASTER: TAKE 9 Can still be heard MASTER: TAKE 13 I believe that someone in the great somewhere SONGWRITERS: THOMAS DORSEY Hears every word SONGWRITERS: STUART HAMBLEN Every time I hear a newborn baby cry Oh well, I'm tired and so weary Or touch a leaf The chimes of time ring out the news But I must go alone Or see the sky Another day is through Till the Lord comes and calls Then I know why Someone slipped and fell Calls me away, oh yes I believe Was that someone you? Well the morning's so bright And the lamp is alight Every time I hear a newborn baby cry You may have longed for added strength And the night, night is as black Or touch a leaf Your courage to renew As the sea, oh yes Or see the sky Do not be disheartened Then I know why For I have news to you. There will be peace in the valley for me, some day I believe There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray It is no secret what God can do There'll be no sadness, no sorrow TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you No trouble, trouble I see With arms wide open, He’ll pardon you There will be peace in the valley for me, for me MASTER: TAKE 9 It is no secret what God can do. SONGWRITERS: THOMAS DORSEY Well the bear will be gentle There is no night for in His light And the wolves will be tame Precious Lord, take my hand You’ll never walk alone And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes Lead me on, let me stand You’ll always feel at home And the beasts from the wild I am tired, I am weak, I am worn Wherever you may roam Shall be lit by a child Through the storm, through the night And I'll be changed Lead me on to the light There is no power can conquer you Changed from this creature that I am, oh yes Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home While God is on your side Just take Him at His promise There will be peace in the valley for me, some day When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near Don’t run away and hide. There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray When my light is almost gone There'll be no sadness, no sorrow Hear my cry, hear my call It is no secret what God can do No trouble, trouble I see Hold my hand lest I fall What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you There will be peace in the valley for me, for me Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home With arms wide open, He’ll pardon you It is no secret what God can do. I BELIEVE When the darkness appears and the night draws near MASTER: TAKE 9 And the day is past and gone At the river I stand SONGWRITERS: ERVIN DRAKE / IRVIN GRAHAM Guide my feet, hold my hand JIMMY SHIRL / AL STILLMAN Take my hand precious Lord, lead me Home

I believe for every drop of rain that falls Precious Lord, take my hand A flower grows Lead me on, let me stand I believe that somewhere in the darkest night I am tired, I am weak, I am worn A candle glows Through the storm, through the night I believe for everyone that goes astray Lead me on to the light Someone will come to show the way Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home I believe. I believe

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STUDIO E DIGITAL SONGBOOK NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY 2019 VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1

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