Elvis’ Christmas Album

It’s a little surprising to realize that Elvis Presley’s third album overall was a Christmas album, but what was already a common move by many performers turned out to be a fun early rock and roll classic, mixing spirituals from his previously released Peace in the Valley gospel EP with more specific holiday songs such as “White Christmas,” deriving from the Drifters’ cover, plus two originals, including the just-saucy-enough “Santa Claus Is Back In Town.” His suavely passionate take on Ernest Tubb’s “Blue Christmas” became a holiday standard in its own right.