You can never go wrong with Elvis. This is a great collection of his Christmas songs. Prior to spending time in the Army, he recorded his fourth album and what would become one of the most memorable and best loved Christmas LPs of all time, ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album’.

This was Elvis' first Christmas album. Even today it is one of his best Christmas works, though there have been a few other Christmas albums of his much later on. Most of the renditions on this album have become all-time Christmas classics. It is the #1 selling Christmas album of all time from the #1 selling artist of all time.

Titled very aptly ‘Elvis' Christmas Album’ (also reissued as ‘It's Christmas Time’) the album has a fab background score. Side A of this holiday classic takes off with Christmas carols like the soulful White Christmas, Here Come Santa Claus, a brilliant interpretation of the melancholy ballad I'll Be Home For Christmas, to the blues rocking in Blue Christmas, the rocker Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).

While Side B opens with the heartwarming O Little Town of Bethlehem and the timeless Silent Night, from then on the rest of the content seems not actual Christmas songs, just general religious music written from one of Rock n Rolls super great singers. So you have gospel standards like (There Will Be) Peace In the Valley (For Me), I Believe, Take My Hand, Precious Lord, It Is No Secret (What God Can Do).

The 1957 album was a blockbuster as it topped the pop charts for a month, making this one of the biggest albums of his career ultimately selling over 13 Million Units and his first Diamond Award Winning RIAA certified recording. ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album’ truly proved once again that his career was unlike any other in music history. In total, the album showcases twelve important Elvis Presley recordings which have truly gone on to become definitive classics by any measure of popular music. In honor of the Man, the Music, the Legend, the King Of Rock And Roll, put this LP on your turntable for a wondrous sound of Christmas.

Label: RCA Victor

Released on: 15^th October, 1957

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira