Elvis Presley – Christmas With Elvis 1957 (2018/2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 39:43 minutes | 758 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Crazy Warthog Media
As each Christmas season approaches, I find it entertaining to look back on how Elvis’ first Christmas album was received when it first appeared in 1957. Elvis fans, of course, embraced “Elvis’ Christmas Album,” as they did every record he released in those days. However, to those adults who were already convinced that Elvis threatened the morals of the nation’s youth, an album of Christmas songs from him was especially troublesome. For Elvis to sing rock ’n’ roll was bad enough, but for him to step outside that category and into the traditional, religious field of Christmas music was frightening to many.
Before looking at how critics reacted to “Elvis’ Christmas Album” in 1957, let’s take a quick look at the LP’s content. Four of the album’s 12 cuts were recycled recordings of non-Christmas religious hymns that Elvis had recorded in January 1957 and released on an extended play album in April of that year. They were “Peace in the Valley,” “I Believe,” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “It Is No Secret (What God Can Do).” Elvis used traditional arrangements on all four songs, and so, beyond the quality of his voice, critics found little to disparage in those recordings when they were included in Presley’s holiday album.
Tracklist:
1-1. Elvis Presley – Santa Claus is Back in Town (02:24)
1-2. Elvis Presley – Here Comes Santa Claus (01:58)
1-3. Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas (02:08)
1-4. Elvis Presley – Oh Little Town of Bethlehem (02:38)
1-5. Elvis Presley – Peace in the Valley (03:23)
1-6. Elvis Presley – Take My Hand, Precious Lord (03:19)
1-7. Elvis Presley – White Christmas (02:25)
1-8. Elvis Presley – I’ll Be Home for Christmas (01:55)
1-9. Elvis Presley – Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) (01:53)
1-10. Elvis Presley – Silent Night (02:25)
1-11. Elvis Presley – I Believe (02:06)
1-12. Elvis Presley – It Is No Secret (03:55)
1-13. Elvis Presley – I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (01:51)
1-14. Elvis Presley – I Believe in the Man in the Sky (02:12)
1-15. Elvis Presley – Mansion Over the Hilltop (02:57)
1-16. Elvis Presley – Know Only to Him (02:06)