Classic Pop Icons

Elvis Presley’s classic recording of “Blue Christmas” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Blue Christmas” covers the well worn theme of being alone at Christmas through romantic misfortune. It was originally recorded by Doye O’Dell in 1948 and first a hit for Ernest Tubb the following year. Elvis recorded the song for his classic Christmas album in 1957.

“Elvis’ Christmas Album”, released in October 1957, was Elvis’ fourth album for RCA and became the best selling Christmas album of all time, selling around three million of the original version in the US and nine million of a budget version first released in 1970. The album featured eight Christmas songs and four gospel songs that had previously been released on the EP “Peace in the Valley.”

Elvis’ original studio version of “Blue Christmas” includes distinctive backing vocals, including a dominant high pitched contribution from Millie Kirkham. This is not repeated on later live recordings. Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires has reported that Elvis encouraged these vocals in an effort to sabotage the recording as he wasn’t very keen on the song appearing on the album. Whether that is the case or not, Elvis certainly warmed to the song later on as he included it in his 1968 television special and sang it live on and off throughout the 1970s – not always during the holiday season. The 1968 version was part of the famous “sit-down” segment of the television special, where Elvis performed stripped down jams on his early material.

Elvis Presley – “Blue Christmas”

In 2008, “Blue Christmas” was included on the “Elvis Christmas Duets” album, with Martina McBride added to the original 1957 recording. The video cleverly incorporated McBride into the footage of the 1968 live version.

Elvis Presley and Martina McBride – “Blue Christmas”

Authorship

“Blue Christmas” was written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson.

Recording date/location

“Blue Christmas” was recorded on September 5, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California. Elvis recorded the great “Treat Me Nice” on the same night.

Musicians

The following musicians appear on “Blue Christmas”:

• Elvis Presley – vocals and guitar
• Scotty Moore – guitar
• Bill Black – bass
• D.J. Fontana – drums
• Dudley Brooks – piano
• The Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham – backing vocals.

The Jordanaires were Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Hoyt Hawkins and Hugh Jarrett.

Chart performance

The album on which “Blue Christmas” appeared, “Elvis’ Christmas Album”, hit number one on the US album chart in December 1957 and number two in the UK.

The same week, the EP on which “Blue Christmas” appeared, “Elvis Sings Christmas Songs”, hit number two on the US EP chart. This was a cut-down of the Christmas album and also featured the tracks “Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me”, “Santa Claus is Back in Town” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

The “Elvis Sings Christmas Songs” EP was kept off the top spot by Elvis’ excellent “Jailhouse Rock” EP.

Covers

The Beach Boys – “Blue Christmas”

The Beach Boys featured “Blue Christmas” on the B-side of their single “The Man with All the Toys” in 1964 and also on their album “The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album” which was released at the same time. The album also featured the band’s most famous Christmas track, “Little Saint Nick”, which had been released as a single the previous year.

The Beach Boys turn the song into a slow ballad, with solid lead vocals from Brian Wilson and lush orchestration by Dick Reynolds. This has little in common with Elvis’ rock ‘n’ roll approach to the song.

Jim Reeves – “Blue Christmas”

Jim Reeves took “Blue Christmas” back to its country roots with his cover in 1963. It’s a predictable arrangement, but flawless vocal. The song appeared on Reeves’ top 20 album “Twelve Songs of Christmas.”

The Ventures – “Blue Christmas”

The Ventures recorded an instrumental version of “Blue Christmas” for their 1965 album “The Ventures’ Christmas Album.” Unusually, they incorporated the main riff of “When You Walk in the Room” into the song, but it works. This merging of classic riffs from other songs was a trick they repeated throughout the album.

There will be a new Song of the Week on December 27.

Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” features on numerous compilations of his Christmas songs, including “Christmas Peace”, which includes the tracks from his original 1957 Christmas album, as well as those from the 1971 album “Elvis – Wonderful World of Christmas.” The duet with Martina McBride is available on “Elvis Christmas Duets.”

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