More than six decades after its debut, one holiday album continues to stand apart as the best-selling Christmas record of all time.
That enduring milestone belongs to Elvis Presley, whose 1957 release Elvis’ Christmas Album remains a fixture of the holiday season and a lasting reminder of his cultural impact on the music industry. At the time, the King of Rock and Roll was coaxed to record the LP, intending to capitalize on the holiday season, not with the expectation that it would leave a lasting mark on music history.
In an episode of the iHeart Radio PodcastOur American Stories, titled Behind the Blue Christmas: How Elvis Was Coaxed Into Recording a Christmas Album, Greg McDonald, who worked for Colonel Tom Parker, shared the story of how the King of Rock and Roll was convinced to record a Christmas album.
Reportedly, Presley initially had no interest in the project. However, he was soon convinced otherwise.
Parade Daily? SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
The podcast stated, "Elvis was having so much fun. He and Red West had a karate demonstration, and they ended up breaking a classical guitar, and Red had put a Christmas tree in the studio. This is summertime, and he put a Christmas tree just to get [Elvis] into the Christmas mood, to get him to record."
However, according to the Elvis History Blog, the Elvis Presley Christmas Album wasn't initially embraced by critics. Many believed that some of the songs featured a rock edge that wasn't in tune with the spirit of the holiday.
Billboard reported that the record was eventually certified as having sold 10 million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Graceland reports the album was only Presley's third studio album, and his first holiday release.
Side A of LP includes Christmas standards such as "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "White Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "Blue Christmas," and "Santa Bring My Baby (Back to Me)." Side B features religious classics including "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," "There'll Be Peace in the Valley," "I Believe," "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," and "It's No Secret (What God Can Do)."
The Elvis Christmas Album reigned at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart in December 1957 and has since sold well over 20 million copies worldwide. To this day, the Elvis Christmas Album is the world's best-selling holiday release.
Presley would record one more holiday album, Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas, in 1971. Elvis Presley died in August 1977.
Hence then, the article about the rock icon behind the most successful christmas album ever was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Rock Icon Behind the Most Successful Christmas Album Ever )
Also on site :
- The 2025 Billboard K-Pop Artist 100
- ‘It’s all because of Putin’: RT drops Christmas song spoof (AI VIDEO)
- LA Daily News All-Area girls flag football: Livier Andrade is the player of the year