Entertainment
Elvis Presley’s Holiday Grinch: The Story Behind “Blue Christmas”
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, etched his name in the annals of music history not just with lively rock anthems but also through heartwarming Christmas classics.
However, one of his notable holiday recordings, “Blue Christmas,” didn’t come easily.
In fact, during the session for this beloved song, Elvis had what could be likened to a “Grinch moment,” expressing a noticeable lack of enthusiasm with the statement, “Let’s get this over with.”
On September 5, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, Elvis teamed up with Nashville singer Millie Kirkham, who contributed her vocal talents as a backing singer.
This session gave birth to a track that was later featured on Elvis’ Christmas Album, officially released on October 15 of the same year.
Yet, that recording day wasn’t filled with the holiday spirit one might expect.
Millie Kirkham recalled her experience in a candid reminiscence for The Tennessean back in 2012.
According to her, when it was time for Elvis to re-record “Blue Christmas,” he didn’t hide his disinterest.
“He turned to us, the musicians and singers, and said, ‘OK, let’s just get this over with,’” she recounted with a chuckle.
Despite his apparent reluctance, Presley added a cheeky twist to the session.
He urged Kirkham and the others to have fun and let loose.
“He said, ‘Just do anything.
Have fun, have a good time, do something silly.’ So, I started going, ‘Woooo,’ and he smiled and encouraged me to keep it up,” she explained.
The fun didn’t stop there.
Kirkham carried on with her playful vocal antics throughout the entire song, and afterward, all the participants shared a laugh, convinced that the quirky take would never see the light of day.
“We all laughed and said, ‘Well, that’s one record that the record company will never release.’ But here we are!” she mused, reflecting that had the royalties been more generous, she’d be “a rich old woman” today.
Despite this lighthearted backstage drama, Elvis’s Christmas Album turned out to be a monumental success.
Released in 1957, the album, which included a rich mix of holiday classics, skyrocketed to the top of the pop charts just a month later.
It marked a pinnacle in Elvis’s career, being his sole release to earn the prestigious Diamond certification.
As noted by Angie Marchese, Vice President of Archives and Exhibits at Graceland, this holiday album wasn’t just beloved by fans; it also made a mark in the music industry.
“In 2014, Graceland received a Diamond Award for this album.
It’s the only one Elvis ever received,” Marchese revealed in a Gates of Graceland video.
This coveted award recognizes the album’s staggering achievement of over 10 million sales in the U.S., a milestone certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.
“Diamond is the largest award you can get,” she added, proudly reflecting on the impact of the Christmas record.
Elvis’s Christmas Album isn’t just about “Blue Christmas.” The original tracklist features both festive and spiritual tunes, with the first side packed with secular holiday favorites.
Listeners could enjoy classic songs like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “White Christmas,” leading up to the poignant “Blue Christmas,” while the second side offered a soulful array of gospel hymns.
The album originally featured hits like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).” However, in a 1971 revamp by Camden/Pickwick, a few songs were altered, adding new tracks like “If Every Day Were Like Christmas” to freshen the collection, while keeping the total number at ten.
Fast forward to December 4, 2024, and the enduring popularity of Elvis’s Christmas Album remains evident.
It resurged onto four different Billboard charts, including the Top Rock Albums and Billboard 200, proving that the magic of Elvis’s holiday music continues to resonate through the years.
