10 Best Elvis Presley Christmas Songs

Feature Photo: Photo by Toni Cuenca

Elvis Presley’s contributions to Christmas music are as legendary as his career itself, showcasing his versatility and emotional depth. His first holiday release, Elvis’ Christmas Album, was released on October 15, 1957, combining traditional carols such as “Silent Night” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” with rock and blues-driven tracks such as “Santa Claus Is Back in Town” and “Blue Christmas.” Produced by Steve Sholes and recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, the Christmas sessions featured Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, Dudley Brooks, Millie Kirkham, and The Jordanaires. The album topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks and became one of the most enduring Christmas records in American popular music. A later RCA Camden reissue was certified Diamond and became Elvis’s biggest-selling domestic album.

In 1971, Elvis revisited the holiday theme with Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. The album showed a more mature and reflective side of Elvis, blending traditional hymns with newer songs such as “Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees,” “I’ll Be Home on Christmas Day,” and “The Wonderful World of Christmas.” Recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville and produced by Felton Jarvis, the sessions featured musicians including James Burton, Chip Young, Norbert Putnam, Jerry Carrigan, Kenneth Buttrey, David Briggs, Glen Spreen, and Charlie McCoy, with vocals from Millie Kirkham and The Imperials. The album was released in 1971 and later earned multi-platinum status. This list highlights ten of our favorite Elvis Presley Christmas songs from both eras.

# 10 – The First Noel – Elvis Presley

Few Christmas hymns are as enduring as “The First Noel,” and Elvis gave the traditional carol a deeply reverent reading on Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. His version was recorded on May 16, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville and was arranged by Elvis himself. The session included James Burton and Chip Young on guitars, Norbert Putnam on bass, Jerry Carrigan and Kenneth Buttrey on drums, David Briggs on piano, Glen Spreen on organ, and Charlie McCoy on organ, harmonica, and percussion. Millie Kirkham and The Imperials provided the vocal backing. Elvis keeps the performance restrained and heartfelt, letting the melody and spiritual tone carry the song.

# 9 – Santa Claus Is Back in Town – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley’s “Santa Claus Is Back in Town” stands as one of the most dynamic Christmas tracks in rock and roll history. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song was composed specifically for Elvis and recorded on September 7, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. Scotty Moore and Elvis played guitar, Bill Black played bass, D.J. Fontana handled drums, Dudley Brooks played piano, and Millie Kirkham joined The Jordanaires on vocals. The stripped-down blues arrangement gave Elvis room to deliver the song with swagger and humor. More than almost any other song on Elvis’ Christmas Album, it showed that Christmas music did not have to sound traditional.

# 8 – Silver Bells – Elvis Presley

“Silver Bells,” written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, became one of the most enduring Christmas standards before Elvis recorded his version for Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. Elvis recorded the song on May 15, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The session featured James Burton and Chip Young on guitars, Norbert Putnam on bass, Jerry Carrigan and Kenneth Buttrey on drums, David Briggs on piano, Glen Spreen on organ, and Charlie McCoy on organ, harmonica, and percussion. Millie Kirkham and The Imperials supplied the backing vocals. Elvis’s warm delivery gives the familiar city-at-Christmas imagery a more intimate and reflective quality.

# 7 – Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees – Elvis Presley

“Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees” is one of the most poignant songs on Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. Written by Red West and Glen Spreen, the song was recorded on May 15, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The same core session band included James Burton, Chip Young, Norbert Putnam, Jerry Carrigan, Kenneth Buttrey, David Briggs, Glen Spreen, and Charlie McCoy, with Millie Kirkham and The Imperials on backing vocals. Its lyrics turn familiar Christmas images into reminders of loneliness and absence. Elvis’s restrained vocal makes the song feel especially personal.

# 6 – O Come, All Ye Faithful – Elvis Presley

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” gave Elvis the chance to bring his gospel instincts into one of the best-known Christmas hymns. His arrangement was recorded on May 16, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville for Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. James Burton and Chip Young played guitars, Norbert Putnam played bass, Jerry Carrigan and Kenneth Buttrey played drums, David Briggs handled piano, Glen Spreen played organ, and Charlie McCoy added organ, harmonica, and percussion. Millie Kirkham and The Imperials provided the vocal backing. Elvis keeps the performance solemn and powerful without overwhelming the hymn itself.

# 5 – Here Comes Santa Claus – Elvis Presley

“Here Comes Santa Claus,” written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman, had already become a Christmas standard before Elvis brought it into his 1957 holiday sessions. Elvis recorded “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” on September 6, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. Scotty Moore and Elvis played guitar, Bill Black played bass, D.J. Fontana handled drums, Dudley Brooks played piano, and Millie Kirkham joined The Jordanaires on vocals. Elvis keeps the cheerful spirit of the original while giving the song the easy rhythmic feel of his early RCA recordings. It remains one of the most playful performances on Elvis’ Christmas Album.

# 4 – The Wonderful World of Christmas – Elvis Presley

“The Wonderful World of Christmas,” written by Charles Tobias and Al Frisch, became the title song of Elvis’s second Christmas album. Elvis recorded it on May 16, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The recording features James Burton and Chip Young on guitars, Norbert Putnam on bass, Jerry Carrigan and Kenneth Buttrey on drums, David Briggs on piano, Glen Spreen on organ, and Charlie McCoy on organ, harmonica, and percussion. Millie Kirkham and The Imperials provided the backing vocals. The song’s message of warmth, kindness, and Christmas spirit fits perfectly with Elvis’s more reflective 1971 holiday recordings.

# 3 – I’ll Be Home on Christmas Day – Elvis Presley

“I’ll Be Home on Christmas Day” highlights Elvis Presley’s ability to blend longing and holiday sentiment without turning the song into a standard Christmas ballad. Written by Michael Jarrett, it was recorded on May 16, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville. James Burton and Chip Young played guitars, Norbert Putnam played bass, Jerry Carrigan and Kenneth Buttrey handled drums, David Briggs played piano, Glen Spreen played organ, and Charlie McCoy contributed organ, harmonica, and percussion. Millie Kirkham and The Imperials supplied the backing vocals. Elvis’s performance gives the song a bluesy, lived-in sadness that separates it from the more traditional material on the album.

# 2 – Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) – Elvis Presley

“Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)” is one of the liveliest original Christmas songs recorded for Elvis’ Christmas Album. Written by Aaron Schroeder and Claude DeMetrius, the song was recorded on September 7, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. Scotty Moore and Elvis played guitar, Bill Black played bass, D.J. Fontana handled drums, Dudley Brooks played piano, and Millie Kirkham joined The Jordanaires on vocals. The track combines Elvis’s rock and roll energy with a simple holiday plea for the return of a missing love. Its upbeat rhythm makes it a perfect contrast to the more solemn carols on the album.

# 1 – Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley

“Blue Christmas” has become almost inseparable from Elvis Presley’s voice and remains one of the most recognizable Christmas recordings ever made. Written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, the song was recorded by Elvis on September 5, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. Scotty Moore and Elvis played guitar, Bill Black played bass, D.J. Fontana handled drums, Dudley Brooks played piano, and Millie Kirkham joined The Jordanaires on backing vocals. Elvis’s version blends country, blues, and rockabilly while turning the song’s sadness into something unmistakably his own. It became one of the defining songs from Elvis’ Christmas Album and has remained a Christmas standard for generations. For us, it is still the essential Elvis Presley Christmas song.