Elvis’ admirers often claim that he was never properly acknowledged at the Grammy awards. This isn't entirely justified; Elvis was nominated 14 times over the course of his career, and won the award finally three times. As much as people identify Elvis Presley with his genre-defining rock 'n roll, pop and blues music, Elvis had a very religious side to his music too, perhaps from his time in church growing up in the South. The three wins that he notched up at the Grammies were all for his gospel singing. Elvis’ Christmas Album was released in 1957; while most grown-ups at the time had trouble with Elvis, this album was a universal hit both critically and commercially, inside and outside the circle of people interested in Elvis or in Christmas gospel songs.
When it was first released, Elvis was best known for his explosive and somewhat provocative stage performances. The thought of such a popular rock 'n roll icon singing a devotional White Christmas really got peoples goats. Apparently Irving Berlin even put out an appeal to broadcasters not to support this album. But Elvis had a religious upbringing on gospel music and his performances were always restrained, tasteful and in keeping with the sacred nature of this music. One of the greatest Christmas songs on this record is Santa Claus is Back in Town, and has become a great Christian Christmas mainstay.
White Christmas a la Elvis, has a rhythm and blues arrangement. It is often noted there is such close attention in evidence here paid to recording values. The song I'll be Home for Christmas is a perennial favorite. The song has a bare minimalist arrangement that brings Elvis’ clear and expressive voice to the fore as it is seen nowhere else. As an album of Christmas gospel songs, this album has special tracks towards the end, Peace in the Valley, Take My Hand Precious Lord and It’s No Secret (What God Can Do). The voice, the overall dignity present in the immaculate presentation, is peerless. There is humility in the voice in a way that befits a devotional venture, seen in Take my Hand Precious Lord. There are flashes of Elvis' interest in country music too in places, though there is a visible pop inspiration brought in for It's no Secret.
People often stop shy of calling this an album of Christmas gospel songs, seeing that most of the songs that belong to that genre only appear towards the end. But the character of this album comes mainly from the songs at the end, so beautiful are they. To anyone who listens to this album today it brings back an era of purity and musical greatness. If you give it time, this album certainly is a Christmas staple; but for people who find that Elvis's voice really speaks to them, it is just as well an year-round favourite.
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