by Neal Umphred
This combines the four tracks from the Peace in the Valley EP with recordings of seasonal standards and popular Christmas classics (Elvis does outstanding versions of &Blue Christmas& and covers The Drifters' arrangement of &White Christmas&). But the album comes together with the lascivious &Santa Claus Is Back in Town,& penned by Leiber And Stoller at the sessions so Elvis could have something original on the album. The definitive rock & roll Christmas album of the period, it stands with A Christmas Gift to You from Phil Spector as the very best of its genre.