About The Song
Originally, Western actor Doye O’Dell recorded this song in 1948, but it gained popularity in 1950 when Ernest Tubb covered it. In 1957, Elvis Presley added his rendition to his album “Elvis’ Christmas Album.” Surprisingly, it wasn’t released as a single until 1964 in the US, paired with “Wooden Heart” from Elvis’ film G.I. Blues. From 1965 onwards, it was paired with “Santa Claus Is Back In Town.”
In the UK, the single also saw the light of day in 1964, but with Elvis’ version of “White Christmas” on the flip side, creating a colorful and seasonal single.
Elvis first performed this song in his 1968 television special, titled (Singer Presents) ‘Elvis’ (sponsored by Singer sewing machines). The special, recorded in June, aired on December 3, and played a pivotal role in reviving his career. Notably, it’s the only existing video footage of Elvis singing a Christmas song. Before launching into the song, Elvis expressed, “I’d like to do my favorite Christmas song of the ones I’ve recorded.”
Several artists, including Ringo Starr, Celine Dion, The Beach Boys, Sheryl Crow, Smash Mouth, Brooks and Dunn, Vince Gill, Face to Face, Bette Midler, Harry Connick Jr., Shakin’ Stevens, Bill Haley and the Comets, Eilert Pilarm, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Misfits, Freddy Fender, Collective Soul, and Porky Pig, have covered this iconic song.
Surprisingly, the only version of the song to chart in America is by a family group called The Browns, consisting of siblings Jim Edward, Maxine, and Bonnie Brown. Their 1960 recording entered the Hot 100 at #97.
In late 2008, Martina McBride was digitally inserted into footage from Elvis’s 1968 Christmas special, creating a duet version of the song. This collaboration was part of the Christmas Duets album, which featured several female singers, including Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, and Olivia Newton-John, performing alongside Elvis’s recordings.
While inserting a voice into an existing recording can be relatively straightforward, achieving this with McBride alongside Elvis was a painstaking process that took about four weeks to complete. The most challenging shots were those from an overhead angle, where McBride appeared alongside the full band. There was a small gap between Elvis and his guitarist Scotty Moore where McBride was seamlessly integrated.
The duet reached #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart, marking Presley’s first entry on that chart since “The Elvis Medley” peaked at #31 in 1982.
Though instrumental versions of this song are rare due to its strong association with lyrics, Jim Brickman, who recorded a piano rendition for his 2014 album “On A Winter’s Night,” attests that it’s not a challenging piece to perform. According to him, “It’s a very simple song so it comes naturally.” He even claims he could play it at a party without needing to listen to it beforehand, highlighting its simplicity and interpretive flexibility.
Elvis Presley made a remarkable return to the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40 in 2019. Thanks to streaming, his rendition of this song debuted at #40 on the chart dated January 5, 2019. This marked Elvis’s first appearance in the Top 40 since March 28, 1981, when a re-release of his 1967 track “Guitar Man” peaked at #28.
Shakin’ Stevens also recorded a version of this song, featured on his 1982 EP, which climbed to #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
In a 2012 interview with Millie Kirkham, one of Presley’s backing singers, it was revealed that the King initially recorded the song with reluctance. He reportedly said, “Let’s just get this over with,” and encouraged his band to do something unconventional during the recording. Kirkham responded by singing “woo-we-woo” throughout the song, resulting in a lighthearted and unexpected touch. After finishing the recording, they all shared a laugh, predicting that the record company would never release it.
In 2022, Kane Brown covered “Blue Christmas” for Amazon Music. He expressed his excitement, saying, “We have Christmas music playing at our house all throughout the season, and this year I’m excited that my daughters will get to hear my voice on one of the most timeless classics made famous by the legendary Elvis Presley.” Kane Brown’s rendition reached #73 on the Hot 100 chart.
Video
Lyrics
I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on our green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here with meAnd when those blue snowflakes start fallin’
That’s when those blue memories start callin’
You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue ChristmasYou’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas