Vinyl plays with occasional light-crackles (play-graded). Cover looks okay; a few creases near edges; heavy scuffing, some surface abrasion and discoloration with darker spots (front/back). Inner-sleeve is original (generic white - discolored). Spine is somewhat readable with wear. Heavy shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge with splits and developing splits; wear to corners. Opening shows signs of use and a few divots. (Not a cut-out.)
Sings Christmas Songs Album, by Elvis Presley, is his first Christmas album. This reissue came while Presley was on duty in Germany. The cover was replaced with a close-up of Elvis as he posed against an outdoor, snowy backdrop. The album continued to reach the album charts each year until 1962. With total sales of more 20 million copies worldwide, it remains the world's best-selling Christmas album and one of the best-selling albums of all time. While most of the songs selected were traditional Christmas fare, such as White Christmas and Silent Night, two new songs by regular suppliers of material for Presley were commissioned. One was Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me) and the other (selected by Presley to open the album), was a blues-based rock and roll number, Santa Claus Is Back in Town, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. This writer/producer team was responsible for some of 1950s rhythm and blues and rock and roll's most finely-honed satire in their work with the Coasters, as well as penning Hound Dog for Willie Mae Thornton and providing Presley with some of his biggest hits, including Jailhouse Rock and Don't. Presley asked the pair to come up with another Christmas song during sessions for the album; within a few minutes, they had the song written and ready for recording. Originally titled Christmas Blues, this slyly risque number is given a full-throated treatment by Presley who, aided by the gritty ensemble playing from his band, was determined to ensure that this Christmas album would not be easily ignored. Much of the remaining program was performed in a more traditional manner appropriate to the solemnity of Christmas, although Presley's innate sense of occasion shone through on his performance of Ernest Tubb's 1949 hit, Blue Christmas. Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem were arranged by Presley himself.