The Best Elvis Christmas Songs, Ranked

First up on our list of the best of Elvis‘ Christmas songs is “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane).” Elvis tackled this Gene Autry song on his first Christmas album in 1957. The original was a cowboy’s take on Christmas, but Elvis turned it into something entirely different.

His version started with the Jordanaires‘ backing vocals before Elvis added his signature energy. The song was playful and upbeat, with a touch of rock and roll, of course. It became an instant hit during the holiday season. Fans loved how Elvis managed to keep the song’s innocence while adding his own flair.

Next on our list of the best Elvis Christmas songs, we had to include “Winter Wonderland.” Elvis recorded this holiday song in 1971 for his third and final Christmas album, “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas.”

His take brought new life into the 1934 classic with a blues-y groove. Unlike his energetic 1950s Christmas recordings, this track showed a mellower Elvis. His interpretation transformed the playful winter scene the original depicted into a romantic fireside evening.

It proved that even later in his career, Elvis could still make any song uniquely his own, earning the second spot on our list.

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On the other hand, “Silent Night” showed a different side of Elvis. Recorded in 1957, his version drew deeply from his gospel roots. Unlike in his other songs, this time Elvis dropped his rock and roll style completely, singing the carol simply.

The Jordanaires added harmonies while Elvis’s voice carried the melody. It was a straightforward interpretation that let the song’s message take center stage.

While most people knew him for shaking up rock and roll, this performance connected directly to his childhood days singing in church. The arrangement focused entirely on the vocals, proving Elvis could move an audience without any extra pizzazz.

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Another one of the best of Elvis’ Christmas songs is “Santa Claus Is Back In Town“. Unlike Elvis’s other holiday recordings, this 1957 track was written specifically for him by his go-to songwriting team, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

They skipped the usual Christmas song style and gave Elvis a blues-heavy Christmas song that sounded more like it came from him than the North Pole. It was also backed by piano by Dudley Brooks and an electric guitar.

At first, radio stations hesitated to play it, as this wasn’t your typical family-friendly Christmas tune. The lyrics were suggestive, and the rhythm was rock and roll. But, in the end, that’s exactly what made it special.

Elvis recorded “Silver Bells” for his 1971 Christmas album, bringing his unique vocal style to this already beloved city-themed carol. His interpretation slowed the tempo, turning the usual urban Christmas scene into something more intimate.

Additionally, his deep baritone voice gave the familiar lyrics fresh meaning, especially during the chorus, where his voice dipped low on “silver bells.” The arrangement balanced traditional Christmas sounds with subtle touches of country and gospel.

Next, “If Every Day Was Like Christmas” started as a special project from Elvis’s close friend Red West, who wrote the song specifically for him. Released in 1966, Elvis recorded it with background vocals provided by Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires, and The Imperials Quartet.

The song stood apart from his earlier Christmas recordings. There were no rock and roll elements or traditional carol arrangements. Instead, Elvis sang with sincerity about kindness and goodwill, backed by strings and harmonies.

In the end, it proved to be a perfect addition to holiday radio playlists, bridging the gap between sacred Christmas music and popular entertainment.

Another one of the best of Elvis’ Christmas songs was “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me).” This 1957 track broke the mold of traditional holiday music…by basically being a love song in Christmas wrapping paper. Aaron Schroeder and Claude Demetrius wrote this iconic Elvis Christmas song.

What made this song special was how it balanced the spirit of Christmas with Elvis’s musical strengths. Elvis jumped into it with his signature vocals, turning what could have been a basic holiday tune into a hip-shaking Christmas party.

Like “Silent Night” and “Silver Bells”, Elvis approached “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with tenderness and simplicity. His 1957 rendition honored Bing Crosby’s wartime classic while adding subtle touches of his own style. The arrangement kept the gentle melody of the original, with Elvis’s voice floating over soft guitar (and, of course, The Jordanaires‘ harmonies, again)

This quieter, more intimate performance showed Elvis’s gift for ballads. He understood the song’s message of yearning and separation, which were definitely topics he knew well from his time in the Army and touring.

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Capping our list of the best of Elvis’ Christmas songs is “Blue Christmas,” his most defining recording. Released in 1957, he transformed the country tune (originally recorded by Doye O’Dell in 1948) into a rock and roll Christmas staple.

Of course, Elvis infused the song with his signature blend of blues and country. It immediately resonated with audiences and continued increasing in popularity each Christmas season. And his version became so popular that many people forgot it wasn’t originally his song.