The Classic Christmas Album

Numerous seasonal Elvis Presley albums have appeared over the years, some including the entirety of his holiday recordings (1994's If Every Day Was Like Christmas, for one), so chances are most hardcore Elvis fans have his Christmas songs somewhere in their collection. But for those who don't, his 2012 entry into Legacy's The Classic Christmas Album series is indeed a good buy. Weighing in at 17 tracks, this is a generous collection containing almost every holiday tune Elvis cut. He had 20 master takes of seasonal tunes and there are 15 here, along with two newly created duets with Carrie Underwood ("I'll Be Home for Christmas") and Martina McBride ("Blue Christmas"). These two new cuts are bound to irk some purists, but there are plenty of collections that will satisfy their needs. For most listeners, this is an enjoyable dose of holiday cheer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine