Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley

> _**But Ill ... have a blue ... blue, blue, blue Christmas ...**_

Thursday, September 5, 1957, at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA - When **Elvis Presley** recorded Blue Christmas, he did more than sing a seasonal standard: he gave it a touch of longing. The song, which had already helped inaugurate the countrys Christmas tradition, took off as Elvis' unmistakable voice and style infused it with a bold attitude.

With **The Jordanaires** laying down their steady vocal hums and **Millie Kirkham**s soaring soprano obbligatoan effect Elvis admired in **Ferlin Husky**s hit single [Gone](https://youtu.be/SODY49318Yc "")the atmosphere was intimate. **Scotty Moore**s guitar, **Bill Black**s bass, **D. J. Fontana**s rhythm, and **Dudley Brooks** on piano swung with a dynamic beat.

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**Transpose by -8**
**Tempo: 95 BPM**

f - [5h] - h - [6hl] - l [7hz] - l [8hx] - w t - f s p o Q - w - [8hx] - [wz] t - f s p o Q - l [whk] - z o - d [ya] p o q - Q w - 5 [ah] - w - [dk] - 5 z - 9 [5hkc] - 9 - w - d a p o 9 - c [5hkc] - x 9 - w 5 - x [Z9gk] - z - [8fl] - [wx] t - f s p o Q - w [8odf] - w t - [os] 8 - x c - [lxv] 8 - w t - [hl] 8 - [hlc] - x - [J8zv] - w t - [Jh] 9 - c [0hx] -- [qgjz] - t i - [gj] q - z x - [jlc] q - i [gj] -- [H0f] -- [(Dh] -- [G9d] - x e - y 9 - [Gz] e - l [G9jx] - z y - [Gd] e - l 9 - k [wdgk] - 5 k - w - [dgl] -- L - Q [wgjz] - 5 h - h [6hl] - l [7hz] - l [8hx] - w t - f s p o Q - w [8hx] - [wz] t - f s p o Q - l [whk] - z o - d [ya] p o q - Q w - 5 [ah] - w [dk] - 9 z - [hkc] 5 - 9 w - d a p o 9 - c [5whkc] - x 9 - w 5 - x [Z9gk] - z [8fl] - [wx] t - f s p o Q - w [8odf] - w t - [os] 8 - x c - [lxv] 8 - w t - [hl] 8 - [hlc] - x - [J8zv] - w t - [Jh] 9 - c [0hx] -- [qgjz] - t i - [gj] q - x c - [Zlb] Q - t I - [Dps] Q - I j - t [wadh] - y i - [ad] w - k l - [gkz] w - y o - w [gkx] - v - x - [8fhz] - [wl] t - f s p o Q - w t - 8 o - t [os] - w [osd] - 9 [8of] - w t - f s p o Q - w [8of] -- [osd] - w t - 8 [qps] - Q [woa] - 5 [ad] - w 9 - 0 - q - w - 5 o - w [oa] - 9 [osd] - w [5pdg] - 9 w - d a p o q - Q [wpdg] -- [osf] - 9 5 - w [ipd] - w [8os] - t [of] - w t - e - w - 8 - t [fl] - 8 [hx] - w [jc] - 9 [8lxv] - w t - [hl] 8 - [hlc] - x - [J8zv] - w t - [Jh] 9 - c [0hx] -- [qgjz] - t i - [gj] q - x c - [Zlb] Q - t I - [Dps] Q - I j - t [wadh] - y i - [ad] w - k l - [gkz] w - y o - w [gkx] - v - x - [8fhz] - [wl] t - f s p o Q - w t - 8 [fl] - t [hx] - w [jc] - 9 [8lxv] - w t - [hl] 8 - [hlc] - x - [J8zv] - w t - [Jh] 9 - c [0hx] - [qgjz] - t i - [gj] q - x c - [Zlb] Q - t I - [Dps] Q - I j - t [wadh] - y i - [ad] w - k - l - [wgjz] - y o - w [Zhk] - Z i Z - [8fhz] - [wl] t - f s p o Q - w t -- w - [8upd]

Arranged by [**Jennifer Eklund**](https://youtu.be/GG9GTEedpaI "")

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Yet it was Elvis' halting, emotion-laden delivery, both tender and tense, that captured the heart of the blazing track. His vocal affectation in every note painted the picture of a love lost and never regained, adding gravitas to his prose as the aggrieved dumpee.

With Elvis' classic recording of Blue Christmas, he didnt just join the Christmas tradition: he expanded it with a bold edge and secured his place in the American Yuletide canon.

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Produced by Steve Sholes \* Guitar: Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley \* Bass: Bill Black \* Drums: D. J. Fontana \* Piano: Dudley Brooks * Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires, Millie Kirkham