Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas (1966)

Born Elvis Aaron Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935, this iconic singer is one of the most popular acts of the 20th century and the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. Spending his teen years in Memphis, Tennessee, he disappointingly got a C in his eighth grade music class and was told by the teacher that he had “no aptitude for singing.” He was rejected by local quarters and bands after auditioning, because, as they all noted, he didn’t have an ear for harmony. Not to be deterred, Elvis kept on singing and eventually got his foot into Sun Records. His big break came in July 1954, after “acting the fool” with “Scotty” Moore and Bill Black in a recording session held by Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Studios and Sun Records. Astounded, Phillips asked Elvis what he was doing, to which he was told “We don’t know!” Having been looking for a white performer “with the Negro sound and the Negro feel,” Phillips found his man and the rise to stardom was just beginning.

Written by Red West, this song was recorded on June 10, 1966 and released as a single on November 15th, the same year. Backed by the song “How Would You Like To Be” from Elvis’ 1963 movie, It Happened at the World’s Fair. The backing vocals in the song were performed by The Jordanaires and The Imperials Quartet. The song spent a combined eight weeks on Billboard’s Christmas charts in 1966 and 1967.

Merry Christmas…and a Happy New Year!



Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas (1966)

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Lyrics:

I hear the bells
Saying Christmas is near
They ring out to tell the world
That this is the season of cheer

I hear a choir
Singing sweetly somewhere
And a glow fills my heart
I'm at peace with the world
As the sound of their singing fills the air

Oh, why can't every day be like Christmas?
Why can't that feeling go on endlessly?
For if every day could be just like Christmas
What a wonderful world this would be

I hear a child
Telling Santa what to bring
And the smile upon his tiny face
Is worth more to me than anything

Oh, why can't every day be like Christmas?
Why can't that feeling go on endlessly?
For if every day could be just like Christmas
What a wonderful world this would be