When fans of Christmas music think of Elvis and Christmas songs, the first one that usually springs to mind is his fantastic take on “Blue Christmas,” and for good reason. It’s for many the definitive version of the song, with his hiccupy delivery of “Ah-ha’ll ha-have uh-huh bluuuuue Christmas without you,” and really, does it get much better than that? While the answer to that might be a clear “no” for some folks, I’d have to say “just a little” — that is, just go ahead and skip ahead to the very next song as it appears on the original Elvis’ Christmas Album, released in 1957. That next song is “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me),” one of two songs on the album written specifically for Elvis (the other being the bluesy “Santa Claus is Back in Town”). “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)” is so perfectly Elvis, and so much fun, that I have to give it the edge over “Blue Christmas,” if just by a (slicked-back) hair. It’s very close to being a rewrite of his #1 hit, “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” released earlier that same year, but hey, it’s Christmas! I think we can be a little forgiving at this time of year, right? In any case, “Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)” is among the best feel-good Christmas songs in my book, and given that Christmas songs are by-and-large “feel-good” by definition, that’s really saying something.

Interesting side note: Did you know that Elvis’ Christmas Album is the best-selling Christmas album of all time in the United States? Yep, 17 million copies worth! Not only that, but it’s one of the best-selling albums of all time, period. Sip on that with your egg nog.

Look at me, up too late on Christmas Eve — I’d better get to bed soon. If I’m not careful, Santa might just bring Elvis’s baby back to me, and then all hell would break loose. Merry Christmas, everyone!