According to the latest data and certifications of the Recording Industry of America, Elvis' Christmas Album, recorded by Elvis Presley has shipped at least 13 million copies since its original release in 1957. That makes it the biggest-selling Christmas album of all time. The album has been re-issued and repackaged several times, and continues to be a perennial holiday best-seller, writes Eddie Deezen.
It sold three million copies upon its original release in 1957 and has sold an additional ten million copies in the various forms it has been reissued in. It hit the number one spot on the Billboard charts in 1957 and remained there for four weeks. Released on October 15, 1957, it would be the first of two Christmas albums released by "The King." The second, Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas, wasn't released until the early 1970s.
Best Selling Christmas Album
December 24, 2013 | Music
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TheMemphisFan wrote on
December 27, 2013
Too bad that there wasn't adequate research done to seek out all the facts here. If the original album sold "3 million copies" upon its original release in 1957-thru-1959, then it should make one wonder why the sales totals for the 1959 re-issue LP, 1964 reissue (stereo effect) LP, and 1985 CD & LP re-issues haven't been accounted for!! The article is inaccurate where it states -- "... and has sold an additional ten million copies in the various forms it has been reissued in."
In reality, only the 1970 Camden LP, 1975 Pickwick LP, 1986 RCA Special Products LP, and 1991 BMG CD re-issues are counted/credited toward the "ten million copies" that the article refers to. "Elvis' Christmas Album" has also been released in other various forms that don't count towards the 10 million sales total mentioned in the article... It's Christmas Time (2000 BMG), It's Christmas Time (2007 LaserLight/BMG), White Christmas (2000 BMG), and Elvis Christmas (2006 Sony/BMG).
Gorse wrote on
December 27, 2013
I understand your sound logic THEMEMPHISFAN and have some empathy but I have long given up on these numbers as no one will ever know. My satisfaction is that he sold a 'lot' of records and he , his image , his songs are still known by the youngsters of today. It is surprising to me that the really 'great icons' of the past are being forgotten as I recently asked an intelligent English young lady if she had heard of Bing Crosby, and she had not. I don't expect the lesser lights to be remembered but Bing wow !!
kink56 wrote on
January 01, 2014
I am sure the LPM1951 and LSP1951(e) versions far outsold the original LOC1035 by a long shot, since they had been around from 1959-1970. And yes, I think the bulk of this tally comes from the Camden version.
john9904 wrote on
January 07, 2014
I really don't care how many they have sold and which version have been accounted for blah blah blah. What I do know is that this is a great album with great songs. Just enjoy it!
bajo wrote on
January 07, 2014
Diamonds awards or not! The mere fact remain: Elvis' Christmas recordings have sold reasonable over the years! That's what matters! People actuallly buy Elvis Christmas recordings! And in millions too!