Words & Music:
Red West
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 everyday 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
Recordingdate: 1966/06/10, first released on: single (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of If Every Day Was Like Christmas:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(steel guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)
Availability
Find available albums with If Every Day Was Like Christmas.
Deserves a rerelease at Christmas. Don't undestand why it wasn't a huge succes.
It really was a hugh success, to get to into the Uk top 10 in 1966. Blue River, Frankie & Johny and All that I Am all failed to reach the top 20, so this recording along with Love Letters gave Elvis his only 2 Top 10 hits of 1966. As for Christmas songs, this must rank with the best of Elvis Christmas songs. It is top of my list and i've listened to every year since 1966. Never tire of it. 5 Stars
A heart warming song which is wonderfully delivered by Elvis. He clearly liked this song which was written for him by his buddy.
I have nothing with christmas, but this is one of those songs that I always appreciate in winter time. It must be his beautiful voice that arouses a tender and warm sentiment.
A new Christmas single especially in the 60's , always got a lot of radio play and many tuned into hits. I liked this song then and I like it now. It didnt get the airplay it deserved back then and as a single, it tanked. Horrible B side by the way which probably didnt help. Now I do hear it on the radio every Christmas season and deservedly so.
I give this 5 stars. I've always liked this one and it has been on the playlist every Christmas since I first heard it.
It's a beautiful delivery by Elvis. As a single I think I'll Remember You would have suited much better as the B-side.
Absolutely fantastic recording that should have been a major hit. What crossed the mind of the RCA folks that decided to couple this beautiful song with 'How would you like to be'? Why not couple this beautiful ballad with something fun of high quality with a Christmas feeling such as 'Santa bring my baby back to me' - the combination would have been a true Christmas smash hit! Anyhow, five stars for this beauty... Oh why can't everyday be like Christmas, why can't that feeling go on endlessly cause if everyday could be just like Christmas what a wonderful world this would be. Amen to that.
This is absolute wonderful,even non-fans like this a lot. 5 stars.
And why Colonel Parker nor RCA at the time didn't schedule a special guest appearance on one of the major variety tv show back in the mid 60's to promote the single and that wonderful song written by Red West?It drives me mad sometimes, A little bit of exposure - besides the lame movies he was doing at the time,- would not have damaged his image. On the contrary, it would have remind eveybody that Elvis was a one of a kind singer and a true artist, inspite of the fast food movies he was trapped into by the dear Colonel.
This is such a beautiful song and it's my favorite Christmas song that Elvis ever recorded. This song should've been a major hit for Elvis here in the United States, but wasn't.
matching choice for today. it's white out there for the first time this year...
Great Christmas song. It probably would have helped if Elvis had recorded another Christmas song during the '66 sessions, and have that one released on the flip side of "IEDWLC". It probably might have helped with sales, radio airplay, etc.. Of course had that been done, "Mama Liked the Roses" (which is not a Christmas song, but still a great song anyways) would have not been dumped onto the '70 Camden Christmas album.
According to varying sources this eventually sold over a million copies and also broke into the top ten in the UK. It is a marvellous Christmas song that I play throughout the year, with Elvis using that resounding baritone voice, somewhat reminiscent of Indescribably Blue.
A good song, sung with feeling. Now to be enjoyed on a Christmas CD, containing all his Christma
A good song sung with feeling. Now to be enjoyed with all his Christmas songs on one CD.
Great song. Wonderful vocal. Elvis nails it. My favorite Elvis Christmas song. 5 stars.
This one has always been a favorite of mine and as stated previously even is appreciated by non-elvis fans when they hear it. Beautifully written by his pal Red West, sincerely and perfectly sung by Elvis and an outstanding arrangement and backing vocals make this a 5 star song. Tanked when released? That might be revising history again. Christmas songs were not tracked on the Hot 100 in 1966 as Billboard had a special Christmas chart that ran for four weeks each Christmas season. IEDWLC hit #2 in 1966 and #12 on that same chart in 1967. "Blue Christmas" was also re-released both years and peaked at #12 in 1966 and #5 in 1967.
Actually I like Red West's version better!.. Red: 5 stars' Elvis: 3 stars
Great performance , sounding a little like Indescribably Blue . This song has become a classic , a perennial favorite every Christmas. Definitely one of my all- time Christmas songs .
A must play EVERY Christmas morning. Five star recording.. What more can I say.
Very underrated should get far more airplay than it does at Christmas.Blue Christmas seems to be the radio choice which is good but a pity this one dwells in it's shadow.
A classic Christmas message song! Still relevant.
Elvis sang this song wholeheartedly. The effort he puts in it was unbelievable. It may be a Christmas song but I enjoy it any time of the day. I feel touched and inspired with the way he sang it. Beyond imagination!
This song reminded me of "If I Can Dream". I saw the Ann Margaret three-hour TV special (68 Comeback, Aloha) several months before I purchased the reissue of the 1970 Christmas LP.
Not one of his better Christmas Songs in my opinion. His 1957 Christmas Album dwarfs all that was to follow as to Christmas songs by Elvis in my opinion.
This Christmas song is a true masterpiece for sure and it should definitely be far better known than it actually is.
The other ten songs that Elvis recorded that were written or co-written by his longtime friend and bodyguard Red West were
"Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees", "If You Talk In Your Sleep", "If You Think I Don't Need You", "It's No Fun Being Lonely", "I've Been Blue", "Mary Lou Brown", "Seeing Is Believing", "Separate Ways", "That's Someone You Never Forget" and "You'll Be Gone".
A song that captures the atmosphere of christmas very well. A really nice tune. 4 stars.
When of his songs that sounds way too much Hawaiian aka Blue Hawaii soundtrack like to these ears; the problem is, although a Christmas song it just doesn't compute to these ears although it's very, very infectious as you tend to remember it.
Very nice song, and included in Elvis' biggest selling album of all-time... Elvis' Christmas Album (1970 RCA Camden)
One word sums up this wonderful Christmas song 'perfection'. I've played it every Christmas morning since it was released. Even an RPO version couldn't improve this recording.