Santa Claus Is Back in Town
"Santa Claus Is Back in Town" is a Christmas song written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and first recorded that year by Elvis Presley as the opening track on "Elvis' Christmas Album", the best-selling Christmas/holiday album of all time in the United States. The song has become a rock and roll Christmas standard. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" was paired with "Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me" and was issued as a UK single concurrently with the album's release in 1957. The single reached #7 on  the UK Singles Chart in November 1957. RCA rereleased the song as a 45 vinyl 7" single in 1985, PB-14237B, paired with "Merry Christmas, Baby". In 1980, the song reached #41 on the UK singles chart in December in a six-week chart run. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" backed with "Blue Christmas" was released by RCA Victor as a 45 single in 1965 in the US, reaching #4 on the "Billboard" Christmas Singles chart. The "Blue Christmas"/"Santa Claus is Back in Town" single was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1999. Synopsis. The song, set in a basic  twelve-bar blues layout with three verses, consists of an elaborate double entendre in which the singer, identifying himself as Santa Claus but having no sleigh, reindeer or sack of toys, promises to arrive in "a big black Cadillac" with the intent of "coming down (a young woman's) chimney" Christmas Eve. Album appearances. The song appeared on the original RCA Victor LP, "Elvis' Christmas Album", the 1958 reissue, the 1970 RCA Camden reissue, the UK release of the Camden version, CDS 1155, the 1975 Pickwick reissue, and the 1985 RCA Special Products rerelease. The song also appeared on the  1982 RCA "Memories of Christmas" compilation, the 1994 BMG album "If Every Day Was Like Christmas", the 2003 BMG "Christmas Peace" collection, and the 2006 BMG "Elvis Christmas" album. The song was featured on the 2008 Presley album "Christmas Duets" in a duet with Wynonna Judd. The song is the opening track on the 2017 album "Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra". Personnel. "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" was recorded on September 7, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California. The musicians on the session were: Covers. Many musical artists have covered the song. Notably, Dwight Yoakam featured  the song on his 1997 Christmas album "Come On Christmas" and released it as a single. The single reached #60 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs chart. The song was covered by Nashville band, The Royal Court of China and featured, along with Floyd Cramer, Elvis Presley's original band, D. J. Fontana, Scotty Moore, Jimmy "Orion" Ellis, and The Jordanaires on MWC America Records. This was the last recording the original members appeared on together. Another notable version was by Robert Plant and The Honeydrippers, as performed on "Saturday Night Live" on December 15, 1984. Jonny Lang covered it  on 1997's "A Very Special Christmas 3". Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul covered the song for the 2018 film "The Christmas Chronicles". Chart performance. The recording was a top ten hit on the UK Singles Chart and a top five hit on the "Billboard" Christmas Singles chart. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA.