As we pursue the release date of LPM 1951 -- circa Nov 1959 or 1960? -- another myth needs to be dispelled.
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LOC 1035 -- the "deluxe" edition of Elvis' Christmas Album -- was apparently NOT deleted by RCA in 1958. Or 1959. Or ... 1963.
In fact, it is
distinctive on Billboard's chart as late as
December 1967!
It is clear now that RCA saw the "deluxe" package as able to coexist at retail with the stripped-down, new cover art version (LPM 1951). Fans could choose the edition they wanted from Santa at least until 1963, perhaps even until four years later.
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A little more Christmas history, starting back in early 1958:
Billboard - January 13, 1958
Elvis' Christmas Album - LOC 1035 hits #1 on the LP charts. Yay Elvis!
Elvis and the Colonel Holiday Greetings, Billboard December 21, 1959
Nowhere in this or any 1959 Billboard is any mention of LPM 1951.
Billboard Dec 08 1962 p2.JPG
Billboard - December 8, 1962
Here we see Elvis' Christmas Album - LOC 1035 re-entering the charts at #143.
Elvis also hits #27 (Girls! Girls! Girls! - LPM 2621), #47 (Pot Luck - LPM 2523), and #118 (Blue Hawaii - LPM 2426).
Also, on the STEREO listing, Girls! Girls! Girls! - LSP 2621 appears at #36.
Billboard Dec 29 1962 p2.JPG
Billboard - December 29, 1962
Again we see Elvis' Christmas Album - LOC 1035 on the charts at #59.
Girls! Girls! Girls! - LPM 2621 is now at #5.
Some may feel that Billboard was making a mistake with the catalog number, or that LOC 1035 actually the album reissue using the original cover art, but history shows us something else:
Billboard - December 7, 1963
11 - ELVIS' CHRISTMAS ALBUM, Elvis Presley, RCA Victor
LPM 1951 (M) and/or LOC 1035 (M); (No Stereo)
Here we see Elvis' Christmas Album - LOC 1035 and LPM 1951 BOTH being cited as available!
Billboard - December 28, 1963
Again we see Elvis' Christmas Album - LOC 1035 and LPM 1951 BOTH being cited as available!
At Christmas 1964 and 1965, RCA pushed the reprocessed stereo version of LPM 1951.
No mention of LOC 1035:
Billboard - December 5, 1964
Billboard - December 2, 1965
In Nov 1966 there was a new holiday 45, along with LPM 1951 / LSP 1951e
No mention of LOC 1035:
Billboard - Nov 26, 1966
The following week Billboard cited only LPM 1951 / LSP 1951e:
Billboard Dec 03 1966 p56.JPG
Billboard - December 3, 1966
At Christmas 1967, both LOC 1035 and LPM 1951 are highlighted!
Could this be correct?
Billboard Dec 02 1967 p8.JPG
Billboard - December 2, 1967
There was also a radio show for the 1967 holidays:
Billboard - December 2, 1967
Finally, right after the phenomenal 1968 TV Special, RCA once again only offered LPM 1951 / LSP 1951:
Billboard Dec 07 1968 p82.JPG
Billboard - December 7, 1968
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From all of this, it seems we cannot count the deluxe LOC 1035 out of the picture until at least Christmas 1964.
What do YOU think?
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