Blue Christmas by The Pretenders

“Blue Christmas” was one of the very first rock’n’roll Christmas songs, appearing on Elvis Presley’s seasonal album in 1957. It’s near-impossible to cover this song without referring to the Elvis version, and Chrissie Hynde doesn’t resist the temptation: She sings the first half of this version in a sultry, Elvis-like voice, then the band revs into Sex Pistols mode for the second half.

This pure-fun track was done during the sessions for the latest Pretenders album Break Up the Concrete; it’s never been released in non-digital form.

Chrissie Hynde made her recording debut alongside one of the Sex Pistols. She and Pistols guitarist Steve Jones both guested on the first solo album by ex-New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders.

The Pretenders have done Christmas songs at three points of their career. Their song “2000 Miles” was a seasonal hit in 1984; and had a track on the first A Very Special Christmas album five years later.

Whatever instrument you’re on, watch out for the shift to the punk-rock section, which happens in the third verse—Everything suddenly gets a lot faster and harder at that point.

On bass, you won’t be able to streak this section unless you can master a fluid up-and-down picking motion. And our jolly guitar tester warns you to watch out for the ho-ho-HOPOs.

The Pretenders will be touring in 2009.