TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES.

This weekly feature reviews some of the releases available for the new technological toys in the world of home entertainment.

Excellent Good Fair Poor

COMPACT DISCS

“Elvis’ Christmas Album.” Elvis Presley. RCA. This 1957 recording would lose to Phil Spector’s 1963 classic in a contest to name the greatest rock Christmas album, but Elvis wins by default because it is the only one available in CD. Presley sounds indifferent on a couple of traditional Christmas songs (including “Silent Night”) and embarrassingly self-conscious on “White Christmas.” But he’s terrific on country or blues-accented tunes (“Blue Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”) and even better on pure gospel numbers like “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.”