Christmas Duets

Last updated
Christmas Duets
Elvis Presley Christmas Duets.jpg
Compilation album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 2008 [1]
RecordedSeptember 5–7, 1957, May 15–July 1971 (Elvis' vocals and some instrumentation from original recordings); 2008 (new backing tracks and vocals)
Genre Country, pop, CCM, Christmas
Length38:56
Label RCA
Producer Chuck Ainlay, Larry Hamby (as executive producer)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Christmas Duets is a 2008 album released by RCA Records, consisting of archival Elvis Presley vocal recordings mixed with completely re-recorded instrumentation and new vocals by contemporary country and gospel singers. [3] Three tracks on the album do not have duet vocals: "The First Noel", "If I Get Home On Christmas Day", and "Winter Wonderland". However, the instrumental tracks for these songs were re-recorded by contemporary musicians, just like on all other songs. Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood duets have both charted on the Billboard country charts, with the former reaching the Top 40.

Contents

A second version of "Blue Christmas" was recorded with Martina McBride using mainly acoustic instrumentation in order to obtain a similar arrangement to the one used in the informal segments of Presley's '68 Comeback Special. Also, shots of McBride performing the song were digitally inserted into footage, taken from the original special, of Presley performing the same song, to use as a promotional music video for the album. The second version of "Blue Christmas" was never officially released outside the video.

On March 8, 2018, the album was awarded a Gold certification by the RIAA for selling in excess of 500,000 copies.

List of Songs

No.TitleDuet withLength
1."Blue Christmas" Martina McBride 2:30
2."I'll Be Home for Christmas" Carrie Underwood 3:36
3."Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" LeAnn Rimes 1:58
4."Santa Claus Is Back in Town" Wynonna Judd 2:26
5."Silent Night" Sara Evans 2:24
6."White Christmas" Amy Grant 2:25
7."Merry Christmas Baby" Gretchen Wilson 8:06
8."O Little Town of Bethlehem"Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town 2:38
9."Silver Bells" Anne Murray 2:27
10."O Come, All Ye Faithful" Olivia Newton-John 2:52
11."The First Noel" (2008)2:14
12."If I Get Home On Christmas Day" (2008)2:55
13."Winter Wonderland" (2008)2:25
Notes

Personnel


Original vocals and instrumentation

Partial credits from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen's examination of session tapes and RCA and AFM paperwork. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

The Imperials
Overdubbed

Unless otherwise indicated, overdub credits are obtained from the album's liner notes. [4]

Production

Chart positions

Singles

YearSingleChart Positions
US Country US AC
2008"Blue Christmas" (w/ Martina McBride)3622
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (w/ Carrie Underwood)54

Related Research Articles

<i>Elvis Country (Im 10,000 Years Old)</i> 1971 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis Country is the 13th studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records in January 1971. Recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, it reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. It peaked at number six in the United Kingdom, selling over one million copies worldwide. It was certified Gold on December 1, 1977, by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Love Letters from Elvis</i> 1971 studio album by Elvis Presley

Love Letters from Elvis is the 14th studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released in 1971. The album was critically panned upon release, and failed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard album charts but did reach No. 12 on the US Top Country Albums chart and No. 7 on the UK best-selling albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear</span> 1957 song by Elvis Presley

"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" is a popular song first recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 for the soundtrack of his second motion picture, Loving You, during which Presley performs the song on screen. It was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe and published in 1957 by Gladys Music.

<i>Today</i> (Elvis Presley album) 1975 studio album by Elvis Presley

Today is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released on May 7, 1975 by RCA Records. The album featured the country and pop music sound typical of Elvis during the 1970s, as well as a new rock and roll song, "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", which was released as its first single and went Top 40 in the US. "Bringing It Back" was its second single in the US. The album also features covers of songs by Perry Como, Tom Jones, The Pointer Sisters, Billy Swan, Faye Adams, The Statler Brothers and Charlie Rich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Christmas (song)</span> Song by Billy Hayes and J W. Johnson

"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and most famously recorded by Elvis Presley, although it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. It is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre.

<i>Elvis</i> (1956 album) 1956 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis is the second studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on October 19, 1956 in mono. Recording sessions took place on September 1, September 2, and September 3 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, with one track left over from the sessions for Presley's debut album at the RCA Victor recording studios on January 30 in New York. It spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart that year, making Presley the first recording artist to have both albums go straight to number one in the same year. It would go on to spend 5 weeks at #1 in total. It was certified Gold on February 17, 1960, and Platinum on August 10, 2011, by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas</i> 1971 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas is the fifteenth studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released in October 1971. It was his first Christmas album with new recordings since Elvis' Christmas Album (1957). The album's single, "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful", was later released in November 1971. This album was a top seller and topped the Christmas LP's chart; it would have charted high on the Billboard Top LPs chart, but from 1963 to 1973, holiday albums were not allowed to chart. Though lacking the commercial appeal of Elvis' first Christmas album, it gradually become a perennial favorite. The album was certified Gold on November 4, 1977, Platinum on December 1, 1977, 2× Platinum on May 20, 1988, and 3× Platinum on July 15, 1999, by the RIAA.

<i>Elvis Christmas Album</i> 1957 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis' Christmas Album is the third studio album and first Christmas album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley on RCA Victor, LOC -1035, a deluxe limited edition, released October 15, 1957, and recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. It has been reissued in numerous different formats since its first release. It spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and was the first of two Christmas-themed albums Presley would record, the other being Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas, released in 1971. The publication Music Vendor listed Elvis' Christmas Album on their singles charts for two weeks in December 1957 – January 1958, with a peak position of No. 49.

<i>Thats the Way It Is</i> (Elvis Presley album) 1970 studio album by Elvis Presley

That's the Way It Is is the 12th studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records, LSP 4445, in November 1970. It consists of eight studio tracks recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, and four live in-concert tracks recorded at The International Hotel in Las Vegas. It accompanied the theatrical release of the documentary film Elvis: That's the Way It Is, although it is not generally considered a soundtrack album. The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and at number eight on the country chart. It was certified Gold on June 28, 1973, by the Recording Industry Association of America and up-graded to Platinum, for sales of a million copies on March 8, 2018.

<i>Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters</i> 1995 box set by Elvis Presley

Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters is a five-disc box set compilation of the recorded work of Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1970s. It was released in 1995 by RCA Records, catalog number 66670-2, following similar box sets that covered his musical output in the 1950s and 1960s. This set's initial long-box release included a set of collectable stamps duplicating the record jackets of the LP albums on which the tracks in the box set were originally released by RCA. It also includes a booklet with an extensive session list and discography, as well as a lengthy essay by Dave Marsh, some of it excerpted from his 1982 book on Presley. The box set was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 15, 1999.

<i>Loving You</i> (soundtrack) 1957 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Loving You is the first soundtrack album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. It was released by RCA Victor in mono, LPM 1515, in June 1957 to accompany his film, Loving You (1957). Recording sessions took place on January 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1957, at the Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage, and on January 12, 13, 19, and February 23 and 24, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. These are the first sessions where Steve Sholes is officially listed as producer. It spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. It was certified Gold on April 9, 1968 by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Jailhouse Rock</i> (EP) 1957 EP (soundtrack) by Elvis Presley

Jailhouse Rock is an EP by American singer Elvis Presley, featuring songs from the movie of the same name. It was released by RCA Victor, with catalogue EPA 4114, on October 30, 1957. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on April 30 and May 3, 1957, with an additional session at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Soundstage in Hollywood on May 9 for "Don't Leave Me Now". It peaked at #1 on the newly inaugurated Billboard EP chart where it remained at #1 for 28 weeks. The EP album was the best selling EP album of 1958 according to Billboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Sister (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who enjoyed a No. 5 hit with it on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. Lead guitar was played by Hank Garland and the rhythm guitar was played by Scotty Moore with backing vocals by the Jordanaires featuring the distinctive bass voice of Ray Walker.

<i>Peace in the Valley</i> (EP) 1957 EP by Elvis Presley

Peace in the Valley is an EP by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released in April 1957 on RCA Victor Records in mono with catalogue number EPA 4054. It reached number three on the short-lived Billboard EP chart, number three on the album chart and number 39 on the singles chart.

<i>Girls! Girls! Girls!</i> (soundtrack) 1962 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Girls! Girls! Girls! is the fifth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2426, in November 1962. It accompanied the 1962 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on March 26, 27, and 28, and May 23, 1962. It peaked at number three on the Top LPs chart. It was certified Gold on August 13, 1963, by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Fun in Acapulco</i> (soundtrack) 1963 soundtrack album by Elvis Presley

Fun in Acapulco is the seventh soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2756, in November 1963. It is the soundtrack to the 1963 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on January 22 and 23 and February 27, 1963; and at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 26 and 28, 1963. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.

"Mama Liked the Roses" is a song by Elvis Presley released in 1970. The song was released as the B-side to "The Wonder of You" 45 single on April 20, 1970, and on the 1970 RCA Camden reissue of Elvis' Christmas Album, though the song is not specifically about Christmas.

"Like a Baby" is a song written by Jesse Stone. It was recorded by Vikki Nelson for a Vik Records single in 1957. Priscilla Bowman recorded it for Abner Records in 1959. It was also recorded by Elvis Presley for his 1960 album Elvis Is Back!. James Brown and the Famous Flames recorded the song and released it as a single in 1963, which charted No. 24 R&B. The single's B-side, an instrumental version of "Every Beat of My Heart", also charted, reaching No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100. Brown and the Flames performed "Like a Baby" on their 1964 live album Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal.

<i>Home for Christmas</i> (Susan Boyle album) 2013 studio album by Susan Boyle

Home for Christmas is the fifth studio album and second Christmas album by Scottish singer Susan Boyle. It was released on 25 October 2013 in Australia, on 29 October in the United States, and on 25 November 2013 in the United Kingdom. The album is a Christmas holiday album featuring a posthumous duet with Elvis Presley who died in 1977 and two duets with Johnny Mathis and The Overtones. The album also features an original song, "Miracle Hymn", written for Boyle's debut acting role in the film The Christmas Candle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Leavin' (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1971 single by Elvis Presley

"I'm Leavin'" is a 1971 song by Elvis Presley. It was written by Sonny Charles and Michael Jarrett.

References

  1. "Christmas Duets by Elvis Presley". iTunes . 10 October 2008.
  2. Allmusic review
  3. John Bush, "Review of Christmas Duets," allmusic.
  4. 1 2 Presley, Elvis. "Christmas Duets". RCA Nashville/Sony BMG. 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 12, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 13, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 19, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: September 5, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: September 6, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: September 7, 1957". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 15-16, 1971". KeithFlynn.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 16-17, 1971". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. The Imperials and Millie Kirkham. "May 24, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710524ods.html
  14. Spreen, Glen. "June 22, 1971: Tuesday Afternoon Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710622as_ods.html
  15. Glen Spreen, Eddie Hinton & Farrell Morris. "July 26, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710726ods.html
  16. "Australiancharts.com – Elvis Presley – Christmas Duets". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  17. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  18. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  19. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  20. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  21. "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  22. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  23. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.