"Step into Christmas" | ||||
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Single by Elton John | ||||
B-side | "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" | |||
Released | 23 November 1973 | |||
Recorded | 11 November 1973 | |||
Studio | Morgan (London) | |||
Genre | Pop rock, Christmas music | |||
Length | 4:30 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon | |||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
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Official video | ||||
"Step into Christmas" on YouTube |
"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. Released in November 1973 with "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" as the B-side, the song peaked at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart, reaching a new peak of No. 8 on the same chart in 2019. [1] In the United States, the single reached No. 56 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart [2] and No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart. [3] [note 1]
"Step into Christmas" was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered reissue of the album Caribou . It also appears on the albums Elton John's Christmas Party , Rare Masters , To Be Continued , Diamonds , and various Christmas themed compilations. Two versions with different vocals are known to exist: the original single mix and a version recorded for John's 1973 performance of "Step into Christmas" on The Gilbert O'Sullivan Show television programme (which featured his friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin standing in for Ray Cooper on percussion). [5]
In 2009, "Step into Christmas" was listed as the ninth-most-played Christmas song of the 2000s in the UK. [6] In December 2023, the song was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams of 1,800,000 units. In September 2021, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales and streams of 500,000 units.
According to liner notes about the song (in Rare Masters and Elton John's Christmas Party), the track and its B-side, both produced by Gus Dudgeon, were recorded during a session on 11 November 1973 at London's Morgan Studios, [7] which was owned by drummer Barry Morgan, who had played on several of John's early albums. "Step into Christmas" was mixed to imitate the work of producer Phil Spector, using compression and utilizing his trademark wall of sound technique. According to both John and Taupin, this was an homage to Christmas songs by Spector-produced groups such as the Ronettes.
The music video produced to promote the single features the band playing the song in a recording studio, with John playing at a piano adorned with a red feather boa. It is notable for its cameo appearance of Taupin, who is seen briefly during the song's bridge playing tubular bells, although they are played on the track by percussionist Ray Cooper. John is also seen playfully holding his supporter's card for Watford F.C., the football club which he would later own. Later in the video John is seeing playing a guitar alongside drummer Nigel Olsson and then embracing him, and briefly with drum sticks inserted into the ends of his mouth.
In 2024, over 50 years after the song's original release, the video was remade as a behind-the-scenes reimagining starring Cara Delevingne as John. Delevingne wears an outfit identical to the one worn by John in the original video. [8] Delevingne and John had wanted to work together and thought of the idea while at Glastonbury Festival 2024. John stated: "When someone suggested the idea of her playing me in a riff on the 1973 'Step Into Christmas' video, I just thought it was the perfect opportunity. Thank God Cara thought the same, because it came out great." [8]
UK Singles Chart | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Peak position | Chart run |
1973 | 24 | Seven weeks (8 December 1973 – 19 January 1974) [9] |
2007 | 53 | Three weeks (15–29 December 2007) [10] |
2011 | 64 | Three weeks (17–31 December 2011) [11] |
2012 | 75 | Two weeks (15–22 December 2012) [12] |
2014 | 84 | Four weeks (13 December 2014 – 3 January 2015) [13] |
2015 | 58 | Three weeks (17–31 December 2015) [14] |
2016 | 37 | Four weeks (15 December 2016 – 5 January 2017) [15] |
2017 | 11 | Four weeks (14 December 2017 – 4 January 2018) [16] |
2018 | 10 | Four weeks (13 December 2018 – 3 January 2019) [17] |
2019 | 8 | Four weeks (12 December 2019 – 2 January 2020) [18] |
2020 | 8 | Seven weeks (26 November 2020 – 7 January 2021) |
2021 | 11 | Six weeks (2 December 2021 – 6 January 2022) |
2022 | 18 | Six weeks (1 December 2022 – 5 January 2023) |
2023 | 16 | Six weeks (30 November 2023 – 4 January 2024) |
2024 | 10 | Six weeks (28 November 2024 – 2 January 2025) |
Chart (1973–2025) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [19] | 31 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [20] | 49 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [21] | 27 |
Germany (GfK) [22] | 52 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [23] | 41 |
Lithuania (AGATA) [24] | 57 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [25] | 61 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [26] | 36 |
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) [27] | 81 |
Portugal (AFP) [28] | 123 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [29] | 67 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [30] | 42 |
UK Singles (OCC) [31] | 8 |
US Billboard Christmas Singles [3] | 1 |
US Holiday 100 ( Billboard ) [32] | 64 |
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles [33] | 56 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [34] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [35] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [36] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [37] (since 2009) | Gold | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [38] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [40] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John. A double album, it was released on 5 October 1973, by DJM Records. Recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in France, the album became a double LP once John and his band became inspired by the locale. Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits "Candle in the Wind", US number-one single "Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", along with the live favourite "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding".
"Tiny Dancer" is a song written by English musician and composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water as its opening track, and was later produced and released as a single in 1972.
"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player as its opening track. The original single release was also notable for a re-recorded version of 'Skyline Pigeon" on its B-side, which went on to be a popular track in its own right.
"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.
"Your Song" is a song written by musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is a song by English musician Elton John, taken from his 25th studio album, The Big Picture. It was written by John and Bernie Taupin, and produced by Chris Thomas. It was released as the album's first single on 8 September 1997 by Mercury Records and the Rocket Record Company.
"Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Château d'Hérouville studio in France, where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Château album. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and staying there for three consecutive weeks. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was John's second single released by The Rocket Record Company. The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship which is falling apart.
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the title track on John's album of the same name. The titular road is a reference to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz film and book series.
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. John composed it with his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It was released on John's best-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and as the first single. It has been covered by many artists and featured on motion picture, video game, and television soundtracks.
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The singles discography of British singer, songwriter and pianist Elton John consists of 140 official singles as main artist, 22 as a featured artist, as well as 56 other non-single guest appearances, 2 charity singles, and 3 other charted songs.
"Sacrifice" is a song by British musician Elton John, written by John and Bernie Taupin, from John's 22nd studio album, Sleeping with the Past (1989). It was first released in October 1989 as the second single from the album. It achieved success in 1990, particularly in France and the United Kingdom, becoming John's first solo chart-topper in both nations. The song describes how hard it is to stay faithful and devoted in a marriage, challenging the mantra that a successful union requires sacrifice. Due to the song's success, John has played this song in various locations in the years since it was released.
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song with music written by English musician Elton John and lyrics by songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album, Caribou (1974), and was released as a single that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by English musician Elton John and English singer Kiki Dee, released by The Rocket Record Company on 25 June 1976. It was written by John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms "Ann Orson" and "Carte Blanche", respectively, and intended as an affectionate pastiche of the Motown style, notably the various duets recorded by Marvin Gaye and singers such as Tammi Terrell and Kim Weston. John and Taupin originally intended to record the song with Dusty Springfield, but ultimately withdrew the offer; Springfield's partner Sue Cameron later said this was because she was too ill at the time.
"Bennie and the Jets" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs and was performed during his appearance at Live Aid.
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The album discography of British singer, songwriter, and pianist Elton John consists of 32 studio albums, 5 live albums, 10 soundtrack albums, 16 compilation albums, 4 extended plays, 3 tribute albums, 4 collaboration albums, and 2 holiday albums.
"Rocket Man(I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin and performed by John. It was originally released on 17 April 1972 in the US, as the lead single to John's album Honky Château. The song first charted in the UK on 22 April, rising to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major hit single for John.
"Merry Christmas" is a song by English singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and Elton John. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as a single on 3 December 2021. The song appears on the Christmas editions of both The Lockdown Sessions and =, John's collaborative album and Sheeran's fifth studio album, respectively. Sheeran and John wrote the song and it was produced by Steve Mac. "Merry Christmas" entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart during the chart week of 10 December 2021, becoming Sheeran's twelfth chart-topper in the country and John's ninth number-one single in the country. It also topped the charts in the Flanders region of Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.