Elvis Persley - 'Christmas Duets'

Christmas Duets Bottom Line:

I'm an Elvis fan. I've never made any bones about that. Even through all the years when it was totally uncool to love Elvis, I was there. I was still there when everyone came back to Elvis and realized just how awesome he still is. Yes, it's been thirty-one years since he died, but Elvis is still the King. So it might be a surprise to find me endorsing this disc, which kinda seems like yet another way to exploit the King for a few quick bucks. But when it boils right down to it, this is a project I think Elvis would have loved.

Some History:

What makes me think Elvis would have participated in this project, endorsed it, even loved it? Well, for anyone who's read even a little about Elvis, they'd know he adored singing with other artists. Unfortunately, his tight-fisted manager didn't like having anyone else's voice mixing it up with "his boy's," so most of the time arrangements that Elvis loved didn't get past ol' Colonel Parker, and as a result, that group sound Elvis loved was muted in favor of making him front-and-center. (Don't believe it? Take a listen to the soundtracks for any movie where Elvis sang with someone else on screen. The duets are all stripped, which in some cases make the songs sound absolutely ridiculous, as in the case of "Mexico," from Fun in Acapulco.) But Elvis was raised in a choir/gospel quartet atmosphere, and he loved the mingled voices of pure harmony. That was why he employed the Jordanaires, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations, and so many others. He loved to sing with other good singers! (Triva: Thurl Ravenscroft, better known as the voice of "Tony the Tiger," has sung with Elvis.) So the fact that many of these ladies Elvis is singing with here weren't even born when he died doesn't matter too much. I think the King would have approved.

Christmas Duets The Songs:

Unfortunately, each of the ladies here are, of course, limited to the songs as Elvis recorded them, decades ago (some MANY decades ago-the bulk of Elvis' Christmas songs were set down in 1957), so the arrangements can't be messed with very much. The remixing and remastering is pretty decent, though, with the addition of instruments and vocals in addition to the ladies who share the spotlight with Elvis (as Colonel Parker would have never allowed during his lifetime!). Of course, because the arrangements ARE so familiar, there's not a lot that can be done other than alternating verses with Elvis, as Martina McBride does with "Blue Christmas" and LeAnn Rimes on "Here Comes Santa Claus."

Some of the better tracks include Wynonna's rockin' addition to "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" and the pretty cool bluesy Gretchen Wilson addition to "Merry Christmas Baby." But the one that floored me (rather overwhelmingly) was Olivia Newton-John singing with Elvis on "O Come All Ye Faithful." Absolutely stunning!

The disc closes with three Elvis-only tunes, but they have been remixed with new background vocals and instrumentation, making them sort of like new tracks. Elvis may be gone, but the King lives on. Long live the King.

Release Date: October 14, 2008 - RCA

Christmas Duets Track List

1. Blue Christmas (with Martina McBride)
2. I'll Be Home For Christmas (with Carrie Underwood)
3. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (with LeAnn Rimes)
4. Santa Claus Is Back In Town (with Wynonna Judd)
5. Silent Night (with Sara Evans)
6. White Christmas (with Amy Grant)
7. Merry Christmas Baby (with Gretchen Wilson)
8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem (with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town)
9. Silver Bells (with Anne Murray)
10. O Come, All Ye Faithful (with Olivia Newton-John)
11. The First Noel (2008)
12. If I Get Home On Christmas Day (2008)
13. Winter Wonderland (2008)