Christmas Duets
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. 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. The Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood duets have both charted on the Billboard country charts, with the former reaching the Top 40.
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
- Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on Liner Notes
- Tracks 1-6 & 8: Originally recorded on September 5–7, 1957 for Elvis' Christmas Album
- Tracks 7 & 9-13: Originally recorded on May 15–16, 1971 for Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
- The Canadian edition of the album has a duet of "On A Snowy Christmas Night", performed with :fr:Renée Martel|Renée Martel at track 11 right before the bonus tracks as the rest of the album is in order.
Personnel
- Elvis Presley – sampled lead vocals
- Chuck Ainlay - record producer, audio mixing, recording engineer
- Eric Bates - additional vocal recording engineer
- Eddie Bayers – drums
- Brian Beatty - Palmetto State group member
- Kerry Beatty - Palmetto State group member
- Richard Bennett – acoustic guitar
- Michael Black - Jordanaires group member
- Jeremy Calloway - Palmetto State group member
- Jim Cooley - audio mixing assistant, assistant recording engineer
- Eric Darken – percussion
- Steve Gibson – guitar
- Carl Gorodetzky - string contractor
- Mike Griffith - production coordinator
- Larry Hamby - record producer
- Chris Henry - additional vocal recording engineer
- Ginger Holliday – background vocals
- David Hungate – bass guitar
- The Imperials – background vocals
- John Jarvis – piano, Hammond organ
- The Jordanaires – background vocals
- Millie Kirkham – background vocals
- Jim Long – electric guitar
- Ann Mincieli - additional vocal recording engineer
- Gordon Mote – Hammond organ
- Nashville String Machine – strings
- Ryan Nelson - assistant recording engineer
- Louis Nunley - Jordanaires group member
- Palmetto State Quartet – background vocals
- Bart Pursley - additional vocal recording engineer
- Temple Riser – background vocals
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
- Gordon Stoker - Jordanaires group member
- Larry Strickland - Palmetto State group member
- Ray Walker - Jordanaires group member
- Bergen White – string arrangements
- Jeff Wolpert - additional vocal recording engineer
- Glenn Worf – bass guitar
- Curtis Young - Jordanaires group member
Chart positions
Chart | Peak position |
U.S. Top Country Albums | 3 |
U.S. Billboard 200 | 17 |
Australian ARIA Albums Chart | 20 |
Canadian Albums Chart | 6 |
Singles