Favourite Christmas Songs

[Marko]

In Helsinki we had yesterday our first snow and today it's starting to look a bit like xmas. The snow won't last though.

My favorites:

1. I'll Be Home On Xmas Day (the blues alternate take, all year around favorite)
2. Holly Leaves & Xmas Trees (one of Red West's best tune)
3. Merry Xmas Baby (the unedited version)
+ Santa Claus is Back In Town (all year around favorite)

[JerryNodak]

Dan_T: I remember what it was like when my 3 daughters were growing up.
It seemed like my wife(now ex) and I started looking for stuff earlier every year. So, I can relate. I don't play any Christmas music though until after Thanksgiving.

[CD King]

I was once a Buddhist but that superb Elvis Gospel album HIS HAND IN MINE and the terrific 1957 Christmas Album influenced me and I became a Christian in 1989. My all-time favorite Elvis Christmas songs are BLUE CHRISTMAS, SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN & SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK TO ME.

An early Merry Christmas Greetings everyone!

[Renan]

I was once a Buddhist but that superb Elvis Gospel album HIS HAND IN MINE and the terrific 1957 Christmas Album influenced me and I became a Christian in 1989. My all-time favorite Elvis Christmas songs are BLUE CHRISTMAS, SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN & SANTA BRING MY BABY BACK TO ME.

An early Merry Christmas Greetings everyone!

For you too CD King!

[Renan]

I know, corporation$ love to milk X-Mas, Maurice...

but I expected better of Jules..

I still don't know what I'm guilty of other than listening to Elvis Christmas songs in October!



Jules

I listen to Elvis Christmas songs anytime of the year. If I´m will to listen to it I will listen to the Christmas songs. I wouldn´t wait until December LOL....

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

I prefer to bust 'em out post-Thanksgiving here in the U.S.
and preferably
by December.

They've been given a good rest by then.

Anything else is way too soon - for both the music
and the holiday itself.

I say that as a lover of Christmas...

[InMemphis]

Well, it's not Xmas until you've heard Blue Xmas at least once on the radio.

I like Silver Bells, If Everyday was like Xmas and several others.

[elvisjock]

"Writing letters everyday, never really seem to say, the way I feel you innnn this hearto'mine."
That line, in particular, from If I Get Home On Christmas Day, hits me right in the belly.

[Torben]

1) "Blue Christmas"
2) "Santa Claus Is Back in Town"
3) "I'll Be Home for Christmas"


Happy Easter!

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

Okay, I guess we can talk about this now.

[Juan Luis]

Santa Claus Is Back In Town!

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

By the way, does anyone have a better opinion of this disc
than our friends in Norway?

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL (Released 2000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (alt. piano version)
Winter Wonderland (undubbed)
Merry Christmas Baby (re-mix)
The First Noel (Without cimbals)
Oh Come, All Ye Faithfull (unedited version)
It Won't Seem Like Christmas Without You (undubbed)
If I Get Home On Christmas Day (alternate master)
Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees (undubbed)
Silver Bells (undubbed)
On A Snowy Christmas Night (unedited master)
Wonderful World Of Christmas (unedited master)
I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (Alt mix and vocal [Re-make version])
Merry Christmas Baby ( 7:58 )
Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees (alt. mix)
If Everyday Was Like Christmas (Take 2)
Merry Christmas Baby (Overdubbed 1980 [This Is Elvis])
Here Comes Santa Claus (Acetate Unedited)
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem (Acetate with echo)
Santa Claus Is Back In Town (alt. take)
I'll Be Home For Christmas Day (Acetate with echo)
Blue Christmas/Santa Claus Is Back In Town (1968 Rehearsal)
Blue Christmas (Live September 29 1974)
Comes with a Pocket Calender, Screensaver and postcards...

The content on this CD is a mixture of undubbed,
computerized home made stupidity. STAY AWAY!

http://home.online.no/~ov-egela/faithful.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[familyjules]

Okay, I guess we can talk about this now.

But I'm listening to Easter Special now, Greg.



Jules

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

I forgot: you revealed to us on Friday that you were
a card-carrying Buddhist.

[familyjules]

I forgot: you revealed to us on Friday that you were
a card-carrying Buddhist.

Still got plenty of time for Jesus though, my man!



Jules

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

Will you be breaking out "Christmas Peace" this year, Jules?

I couldn't believe that release got such a free pass when it came
out.

[familyjules]

Will you be breaking out "Christmas Peace" this year, Jules?

I couldn't believe that release got such a free pass when it came
out.

I didn't buy it. I'll be playing Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas daily though any time now.....

Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees in particular will be given extra listens - I feel so deprived of this song for most of the year!

Jules

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

I'm no fan of C.P.

Yeah, that's the whole point of my comments in October:
save up these songs for the season only and you'll be better for
it. Then, pack'em away for next year.

[familyjules]

Yeah, that's the whole point of my comments in October:
save up these songs for the season only and you'll be better for
it. Then, pack'em away for next year.

Yeah, I appreciate that - I just got impatient this year I guess!



Jules

[ColinB]

Got no slay with reindeer,
No sack on my back,
You'll see me coming in a big black cadilac....


... what great opening lines!

Those aren't the opening lines !

But yes, one of his greatest Xmas songs !

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

Ol' Irving Berlin bristled at Elvis' too-black cover version of "White
Christmas" (in the style of the Drifters, wasn't it?), but surely
this dirty, dirty blues couldn't have helped the sacreligious argument
of the time.



A little seasonal humor:

[cdh72469]

I made a compilation, mainly of the DSD remastered Christmas material with a couple of extras -- just the masters, no alernate takes. I made the CDs for some friends and family. I have, however made a comp of ALL the available Elvis Christmas material in the past, but just for me. But I think this is a good collection for the casual or even non-Elvis fan. I was thinking of passing this out to some folks at work this year.

Blue Christmas
Here Comes Santa Claus
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
White Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Santa Claus Is Back in Town
If Everyday Was Like Christmas
If I Get Home On Christmas Day
On A Snowy Christmas Night
The First Noel
The Wonderful World Of Christmas
It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)
Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees
I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (Album Version)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Short Version)
Winter Wonderland
Silver Bells
Merry Christmas, Baby (5:45 Version)
Santa Claus Is Back In Town / Blue Christmas ('68 Special)
Christmas Message / Silent Night

There are Christmas songs I wish Elvis had recorded every time I hear them a few that come to mind:

O Holy Night -- He'd have done a great job I think
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...) -- Probably didn't record b/c Mel Torme wrote it
Away in A Manger

Basically wish he recorded more "traditional" Holiday numbers, but hey we can't change histsory

[scobaby]

On A Snowy Christmas Day

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

26. Blue Christmas (Jackson, Sept. 5, 1976)
27. Jingle Bells (instr.) (Jackson, Sept. 5, 1976)
The latter (brief) instrumental might find it's way onto a few comps as well.

[TJ]

I made a compilation, mainly of the DSD remastered Christmas material with a couple of extras -- just the masters, no alernate takes. I made the CDs for some friends and family. I have, however made a comp of ALL the available Elvis Christmas material in the past, but just for me. But I think this is a good collection for the casual or even non-Elvis fan. I was thinking of passing this out to some folks at work this year.

Blue Christmas
Here Comes Santa Claus
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
White Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Santa Claus Is Back in Town
If Everyday Was Like Christmas
If I Get Home On Christmas Day
On A Snowy Christmas Night
The First Noel
The Wonderful World Of Christmas
It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)
Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees
I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (Album Version)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Short Version)
Winter Wonderland
Silver Bells
Merry Christmas, Baby (5:45 Version)
Santa Claus Is Back In Town / Blue Christmas ('68 Special)
Christmas Message / Silent Night

There are Christmas songs I wish Elvis had recorded every time I hear them a few that come to mind:

O Holy Night -- He'd have done a great job I think
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...) -- Probably didn't record b/c Mel Torme wrote it
Away in A Manger

Basically wish he recorded more "traditional" Holiday numbers, but hey we can't change histsory

If handing out to non/casual fans I'd lose I'll Be Home On Christmas Day, If I Get Home On Christmas Day and The First Noel. The vocals just don't cut it. The strain on the latter, in particular, make it an uncomfortable listen. He was a much better singer than those performances suggest and I certainly wouldn't use those songs to showcase Elvis' talent to non fans.