MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY TOUR DE FORCE

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:21 pm

xxxxxxxxxx

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:46 pm

Now this is how this track is supposed to be heard! In its raw form. The overdubbed guitar really doesn't fit on this track in my opinion.

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:22 pm

My main tampering comes in the last minute with James' guitar more upfront right after what seems to be a place for fadeout. The overdubbed Hinton guitar part was well done for single release and in its shortened original form...

Post by **Joe Car** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:49 pm

Awesome, frickin awesome! From Elvis, to the piano, to James of course and then the harmonica part as well. By the end of the song I was movin and groovin, thanks again JLGB!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:17 pm

Superb JLGB that's your best tweaking yet

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:19 pm

sid wrote:Superb JLGB that's your best tweaking yet

Thanks! Let me give you all some details of backwards sound EXORCISM!

1. Not going into SECRET details (boring also) I tweaked,EQed, avoiding 100% digital artifacts and separated and mixed vocals,instruments etc to MONO!!

..that was only way it sounded good to me. 2. took that mono mix and mixed (bounced it is called (with multitrack) it in with stereo source at a lower level (the source) but enough for STEREO separation which is an illusion anyway. 3. Last guitar part was taken out and re eqed and amplified 2-3DBs and put back in (exported,imported). Thats it!! About 2 hours...

Post by **BigredG** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:37 pm

JLGB wrote:
sid wrote:Superb JLGB that's your best tweaking yet
Thanks! Let me give you all some details of backwards sound EXORCISM! 1. Not going into SECRET details (boring also) I tweaked,EQed, avoiding 100% digital artifacts and separated and mixed vocals,instruments etc to MONO!! ..that was only way it sounded good to me. 2. took that mono mix and mixed (bounced it is called (with multitrack) it in with stereo source at a lower level (the source) but enough for STEREO separation which is an illusion anyway. 3. Last guitar part was taken out and re eqed and amplified 2-3DBs and put back in (exported,imported). Thats it!! About 2 hours...

"....don't know whatchyou talkin' about man"

But it sounds great!!! Good work

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:51 pm

BIGREDG wrote: Good work

Thanks... but it ain't work for me... I love it!!! At the same time humbled that such a complex and demanding group for the most part find my 'work" good...

...if you make it here...

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:34 am

JLGB wrote:The overdubbed Hinton guitar part was well done for single release and in its shortened original form...

I've just never much cared for it. As a guitarist myself I find it rather lackluster and it really doesn't fit in with Elvis 'sound' of the time. Whenever I hear it to me I get a picture of a guy in a studio with headphones on whipping out some stock blues licks over a tape playing. A good overdubbed track would sound like Eddie was in the room with Elvis and the band.

Post by **MysteryTrain** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:24 am

Speaking of "Merry Christmas Baby" are there more than 5 different edits officially available?

1. Original Single (available on the Japanese Singles Box) = 3:14;

2. "Memories of Christmas" = 7:59;

3. "This Is Elvis" (overdubbed with strings) = 2:51 (available on the Cracker Barrel American Music Legends CD (BMG DRC 13623);

4. "Reconsider Baby" CD = 7:18;

and

5. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" CD = 5:45

Mystery Train

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:24 am

MysteryTrain wrote:Speaking of "Merry Christmas Baby" are there more than 5 different edits officially available?

1. Original Single (available on the Japanese Singles Box) = 3:14;

2. "Memories of Christmas" = 7:59;

3. "This Is Elvis" (overdubbed with strings) = 2:51 (available on the Cracker Barrel American Music Legends CD (BMG DRC 13623);

4. "Reconsider Baby" CD = 7:18;

and

5. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" CD = 5:45

Mystery Train

A German(wonderful world of christmas} Cd had RB version more or less but better sounding or different remastering..The album version is the same as single??

Post by **EagleUSA** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:28 am

Any chance you could repost? Download limit was reached! Thanks!!!

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:50 am

EagleUSA wrote:Any chance you could repost? Download limit was reached! Thanks!!!

ok

Post by TJ » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:54 am

Phew glad you are reposting. I've been meaning to download this all day and when I got to it....doh!!

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:01 am

xxxxxxxx

Post by **Gregory Nolan Jr.** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:02 am

I guess I'm too late: the link isn't working. That's a rather short-lived method, unfortunately. Can you send it to me or re-post it, JL?

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:12 am

Gregory Nolan Jr. wrote:I guess I'm too late: the link isn't working. That's a rather short-lived method, unfortunately. Can you send it to me or re-post it, JL?

Just did!

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:29 am

MysteryTrain wrote: 5. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" CD = 5:45

Mystery Train

The CD I have of 'Elvis sings the Wonderful World of Christmas' has Merry Christmas baby clocking in at 7.18. It also has the "County Rhythm Version remastered by Hank Williams" of I'll Be Home on Christmas Day along with If Everyday Was Like Christmas.

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:32 am

Matthew wrote:
MysteryTrain wrote: 5. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" CD = 5:45

Mystery Train
The CD I have of 'Elvis sings the Wonderful World of Christmas' has Merry Christmas baby clocking in at 7.18. It also has the "County Rhythm Version remastered by Hank Williams" of I'll Be Home on Christmas Day along with If Everyday Was Like Christmas.

How does it compare to this ?

Post by TJ » Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:54 am

Nice job. Thanks

Juan Luis · Post by **Juan Luis** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:03 am

TJ wrote:Nice job. Thanks

Thanks for posting!

Post by **MysteryTrain** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:08 pm

Matthew,

You are correct, the CD versions of "The Wonderful World of Christmas" contain the long version of "Merry Christmas Baby," which on my computer clocks in at 7:20 - I assume this is the "Reconsider Baby" version. The European CD (ND 81936) has "If Everyday Could Be Like Christmas" and "I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (alternate version)" as bonus songs, whereas the U.S.A. CD (4579-2-R) has "Blue Christmas ("live" version from the NBC TV Special) as a bonus song.

The original LP version of "Merry Christmas Baby" (5:45) is on "Christmas Peace" and "Elvis Christmas."

Mystery Train

Post by **Gregory Nolan Jr.** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:55 am

Matthew wrote:
JLGB wrote:The overdubbed Hinton guitar part was well done for single release and in its shortened original form...
I've just never much cared for it. As a guitarist myself I find it rather lackluster and it really doesn't fit in with Elvis 'sound' of the time. Whenever I hear it to me I get a picture of a guy in a studio with headphones on whipping out some stock blues licks over a tape playing. A good overdubbed track would sound like Eddie was in the room with Elvis and the band.

To each his own, but Hinton was quite a player and I'm glad he was featured on this song. I used to find the undubbed version a bit too empty as I first heard in '85 on the "Reconsider Baby" LP.

It's not one of those frenetic Gary Moore solos, but a less-is-more style solo that graced plenty of southern soul hits such as those at Stax and Muscle Shoals. But it's got some "umphh" too. But the undubbed version allows the song to breathe more and you can hear the harp player more.

Eddie Hinton is remembered today not only as a fine soul / blues guitarist, but a sort of "white Otis Redding" when it came to singing. He did some nice solo albums for Rounder, too.

But I have to admit I'm getting pretty used to the undubbed version. It's the blues and it all works.

Nice work, JL and I enjoyed your description of the work you did, as much as I could understand it.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:59 am

Gregory Nolan Jr. wrote:
Matthew wrote:
JLGB wrote:The overdubbed Hinton guitar part was well done for single release and in its shortened original form...
I've just never much cared for it. As a guitarist myself I find it rather lackluster and it really doesn't fit in with Elvis 'sound' of the time. Whenever I hear it to me I get a picture of a guy in a studio with headphones on whipping out some stock blues licks over a tape playing. A good overdubbed track would sound like Eddie was in the room with Elvis and the band.

To each his own, but Hinton was quite a player and I'm glad he was featured on this song.

He probably was (I presume he's no longer with us?) but I personally don't think he fits in here with Elvis' sound. And when Elvis is shouting out to James Burton and you get the dubbed Hinton lick it just doesn't fit.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:04 pm

JLGB wrote:
Matthew wrote:
MysteryTrain wrote: 5. "The Wonderful World Of Christmas" CD = 5:45

Mystery Train
The CD I have of 'Elvis sings the Wonderful World of Christmas' has Merry Christmas baby clocking in at 7.18. It also has the "County Rhythm Version remastered by Hank Williams" of I'll Be Home on Christmas Day along with If Everyday Was Like Christmas.
How does it compare to this ?

Tough call, the original mix has a more open stereo field with the guitar hard left, yours has more punch on the guitar solo. I like them both. I'd like to hear this song with a normal "1971" mix with the drums panned more to the left as with the other 1971 recordings. They seem more spacious that way with the bleed through to the other microphones. I don't like centred drum mixes when the drums are only recorded to a single track as these appear to be.