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Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas

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Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 20, 1971 (1971-10-20)
RecordedJune 27, 1968 (live version of "Blue Christmas", on some re-releases); May 15–17, 1971 and June 10, 1971 (main sessions); May 24, 1971; June 21–22, 1971; July 26, 1971 (various overdub sessions)
StudioRCA Studio B (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreChristmas, pop, rock and roll
Length35:06
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerFelton Jarvis
Elvis Presley chronology
I Got Lucky
(1971)
Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
(1971)
Elvis Now
(1972)
Singles from Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
  1. "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful"
    Released: November 1971
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[2]
MusicHound[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]
Rough Guides[5]

Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas is the fifteenth studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Records in October, 1971. It was Presley's first collection of new Christmas recordings since Elvis' Christmas Album (1957). Two songs from the album, "Merry Christmas Baby" and "O Come All Ye Faithful", were issued as a single in November, 1971. The album topped the Christmas LP's chart that year and would have charted high on the Billboard Top LPs chart, but from 1963 to 1973, holiday albums were not allowed to chart. Though lacking the commercial appeal of Elvis' Christmas Album from 1957, it gradually became a perennial favorite. In 1976, the album was reissued in the mid-priced RCA Pure Gold series with a new catalog number (ANL1-1936). The LP was certified Gold on November 4, 1977, Platinum on December 1, 1977, 2× Platinum on May 20, 1988, and 3× Platinum on July 15, 1999, by the RIAA.[6]

Several of the songs on the album were published by Elvis Presley's publishing company, such as "Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees", "I'll Be Home on Christmas Day", "If I Get Home on Christmas Day" and "On a Snowy Christmas Night". Presley is accompanied on most of the songs by The Imperials Quartet.

RCA reissued the album on compact disc in 1988. The CD release includes an extended version of "Merry Christmas Baby" and a bonus live track, "Blue Christmas", which was recorded on June 27, 1968, and had been previously released on the 1968 album, Elvis.

In 2017, a two-CD special edition of the album was released on Follow That Dream Records, with a significant number of unreleased takes and unedited versions of the songs that made up the original LP.

In 2021, RCA released Elvis Back in Nashville, a collection of recordings from the spring of 1971. These were the songs that made up various albums including Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas. The four-LP version of this release consists of the raw unedited versions of the songs that would eventually be released after various overdubbing. Of the 21 Christmas related tracks included in the package, the first 11 are presented in the same order as the 1971 release. The remaining tracks are unreleased takes and rehearsals. "Merry Christmas Baby" is presented in its entirety (over 8 minutes) with some short discussion by Elvis prior to the start of the song.

In 2023, RCA re-released the original LP on vinyl, with the track list the same as the original. The cover art for this LP is the same as the 1971 release; however, the rear cover art was altered to reflect then-current updated releases from Elvis' RCA catalog.

Track listing

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Original release

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."O Come, All Ye Faithful"Traditional; arranged by Elvis PresleyMay 16, 1971[7]2:49
2."The First Noel"Traditional; arranged by Elvis PresleyMay 16, 19712:11
3."On a Snowy Christmas Night"Stanley J. GelberMay 16, 19712:50
4."Winter Wonderland"Felix Bernard, Richard B. SmithMay 16, 19712:20
5."The Wonderful World of Christmas"Charles Tobias, Al FrischMay 16, 19711:59
6."It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)"J. A. BalthropMay 15, 1971[8]2:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day"Michael JarrettMay 16, 19713:50
2."If I Get Home On Christmas Day"Tony MacaulayMay 15, 19712:54
3."Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees"Glen Spreen, Red WestMay 15, 19712:14
4."Merry Christmas Baby"Lou Baxter, Johnny MooreMay 15, 19715:45
5."Silver Bells"Jay Livingston, Ray EvansMay 15, 19712:03
6."Blue Christmas" (bonus track on some reissue pressings only)Billy Hayes, Jay W. JohnsonJune 27, 1968[9][10]2:34



Follow That Dream re-issue

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The original album
No.TitleLength
1."O Come, All Ye Faithful"2:48
2."The First Noel"2:09
3."On A Snowy Christmas Night"2:49
4."Winter Wonderland"2:17
5."The Wonderful World of Christmas"1:57
6."It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)"2:41
7."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day"3:48
8."If I Get Home On Christmas Day"2:51
9."Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees"2:52
10."Merry Christmas Baby"5:44
11."Silver Bells"2:26
Bonus song
No.TitleLength
12."I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" (remake master)3:43
First takes
No.TitleLength
13."It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)" (takes 1, 3)4:36
14."If I Get Home on Christmas Day" (take 1)3:37
15."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day" (takes 1, 3)7:54
16."Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees" (takes 1, 2)3:13
17."Silver Bells" (takes 1, 2)4:41
18."I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" (remake takes 1, 2)5:48
First takes
No.TitleLength
1."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day" (take 4)4:58
2."If I Get Home On Christmas Day" (takes 2, 3)3:51
3."Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees" (take 3)2:27
4."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day" (remake take 3)4:24
5."It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)" (takes 4, 5)3:03
6."O Come, All Ye Faithful" (take 2)4:28
7."If I Get Home on Christmas Day" (take 5)3:00
8."The Lord's Prayer" (public domain)3:01
9."I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" (takes 5, 6)4:20
10."Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees" (takes 4)2:36
11."It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)" (take 6)3:14
12."Merry Christmas Baby" (take 1[unedited version])8:29
13."I'll Be Home on Christmas Day" (remake takes 4, 9)7:24
14."If I Get Home on Christmas Day" (take 7)2:57
15."Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees" (takes 5, 8)3:39
16."Winter Wonderland" (takes 7, 8)3:53
Total length:2:11:34

Personnel

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Credits from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen's examination of session tapes and RCA and AFM paperwork.[11][12]

The Imperials
  • Terry Blackwood – backing vocals (tracks A1–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5)
  • Joe Moscheo – backing vocals (tracks A1–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5)
  • Jimmie Murray – backing vocals (tracks A1–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5)
  • Armond Morales – backing vocals (tracks A1–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5)
  • Greg Gordon – backing vocals (tracks A1–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5)
Production and Arrangements
  • Felton Jarvis – producer
  • Al Pachucki – basic track(s) recording engineer (tracks A1–B5), overdubs recording engineer (organ on A1, background vocals on A2–A3, A5–A6, B2–B3, B5, guitar on B4, bell & percussion on B5)
  • Glen Spreen – brass arrangements (tracks A1, A5, B1–B2), string arrangements (A1, A3, A5–B3, B5), organ played by (tracks A1–A5, B1), organ overdubs (A1)
  • Sidney Sharp – string contractor (tracks A1, A3, A5–B3, B5), brass contractor (A1, A5, B1–B2)
  • Mickey Crofford – instrumental overdubs recording engineer (tracks A3, A6–B1, B3, B5)
Bonus Track Personnel ("Blue Christmas", included on some re-releases)
  • Elvis Presley — lead vocals, electric rhythm/lead guitar
  • Scotty Moore – acoustic rhythm guitar
  • D. J. Fontana – percussion
  • Charlie Hodge – backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
  • Alan Fortas – percussion
  • Lance LeGault – tambourine, possible backing vocals
  • Steve Binder – producer
  • Bones Howe – engineer

Certifications

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Provider Level Date
RIAA 3× Platinum July 15, 1999

References

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  1. ^ Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas at AllMusic
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 892. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  4. ^ "Elvis Presley: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. p. 146. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.
  6. ^ "Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas". RIAA. 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013. Note: Enter advanced search for The Wonderful World of Christmas
  7. ^ "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 16–17, 1971". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710516.html
  8. ^ "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 15–16, 1971". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710515.html
  9. ^ "Live Recordings for NBC TV Special 'Elvis': 6PM Sit-Down Show". 27 June 1968. Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/680627_6pm.html
  10. ^ "Live Recordings for NBC TV Spevial 'Elvis': 8PM Sit-Down Show". 27 June 1968. Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/680627_8pm.html
  11. ^ Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 15-16, 1971". KeithFlynn.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Flynn, Keith. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 16-17, 1971". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. ^ The Imperials and Millie Kirkham. "May 24, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710524ods.html
  14. ^ Spreen, Glen. "June 22, 1971: Tuesday Afternoon Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710622as_ods.html
  15. ^ Glen Spreen, Eddie Hinton & Farrell Morris. "July 26, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710726ods.html
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