Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets is the ultimate mash-up release. Here, the King's renditions of "Blue Christmas," arguably his most famous holiday jingle, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Silent Night," "White Christmas," "Merry Christmas Baby" and "O Come All Ye Faitherful" are essentially digitally engineered duets where his sultry croon is spliced with modern country starlets, like Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Amy Grant and Gretchen Wilson. Hell, even Olivia Newton-John shows up for a song. It's like a harem of female singers engage in a little sing-song with the King, and why the hell not? He's Elvis Presley for God's sake. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to have their voice synched up with his, even if it is accomplished through state-of-the-art technology and studio trickery?

The wonders of digital enhancement have allowed this collection of cheery carols to exist seamlessly. Despite the fact that Elvis was performing in a different era, with much cruder equipment than is available today, the producers have managed to make it sound like Underwood, Rimes, et. al and Presley were in the same room together, cutting take after take of these songs. The producers were wise to gather a crop of vocalists with varying degrees of range and style, to give Elvis Presley Christmas Duets a broad scope.

It's a mish-mash that truly offers something for everyone! The spiritual Grant, the wild and crazy party gal Wilson, the sweet and subdued Rimes as well as the down-home Wynonna Judd allow the album to have a timeless, "all-ages, all sexes and all creeds" feel. Presley's original versions were fine as is, but the addition of contemporary singers spices up the mix, freshens the batter and ultimately, improves the taste. On paper, it's a risky proposition to manufacture songs like this, but it's nevertheless a carefully calculated exercise that yields excellent results and retains an organic vibe.

— Amy Sciarretto
01.06.08

Elvis Presley never recorded duets, but that didn't stop RCA from compiling an album of duets for the 2008 Christmas season -- all with the help of the latest studio technology and ten willing duet partners. The guests are virtually all female, and virtually all come from the country field (or have recorded country in the past). It's easy to note the clever marketing moves made throughout the entire project, but that doesn't stop the results from being surprisingly agreeable, a good effort at attempting to re-create the sound and feel of classic Elvis Christmas songs from the '50s (and a few from the early '70s). It's clear that the project was handled with a great deal of care, from the sympathetic productions to the fact that the producers got help from more than just a few musicians who knew Elvis well. With Gordon Stoker leading the Jordanaires (Elvis' prime backing group), and Hargus "Pig" Robbins tinkling the ivories, this is certainly the kind of session date that Elvis wouldn't have missed (and would have ensured lasted well into the night). The duet vocals are usually fine, especially since Elvis and his guests are usually trading lines, which works much better than the occasional duet harmonies. The opener, "Blue Christmas" with Martina McBride, sets the mood, laid-back and slightly bluesy, while McBride makes sure she gives the King plenty of room. Carrie Underwood's piercing, crystalline vocals threaten to overwhelm "I'll Be Home for Christmas," but LeAnn Rimes goes back and forth in a great duet on "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)." The only outright failure is Gretchen Wilson's attempt to echo Elvis' lines and really stretch out during the eight-minute "Merry Christmas Baby." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide