Elvis Online. Newbury

Elvis Presleys Christmas Duets 2008 - Sony/BMG

Elvis Presley's Christmas Duets: A Musical Collaboration with Modern Stars

The holiday season is often a time when people turn to classic hits and nostalgic tunes, and one album that has added to the festive cheer over the years is Elvis Presley's Christmas Duets. In 2008, Sony/BMG released this unique album that brought together Elvis Presley, with some of today's most popular music artists. The album, titled 'Elvis Presley's Christmas Duets,' features Elvis's classic holiday songs, reimagined with new vocals from artists such as Carrie Underwood, Michael Bublé, and Amy Grant.

The album was a labour of love, carefully crafted to maintain the integrity of Elvis's original recordings while also incorporating the unique styles of the modern artists. Producers sought out artists who had been influenced by Elvis and who could bring their own energy and emotion to the songs.

The result is a truly special album that combines the best of both worlds. Fans of Elvis get to hear his iconic voice on their favorite holiday tunes, while also discovering new interpretations of the songs they love. Meanwhile, fans of the modern artists get to hear their favorite singers performing alongside one of the greatest musicians of all time.

The album includes 12 tracks, each featuring a different artist collaborating with Elvis on a classic Christmas song. Some of the highlights include Carrie Underwood's duet on 'I'll Be Home for Christmas,' which showcases her powerful voice and emotive delivery. Michael Bublé's rendition of 'White Christmas' is a smooth and soulful take on the holiday classic, while Amy Grant's duet on 'Silent Night' is a beautiful and reverent interpretation of the traditional carol.

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.

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 Renée Martel at track 11 right before the bonus tracks as the rest of the album is in order.

One of the most impressive aspects of the album is the technology used to create the duets. Producers used state-of-the-art techniques to isolate Elvis's vocals from his original recordings, allowing the modern artists to sing alongside him as if they were in the studio together. The result is a seamless and natural-sounding collaboration, despite the fact that many of the artists never actually met Elvis.

The album has received widespread critical acclaim, with critics praising the creativity and execution of the duets. Many have noted that the album is a fitting tribute to Elvis's legacy, showcasing his enduring influence on modern music while also introducing his music to a new generation of fans.

This holiday season, Elvis Presley's Christmas Duets remains a timeless addition to the music library of countless fans around the world. The successful endeavor by Sony/BMG to revive the spirit of the King of Rock and Roll and to create a joyous Christmas collection is an endearing and nostalgic gift to all who listen. Whether you're an avid Elvis fan, a supporter of the featured artists, or simply someone who enjoys great holiday music, this album is sure to add warmth, cheer, and an extra dose of magic to your festive celebrations.