Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas

Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
Studio album by Elvis Presley
Released October 20, 1971 (1971-10-20)
Recorded June 27, 1968, May 15, 1971 – May 16, 1971
Genre Christmas, pop, rock and roll
Length 35:06
Label RCA Records
Producer Felton 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]
Robert ChristgauB+[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 and musician Elvis Presley, released in October 1971. It was his first Christmas album with new recordings since Elvis' Christmas Album (1957). The album's single, "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful", was later released in November 1971. This album was a top seller and topped the Billboard Holiday Albums Chart, and would have charted high on the Billboard 200 but from 1963 to 1973, holiday albums were not allowed to chart. It did not have the commercial appeal of Elvis’ first Christmas album but over the years, it has become a perennial favorite. It was certified Gold on November 4, 1977, Platinum on December 1, 1977, 2x Platinum on May 20, 1988 and 3x 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.

On later pressings, the song "Blue Christmas", which was recorded on June 27, 1968, was added to the track listing. The song had been previously released on the 1968 album, Elvis.

Track listing

Original release

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, 19717:20
5."Silver Bells"Jay Livingston, Ray EvansMay 15, 19712:03
6."Blue Christmas" (reissue pressings only)Billy Hayes, Jay W. JohnsonJune 27, 1968[9][10]2:34

Follow That Dream re-issue

Personnel

  • Elvis Presley – lead vocals, rhythm/lead guitar on "Blue Christmas"
  • David Briggs – piano except "Blue Christmas"
  • James Burton – lead guitar except "Blue Christmas"
  • Kenneth Buttrey – drums (tracks A1-A5, B1)
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums (tracks A6, B2-B5)
  • Joe Esposito – guitar except "Blue Christmas"
  • Gene Estes – marimba (tracks A3, B3, B5)[11]
  • Eddie Hinton – overdubbed lead guitar (track B4)[12]
  • Charlie Hodge – rhythm guitar
  • Millie Kirkham – backing vocals (tracks A2-A3, A5-A6, B2-B3, B5)[13]
  • Larrie Londin – additional drums (track B1), additional percussion (A1, A3, B3)
  • Charlie McCoy – harmonica (tracks A1-B5), organ (A6, B2-B5), percussion (A6, B2-B5)
  • Farrell Morris – bells (track B5), additional percussion (B5)
  • Norbert Putnam – bass except "Blue Christmas"
  • Tommy Shepard – trombone (tracks A3, B3, B5)
  • Chip Young – rhythm guitar except "Blue Christmas"
  • Scotty Moore – acoustic rhythm guitar on "Blue Christmas"
  • D. J. Fontana – percussion on "Blue Christmas"
  • Alan Fortas – percussion on "Blue Christmas"
  • Lance LeGault – tambourine on "Blue Christmas"
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 – record producer (tracks A1-B5)
  • Steve Binder – record producer (track B6)
  • Bones Howe – recording engineer (track B6)
  • 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)

Certifications

Provider Level Date
RIAA 3x Platinum July 15, 1999

References

  1. ↑ Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas at AllMusic
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Elvis Presley (Consumer Guide Reviews)". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  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. ↑ Spreen, Glen. "June 22, 1971: Tuesday Afternoon Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710622as_ods.html
  12. ↑ Glen Spreen, Eddie Hinton & Farrell Morris. "July 26, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710726ods.html
  13. ↑ The Imperials and Millie Kirkham. "May 24, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710524ods.html
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