[Bazza]

Hard to believe we're already into the first week of November......For those of us in the United States, we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving on the 22nd of the month and kicking off the official "Christmas Season".

For me and my family, Christmas isn't quite Christmas without Christmas music. We love all kinds and by a wide variety of artists, however, Elvis tops the list for Christmas music for us as well.

Have a great fondness for all of Elvis' Christmas tunes, but the 1957 work still stands out as my all-time favorite.....My favorite when comparing Elvis' two seasonal albums and my favorite overall, even in comparison to other artists.

For me, the '57 offering has such a timeless appeal, maybe it's because it's the first Elvis Christmas music i ever heard, with my Gram buying me the Camden/Pickwick version back in the late 70's......But every song is delivered with a true enthusiasm for the material, a true "Christmas Feeling" on every track. The instrumentation and the background vocals by the Jord's were flawless and as a result timeless. My only complaint is that Elvis and the gang didin't record even more Christmas music for that original '57 LP.....Would have liked to have had the whole LP nothing but Christmas music rather than having it as only a majority of the songs, the remaining tracks being "sacred songs".

Elvis recorded only one Christmas song during the 60's, "If Everyday Was Like Christmas"......A wonderful song, given the same heartfelt treatment shown during the '57 sessions. As you all know, the song was written by the one-time Memphis Mafioso, Red West. Elvis was not to record any more Christmas material until 1971, which appeared on the "Wonderful World Of Christmas" LP. A fine outing to be sure, but this time the more traditional Christmas material was supplanted by "contemporary" sounding songs (for 1971), much more of a country feel to most of them. Amongst the majority of Elvis fans, the true standout for the '71 Christmas sessions was Elvis' version of "Merry Christmas Baby".

So we have Elvis delivering Christmas music to us in each decade of his career, each reflecting something from the times in which the material was recorded, and all still remaining very popular and sales worthy all these years later.

My personal favorite of all of the Christmas songs Elvis recorded, "I'll Be Home For Christmas"......A perfect vocal delivery with classic instrumentation and background by the Jord's. PERFECT in every way, IMO, although, you'll not find one song that wouldn't fit that same description on the '57 LP.......

So, do you have a favorite when listening to Elvis' Christmas music? Does any one LP or song stand out for any special reasons? Which album has stood the test of time better?

Christmas will be here before we know it.......My collection of Elvis Christmas music is standing at the ready!!!!!

Attached File(s)

 winter_wp_1024.jpg ( 352.26K ) Number of downloads: 9

 

[U.S. Male]

Ah yes......Christmas is coming, and the Big Boss Man is getting fat!

It just wouldn't be Christmas here at my house without pulling out the Elvis Christmas cd's....my personal favorite cd is "The Wonderful World of Christmas", featuring the song "If I Get Home On Christmas Day".

I'm also partial to the song "If Everyday Was Like Christmas" as well.

Nothing beats Elvis Christmas music on a cold evening sitting by the fire.....I can't wait!

(IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif)

[elvisgyrl]

I love all of Elvis's Christmas Songs... and I also love the wallpaper you posted of Graceland and Elvis wow!! (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/jester.gif)

[elvislady]

http://www.elvis.co.uk/acatalog/Elvis_Gifts.html
Here is a great site for elvis christmas gifts.
elvislady (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Scatter]

Ah yes......Christmas is coming, and the Big Boss Man is getting fat!

It just wouldn't be Christmas here at my house without pulling out the Elvis Christmas cd's....my personal favorite cd is "The Wonderful World of Christmas", featuring the song "If I Get Home On Christmas Day".

I'm also partial to the song "If Everyday Was Like Christmas" as well.

Nothing beats Elvis Christmas music on a cold evening sitting by the fire.....I can't wait!

(IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif)

Me too buddy...........I'm consuming copious amounts of egg nog already!! I wait all year for this fattening favorite and never leave the Holidays without at least 10 extra pounds to lose. Couple THAT ten with the TWENTY I put on and haven't gotten off from my knee surgery and Sactter's gonna need some heavier duty vines to swing on. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[NightRider]

Ask my children, or indeed Jules. It has been something i have done ever since i had my own home. The very first thing i do Christmas morning is put on the best Christmas release IMO. If everyday was like Christmas....

 ifeverydaywaslikechristmas.jpg ( 61.66K ) Number of downloads: 0


Even with superior sound in most cases, Christmas Peace still didn't overtake that release. The delux package with the fold out Graceland is really nice to have. Providing (unlike me) you actually open it out.

I have several favourites, though i admit to liking every Christmas recording that he did at Christmas time. From the 50s, the rocking Santa Claus is back in town takes some beating. Thats pure Rock n Roll Christmas style !! I'll be home for Christmas is another favourite from the 50s sessions. My favourites though, have to come from the 70s sessions. Merry Christmas Baby is one of Elvis best ever Blues recordings....and again, so full of Christmas too. But, my absolute favourite Christmas track has to be Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees. Some years it has even brought a tear to my eye because of its absolute beauty and perfection.

I would also mention If i get home on Christmas day and I'll be home on Christmas day. Both are right up there on my Christmas playlists.

I always look forward to Christmas, even when it means usually spending money that you don't have. The true spirit of Christmas has been lost over the years. Now, its simply another money maker. But, that will never stop me enjoying the time of year. A week off work, nights out and in with friends and family. Its always an especially nice time of year.

I have already started to play the occasional Christmas song, as many of the Radio listeners know too well. It will be sometime before they go back off the playlist. The only thing that lacks for me.....and always has....is the dream of Snow at Christmas. Now, that would be a special Christmas indeed. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif)

[Elvis_Priestly]

Hmmm Christmas. I love the Christmas liturgies, especially the family Mass on Christmas Eve evening when I ask the kids to dress up as characters from the nativity play and do the sermon as an impromptu Nativity Play. It's SO much fun because I really have to wing it and getting the kids to co-operate in front of our biggest congregation of the year 800+ is living on the edge!
Last year we had a Mary who kept dropping Jesus because she had a cold and we had no-one dressed as Joseph but has three donkeys - one of who I got to play Joseph saying "Joseph was so poor he had to wear a donkey jacket!" (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/LSHIC.gif)

Once the Morning Mass is over though I'm not too keen on the day itself. Its hard to wave everyone off to ther fun and family days knowing that I won't be seeing my family until the following day. It's been like that the last 10/11 years. I used to go and join families I'd been invited to but I could never settle so last few years I spend the day on my own. I get some nice Christmas dinner food in (from Marks & Spencers (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) and eat and drink and sleep and watch the telly.

Getting home the day after is great! But, and forgive me if I sound preachy, for me now my Christmas day on my own lacking in great festive joy has become an important sign for me for my priesthood - It's only one day, ok THE day, but there are many people who do have to spend the day alone and many for whom the day together brings dreadful stress - if I, as a priest, can be at one with them on that day then I hope that "spiritual solidarity" can offer some comfort.

But enough of that! My favourite Elvis Christmas song is "Here Comes Santa Claus" I love his voice in that and I just love the melody.

And here's a little Snowy Christmas Eve picture I made for a project recently:

 Graceland_snowy_night_copy.jpg ( 155.79K ) Number of downloads: 3

[Suspicious Minds]

I like tradition and I play Christmas songs only on Christmas week.
Bah humbug. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/undecided.gif)
I like playing Elvis's Gospel albums but not all the tracks.

[NightRider]

I like tradition and I play Christmas songs only on Christmas week.
Bah humbug. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/undecided.gif)
I like playing Elvis's Gospel albums but not all the tracks.

Go on Frank....you know you want to pop on Elvis' Christmas album before then (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/woohoo.gif)

( I know i am gonna all his Christmas recordings to death over the next few weeks (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/king.gif) )

[Suspicious Minds]

If I played White Christmas in the middle of Summer they would think I was daft. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/oops.gif)
I might play the 1971 Christmas album near Christmas but not now.
It bad enough to watch Christmas commercials on TV already.

[NightRider]

If I played White Christmas in the middle of Summer they would think I was daft. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/oops.gif)
I might play the 1971 Christmas album near Christmas but not now.
It bad enough to watch Christmas commercials on TV already.

Who would ? And how do you know they don't already think that Frank (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/LSHIC.gif)

Just kidding...i know what you mean....but it doesn't stop me playing them if i want to hear them (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Suspicious Minds]

It is refreshing to hear Elvis Christmas Songs other than Christmas time.

[Guest_kingofspades77_*]

sweet avator chris (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif)

[NightRider]

sweet avator chris (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/notworthy2.gif)

thanks Brad...kinda like it myself.... (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/woohoo.gif)

[Scatter]

My iPod is stuffed with Elvis (and others") Christmas songs and I play them allyear long. Daft I may be, but the sentiments and peace of Christ in that season is something I don't want to restrict to December.

Like Chris though, I wish in vain for snow. When I was a lad in Connecticut we came to EXPECT snow on Christmas, and I can recall SO clearly waking up many a Christmas morning to a fresh snowfall and trees burdened under their sparkling icicles.

When Christmas was over and the trees were all being tossed out, we would gather them up and throw them into a truck and drive them down to Hitchcock Lake next to my house. Sometimes we had to wait until the middle of January if the lake hadn't frozen solid yet, but when it did we would throw all the Christmas trees into a huge pile in the middle of the lake and set the whole thing on fire after dark. Then all the families around the lake would get on their skates and skate around the lake until the wee hours.The grownups had bottles of brandy by the fire and we kids had Thermos' full of hot chocolate to keep us abit warmer.

When the bonfire died out or we were too cold or tired to go on we trudged home to bed..........I know, it's like a freaking Hallmark Card but it's true. Christmas in Connecticut is just incomparable.Christmas in Florida is simply NOT the same (though I do decorate the palm trees in front of my house with lights LOL!!).

[Bazza]

thanks Brad...kinda like it myself.... (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/woohoo.gif)

Yeah, THAT IS a very COOL avatar.....Where's mine, you CAD? LOL!!! (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/rubberface.gif)

[Bazza]

I like tradition and I play Christmas songs only on Christmas week.
Bah humbug. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/undecided.gif)
I like playing Elvis's Gospel albums but not all the tracks.

Sounds like it's time to start a NEW tradition, Ebenezer, I mean Frank........Also sounds like you need a visit from the spirits of Christmas Past, Present & Future!!!

(IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/emoticonsignpk6[1].gif)

[Suspicious Minds]

Humbug

[NightRider]

Yeah, THAT IS a very COOL avatar.....Where's mine, you CAD? LOL!!! (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/rubberface.gif)

Wouldn't be any good for you Bazza....its past 1963 (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif) (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/LSHIC.gif)

[C.C.Rider]

That is a beaut of an Avatar Chris !!

Christmas time and Elvis go together in our household. From the start of December i begin to start playing Elvis' christmas albums. Especially the 70s album as that contains my personal favourite, If i get home on christmas day.
I don't often play the christmas material at other times of the year but it has been known. (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif)