I recently wrote a guest blog for Elvis Today, called “Elvis is not just for Christmas anymore.” Check it out over at Elvis Today.
Christmas
More lost Christmas songs
Continuing on from yesterday’s post, I thought of a couple more “lost” Christmas songs by Elvis.
- 1954’s “Just Because” includes the lines: “You caused me to spend all my money, you laughed and called me ol’ Santa Claus” and “There’ll come a time when ol’ Santa, he won’t pay your bills for you.”
- 1975’s “Susan When She Tried” includes the line, “And it’s bad in December, when they play those Christmas songs.”
See Thomas’ “The Missing Christmas Song” on Elvis Today, which inspired both posts.
Elvis: The Lost (Christmas) Performances
Thomas has been doing a terrific job of covering Christmas this month over on the Elvis Today blog. His post today is about a certain tune from Viva Las Vegas that is considered a Christmas song in Sweden. When Thomas makes up Elvis Christmas compilations, this recording makes the list. Check out “The Missing Christmas Song” to find out more.
Thomas’ post reminded me of another “lost” Christmas song by Elvis. Elvis’ 1968 recording “Stay Away” for the movie Stay Away, Joe was based on the melody “Greensleeves.” Though never recorded by Elvis, the Christmas classic “What Child Is This?” is based on this same melody. Something to think about the next time you listen to “Stay Away.” It’s a Christmas song in disguise.
My favorite Christmas song
In response to the following Elvis Today on Facebook post:
Playing Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas right now. Which Christmas song is your favorite? My vote goes to ‘Merry Christmas Baby’.”
I’m not on the Facebook, so I’m just going to take the easy route and answer the question right here. My favorite Christmas song is 1957’s “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” from Elvis’ Christmas Album. I also love his brief take of the same song on the Tiger Man album, a concert recorded for the ELVIS (’68 Comeback) TV special.
Of course, I can’t play by the rules and choose just one. Another favorite is 1971’s “I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day,” including the original version on Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas and an alternate version on Today, Tomorrow & Forever.
Truth is, I love all of his Christmas music, though. I love this time of year. I’m a bit of a Christmas music fanatic. I probably have 500 Christmas songs. Now that the season is here, I’ve set my iPod to start placing Christmas music into the rotation. I up the percentage each week until Christmas Eve, when it is 100% Christmas music for two days. I’m not sure why I can’t just do things like normal people, but I guess I wasn’t designed that way.
Also, why is it when I plan to write a six word response that I end up writing six paragraphs?
Anyway, right now I’m listening to “Tiger Man” on 1969’s From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis album. Not a Christmas song, but one of the greats! He really rocked that one. I wish he were still here.
Shoppin’ Around: Elvis Presley 2010 Christmas Gift Guide
If you know and love an Elvis fan, here are some Christmas gift ideas to suit a wide variety of budgets. Price ranges listed are in US dollars, but most of these items are available around the world.
Under $10
Viva Elvis: The Album: Reactions from the Elvis fan community have been mixed on this CD, which features new backing music to Elvis’ vocals. While this tribute to his career obviously will never replace the original recordings, I love this retrospective. Viva Elvis is a fun and brilliant album that presents Elvis in a whole new light – how it might sound if he recorded today.
Under $20
On Stage (2010 Legacy Edition): This two-CD set contains both On Stage-February 1970 and Elvis In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, which capture his August 1969 and February 1970 Vegas engagements. Elvis is in top form here, and these recordings have never sounded better. A few bonus tracks are also included on each disc, from the same time period.
Under $30
Elvis Blu-ray Collection: Jailhouse Rock/Viva Las Vegas/Elvis On Tour: This three-disc Blu-ray set, currently retailing for less than $9 a movie, presents a well-chosen sampler of Elvis’ film career. Jailhouse Rock is the classic 1957 rocker that holds its own against King Creole (1958) and Flaming Star (1960) as Elvis’ best dramatic performance. 1964’s Viva Las Vegas is the highlight of his 1960s “formula” movies – aided, no doubt, by the talents of the beautiful Ann-Margret. Finally, 1972’s Elvis On Tour features Elvis on stage and behind-the-scenes during an April 1972 tour. While not as incredible as 1970’s Elvis-That’s The Way It Is (not yet available on Blu), Elvis On Tour is still a fantastic experience not to be missed.
Fair warning: This 2010 release of Elvis On Tour has been modified from the original version. Due to Warner Home Video’s inability to obtain permission to use “Johnny B. Goode,” the opening song of the movie is now an amateurishly looped, throwaway version of “Don’t Be Cruel.” This only affects the first two minutes of the otherwise unaltered film. The power of Elvis manages to save this release and make it worth recommending. Despite what you may read elsewhere, picture and sound quality for Elvis On Tour are terrific on Blu.
Elvis As Recorded At Boston Garden ’71: This Follow That Dream collectors label CD is a soundboard recording of Elvis’ one and only concert at Boston Garden. This is a must-have for fans of this era, for it provides the missing bridge between his 1970 and 1972 live concert sound. Great show! Find FTD releases at ShopElvis.com and other online Elvis stores.
$400 – $750
Elvis: The Complete Masters Collection (Franklin Mint); The Complete Elvis Presley Masters (Sony): These are two different but similarly themed CD releases. Both contain all 711 recordings that Sony identifies as masters released during Elvis’ lifetime. Sound quality is upgraded, but faithful to the original mixes (in most cases, anyway). The $400 Franklin Mint version also includes a 24-page booklet, a “record player” style display case, and a reproduction of Elvis’ first SUN record, “That’s All Right”/”Blue Moon Of Kentucky.” The $750 Sony version is aimed at higher-end collectors and includes another 103 songs (alternate masters, outtakes, home recordings, etc.), a 240-page book, and a fold-out case to hold everything. The first run of the Sony edition is sold out, but pre-orders for a January second run are now being accepted. To still have something to place under the tree, you could print out a photo of the set from the Sony site. The Franklin Mint version is still available.
Have fun, fellow Elvis fans, and thanks to all of those who love us!
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