Customer Reviews

White Christmas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This new holiday release by RCA/BMG is a perfect match for a guy like me - someone who loves Elvis, Christmas time, and crystal-clear digital sound restoration.

European Elvis buffs Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon offer Elvis's complete Christmas repertoire, plus several spiritual ballad tracks, in this well-packaged, attractive compilation of 25 Elvis jewels.

I see this collection appealing most to two groups of fans: the first group, to which I belong, are the die-hard Elvis CD collectors. Despite the fact that we have all of these songs on seven or eight separate CDs, we buy to support Elvis, add to our ever-expanding collection of his musical legacy, and bask in the digial remastering that brings every nuance of Elvis's legendary voice into our own homes. I gobbled up this new release knowing full well it had no new material to offer, and within seconds of playing the first track, I knew I would not be disappointed.

The second group that will enjoy this CD are the many fans who may have some scattered Elvis vinyls or CDs and may occasionally hear Elvis Christmas during the holidays. These fans will find this CD a perfect opportunity to have all of Elvis Christmas in one definitive package. As the liner notes indicate, EP's Christmas recordings are an oft overlooked aspect of his recording career - and this collection makes it absolutely clear that this ranks among the most charming Elvis music created.

The musical expanse that is found on this CD largely mirrors the diversity of Elvis's larger musical treasure chest. The tracks range in tone from the gentle 1957 gospel serenade "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" to the blues-laden, almost whimsical jam of the 1971 "Merry Christmas Baby," and back to Elvis's instantly recognizable rocker style in "Santa Claus Is Back In Town." This collection is a multi-faceted embrace of the holiday season: a raucous 50's style dancing celebration; a quiet, reflective religious holiday; and a time to share appreciation for life and love, and remember holidays past.

Nearly every element that makes Elvis so irresistable is found on this album. The music is catchy, well-paced, and interpreted with the charm and perfection that only Elvis can produce. When you are perusing the music store to pick out this year's Christmas dinner music, keep "White Christmas" at the top of your list. It sounds just as fresh today as it did decades ago.

This CD has all the songs that were released on Elvis' Christmas albums. Elvis recorded and released 20 Christmas songs during his career. All 20 Christmas songs are included here, plus 5 non-Christmas songs that were originally included on one of his Christmas albums.

Eight Christmas songs were included in his original 1957 Christmas album along with the 4 Gospel songs from the "Peace In The Valley" EP. His orginal Christmas album was repackaged and re-released in 1970 with the 4 Gospel songs being replaced by "If Every Day was Like Christmas" and the non-Christmas song "Mama Liked The Roses." In 1971 his final Christmas album was released "The Wonderful World of Christmas" which included 11 Christmas songs.

Elvis' performance on the songs from both versions of his Christmas album are excellent! Several of these recordings have become Christmas classics, still receiving significant radio airplay nearly 50 years after they were recorded! The songs and performances from "The Wonderful World of Christmas" are just not as strong. Elvis' voice seems to be straining on some of the songs and the material is just not as strong as the earlier recordings.

If you are looking for every song that was included on an Elvis Christmas album (including non-Christmas songs), this is the collection for you. However, if you are just wanting a comprehensive collection of Elvis Christmas music, you would do better to buy the "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" CD. It contains all 20 Christmas songs found here in addition to 4 alternate takes not available anywhere else.

I purchased this CD a few weeks ago. I didn't play it much at first. I had other Christmas CD's that I enjoy to listen to each year. However, the last few days I couldn't get enough of listening to the Elvis' White Christmas CD. I will probably listen to it for a few weeks after Christmas, since I enjoy it so much.

One song that seems to strike a cord with me is "If I get Home on Christmas Day". The one line in the song about being half a world away reminds me of our troops abroad. I am surprised that this song has not gotten much, if any, air play due to this. I would have expected the radio stations to do some kind of mix of the song with holiday messages from their loved ones from abroad, as they have done with other songs over the past couple of years.

Bottom line, this CD is a must buy.

I've seen several people complain about this disc and I have to say, I don't understand it. This disc has all great songs, great sound, what more do you want? It does contain 4 of his '57 gospel songs and his '69 "Mama Liked The roses", which are non-Christmas, but I don't see the problem. They fit in well with the Christmas songs and all of his great Christmas songs are here. I highly recommend this disc.

Before people started treating him as if his birthday should be a separate kind of Christmas, Elvis made a real good early Christmas album around the time of his biggest peak of his songs. The beginning tracks of this album are those great songs done in Elvis style. Some actually are nice and soft renditions of holiday favorites. One of the songs, "Santa Bring My Baby (Back To Me)" takes a lot of the elements of "Teddy Bear". "Santa Claus is Back in Town" is like an old blues standard. Then he just does a lot of songs traditionally like "White Christmas", "The First Noel" and many others but he gives it that vocal that the world has fallen in love with. Elvis takes the Christmas tradition back to church with a few tracks in-between that are gospel and a nice welcome break from the Jingle Bell rocking. These traditional songs will melt you and you won't want to skip them while playing the record. These are also seasonal songs, according to the King. If you find the Elvis Christian hymn side too much to take, don't fear as he gets back to basics with fun songs like "Winter Wonderland" but also more traditional tunes like "O Come, All Ye Faithful".

Needless to say, this Elvis Christmas album gives you a little bit of everything you could want it a Christmas album made somewhere between the very traditional (the Perry Comos) to the modern (sadly, the Christina Aquerlias). With gospel, rockabilly, classic pop and touches of country. I think some people may like the more fun Christmas jamboree songs while others will crave the religious songs more. Take your pick cause they are all on this massive set.

I've read the reviews for this cd and disagree w/them. I bought this 2 years ago, and love to listen to it every Christmas. Not sure whats NOT TO LIKE?!?! Its fun, Elvis has a great voice, and it has some great songs. Please give it a try. Buy it used if you like, but this is a wonderful cd.

This CD basically packages Elvis's two original Christmas albums (1957's ELVIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM and 1971's ELVIS SINGS THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS) on a single CD. It's not a bad deal, but collectors should be aware that the still-in-print 1993 compilation IF EVERY DAY WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS includes still more Christmas stuff than this one does. What it doesn't include are the four gospel numbers from the 1957 album that are featured here, but those can be found elsewhere.

"Blue Christmas" was put on the map by this man. As soon as he sings the first line, you just gotta answer with "Ooo-Ooo-Ooo-Ooo-Ooo!" The Jordanaires back him up throughout this recording, so all the songs translate perfectly into Elvis' language. You'll just have a blast listening to the King sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me" in that signature Memphis drawl, and you just gotta believe him when he sings, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." He puts a wonderful spin on carols like "Silent Night" and "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" (pronounced at one point like, "Oh Lettle Town. . ."), and the classic "Santa Claus is Back In Town" is so infused with fun innuendo, it'd make Cole Porter a little nervous!

I have really enjoyed listening to this CD, although the new CD, Christmas Peace has come out. I still thought this CD was pretty good.

Try to find a better gift for this first Christmas of de new millennium and you wont be home for the joy of this birth. What a great mix that is "Peace in the Valley and White Christmas" both released now. The idea is to give them in advance to your beloved friends so that they may feel de "Gospel" in "Silver Bells".

Love stories that bring "Blues" are more than ever true in human kind history. The King sings it so tenderly that it heals deep down in the soul.

Five stars on that Christmas album. Silence and whiteness in between the words, ringing bells of silver around each tracks, a "Wonderful World of Christmas" that is solid gold with the softness and enthusiasm of the signer.

Summer is gone. The world had not yet ended in Y2Ks bugs or other upheavals. We're all alive inside that Santa Claus coming back feeling. Wake up! It's the "First Noël" of the millennium coming so soon that flowers will grow before we dance it, if we're not home based in our traditions right now.

Silent Night, Holy Night... All is bright (Not around) but inside each of us, in that belief of Christ "Mass" on the altar of our dreams, day after day, like "If Everyday Was Christmas".

Serge Carmel Bourget