''Christmas Duets'' is a 2008 album released by

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

, consisting of archival

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

vocal recordings mixed with completely re-recorded instrumentation and new vocals by contemporary country and gospel singers. Three tracks on the album do not have duet vocals: "The First Noel", "If I Get Home On Christmas Day", and "Winter Wonderland". However, the instrumental tracks for these songs were re-recorded by contemporary musicians, just like on all other songs. The

Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and reloc ...

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 ''Singer Presents ... Elvis'', commonly referred to as the 68 Comeback Special'', is an Elvis Presley concert special that aired on NBC on December 3, 1968. It marked Presley's return to live performance after a seven-year period durin ...

. 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.

List of Songs

*Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on Liner Notes ;Notes *Tracks 1-6 & 8: Originally recorded on September 5–7, 1957 for ''

Elvis' Christmas Album ''Elvis' Christmas Album'' (also reissued as ''It's Christmas Time'') is the third studio album and first Christmas album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley on RCA Victor, LOC -1035, a deluxe limited edition, released October 15, 1957, ...

'' *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 Renée Martel (26 June 1947 – 18 December 2021) was a French Canadian country singer. Her father was country singer Marcel Martel. She died from pneumonia on 18 December 2021, at the age of 74. References External links * * Entry at t ...

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

Personnel

;Performance *

– sampled lead vocals (All tracks) *

Eddie Bayers Eddie Bayers (born January 28, 1949) is an American session drummer who has played on 300 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for fourteen years, has three times won the Nashville Music ...

– drums (tracks 1-8, 10-13) * Richard Bennett – acoustic guitar (tracks 1-2, 6) * Eric Darken – percussion (tracks 2, 5, 7-8) *

Sara Evans Sara Lynn Evans (; born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the ''Billboard'' country songs cha ...

- additional vocals (track 5) * Steve Gibson – guitar (electric on tracks 1-3, 5-6, acoustic on 8, additional on 4, 11-13) * Ginger Holliday – background vocals (tracks 7, 10-12) * David Hungate – bass guitar (tracks 3-5, 7-8, 10-13) *

The Imperials The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been active for over 55 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many ...

– sampled background vocals (tracks 10-12)"Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: May 15–16, 1971". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710515.htmlThe Imperials and Millie Kirkham. "May 24, 1971 Overdub Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. http://keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710524ods.html * John Jarvis – piano (tracks 2, 4-6, 11-13), Hammond organ (7) *

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

– background vocals (tracks 1-6, 8-9, 13) * Michael Black - Jordanaires group member (track 13) * Louis Nunley - Jordanaires group member (tracks 1-6, 8-9, 13) * Gordon Stoker - Jordanaires group member (tracks 1-6, 8-9, 13) * Ray Walker - Jordanaires group member (tracks 1-6, 8-9, 13) * Curtis Young - Jordanaires group member (tracks 1-6, 8-9) *

Millie Kirkham Millie Kirkham (born Mildred Eakes; June 24, 1923 – December 14, 2014) was an American singer who was featured on many classic hit recordings from the mid-1950s through the 1980s. Early life Kirkham was born Mildred Eakes in Hermitage, Tenne ...

– background vocals (tracks 1-6, 8-9, 13, sampled on 10-12) * Jim Long – electric guitar (track 3) * Gordon Mote – Hammond organ (tracks 1-6, 8, 11-13) *

Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian singer. Her albums, consisting primarily of pop, country, and adult contemporary music, have sold over 55 million copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray was the fir ...

- additional vocals (track 9) *

Nashville String Machine Nashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians, based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Members of the group have been credited on records dating from 1972 to the present, although the group was formally formed ...

– strings (track 11) *

Olivia Newton-John Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British-Australian singer, actress and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the ...

- additional vocals (track 10) * Palmetto State Quartet – background vocals (track 4) * Brian Beatty - Palmetto State group member (track 4) * Kerry Beatty - Palmetto State group member (track 4) * Jeremy Calloway - Palmetto State group member (track 4) * Larry Strickland - Palmetto State group member (track 4) * LeAnn Rimes - additional vocals (track 3) * Temple Riser – background vocals (tracks 7, 10-12) *

Hargus "Pig" Robbins Hargus Melvin Robbins (January 18, 1938 – January 30, 2022), known by his nickname "Pig," was an American session keyboard player. Having played on records for many artists, including John Stewart, Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, Patti Page, Lor ...

– piano (tracks 1, 3, 8) *

Gretchen Wilson Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26, 1973) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She made her debut in March 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman", a number-one hit on the '' Billboard'' country charts. The so ...

- additional vocals (track 7) *

Glenn Worf Glenn Worf is an American bassist known mainly for his work as a session musician. He has recorded with many major country music acts and also tours with Mark Knopfler. Early life and education Worf was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in Mad ...

– bass guitar (tracks 1-2, 6) ;Production *

Chuck Ainlay Chuck Ainlay is an American record producer and audio engineer. He has worked with Mark Knopfler on much of Knopfler's solo work, in addition to some Dire Straits material. He has 4 Grammy Awards and 5 nominations. Along with Knopfler and Bob ...

- record producer (All tracks), audio mixing (All tracks), recording engineer (1-2, 4, 6, 8, 11-13, instrumental on 3, 5, 7, 9-10) * Eric Bates - additional vocal recording engineer (track 5) * Jim Cooley - audio mixing assistant (All tracks), assistant recording engineer (1-6, 8-13, instruments on 7) * Carl Gorodetzky - string contractor (track 11) * Mike Griffith - production coordinator (All tracks) * Larry Hamby - record producer (All tracks) * Chris Henry - additional vocal recording engineer (track 10) * Ann Mincieli - additional vocal recording engineer (track 3) * Ryan Nelson - assistant recording engineer (additional vocals on track 7) * Bart Pursley - additional vocal recording engineer (track 7) * Bergen White – string arrangements (track 11) * Jeff Wolpert - additional vocal recording engineer (track 9)

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

References

{{Authority control Compilation albums published posthumously Vocal duet albums Christmas compilation albums 2008 Christmas albums 2008 compilation albums Elvis Presley compilation albums Country Christmas albums Pop rock Christmas albums RCA Records compilation albums Christmas albums by American artists