| Christmas Duets | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by | |
| Released | October 10, 2008[1] |
| Recorded | September 5–7, 1957, May 15–July 1971 (Elvis' vocals and some instrumentation from original recordings); 2008 (new backing tracks and vocals) |
| Genre | Country, pop, CCM, Christmas |
| Length | 38:56 |
| Label | RCA |
| Producer | Chuck Ainlay, Larry Hamby (as executive producer) |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [2] |
Christmas Duets is a 2008 album released by RCA Records, consisting of archival Elvis Presley vocal recordings mixed with completely re-recorded instrumentation and new vocals by contemporary country and gospel singers.[3] 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. Martina McBride 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. 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.
- ^ "Christmas Duets by Elvis Presley". iTunes. 10 October 2008.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ John Bush, "Review of Christmas Duets," allmusic.