Christmas Duets Album

[waymore44]

I got the new album today and overall I would have to say it's a good listen. Some songs just didn't need to be messed with in my opinion. Blue Christmas is a great example. It doesn't work as a duet to me and the original is just so great that it just needed to be left alone. In my opinion the best track on the album is Merry Christmas Baby. That one actually sounds like a true duet and because it is a later recording on multitrack tape it sounds like it could have been done today. The 50's stuff sounds like it's been messed with. The new instrumentation is fabulous though. Everyone did a fantastic job. It's worth getting.

[Elvislives72]

I went by Wal-mart today during lunch but they didn't even have it in yet. I don't expect it to be a major success as some think it will with little promotion it's getting. Maybe in long term sales but not on the charts.

Maybe their saving all their energy for promotion for next year's bigger duets album on a larger scale.:hmm:

[waymore44]

I think it'll get a big push later closer to Christmas. I can definitely hear a few of these on today's country radio easily.

[utmom2008]

I think it'll get a big push later closer to Christmas. I can definitely hear a few of these on today's country radio easily.

I think you may be right. Also, all of the country artists that are featured each have a large fan base of their own. They will buy it in spite of Elvis being on it. He will just be a extra bonus for them!(y)(y)

[Jungleroom76]

So far, I have to say I'm really unimpressed with it. While I give RCA props for the idea and the effort, I agree with Waymore that some of the songs just shouldn't have been messed with and as a duet, it just sounds weird to me. :hmm:

But hopefully the effort will bring new fans into the fold, which is the main objective I would guess!!! (y)

TCB!
Mike

[Unchained Melody]

I got it about a week or so ago and can say I'm pleased with it. Surprisingly. (y)

[Teddy]

Also, all of the country artists that are featured each have a large fan base of their own. They will buy it in spite of Elvis being on it. He will just be a extra bonus for them!(y)(y)

You can bet that this was the thinking behind the entire release. The Country market is a goldmine because country fans still actually buy CDs. Couple that with the Christmas gift market and this is what you'd call a very 'safe' release from a business perspective. It's definitely worth gambling with Elvis-fans' potential feelings about the nature of the project because like you say, this is one Elvis record which isn't completely dependent on Elvis-fans to shift units.
It must have been one cynical board meeting when they cooked this one up.

[JerryNodak]

I don't even start thinking about Christmas until about two weeks before Thanksgiving. I don't play Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving Day. This year the first Christmas music I play may well be
Amy Grant: "Christmas Collection."

[epmoodyblue]

http://www.freewebs.com/elvisnowyoulightupthesky/PICS1/whistling.gifwhat a total friggin waste of time.. (n)so many messed up tracks that just dont work:doh: the kings voice must be left alone u dont mess with perfection.duets dont work. ..only elvis voice we wanna hear ..hes the best..my final judgement about the album after listening to ithttp://www.freewebs.com/elvisnowyoulightupthesky/PICS1/rubberface.gifneways thats my opinion:)(y):king::cold:

[KPM]

I just was in Target this morning and I am happy to report that the
X-Mas Duets cd was sold out! I asked a clerk and she said they were ordering more-so I can not give an opinion on it because I could not buy it.

[utmom2008]

I just was in Target this morning and I am happy to report that the
X-Mas Duets cd was sold out! I asked a clerk and she said they were ordering more-so I can not give an opinion on it because I could not buy it.

That's interesting...so was our closest Wal-Mart!(y)(y)(y)

[Elvislives72]

I think this project is just a test runner to see how well the duets are receieved by Joe Public as well as us, the fans. I think the pop duets album set for next year ( that is assuming it does actually happen) would be more appealing as they could use so many different songs (over 800 to choose from) to create new modern day callaborations.

There's a limited audience for a Christmas duets. But there's not a limited audience for a pop duets album. So we can't really judge how these types of projects appeal to a new generation.

[KPM]

I think this project is just a test runner to see how well the duets are receieved by Joe Public as well as us, the fans. I think the pop duets album set for next year ( that is assuming it does actually happen) would be more appealing as they could use so many different songs (over 800 to choose from) to create new modern day callaborations.

There's a limited audience for a Christmas duets. But there's not a limited audience for a pop duets album. So we can't really judge how these types of projects appeal to a new generation.
I dont know about a limited audience for Christmas duets or music. Every year come rain or shine-Christmas comes around- and every year the new and repackaged Christmas recordings sell big time from late October right up to Christmas morning. Practically every major act has at one time or another done a Christmas album or a couple songs for a compilation. Elvis Christmas music sells very well each year. My only complaint is that they repackage too often and move the tracks around between the 2 original releases-which keeps the sales from being added to the original release totals.

[utmom2008]

The Country market is a goldmine because country fans still actually buy CDs. Couple that with the Christmas gift market and this is what you'd call a very 'safe' release from a business perspective.



There's a limited audience for a Christmas duets. But there's not a limited audience for a pop duets album. So we can't really judge how these types of projects appeal to a new generation.

As Teddy pointed out...country music fans actually buy CD's and along those same lines, those are some of the same people that go overboard with Christmas items. IMO it seems as though a Country Christmas duet CD is a win-win situation.

[Elvislives72]

I dont know about a limited audience for Christmas duets or music. Every year come rain or shine-Christmas comes around- and every year the new and repackaged Christmas recordings sell big time from late October right up to Christmas morning. Practically every major act has at one time or another done a Christmas album or a couple songs for a compilation. Elvis Christmas music sells very well each year. My only complaint is that they repackage too often and move the tracks around between the 2 original releases-which keeps the sales from being added to the original release totals.

When I say "limited" I mean those who only are into Christmas music or country music. But with a pop mainstream audience you have no limits as it reaches all music genres and it's not limited to a seasonal appeal for listening. How many actually pull out a Christmas cd to listen to in the spring or summertime? The country market is limited as well to basically fans fo coutnry artist and music. Elvis was/is universal and not limited to just one music genre.

That was my point for limited audience.

[KPM]

When I say "limited" I mean those who only are into Christmas music or country music. But with a pop mainstream audience you have no limits as it reaches all music genres and it's not limited to a seasonal appeal for listening. How many actually pull out a Christmas cd to listen to in the spring or summertime? The country market is limited as well to basically fans fo coutnry artist and music. Elvis was/is universal and not limited to just one music genre.

That was my point for limited audience.
I see what you are saying, but do not kid yourself country music has a huge base. It was the trend in the 90s when Garth Brooks hit big I mean he out sold everyone in the 90s along with Alan Jackson, George Strait, and some others who were selling well.
The biggest concert draw in the world a few weeks ago was Kenny Chesney according to a ranking I saw in Billboard on acts touring this summer. (I still can not believe how big this guy has become)
So for Elvis to be popular in country circles is not a bad thing by any means IMO.

[ksimms2]

I downloaded it this morning (got it from a fellow elvis club member) and I'm not impressed with it. I only listened to about 3 songs so far though. Why did they do that? Elvis is unique in his own right - why make it "mean less" by pairing him up with these people? I just don't get it. Just my opinion.

[KPM]

I downloaded it this morning (got it from a fellow elvis club member) and I'm not impressed with it. I only listened to about 3 songs so far though. Why did they do that? Elvis is unique in his own right - why make it "mean less" by pairing him up with these people? I just don't get it. Just my opinion.
Well the obvious answer is money? Sony/BMG owns the recordings, EPE and Sillerman have no control over what they do with them. But beyond money secondly I think they want to try and get people who do not listen to Elvis to hear his voice- to be exposed to him. My kids are in their 20s and believe it or not-many of their friends haven't a clue to who he is or the quality of his voice.
Thirdly their are fans (myself included) who have been requesting this type thing and Sony/BMG must feel they have enough people interested to finally do it.
I think one of the biggest mistakes of Elvis's career was not allowing him to musically interact with other great artists. He would have been inspired I think by the interaction of artists of great talent. He said what helped keep it interesting on stage was the interaction musically and personally between those playing. This is as close as we will ever get to such a thing.
I would really want to hear McCartney, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton dueting on songs they had in common with Elvis (also producing their own tracks not having a single producer for the whole project) But thats just my own opinion.

[presley31]

Elvis Presley: Christmas Duets New CD 2008

BKiselrbrOA

[Elvislives72]

The Jordaniers and Imperials don't sound right on these songs. It's supposed to be a duet and they take away from the meaning of that concept. I hope the next duets album has just Elvis' voice removed and isolated from the orignal tracks and added new arrangments with the artists he's singing with to give them a new appeal, like a completely new recording.

I find it interesting that the backing vocals were left on the 70's songs since they could have been removed or the producers could have used the alternate versions.:hmm:

[Elvislives72]

I downloaded it this morning (got it from a fellow elvis club member) and I'm not impressed with it. I only listened to about 3 songs so far though. Why did they do that? Elvis is unique in his own right - why make it "mean less" by pairing him up with these people? I just don't get it. Just my opinion.

The concept was a good idea. It's just that the final product is disappointing. It's no different than some kid doing it on youtube. Same technology was used. In fact I have heard way more creative remixes and new arrangements on Youtube than on this cd.

IMO this was just a test run for the major duets album for next year, kind of a blue print. A blue print that needs modifying that is.

[KPM]

The concept was a good idea. It's just that the final product is disappointing. It's no different than some kid doing it on youtube. Same technology was used. In fact I have heard way more creative remixes and new arrangements on Youtube than on this cd.

IMO this was just a test run for the major duets album for next year, kind of a blue print. A blue print that needs modifying that is.
Wouldn't this be a rather expensive "test run"? If it does not sell well then they have gone to a lot of trouble for nothing it seems to me. But since I pointed out that Target was sold out of it when I looked for it last week-it must be doing alright.
I think this duets idea and the remixes are a fine line for Sony to walk-they know some do not want any changes to original recordings and they know some want everything stripped away except Elvis's vocals. Lastly they want to make as much money (naturally) as they can from any project they produce.
So perhaps this was their idea of middle ground.