Best track on "...The Wonderful World Of Christmas" LP 1971

[dreambear]

Now we jump to 1971, because of the season. What we have here is an album with extreme ups and downs. It wasn´t Elvis idea to record a new christmas album and some of the tracks you really hear it. The vocals recorded for the gospel album is generally more solid. But some of the songs here have more or less a bluesy feeling and they sounds really good ("I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" and of course "Merry christmas baby"). The latter one is in my opinion a masterpiece. Especially when he screams "...it´s meeeeerry christmas baby" in the latter part of the song. The band is also cooking. Elvis also does fine versions of "O Come All Ye Faithful", "On A Snowy Christmas Night", ""If I Get Home On Christmas Day and the title track. On the rest of the album he sounds kind of uninspired. But worst of all is "The first noel". It sounds awful and could have been recorded live in august 1976...That track has to go! My vote will go to "Merry Christmas baby" and I promise that I will stay away from drinking ány Samuel Adams christmas ale if I´m the only one that votes on that track .

So with this poll I would like to wish everybody on this board a merry christmas and a happy new year!

Regards Björn

[Rob]

I'm one of the minority who indeed likes this album. I chose "Merry Christmas, Baby," but it was a difficult choice depending on what kind of mood I'm in. If I'm in a somber mood, I may go for "It Won't Seem Like Christmas Without You." Everyone has someone in the back of their minds that they remember each Christmas (don't they)?
Or if I'm in a reflective mood, I may go for "On A Snowy Christmas Night."

Rough decision.

[DarrylMac]

see rob, i just can't stand the way he sings It Won't Seem Like Xmas without you. He really does sound like a pub singer, and it ruins it for me.

Ahyaknow it wontah, erseem liker CHrtismas, awithouyou!

Merry Xmas Baby for me. I also love I'll Be Home On Xmas Day, but like the remake version better. Apart from that, it's not a fantastic set of performances. Silver Bells is ok, and I quite like If I Get Home On Xmas Day too.

[Mike Eder]

This is easily my least favorite of the seventies studio albums but I don't dislike it alltogether. The production is fairly nice, and when he does make an effort (around half the time) Elvis sounds terrific. "Merry Christmas Baby" has to be my pick but I think "O Come All Ye Faithful" is one of Elvis' finest productions. He actually did arrange it himself and you can hear the care he put into it. Silver Bells or Winter Wonderland are fairly bad though. Too bad EP's were gone as you could get a great one off of here.

[dreambear]

Thank you all! Now I can have my Samuel Adams as usual!!

//Björn

[Suspicious Minds]

I voted for If I Get Home On Christmas Day.
Always like this song. Nice sing along song.

[JerryNodak]

I like all the tracks on this album. But I love "If I Get Home On Christmas Day'
and "Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees." Since I can only choose one I pick the latter.

[BigredG]

I like all the tracks on this album. But I love "If I Get Home On Christmas Day'
and "Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees." Since I can only choose one I pick the latter.

Glad to see someone speaking up for Holly Leaves & Christmas Trees. Gotta be one of the saddest songs ever, and I am a sucker for sad songs !! Truly and totally un-Christmassy, but captures the despair of many people at this time of year. That Red West had a knack for this kinda thing. Damn shame he and El fell out, damn shame !!

[Rob]

That Red West had a knack for this kinda thing. Damn shame he and El fell out, damn shame !!

He and Red have apparently made up because ol' Red is now allowed to chat about Elvis on Sirius Satellite Radio. Red has nothing but great things to say.

I do like "Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees" very much.

[BigredG]

That Red West had a knack for this kinda thing. Damn shame he and El fell out, damn shame !!

He and Red have apparently made up because ol' Red is now allowed to chat about Elvis on Sirius Satellite Radio. Red has nothing but great things to say.

I do like "Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees" very much.

This is good to hear. I guess Larry Geller acted as go between

You know I suspected that you would like Holly Leaves. We have similar (and impeccable) taste !!

[familyjules]

Gotta be Holly Leaves - that is one majestic song! I can't wait for Christmas to come around so that I can play it to death. Love that song.

Jules

[kuenzer]

I protest against I'll Be Home For Christmas Day getting no votes at all.

Roamed the hills of Georgia
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done 'most everything
That a man can do or see
But if I could only borrow one dream from yesterday
I'd be on that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day

And so many times before
She left that candle burning
Oh, too many tears fell
My soul fills with yearning
If I had sense at all
I'd just be on my way
Be on that train tomorrow
Be home on Christmas day

Everytime I think about her
All the love I left behind
Memories still linger in my troubled mind
I could set aside my pride
And I'd be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
And be home on Christmas day

If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
I said I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day

..

However, I have already voted.

[Rob]

We can only vote once. The mood changes constantly, but once voted, it is too late.

Somebody shoot me....I like this album very much!

Always have -- always will.

[BigredG]

I protest against I'll Be Home For Christmas Day getting no votes at all.

That extended version with the awful "purse for little sister to carry" verse has ruined the song for me

[ColinB]

I protest against I'll Be Home For Christmas Day getting no votes at all.

That extended version with the awful "purse for little sister to carry" verse has ruined the song for me

Hey, I just had a great idea for you, BIGREDG !

Just play the original version with out the offending verse !

Now, why didn't you think of that ?

[BigredG]

Just thick l guess !!

[kuenzer]

Well, that extra verse is a bit unsingable. But other than that it fits into the context of a man who has decided to leave his wife (and his family, as it turns out in this verse), and whose decision is now melting away in view of Christmas.

By the way, I do not quite get its third line.

It's been so long since I've seen Little John,
Michelle, Christine and Carrie,
I forgot [?with?] all the [?presents?] that I [?bought?]
purse for little sister to carry
I could set aside my pride
Just be on my way
Be on that train tomorrow
And be home on Christmas day

[kuenzer]

I've never heard that verse. What disc is that version on?

FTD I Sing All Kinds

[BigredG]

I've never heard that verse. What disc is that version on?

FTD I Sing All Kinds

It debuted on TT&F Box set in 2002, so is available in the "mainstream".

It certainly seems "unsingable" Kuenzer, you are quite correct. Glad they dropped it from the master and alt. master.

"I forgot with all the presents that I bought" sounds right, so he forgot the damn purse for his little sister to carry !! Shucks.

[kuenzer]

"I forgot with all the presents that I bought" sounds right, so he forgot the damn purse for his little sister to carry !! Shucks.

Thanks for the confirmation! Well, assuming that this was a present of a Christmas some years ago, maybe she was particularly happy to get that present and that's why he recalls it now?

[familyjules]

Somebody shoot me....I like this album very much!

Always have -- always will.

Oh me too. I mean, a few tracks are awful and I always skip 'em, but the best songs on this album are as beautiful as anything else he did during this period. I'm thinking Holly Leaves..., If I Get Home..., I'll Be Home..., It Won't Seem Like Christmas..., Merry Christmas Baby - I love all of those big time.

Jules

[BigredG]

Oh me too. I mean, a few tracks are awful and I always skip 'em, but the best songs on this album are as beautiful as anything else he did during this period. I'm thinking Holly Leaves..., If I Get Home..., I'll Be Home..., It Won't Seem Like Christmas..., Merry Christmas Baby - I love all of those big time.Jules

Yep, they are all mighty fine IMO.

[familyjules]

Played TWWOC last night. Had to play Holly Leaves through three times. That's one of the beauties of a short song - you never get tired of it.

Missed the James Burton solo on the longer version of Merry Christmas Baby, but still got off on that mighty groove. Played along on "bass" (my guitar's bottom strings actually), and when Elvis told Putt to wake up, I felt like he was telling me off. Heh.

Jules

[ColinB]

Missed the James Burton solo on the longer version of Merry Christmas Baby[

Err.......................................... wasn't that Eddie Hinton who did the guitar overdub ?

[familyjules]

Missed the James Burton solo on the longer version of Merry Christmas Baby[

Err.......................................... wasn't that Eddie Hinton who did the guitar overdub ?

Really? Ah well then, pardon my ignorance.

Jules