Disc of the day
Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement
From Sheffield, synth pop and funk to stick it to Thatcher. Currently being played live!
Features Disc of the day
Elvis Presley
Elvis’s Christmas Album
(RCA, 1957)
The King rocks! Irving 'White Christmas' Berlin smarts...
"Santa Claus had the right idea. Visit people once a year," deadpanned Danish stand-up legend Victor Borge, his misanthropic comment echoing the sentiments felt by many during the kick-bollock-scramble nature of the festive season. As if the sheer mania of Christmas were not enough, this time of year also provides a regular opportunity for radio stations to bombard us with The Worst Music Known To Man (be grateful that Bryan Adams's Reggae Christmas remains a well kept secret...) and for TV stations to serve up so-called Christmas 'specials'. Now that Bob Dylan has piled on the seasonal misery, it is hard to find musical salvation in such a bleak climate. Thankfully, The King is on hand to offer us a modicum of succour with this, his first Christmas collection from '57.
Of course, there are those who view this album - his fourth for RCA - as proof positive that The Hillbilly Cat had been thoroughly de-clawed. And yet, this is a strong set that underlines two key Presley traits: the first his Sinatra-esque ability to turn even the most ridiculous material to his advantage, the second his profound empathy for gospel music. The latter is typified by stirring renditions of I Believe, (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me), It's No Secret What God Can Do and Take My Hand Precious Lord, while he adds richness to familiar Christmas nostrums like O Little Town Of Bethlehem and Silent Night. Of the more kitsch material, Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me and Gene Autrey's Here Comes Santa Claus sizzle with hip-thrusting élan, while I'll Be Home For Christmas and Blue Christmas ripple with Elvis's inimitable sense of blues-laden melodrama. White Christmas, meanwhile, follows The Drifters' interpretation of the Irving Berlin standard, causing the latter to dub it "a profane parody" of his classic song and urging that it be denied radio airplay. As it turned out, DJs played these tracks and, indeed, continue to play them. And, when you hear them, they still manage to transport you to a world away from that frenzied last minute panic-barge down Oxford Street...
Phil Alexander
Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 31/12/2009
Further Listening
Elvis Presley – His Hand In Mine (RCA, 1960)
Elvis Presley – How Great Thou Art (RCA, 1967)
Elvis Presley – Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas (RCA, 1971)
Previous Disc of the day
-
Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement
From Sheffield, synth pop and funk to stick it to Thatcher. Currently being played live!
6:00 AM GMT 18/03/2010
-
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River
Essence De Choogle from John Fogerty and crew. Badass!
9:54 AM GMT 17/03/2010
-
The The - Soul Mining
Matt Johnson's self-excoriating - but tunepacked! -classic.
6:00 AM GMT 16/03/2010
-
-
Various Artists - Axe Attack Vol II
Metal Britannica inspires MOJO metal amnesty. Studded leather wristbands aloft!
2:32 AM GMT 12/03/2010
-
The Pop Group - Y
For connoisseurs of pop-as-rupture-in-the-space/time-continuum
6:00 AM GMT 11/03/2010
end of body content back to top
Footer
Join us on:
© Copyright Bauer - all
rights reserved.
Reproduction of this
website, in whole or in
part, in any form or
medium without express
written permission from
Bauer is prohibited. All
use is subject to our
Terms of Use
|
|
Comments
Comment on this post
No-one sings Christmas songs like Elvis. He had that innate ability to wring every ounce of feeling out of a song.
His Christmas tracks have sold more copies throughout the world than those by any of his competitors.
Posted by Brian Quinn at 6:32 PM GMT 31/12/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
No-one sings Christmas songs like Elvis. He had that innate ability to wring every ounce of feeling out of a song.
His Christmas tracks have sold more copies throughout the world than those by any of his competitors.
Posted by Brian Quinn at 6:36 PM GMT 31/12/2009 Report Abuse
Reply to this post
Comment on this post