How does new Elvis Christmas album rank?
Published Wednesday December 17th, 2008
Metro Elvis tribute act Thane Dunn gives his take on 'new' collection of The King's Christmas tunes
The King may be gone, but his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of fans across the globe and in the wallets of record company executives who continue to remaster, repackage and rerelease his back catalogue in a variety of ways.
Elvis Presley holds all kinds of records, and one the King of Rock N' Roll holds is that his first collection of Christmas tunes, Elvis' Christmas Album from 1957, is the biggest selling Christmas album of all time.
According to the New York Times earlier this year, Presley's first Christmas album has sold nine millions copies since it was released.
Just last month, a selection of Presley's Christmas classics was rereleased, this time with a crop of chart-topping female singers' vocals digitally placed into the tracks so they can perform "duets" with Presley.
The performers on the new disc, titled Elvis Presley Christmas Duets, include Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Olivia Newton-John and the Maritimes' own Anne Murray.
It's a cute marketing scheme, and surely there's no doubting the talent of all the singers involved, but do the "duets" stand up?
If you ask Moncton's own Elvis impersonator, the record does indeed stand up.
Thane Dunn, who has been performing as Elvis in a number of tribute shows in Moncton over the last several years, says the record is a "beautiful" collection that should introduce Presley to a whole new generation of fans.
"Overall, I thought the performances were actually great," he says. "Some of them really blew me out of the water."
Dunn was particularly impressed with O Come, All Ye Faithful, which features the King crooning with Olivia Newton-John.
"Honestly, that was my favourite track," he says. "That was the one that gave me goosebumps."
He offers up a few tidbits about this pairing of singers.
"Elvis actually recorded two of (Newton-John's) songs in the '70s, which is kind of neat -- If You Love Me (Let Me Know) and Let Me Be There."
Both tunes can be found on Presley's last studio outing, Moody Blue.
Dunn's second pick from the new disc is O Little Town of Bethlehem, which features Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town singing with The King.
"They sounded like angels," he says. "That would be my number two pick."
The tracks I'll Be Home For Christmas (featuring Carrie Underwood) and Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (featuring LeAnn Rimes) sound most like they were actually recorded with Presley and not recorded separately several decades apart, Dunn says.
The Rimes tune is one Dunn says is the most realistic.
"I think that one is probably the most realistic where I could close my eyes and pretend they were both in the studio together recording at the same time."
On the other end of the spectrum, Dunn says Elvis's duet with country star Gretchen Wilson on Merry Christmas Baby isn't quite up to snuff.
"I wouldn't say it was terribly disappointing," he says. "She did a good job, and obviously he did a good job, but to me it just didn't sound like they were in sync."
Dunn says he "wouldn't get the egg nog out" for that tune.
As for the Maritimer on the record, Dunn says Anne Murray and Presley didn't have the best track on the album, but it wasn't bad.
"Anne Murray did a good job," he says. "And Anne Murray was actually Elvis Presley's favourite female singer. I wish they could have sounded a little bit better, it's not 100 per cent in sync, but it's still pretty good."
Dunn also enjoyed the tracks featuring Wynonna Judd (Santa Claus Is Back In Town) and Martina McBride (Blue Christmas).
For his part as Christmas nears, Dunn is gearing up for his next show as The King.
Dunn will perform a blend of Elvis's legendary 1968 comeback special and his 1969 return to Las Vegas shows on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Centre. Tickets to the show are on sale now, and at the show there will be a few giveaways.
Dunn is partnering with Fairway Tours to give away a 16-day trip that will see the winner travel throughout the southern United States including a two-day stop in Memphis, Tenn., Elvis's hometown, and a tour of Graceland.
In addition, a replica of the guitar Elvis played during his '68 comeback special will be given away. The guitar was recently signed by former Presley drummer DJ Fontana.
Tickets to the show are available online at www.ticketwindow.ca, or in person at Frank's Music, Ayer Avenue Convenience, Maggie's Flowers in Riverview, La Bonne Nouvelle book store and at the Celebration Centre.
Some of the proceeds from the show will go to support the area's Boys & Girls Clubs. Tickets are $37.
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