Jordanaires - Christmas to Elvis



Review:
This is a tribute Christmas album to Elvis Presley. It was recorded by the Jordanaires, who sang back up vocals on most of Elvis' records of the '50s and '60s, including his first Christmas album. Elvis' original guitarist Scotty Moore, and his original drummer D.J. Fontana, also participated in the recording sessions.

The Jordanaires re-recorded all the songs they did for Elvis' first Christmas album, and did a decent job of it, though they can't match the versions they did with Elvis. But since they only recorded eight song for the Elvis Christmas album, they had to add some other songs to this album. So, they also recorded some Christmas songs that Elvis never recorded. But for some unknown reason, they decided to have Elvis clone Orion sing lead on most of the songs that Elvis never sang.

For those of you who don't remember Orion, he was an Elvis soundalike who performed while wearing a Lone Ranger mask after Elvis died, in an attempt to fool people into thinking that Elvis faked his death and was now calling himself Orion. Anyway, the songs sung by Orion here are not actually that bad, if you can get over the whole "pretending to be Elvis" thing.

The final track here features the Jordanaires, Scotty and D.J. reminiscing about the recording of Elvis' first Christmas album. This is a decent Christmas album, but you are better off sticking with Elvis himself.



Jordanaire Bio:
For over 40 years, the Jordanaires remained one of the premier backup vocal groups in country music, working with such greats as Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and, of course, Elvis Presley. The quartet began in Springfield, MO, during the late '40s, featuring original members Bob Hubbard, Bill Matthews, Monty Matthews and Culley Holt who sang barbershop and spirituals. They debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in 1949.

The group changed members during the early '50s, with Gordon Stoker and Hoyt Hawkins replacing Hubbard (who was drafted) and Bill Matthews (who became seriously ill). In 1953, Monty Matthews left the group for personal reasons, and was replaced by Neal Matthews. By 1954, the Jordanaires were singing behind artists such as Elton Britt, Red Foley, and Jimmy Wakely. That year they appeared on Eddy Arnold's television show, but didn't get their big break until Elvis Presley, a longtime fan, invited the group to back him after receiving a major recording contract from RCA Victor.

When Elvis became a star, he honored his promise to keep them as his backup singers, and they worked with him until 1970, appearing in many of his films and on his gospel recordings. In 1954, Culley Holt became ill and was replaced by Hugh Jarrett; he left in 1958 and was replaced by Ray Walker.

When not backing Elvis, the Jordanaires were busy making their own mark in country music. Neal Matthews was a talented arranger and was responsible for Jim Reeves' massive hit "Four Walls" (1957). In 1959, the Jordanaires began working with Patsy Cline, and also devised the Nashville number system of chords that is still widely used in recording studios and performances.

The quartet also recorded their own gospel and country albums. It was the Jordanaires who provided the main impetus for the formation of the American Federation of Television/Radio Artists-Screen Actors' Guild in Nashville. They also established Nashville's commercial jingle market, which helped singers like Janie Fricke and Judy Rodman get their start.

Credits:
* The Jordanaires - Main Performers
* Scotty Moore - Guitar ·
* D.J. Fontana - Drums ·
* Ben Hall - Engineer ·
* Hoyt Hawkins - Piano ·
* Hoyt Hawkins - Group Member ·
* Neal Matthews - Guitar ·
* Neal Matthews - Group Member ·
* Louis Dean Nunley - Bongos ·
* Louis Dean Nunley - Group Member ·
* Lacy O'Neal - Engineer ·
* Joe Scaife - Engineer ·
* Gordon Stoker - Organ ·
* Gordon Stoker - Group Member ·
* Bobby Ogden - Piano ·
* Ray C. Walker - Group Member


Songlist:
01-Blue Christmas
02-Here Comes Santa Claus
03-Santa Bring My Baby Back
04-Greetings
05-Jingle Bells
06-I'll Be Home for Christmas
07-Up on the House Top
08-White Christmas
09-Santa's Back in Town
10-I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
11-Deck the Halls
12-Silent Night
13-Mama Liked the Roses
14-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
15-It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
16-Joy to the World
17-O Little Town of Bethlehem
18-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
19-Away in a Manger
20-O Holy Night
21-O Come All Ye Faithful
22-We Wish You a Merry Christmas
23-Dialogue -Studio Out Takes

File type: mp3s at 320 kb/s

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