Customer Rating: 
Summary: More More
Comment: Very well done i hope they do more with duets on elvis with other artists
use out takes make them longer fresh music and backing its the way forward with elvis now ,SO DONT KNOCK IT BUY IT
Customer Rating:
Summary: Unexpected gem
Comment: I'm a purist, I like things done the way they're supposed to be done. Modern or alternative interpretations just don't do it for me. I prefer b/w movies to be b/w, no colourised versions for me. Foriegn films should be screened in their own language and subtitled, no dubbed-over versions for me. So why, when it comes to Christmas Duets do I find myself not only willing to accept a modern / alternative interpretaion, but furthermore, find myself rating it so highly?
It may lay in the sensitive way the duet recordings have been handled. There doesn't appear to be any competition between the contemporary performers and Elvis' original recordings. Rather there appears to be an unspoken understanding among the contempories that the original recordings are faultless performances, that lend themselves to being subtly embellished, and this they do with style and panache and sensitivity.
The developments in musical technology which have allowed recordings such as these to be developed in this way, offer fresh interpretations of classic performances.
I grew up listening to Elvis' original Christmas Album, and replaced my old, worn-out vinyl with cassette and ultimately with CD. And I love those original recordings. But I wouldn't be without this collection of gems for a single minute.
On a slightly different point, I am interested to know how the contemporary artists were selected for this album (and wise selections they were), and whether or not the idea for this album was conceived as it appears today or whether it was pieced together from a selection of existing recordings.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The "Old Vs New" debate, strikes again!
Comment: Yep! this release was always going to stir up the old argument about tampering with Elvis' music simply to try and score an immediate hit at the most appropriate time for buyers to part with their cash, I:E Christmas!
Well having been a lifelong Elvis fan, I suppose I would swing to the "purist" side of the debate, arguing that Elvis' music needs no crutch to appeal to anyone, it simply does or doesn't, depending on whether you like it or not, that said I can also understand the need to keep any artist in the public eye and if this is deemed the way to do that then it's the choice of the record company to release it and for the public to vote with their money(or not), so on that, my review,
What we have here is obviously an electronically created selection of duets between Elvis and a selection of female country artists, how familar these artists are will depend on how much you follow the current American country music scene, though of course, I would imagine that almost everyone has heard of Olivia Newton John or Anne Murray, as well possibly a few of the others, how well this may stand up in future remains to be seen, if we're listening to this 10 years from now, there may be a little head scratching and saying, "Elvis and Who?!?"
Regarding the tracks themselves, well, the thing that will catch EVERY Elvis fan is the fact that even though you know that it's a duet album is that you instantly lose yourself in the track only to have that blown when the other artist comes in, case in point with track one, Blue Christmas, Elvis takes the first verse, common line with the whole album and only to be expected, before Martine McBride comes in, once past the realisation that it is a duets album after all that you're listening to, the track plays quite well, this track as well as all the others has been re-mastered and in my opinion this is a definite bonus and serves to tighten and sharpen many of the backings without losing their "feel"
Have to disagree with the other reviewer that Carrie Underwood sounds like a "chainsaw", perhaps a little shrill, against a heavier Elvis vocal but it's an acceptable cut, the same for Here Comes Santa Claus,
Santa Claus is Back in Town with Wynonna Judd however is an excellent version with the the whole blues feel coming thru' again the track shows the re-mixed and re-mastered backing to great benefit, while covering the blues feel, Merry Christmas Baby, uh, this, to me doesn't work in the same way, Gretchen Wilson certainly has no problem with the blues or soul sound but here she is almost like an intruder, popping in with the occasional repeat overlay, it doesn't really add anything to the track and often is simply distracting,
Silent Night and Little Town Of Bethlehem being traditional Christmas songs not necessarily associated specifically with Elvis are probably the easiest on the ear and sound fresh despite their age, especially "Little Town" which to my ear sounds even better with the girls(Karen and Kimberley)duetting than it does as a solo effort, unfortunately I couldn't say the say for O Come All Ye Faithful, perhaps the most well known, next to Elvis himself, performer on the album, Olivia Newton John comes off the worst, the song selection certainly didn't help, Elvis gave this song/hymm the full blown treatment in '71, he arranged it with full instrumental and vocal backing and complimentary female(Kathy Westmoreland?)high notes, as good as Olivia is, she falls well short of the original and the whole thing comes across as a clumsy ruined mess, she simply sounds like she shouldn't even be there and muting the original backing here is simply unforgiveable, a definite miss-fire in my opinion, along the same lines is Silver Bells with Anne Murray, never my favourite track as I believe that Elvis' vocal was a little heavy and forced on parts, Anne had previously recorded this herself, here however she lowers her register, possible to compliment Elvis' range or not to have the song sound out of pitch, but due to this change it now just sounds dull and laboured,
The last three tracks are re-mastered and re-mixed solo efforts and all sound more polished and fresh due to this "tweaking" so no growls about tainting Elvis' music, these have been done in a tasteful manner and not completely re-worked as to be unrecognisable, Winter Wonderland(never one of Elvis' favourites,going as far as to say that he hated the song) certainly benefits from a re-mixed backing,
So in summary, though I am firmly of the opinion that Elvis' music should not be altered or tampered with, this, if it were the way forward, would not necessarily have the fans up in arms, I reviewed a similar electronic duet album idea using Dean Martin that was released last year and hand on heart as a concept this one has it beat hands down, the Dean album had more of a thrown together feel while this album at least has the Christmas framework to build on, so while this may not appeal to everyone I can definitely admit the merit in the project and barring a couple of, in my opinion anyway, blunders it's a good standalone album which will hopefully get a good airing, a few tracks have already made some dj's playlist, so that just has to be a bonus.
Customer Rating:
Summary: ......." I hope not Dear "
Comment: What a great idea to make these "Duets" and the new remix. A new generation will learn what millions have known for more than 50 years....Elvis was the king..and he still rules. The only mistake on the album are Carrie Underwood who shares "I`ll be home for christmas"...she sounds just like a chainsaw ....and therefore I'll say: "I hope not Dear".
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth buying if you are a loyal fan only.
Comment: I own just about every song Elvis ever sung. I was suprised to see this available via a youtube video, that was removed at the request of Sony/BMG.
Most of the songs on the album are quite good but, it does seem a bit slow and boring at times. The dueting artists don't really add quality to Elvis by dueting but, nor do they degrade it either. Kind of neutral really.
Would I recommend it? Yes, so long as you don't pay more than £8.
I've given a 4 star rating.
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