Billboard Article: Country Stars Duet With Elvis For Christmas Album

teesharky · 08-06-2008, 11:37 PM

a few more details here- the original back up singers are going to re-record their part to keep it more traditional. I will post the original version of Elvis singing with those backup singers after the article.

Country Stars Duet With Elvis For Holiday Album

Country Stars Duet With Elvis For Holiday Album
Elvis Presley

August 06, 2008 , 5:55 PM ET

Thanks to technology, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and LeAnn Rimes will be among the country stars performing with the king of rock'n'roll on "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets."

The new album, due Oct. 14, will also feature Gretchen Wilson, Wynonna Judd, Sara Evans, Amy Grant and Anne Murray.

Sony BMG is releasing the disc in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. They say it's the late icon's first duets album and the first Christmas compilation of its kind.

"This is an excellent example of the innovative ways in which we keep Elvis' catalog fresh for new and existing fans," said John Ingrassia, president of the Sony BMG Commercial Music Group.

While Presley only recorded 20 Christmas songs, his holiday albums have sold more than 25 million copies in the U.S. alone.

His 1957 release, "Elvis' Christmas Album," is the top-selling holiday release of all-time with 9 million in sales, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

The Jordanaires, the vocal group that backed Presley on most of those early recordings, are rerecording their parts for the new album. "It's done in very good taste," the group's Gordon Stoker said. "We're doing the same background we did originally on the recordings in 1957."

Work is still underway in the fabled RCA Studio B where Presley recorded in Nashville. Tracks include "Blue Christmas" with McBride, "Here Comes Santa Claus" with Rimes, "Merry Christmas Baby" with Wilson, "White Christmas" with Grant and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with Underwood.

"It's amazing what they can do," Stoker said. "Elvis sounds great. The recordings sound as if they were done yesterday."

Priscilla Presley said in a statement that she's pleased with the caliber of artists on the album. "I am sure Elvis would be proud to have worked with them."