Christmas blues


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colonel snow
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Christmas blues

Postby colonel snow » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:42 pm

Santa Claus is back in town is titled in the tape legend "Christmas blues".

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Re: Christmas blues

Postby Colin B » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:46 pm

Thanks, colonel snow !

The story goes that the songwriters Mike Stoller & Jerry Leiber hurriedly dashed the song off right there in the studio !

Maybe they didn't come up with a proper title until later...
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Re: Christmas blues

Postby colonel snow » Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:11 pm

outdated now

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Re: Christmas blues

Postby Mister Moon » Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:45 pm

Colin B wrote:Thanks, colonel snow !

The story goes that the songwriters Mike Stoller & Jerry Leiber hurriedly dashed the song off right there in the studio !

Maybe they didn't come up with a proper title until later...


It's surprising the proper title is not written in that document - "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" is a pretty obvious choice !

This reminds me of "I'm Evil", later retitled "Trouble". I'm sure I have seen this written in some document too, but I should look for it.


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Re: Christmas blues

Postby colonel snow » Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:11 pm

Mr. Moon

I'm evil = Trouble is mentioned on the tape legend and other documents + acetate.

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Re: Christmas blues

Postby colonel snow » Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:06 pm

Another example: Steadfast loyal and true - track M take 6 was titled "Schoolsong" in the paperwork + acetate.


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Re: Christmas blues

Postby Mister Moon » Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:23 pm

colonel snow wrote:Another example: Steadfast loyal and true - track M take 6 was titled "Schoolsong" in the paperwork + acetate.


Thanks, colonel. This is the document I recall, probably from some sessions book. I didn't remember "School Song". A good example, and another Leiber & Stoller composition.

As you know, "Main Title" refers to the instrumental version of "King Creole" we hear on the opening credits, first released officially on "Essential Elvis - Volume 3" (on the CD, not the LP).

At some point, it was believed "Main Title" was "Danny", but now we know this unused song was recorded as late as on February 11. I have a soft spot for "Danny" ever since I first heard it on "A Legendary Performer - Volume 3".



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Re: Christmas blues

Postby Matt Helm » Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:32 pm

...and on FTD's "A DATE WITH ELVIS" CD 2...it's titled as "Christmas", Matt


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Re: Christmas blues

Postby Mojo Filter » Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:10 pm

Colin B wrote:Thanks, colonel snow !

The story goes that the songwriters Mike Stoller & Jerry Leiber hurriedly dashed the song off right there in the studio !

Maybe they didn't come up with a proper title until later...

The story, apparently goes, the Colonel who was in the studio when Jerry and Mike were there for an Elvis session asked the songwriting duo if they could write a Christmas song for Elvis. Jerry and Mike went into the toilet and came out 20mins later with a xmas song and said "we've got one for you" to which the Colonel replied "what took you so long". It was "Santa Claus Is Back In Town".
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