The talent of Elvis Presley is one that comes along but once in lifetime. In a stunning reinvention of iconic Christmas tune “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” The King proves what fans already knew as true: Elvis can be imitated, but never duplicated.
The recording is part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s project, “Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” released on October 6, 2017. The project came about following the massive success of 2015’s “If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.”
Here are cover and tracks for the new #Elvis CD “Christmas With Elvis and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra”. Details at https://t.co/enYtf58BeM pic.twitter.com/x2wtEBHU6H
— ElvisDayByDay.com (@elvisdaybyday) September 4, 2017
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was originally recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby to honor soldiers overseas who longed to be home with loved ones during Christmas time, the song no doubt hitting close to home for Presley who spent time in the Army himself.
#FridayFunDay: Grafenwöehr- History, culture and 60 years of Elvis.
Read about it at https://t.co/6zodAc3UHP (@USArmy, @USAGBavaria, @usareurcsm) pic.twitter.com/FxteuBbhGx— US Army Europe (@USArmyEurope) November 30, 2018
On March 24, 1958, The King traded in his guitar for military fatigues in order to serve his nation. Presley served as an active duty member of the military until March of 1960 and was fully discharged from the Army Reserves four years later in March of 1964.
While his version of the song was an instant hit in the 1950s and 60s – hearing it remastered adds something you can’t find anywhere else. Give the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Presley’s version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” below.