Step into Christmas

"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song by Elton John (music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin) released in 1973.^[1] It was originally released as a stand-alone single in 1973 with the B-Side "Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)", peaking at #23 in the UK. Due to Billboard magazine's editorial policy it was held off the Hot 100. It did, however, make #1 on a specially designated Christmas chart, and it appeared in the Cashbox Top 100 charts. It was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered reissue of the album Caribou, even though it was released in the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road days. It also appears on the albums Elton John's Christmas Party, Rare Masters, To Be Continued, and The Best Christmas Album in the World...Ever! Two versions with different vocals exist.

According to liner notes about the song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (in "Rare Masters" and "Elton John's Christmas Party"), the track and its B-side, both produced by Gus Dudgeon, were recorded during a quickie session at Morgan Studios in London, owned by drummer Barry Morgan, who had played on several of Elton's early albums. "Step Into Christmas" was mixed to sound like one of producer Phil Spector's record, using lots of compression and imitating his trademark "wall of sound" technique. This was according to both Elton and Taupin intentional, an homage of sorts to Christmas songs by Spector-produced groups such as The Ronettes. In 2009, "Step into Christmas" was the 9th most played Christmas song in the UK.^[2]

Other versions

It was covered by the band The Wedding Present on their 1992 album Hit Parade II, and also covered by The Business for the Bollocks to Christmas EP. It was covered by The Puppini Sisters on their 2010 album "Christmas with the Puppini Sisters."

References

^ Billboard 1 Dec 1973 Billboard
^ Most performed Christmas songs (UK) PPL & PRS for Music

Elton John songs

1960s and 1970s	"I've Been Loving You" (1968) · "Lady Samantha" (1969) · "It's Me That You Need" (1969) · "Border Song" (1970) · "Rock n' Roll Madonna" (1970) · "From Denver to L.A." (1970) · "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) · "Your Song" (1970) · "Levon" (1971) · "Tiny Dancer" (1972) · "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" (1972) · "Honky Cat" (1972) · "Crocodile Rock" (1972) · "Daniel" (1972) · "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) · "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) · "Step into Christmas" (1973) · "Candle in the Wind" (1974) · "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) · "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) · "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) · "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) · "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) · "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) · "Island Girl" (1975) · "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) · "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) · "Pinball Wizard" (1976) · "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) · "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) · "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) · "Crazy Water" (1977) · "The Goaldigger's Song" (1977) · "Ego" (1978) · "Part-Time Love" (1978) · "Song for Guy" (1978) · "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) · "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) · "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)

1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) · "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) · "Dear God" (1980) · "I Saw Her Standing There" / "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" / "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1981) · "Blue Eyes" (1982) · "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) · "Ball and Chain" (1982) · "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) · "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) · "I'm Still Standing" (1983) · "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) · "Nikita" (1985) · "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) · "Wrap Her Up" (1985) · "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) · "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" (1988) · "Town of Plenty" (1988) · "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) · "Healing Hands" (1989) · "Sacrifice" (1989)

1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) · "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) · "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) · "The One" (1992) · "The Last Song" (1992) · "Simple Life" (1993) · "True Love" (1993) · "Shakey Ground" (1994) · "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) · "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) · "Circle of Life" (1994) · "Believe" (1994) · "Made in England" (1995) · "When the Money's Gone" (1995) · "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) · "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) · "Written in the Stars" (1999)

2000s	"This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) · "Original Sin" (2002) · "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) · "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) · "Electricity" (2005) · "The Bridge" (2006) · "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008)

Related articles	Discography

Book:Elton John · Category:Elton John