music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was released as a stand-alone single in November 1973 with the song "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" as the B-side. Upon its original 1973 release, the song peaked at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart, and it reached a new peak of No. 8 on the same chart in 2019.[1] In the United States, the single reached No. 56 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart[2] and No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart.[3][note 1]

"Step into Christmas"
Solid centre variant of UK vinyl single
Single by Elton John
B-side	"Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)"
Released	23 November 1973
Recorded	11 November 1973 – Morgan Studios, Willesden, London
Genre	Pop rock, Christmas music
Length	4:30
Label	DJM, MCA
Songwriter(s)	Elton John Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974)

"Step into Christmas" was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered re-issue of the album Caribou, even though it was released in the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road era. It also appears on the albums Elton John's Christmas Party, Rare Masters, To Be Continued, Diamonds and various Christmas compilation albums. Two versions with different vocals are known to exist: the original single mix and a version recorded for John's 1973 performance of "Step into Christmas" on The Gilbert O'Sullivan Show television program (which featured Bernie Taupin standing in for Ray Cooper on percussion).[5]

In 2009, "Step into Christmas" was listed as the ninth-most-played Christmas song of the 2000s in the UK.[6] In December 2021, the song was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams of 1,200,000 units. In September 2021, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales and streams of 500,000 units.

Recording

According to liner notes about the song (in Rare Masters and Elton John's Christmas Party), the track and its B-side, both produced by Gus Dudgeon, were recorded during a session on 11 November 1973 at London's Morgan Studios,[7] which was owned by drummer Barry Morgan, who had played on several of John's early albums. "Step into Christmas" was mixed to sound like one of producer Phil Spector's 1960s recordings, using plenty of compression and imitating his trademark wall of sound technique. This was intentional according to both John and Taupin, and an homage of sorts to Christmas songs by Spector-produced groups such as The Ronettes.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single; it is notable for its cameo appearance of Taupin, who is seen briefly playing tubular bells during the song's bridge (although they are actually played in the audio recording by percussionist Ray Cooper). John is also seen holding his Watford F.C. supporters card. John would later go on to own the club.

Chart performance

UK Singles Chart
Year	Peak position	Chart run
1973	24	Seven weeks (8 December 1973 – 19 January 1974)[8]
2007	53	Three weeks (15–29 December 2007)[9]
2011	64	Three weeks (17–31 December 2011)[10]
2012	75	Two weeks (15–22 December 2012)[11]
2014	84	Four weeks (13 December 2014 – 3 January 2015)[12]
2015	58	Three weeks (17–31 December 2015)[13]
2016	37	Four weeks (15 December 2016 – 5 January 2017)[14]
2017	11	Four weeks (14 December 2017 – 4 January 2018)[15]
2018	10	Four weeks (13 December 2018 – 3 January 2019)[16]
2019	8	Four weeks (12 December 2019 – 2 January 2020)[17]
2020	8	Seven weeks (26 November 2020 – 7 January 2021)
2021	11	Six weeks (2 December 2021 – 6 January 2022)

Charts

Chart (1973–2022)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[18]	40
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19]	68
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20]	41
Germany (Official German Charts)[21]	69
Global 200 (Billboard)[22]	55
Lithuania (AGATA)[23]	57
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24]	76
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25]	38
Portugal (AFP)[26]	123
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27]	67
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28]	42
UK Singles (OCC)[29]	8
US Billboard Christmas Singles[3]	1
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[30]	84
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[31]	56

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32]	Gold	45,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]	2× Platinum	1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[34]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

"Step into Christmas" was covered by the band The Wedding Present on their 1992 single "No Christmas" and also covered by The Business for the holiday EP Bollocks to Christmas. The song was also covered by The Puppini Sisters on their 2010 holiday album Christmas with The Puppini Sisters.

Notes

References

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