- Recording
- Music video
- Other versions
- Certifications
- Notes
- References
- External links
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{Infobox song
| name = Step into Christmas
| cover = Step Into Christmas.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Elton John
| album =
| B-side = Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)
| released = 23 November 1973
| format =
| recorded = 11 November 1973
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = 4:30
| label = DJM, MCA
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Gus Dudgeon
| prev_title = Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = Candle in the Wind
| next_year = 1974
}}"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and performed by Elton 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. 10 on the same chart in 2018.[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]{{refn|group=note|In years when Billboard published a Christmas Singles chart, Christmas singles were not listed on the Hot 100 chart.[4]}} "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 exist. In 2009, "Step into Christmas" was the ninth most played Christmas song in the United Kingdom.[5] In December 2018 the song was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of 400,000 copies. RecordingAccording 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, [6] 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 videoA music video was produced to promote the single,[7] and is notable for its cameo appearance of Taupin, who is seen briefly playing tubular bells during the song's bridge. John is also seen holding his Watford F.C. supporters card. John would later go on to own the club. 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. Certifications{{Certification Table Top}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Step into Christmas|artist=Elton John|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2018|accessdate=14 December 2018|refname="BPI"}}{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}Notes1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/step-into-christmas/|title=step-into-christmas {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=30 December 2017}}
2. ^{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19731229.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending DECEMBER 29, 1973 |accessdate=2009-01-18 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001215137/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19731229.html |archivedate=1 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
3. ^Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–1996 (1997):316
4. ^Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–1996 (1997):xi
5. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.prsformusic.com/aboutus/press/latestpressreleases/Pages/MariahisourChristmasNumber1.aspx |title=Mariah Is Our Christmas Number 1 |website=Prsformusic.com |date=22 December 2009 |accessdate=8 October 2016}}
6. ^[https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/diamond-moments-step-into-christmas|Diamond Moments: ‘Step Into Christmas’] Retrieved 19 December 2017
7. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fjik78LapA |title=Elton John Step Into Christmas Official Video |publisher=YouTube |date=16 November 2010 |accessdate=8 October 2016}}
References{{Reflist}}External links- {{MetroLyrics song|elton-john|step-into-christmas}}
{{Elton John songs}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Step Into Christmas}} 9 : 1973 singles|Christmas songs|Elton John songs|Songs with music by Elton John|Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin|Song recordings produced by Gus Dudgeon|DJM Records singles|MCA Records singles|Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements |