elvismusicblog

I first started listening to Elvis Presley in 1957 when was six years old.  My parents liked Elvis and we went to the drive in to see Jailhouse Rock.  They purchased a 45 with Jailhouse Rock on one side and the flip side was Treat Me Nice which was my favorite song.  While my friends were listening to “Mary had a little lamb” I was rocking out to,” The warden had a party at the county jail.”  This was the beginning of a life long love for Elvis and his music.  That was 60 years ago.

Fast forward 10 years to 1967 on a Sunday afternoon.  I was with a friend (Edith Stone) and her nephew and niece and another friend behind RCA Recording Studio B waiting for Elvis to show up for a recording session for the soundtrack to the movie Stay Away Joe.

There were only 20 people there waiting for the arrival of the King.  The atmosphere was palpable in anticipation.

As we were standing there waiting a man came out and told us that the recording session had been cancelled and that we might as well go home.  We were not so easily fooled.  Within five minutes a black Cadillac rolled up and the doors opened up with four of who I assumed was the Memphis Mafia got out and all of the sudden there was Elvis standing there with a big grin on his face.  The first thing he said as he held out his wrists was, “look at my burns.”  On lady asked him, “Ohh Elvis what happened?”  With a big smile on his face he said, “Me and the boys were throwing firecrackers at each other on the movie set.” Then he laughed.

It had been ten years since I first heard Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice and it was a surreal  experience.  He was tall, black hair, good looking, wearing a powder blue coat, and black boots.  Elvis used my pen to sign everyone’s autographs.  One lady tried to steal my pen but she was unsuccessful.  I even got a piece of grass from where he stood.

As quick as Elvis had arrived, he was gone.  We got in the car and without warning I began to cry like a little girl.  I was asked why I was crying and all I could say was, “I don’t know.”  This I do know, that for ten years (1957-1967) I had been listening to the music, going to the movies, reading books and magazines about the man and now there he was.  It was an emotional moment.

Fast forward to 1972, I had moved to Chattanooga to go to Bible School, working at the American National Bank, and was now moving back to Murfreesboro Tennessee.  I had my 1964 Mercury Comet packed with everything I owned including clothes, guitar, and my Elvis autograph, pen, grass, and pictures was in the car.  Someone broke in and stole all of my stuff.  Now I only have vivid memories of the even that will never be stolen out of my mind.

Whenever I make a top ten list of my favorite Elvis songs, Kentucky Rain is in my top ten.  That is saying something considering the vast expanse of Elvis’ musical works.

Kentucky Rain was written by Eddie Rabbit who also wrote two other songs recorded by Elvis called Patch It Up and Inherit The Wind.  There were two piano players on the song, Ronnie Milsap and Bobby Woods.  The famous lick where the piano rolls into the chorus song is a debated issue.  Ronnie Milsap states it was him and George Klein, Elvis’ friend from the eight grade says it was Bobby Woods.  Ronnie say that Elvis wanted to, “hear thunder roll on the piano.  Whoever did that roll, it truly draws us into the song and the chorus, “Kentucky Rain keeps pouring down…”

The song was recorded (along with many other songs) at the American Sound Studio lead and produced by Chips Moman.  Elvis had been recording in Nashville as RCA Recording Studio B to the L.A. scene with The Wrecking Crew.  Elvis was fresh off the resurgence  of his career with the Elvis special (aka The 68 Comeback Special) and live appearances in Las Vegas.  George Klein recommended that Elvis bring it back to Memphis and record at American Sound Studio.  Songs like Don’t Cry Daddy, In The Ghetto, and Suspicious Minds were recorded.  Here are the sessions men at American Sound Studio.

So what is it about Kentucky Rain.  I love the synergistic quality of the story, the opening sound of the song, the rolling thunder of the piano, and of course Elvis.  Elvis takes the story and make it come alive and makes me feel as I am searching for the woman.  It is a love song that drives a man on a journey in search of his lover in the face of “the cold, Kentucky Rain”.

In February of 1970 I went down to Houston Texas at the Astrodome and got to see Elvis in two shows.  All I can say is WOW.  I was blessed to see Elvis do many old songs but also got to see him sing a couple of new songs including Suspicious Minds and yes, Kentucky Rain.

Elvis preformed as half time entertainment to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show.  They want the biggest entertainer in the world for the show and that was Elvis.  When the lights were turned out the electric moment was palpable.  The crowd was going wild with anticipation.  There was a bus pulled over to one side and we all sensed that Elvis was in the bus.  Suddenly a spotlight pierced the night towards the bus and there he was standing in the back of a jeep with a roll bar.  The jeep road around the Astrodome a few times and then was taken to a stage that was set up in the middle of the Astrodome.  Elvis opened up with I Got A Woman and went through the hits…and as I said sang Kentucky Rain.

KENTUCKY RAIN (Eddie Rabbit/Dick Heard)

Seven lonely days
And a dozen towns ago
I reached out one night
And you were gone
Don’t know why you’d run,
What you’re running to or from
All I know is I want to bring you home

So I’m walking in the rain,
Thumbing for a ride
On this lonely Kentucky backroad
I’ve loved you much too long
And my love’s too strong
To let you go, never knowing
What went wrong

Kentucky rain keeps pouring down
And up ahead’s another town
That I’ll go walking thru
With the rain in my shoes,
Searchin for you
In the cold Kentucky rain,
In the cold Kentucky rain

Showed your photograph
To some old gray bearded man
Sitting on a bench
Outside a gen’ral store
They said ‘Yes, she’s been here’
But their memory wasn’t clear
Was it yesterday,
No, wait the day before

So I fin’ly got a ride
With a preacher man who asked
‘Where you bound on such a dark afternoon?’
As we drove on thru the rain
As he listened I explained
And he left me with a prayer
That I’d find you

The latest version of Kentucky Rain was released on the project The Wonder of You as Elvis’ songs along with Kentucky Rain was recorded with The London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.  While I love the original I also love this new version.

I would like to dedicate this blog to my friend from elementary and high school days, Terry Pater who now lives in Kentucky and is as much an Elvis fan as I am.

Long time no write…where have you been or better yet…where have I been?  Today, this blog is dedicated to Elvis movies and songs from those movies.  I will choose one song from each movie that I enjoyed.  Oh there are many from each movie but I will be choosing one out of my favorites.  Elvis made 31 movies for the big screen including the two concert movies.  So, I will have 31 songs (not necessarily the title of the movie).  I will put out 10 movies and ten songs except for the last blog that will be 11 movies and songs. But before we get started with the movies there will be one pre-movie song.

ELVIS’S SCREEN TEST

Before he ever stood before a camera for a movie a screen test was made.  The song was Blue Suede Shoes.  You could already see the charisma for the camera as Elvis played and lips-synced to the song Blue Suede Shoes originally written and performed by Carl Perkins.  The guitar did not even have strings.  Well, I guess they figured Elvis had what it took to be a movie star.

#1 LOVE ME TENDER (1956)

Of course the big hit was the title song from the movie.  The movie was originally to be called The Reno Brothers but if you are going to have an Elvis movie you are going to have to have music so the soundtrack was written  and recorded and the name of the movie was changed to reflect the current hit.  For me, Love Me Tender is a nice song but probably one of my least favorites (even the least favorites I enjoy).  My favorite song from this movie is WE’RE GONNA MOVE.

“Well there’s a leak in this old building, well there’s a leak in this old building, well there’s leak in this old building (let her leak) we’re gonna move to a better home.”

The songs were reflective of a toned down rock version of Civil War songs.

#2 LOVING YOU (1957)

This was Elvis second movie and unlike the previously release of Love Me Tender there were songs originally intended to be on the soundtrack.  The song Don’t Leave Me know was intended for the soundtrack but was not used.  It was used in Jailhouse Rock.  Another song that was not intended to be used but added to the soundtrack was Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear.  It was such a hit at the time that the producer added it onto the album.  The flip side of the album were not in the movie.  My favorite from this was a song called PARTY. The original lyrics were:

“I feel it in my leg, I feel it in my shoe, Tell me pretty baby, If you think you feel it too
Let’s have a party, Let’s have a party, Send to the store.And let’s buy some more, And let’s have a party tonight” (Party by Jessie Mae Robinson)

I have a sneaking suspicion that they are not talking about going to store for more potato chips.  There was an original verse where that was recorded and probably the one that draws me to this song and makes it my favorite.

“So, baby paint your lips and regulate your wig , And bring along a shovel if you really wanna dig Let’s have a party, ooohhhhh, let’s have a party Send to the store and let’s buy some more And let’s have a party tonight.”

Now that’s some rock and roll right there.  Painted lips and regulate wig…sets the tone along with a shovel, “if you really wanna dig”.

#3 JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957)

Elvis’s next movie like the first movie had limited songs with EP (45 Extend Play) instead of an LP (33 1/3 Long Play)

This one has special meaning for me since I was 6 years old and my parent aloud me to pick it out (they paid).  The single was released with Jailhouse Rock (the hit) but for me it was the flipside called TREAT ME NICE.  From the moment of the intro of the song  to the backup singers throwing in those “hep, hep, hep” I was hooked.

“When I walked through that door, baby be polite, you’re gonna make me sore, if you don’t greet me right…don’t you ever kiss me once…kiss me twice…treat me nice.”

Yes I wanted to be Elvis and to have enough cool the say that to some lovely lady.  Of course I was only six years old.  The odd thing about me as a six year old grooving to Elvis is that my friends were singing, “Mary had a little lamb…” while I was singing, “The warden had a party in the county jail.”  But again I went for the B-side and to this day it is my favorite.

Some interesting facts are: (1) the piano player was Jerry Lieber  who wrote the songs with his partner Mike Stoller. (2) The guys in the studio playing were Scotty Moore (Elvis guitar player who recently passed away), Bill Black (bass player) and D.J. Fontana (drummer) all in Elvis’ road band.  (3) Bill Black the bass player couldn’t get a part right on a song, but Elvis who just bought a Fender bass played the opening bass part on You’re So Square (Baby I Don’t Care)

# 4 KING CREOLE (1958)

Of all the Elvis movies this one is my favorite and I hear one of Elvis’ favorites.  Great cast (Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, Carolyn Jones (Morticia on the Addams Family), Vic Morrow (later of Combat) I was hooked from the opening where the streets were empty to the early morning as those with their wares to sale were giving out call and response songs…but none epitomized that better than my favorite song of the movie, CRAWFISH.

This is the movie that Elvis got a work deferment to finish the movie before he fulfilled his duty as a drafted service man in the Army.

Kitty White (a jazz singer in real life and one of the first women who sang a duet with Elvis) was selling crawfish with her shout/sing song Crawwwwwfish….Crawwwwfish
echoed through the French Quarters as Danny Fisher was rising to go to school and he responded back.  I first heard this back in 1958 or maybe a little later on The Late Show of old movies.

“Crawfish….crawfish…Well I went to the bayou just last night, There was no moon but the stars were bright, Put a big long hook on a big long pole.And I pulled Mr. Crawfish out of his hole, Crawfish, See I got him, see the size, Stripped and cleaned before your eyes, Sweet meat look, fresh and ready to cook Crawfish, Now take Mr. Crawfish in your hand
He’s gonna look good in your frying pan, If you fry him crisp or you boil him right
He’ll be sweeter than sugar when you take a bite, Crawfish”

As the song ended with Danny looking all young and sexy waves to the local ladies of the evening who were going home to bed…to sleep.

Honorable mentions (because they are also my favorites) includes the title song KING CREOLE(gone, gone, gone jumping like a catfish on a pole yeah…you know he’s gone, gone, gone…that hipshaking King Creole)

The other song is TROUBLE…”If you’re lookin’ for trouble…you came to the right place.”

#5 GI BLUES (1960)

Elvis serves his time and returns home playing what else?  Yes a soldier who is stationed in Germany with music, action, and girl troubles.

“I’ve got those hup, two, three four occupation GI Blues.”  (GI Blues)

Again, love the title track but my favorite from this movie is POCKET FULL OF RAINBOWS.  I love seeing Elvis and the leggy Juliet Prowse riding a sky lift and hearing Juliet sing “rainbows…rainbows” and then Elvis breaks into, “I don’t worry,Whenever skies are gray above, Got a pocketful of rainbows, Got a heart full of love (rainbows…rainbows), Mister Heartache, I’ve found a way to make him leave, Got a pocketful of rainbows,Got a star up in my sleeve.”

The formula for many Elvis movies has started where Elvis sings, Elvis goes after the girl, Elvis loses the girl, Elvis gets into a fight, and Elvis gets the girl in the end.  Fill it in with music/songs and scenic locations and you have a formula for not only success and big bucks but great family entertainment.

The movie starts off with a Tip O Da Hat to Elvis himself when a rowdy bar patron slips in some money to the juke box and plays Blue Suede Shoes while Elvis and his trio are trying to sing….and the fight begins.

END OF PART ONE

We come to the end of part one of this series on my favorite song (songs) from 31 Elvis movies.  Next time we pick up with FLAMING STAR, WILD IN THE COUNTRY, BLUE HAWAII, FOLLOW THAT DREAM, and KID GALAHAD.

I would love to hear your favorites on each blog.

Greetings Elvis Music Lovers

One of the gems from my favorite Elvis movie, King Creole, is the song TROUBLE…not to be confused with T.R.O.U.B.L.E. (which is another good one).

Danny Fisher comes to the rescue of Maxie Fields (Walter Matthau) mistress (Carolyn Jones, yes Morticia of the Addams Family).

Later, Danny Fisher who is cleaning up the local club meets with Maxie who shows some appreciation for what he did for his mistress.  He want Danny to sing for him so he can show that he is actually what his mistress says he can do.  The song he sings is TROUBLE.

Greetings Oh Ye Dreamers.

The year was 1968 that was darkened by the deaths of Martin Luther King as he was assassinated on April 4th in Memphis.   Later on June 5th the brother of an assassinated President (J.F.K.) was running for president of the United States and was gunned down in Los Angeles on June 5th.  The country was at war (within socially) and around the world in Vietnam.  Racial tensions were strained.

Elvis’ Christmas Special entitle ELVIS would broadcast on December 3rd on NBC and would eventually become known as the COMEBACK SPECIAL since it breath life back into Elvis’ career.

His last live performance was in Hawaii  for the U.S.S. Arizona Benefit Concert on March 25, 1961 in Honolulu, HI.at the  Bloch Arena.

In the ELVIS SPECIAL the night included a live concert in the round, the a time of sitting in the circle with some old friends, playing music and discussing the old days, and then throughout the evening it was a themed song of some of his hits.

The time came for the closing number and Elvis wanted to end the show with a song with some meaning.  He usually was not political but he did want to give hope in the midst of the turmoil that 1968 was living.  The song that was selected was written by Earl Brown and played on Martin Luther Kings “I Had A Dream” Speech.  It would be later recorded as a duet with Celine Dion as it was sung as if Elvis was on stage with her on American Idol.  Recently some Elvis songs were recorded by stripping it to the bare bones and leaving only Elvis’ vocal and then had the London Royal Philharmonic playing along with it.  One of the Songs was also the name of the album IF I CAN DREAM.

It starts of with a lone horn that sends chills down my spine, and then Elvis wades in with, “There must be lights burning brighter somewhere…”  It opens with a statement of desired hope and then builds on the dream until it breaks out into an impassioned plea “If I can dream of a better land, where all my brothers walk hand in hand…”  It crescendos into a gospel fervor as Elvis pours everything he had into the song.

IF I CAN DREAM (Walter Earl Brown)

Hello fellow Elvis music lovers…

Today, we look at the soundtrack from the movie Roustabout.  Sometimes you hear people complain about Elvis’ movie career as they say that his movies are nothing but a travelogue, a vehicle where Elvis gets the girl, gets in a fight, loses the girl, gets the girl back all connected by Elvis singing a song.  Even Elvis is said to have become weary of singing to dogs in helicopters, kids and bulls.  Personally, I liked the Elvis movies (even the corny ones).  Complaints of Elvis singing throughout his movies seems silly to me, since they are musicals.  They may not be Broadway worthy or even movies based on Broadway plays where the sing and dance in the middle of odd situations, like East Side West Side during a gang fight.

Today, I am writing about one of my favorite movies, ROUSTABOUT and the soundtrack from the movie.

I remember driving by the Princess Theater and on the side of the building was a gigantic promotion billboard for the movie.  It was Elvis in leather riding a motorcycle.  My heart did flip-flops as it would be released in time for Christmas…Merry Christmas to me.

A roustabout is defined as:  (1) a wharf laborer or deck hand, as on the Mississippi River. (2) an unskilled laborer who lives by odd jobs. (3) a circus laborer who helps in setting up and taking down the tents and in caring for the animals, equipment, and grounds. (4) any unskilled laborer working in an oil field.

Of course for the Elvis movie the #2 definition best describes Elvis’s character as Charlie Rogers.

“Singer Charlie Rogers (Elvis Presley) loses his job at a coffee shop after getting into a fight with some snooty college boys after his set. A highway run-in with Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck), the owner of a traveling carnival on the brink of bankruptcy, leads Charlie to take a job with the struggling crew. While his singing starts to turn the show’s finances around, his attempted romance with teenage Cathy (Joan Freeman) leads to friction with her father (Leif Erickson).”

The soundtrack was recorded in Hollywood at Radio Recorders studios with top notch sessions musicians including:

• Elvis Presley – vocals
• The Jordanaires – backing vocals
• The Mello Men – backing vocals (on “Roustabout”)
• Boots Randolph – saxophone
• Scotty Moore, Billy Strange – electric guitar
• Tiny Timbrell – acoustic guitar
• Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks – piano
• Bob Moore, Ray Siegel – double bass
• D. J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Hal Blaine – drums

The album reached #1 on the Billboard charts and was the last #1 album until he released ELVIS: ALOHA FROM HAWAII.

The movie was the vehicle for the music.  The album did not follow what was sung in the movie but was great.  My favorites (I enjoyed them all) were:

• Roustabout:  From the opening guitar to the ending fade out of “a roving, roving, roving, Roustabout.  Later on there was an alternate to the song Roustabout that was not included because of the line to the boss man, “stick it in your ear”.
• Little Egypt:  The song originally recorded by The Coasters written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Hey, seeing Elvis sing to a belly dancer singing about the tattoo on her spine that read, “Phoenix Arizona…1949 (deep bass singing Yeah)” was pretty racy for a 13 year old .
• Big Love Big Heartache:  “Ah yes…I know it’s true…”  No, not a rocker but sure is purty.
• Wheels On My Heels:  This one has that driving rhythm of a man on the move seeking his place in life.  “I’ve got wheels…wheels on my heels…and I gotta keep rooolling…rolling along”  Whenever I hear that song now, I just close my eyes and get the feeling that I am seeking that wanderlust.
• One Track Heart:  I love the initial bass line and the sound of the ticking clock and race horse clopping.  What a love song speaking about focus…”There will be no end to loving you…nothing can stop me once I start..I’ve got a one track mind…and a one track heart.

  FINAL THOUGHTS…FINALLY

  Once again, I love Elvis movies…and the icing on the case is the Soundtracks.  Roustabout is in the top ten soundtracks.

  

Greetings and Salutations O Ye Elvis Music Lovers

It has been a while since one of these blogs has escaped.  Today I have chosen one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies about one of my favorite delicacies, CRAWFISH from the movie KING CREOLE.

The movie is taken from the novel by Harold Robbins, A Stone For Danny Fisher.  The setting has been customized for the Elvis vehicle placing him in New Orleans as a troubled youth, getting kicked out of school, working the clubs of New Orleans as a bus boy, eventually become the darling of the clubs as a singer (Surprise Surprise).  The movie done back in 1958 just as Elvis was entering into the army.  He is surrounded by great writing, great songs, and a great supporting cast including, Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger, Vic Morrow, Carolyn Jones and many more.

The movie opens with the various New Orleans vendors walking the morning streets of New Orleans selling their wares and shouting at the top of their voices what the were selling.  When the lady selling crawfish begins to hawk her product the sounds of the song Crawfish echoes in the streets and Elvis leans over the balcony on what appears to be Bourbon Street.  The song is like a call and response as Danny Fisher croons about Crawfish.  The lady who he sings this call and response duet with is a lady by the name of Kitty White.

I remember seeing King Creole, not on the big screen but on the small screen on a late night show on a Saturday night.  Crawfish was the first song and I was hooked like Mr. Crawfish on a hook and a big long pole.  As a young kid of 10 years old I instantly wanted to go to New Orleans.  I had no idea what a crawfish was but I sure wanted to eat em.  I mean they were described as “sweet meat” and “sweeter than sugar with every bite.”  It would be many, many, many years before I got to eat some crawfish when I was invited to a crawfish boil thrown by my friend and his dad both who were from New Orleans.

I close with a picture of me and my son Phillip sucking on the head of the mud but as I hears in my head…Crawfish…Craaawfish…see I got em, see the size…stripped and clean before your eyes…swwwweeet meat look…fresh and ready to cook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQOlgXaSDy8

Greetings all of you Elvis music lovers.

What’s your Top Ten Elvis songs that you love?  If you are like me that is an impossibility.  According to the official count, Elvis has recorded 711 song (not counting various compilations) but 711 masters of songs.  As a matter of fact there has been a recent release of a CD Box set called THE COMPLETE ELVIS PRESELY MASTERS BOX SET.

The cost for this massive collection on Amazon is merely $297.98.  A small price to pay for a collection of history.  Of course, I cannot afford this so I am going to start a GOFUNDME campaign so I can purchase this item.  Who will be the first to donate toward my need of Elvis music?

Back in the day Dick Clark would have his Top Ten list of songs for the week where people would rate  the songs and why usually with the explanation that, “it has a good beat and is easy to dance to.”

Todays blog I will list my TOP TEN ELVIS SONGS.  Now whenever I make up my Top Ten list I do not usually choose the big hits like Hound Dog, All Shook Up, Heartbreak Hotel or many, many, many other of his hits.  They may be obscure or hidden within a movie soundtrack.  I will also say that every time I make a Top Ten Elvis song list, I may take away and add to as I am feeling at the moment.  So with that said, here is the TOP TEN ELVIS SONGS LIST FOR RODNEY BOYD.  If you are reading this, I would love to see your list.

10.  King Of The Whole Wide World:  The opening song from the movie Kid Galahad.  There are a few versions of this song including (1) the actual song from the movie (2) the record version (3) the extended record version.  #3 is my favorite version.  The sax solo is hot!

09.  Memories:  This is from the special ELVIS aka The 68 comeback special.  On the special Elvis just got through with a rocking set in his black leather suit.  The music begins to swirl as Elvis sits down on the edge of the stage, surrounded by adoring fans, and Elvis begins to sing, “Memories…pressed between the pages of my mind…” The Mac Davis and Billy Strange penned song evokes not only memories of Elvis but memories in my personal life.  I love the live version and the official single version.

08.  I Need Somebody To Lean On:  Another movie song that I love from the movie Viva Las Vegas.  Elvis had lost Ann Margaret and goes to a bar and the slow, jazz influence guitar sets the tone for a morose Elvis as he croons, “I need somebody to lean on…” and ends with the lament, “…and baby that somebody is you.”  Usually, I would reflect on girls I had a crush on but never had a chance with.

07.  It Hurts Me:  This song was recorded on a session at RCA Studio B back in 1963 to be included in a non-Soundtrack album but never made it as an album, until the release of a project called The Lost Album.  This song was part of the ELVIS special as part of a medley where the hooker is being harassed by the Big Boss Man and Elvis comes to the rescue.  The song is about someone who is going with someone else and Elvis sings about how it “hurts me” when he sees how she is being done.  Once again, in my mind when hearing it I am thinking of another girl I liked but she is going out with someone else.

06. Ain’t  That Loving You Baby:  This song was recorded in 1957 but not released as a single until 1964.  When I first heard the cymbals and drums my first thought was that this did not sound current but like a throwback to the 50’s which I later found out was the case.  Elvis’ singing complimented by Scotty Moore’s guitar playing and the beat set by D.J. Fontana.

05.  Kentucky Rain:  This is a masterpiece of storytelling set into motion by Eddie Rabbit and captured in perfection by Elvis’ emotion.  This was recorded during the resurgence of Elvis’ musicality (although even those who say his music was not as good…I still liked it).  Elvis had recorded at the American Sound Studio in Memphis which include Suspicious Mind.  I heard Elvis do this song at the Houston Astrodome and was wonderful.

04.  Promised Land:  “Aw get on it…” This kicks off a wonderful Chuck Berry cover with a fresh breathe of the journey across America.  What a thrill to be watching Men In Black and the eight track being pushed into the player and Promised Land cranks up.  When Elvis say, “Aw get on it”…the boys at Stax Records…gets on it.

03.  Make Me Know It:  When Elvis returned to recording, his first album ELVIS IS BACK kicks off with this Otis Blackwell (Don’t Be Cruel, Return to Sender) jewel.  “Make me know it…uh uh huh going ahead and show me…if you care to come over here and make me know it do.”  After that line that one piano note is struck and then back into the flow of the song.  I first heard this album at my friend Allen Flynn’s house and loved it.  Now when I play the song on the CD…I hit repeat over and over again.

02.  TROUBLE:  The song from the movie King Creole (my favorite Elvis Movie) exudes sensuality and emotion.  “If you’re lookin’ for trouble…you came to the right place…”  It says I dare you…to try to start something with me.  Another line that I sing in my Sunday School Class called The Ruminator’s Sunday School Class is…I’m only made out…flesh, blood and bones…but if you’re gonna start a rumble don’t you try it all alone…”.  Great song bad theology since we are made out of body (soma), soul (psyche) and spirit (pnuema).  (I Thessalonians 5:23)  But it really does not matter…I LOVE THIS SONG.

01.  TREAT ME NICE:  This was the flip side to the single JAILHOUSE ROCK.  Yes Jailhouse Rock was the hit…Yes I love Jailhouse Rock…and Yes…I love the flip side of the 45 better.  Sometime when I am singing an Elvis song for people I will choose this song and have some people out of the audience to come up and be the back up singers.  “When I walk through that door (hep hep hep) baby be polite (hep, hep, hep)…”  I like the way Elvis says, “Uh treat me nice…”  “Makea me feel at home (ooh ooh ooh ooh)…”

Well there you have it.  My Top Ten Elvis Songs list.  It may change tomorrow because after all I do have 711 songs from which  to choose.  Let me hear from you with your Top Ten favorites.

Greeting Elvis Music Lovers

This one is dedicated to my good friend Terry Pater who I met in Tennessee at school…has lived in Kentucky for many years.

Whenever I put together a Top Ten List of my favorite Elvis songs there will usually be some taken away and some added.  After all it is impossible to put together a definitive list of Elvis songs that I love.  But always, Kentucky Rain will be in my top ten list.

In 1968 the Elvis special entitled ELVIS came out and jumpstarted Elvis’ desire to sing before a live audience and to begin to record “better” songs, however, there were many, many, many great songs recorded that did not get a lot of airplay.  In 1969 Elvis broke from the RCA Studio B sessions and recorded songs in Memphis at the American Sound Studios spearheaded by Chip Moman and top Memphis studio musicians.  At the time they were grinding out many hits.

These session produced quality tunes with quality musicians and backup singers.  Songs included:

CD 1 (16 Tracks)

The original ‘From Elvis In Memphis‘ album with additional tracks:

01. Wearin’ That Loved On Look
02. Only The Strong Survive
03. I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)
04. Long Black Limousine
05. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’
06. I’m Movin’ On
07. Power Of My Love
08. Gentle On My Mind
09. After Loving You
10. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road
11. Any Day Now
12. In The Ghetto

Bonus Tracks

13. I’ll Be There
14. Hey Jude
15. If I’m A Fool (For Loving You)
16. Who Am I?

CD 2 (20 Tracks)

The original ‘Back In Memphis‘ album with additional tracks:

01. Inherit The Wind
02. This Is The Story
03. Stranger In My Own Hometown
04. A Little Bit Of Green
05. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
06. Do You Know Who I Am?
07. From A Jack To A King
08. The Fair’s Moving On
09. You’ll Think Of Me
10. Without Love (There Is Nothing)

Bonus Mono Singles

11. In The Ghetto
12. Any Day Now
13. The Fair’s Moving On
14. Suspicious Minds
15. You’ll Think Of Me On
16. Don’t Cry Daddy
17. Rubberneckin’
18. Kentucky Rain
19. My Little Friend
20. Mama Liked The Roses

One of those gems was one of my favorite songs, Kentucky Rain written by Eddie Rabbit (I Love The Rainy Nights).  I had the honor of going to the Houston Astrodome in 1970 and hearing Elvis sing Kentucky Rain live.  Talk about a rush.  One of the piano players on the studio version of Kentucky Rain where Ronnie Milsap and I believe another piano player (not sure of his name).

What I like about the song is the musicality of the song and the rich story it tells of a man looking for his girl and those people he encountered along his journey in “the cold Kentucky rain…oh yeah…the cold Kentucky rain.”   I still am drawn into the story every time I hear the song.

Greetings Elvis music fans…

When a music icon passes away one thing you can be sure about…there will be projects released that have been unearthed by some ambitious record producer and a CD/ALBUM will be released.

According to the liner notes:

• 1963 was a busy year for Elvis
• Recording soundtrack for Fun In Acapulco plus two more movies and their soundtracks with Viva Las Vegas and Kissin’ Cousins
• During recording the soundtracks and filming movies RCA Studio B was booked for a non-soundtrack recording session
• This session took place on May 26th and 27th
• Sessions men were Scotty Moore (guitar), D.J. Fontana (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), The Jordanaires (back up singers), “an assortment of top-notch Nashville sessionmen”
• This project would have been the follow album to Pot Luck
• In 1963 the soundtrack “It Happened At the World Fair” was riding high on the charts, “Elvis Golden Records Volume Three” and “Fun In Acapulco” was set to be released.
• RCA decided  there was not room for another complete…non-soundtrack album.
• Instead of an album the songs were trickled out as singles and bonus tracks and in other movies instead of a complete album.

The book of Ecclesiastes states, “That which has been is that which will be and that which has been done is that which will be done.  So, there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

So it is with Elvis music.  It has been recorded.  No new music recorded after August of 1977 but new collections abound.  New mixes of songs like Rubberneckin’ and A Little Less Conversation and most recently Elvis with the London Philharmonic Orchestra was released.  I personally love the new mixes but there are purist (and I am also a purist) loves the originals.  The argument is, “Why mess with perfection?”  But The Lost Album is not a remix or a repackaged group of songs but, if we believe the liner notes, was intended to be an actual non-soundtrack album.

The first song “Long Lonely Highway” kicks off the album and the bow on the project is “Ask Me.”  Everything in between is the filling in a crème filled donut of delicious musicality.  The misnomer is that during the 60’s that ALL of Elvis’ music was weak and watered down.  I want to go on record saying that is not so.  I have a collection called the complete 60’s Masters of Elvis music.  Gem after gem after gem was recorded.  I will also go on record that by saying that even on the movie soundtracks there are wonderful songs recorded.

FINAL THOUGHTS…FINALLY

I love Elvis music…and I don’t care what anyone says…including the critics. I am listening to “The Lost Album” and it is wonderful!