Category Archives: Elvis Presley

Jan 02: Elvis Presley released “Elvis Country” 1971


Elvis Country

Elvis Presley released “Elvis Country” 2 Jan 1971

“Elvis has come out with a record which gives us some of the very finest and most affecting music since he first recorded for Sun almost 17 years ago”- Peter Guralnick (Rolling Stone Magazine 1971)

“…Elvis was at his peak when he cut Elvis Country. Actually, Elvis Presley was positively on a roll at the time. A decade after the end of what were thought to be his prime years, he was singing an ever-widening repertory of songs with more passion and involvement than he’d shown since the end of the 1950s…”
~Bruce Eder (allmusic.com)

 

Elvis Presley – Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson):

Continue reading Jan 02: Elvis Presley released “Elvis Country” 1971

November 22: Elvis Presley released “Elvis (NBC TV Special)” in 1968


elvis nbc tv special

I want everyone to know what I can really do
~Elvis Presley (to producer Bob Finkel)

Elvis delivered an incredible performance throughout the television special. His vocal performances were loose and gutsy…
~John Bush (allmusic.com)

Trouble/Guitar Man:

Continue reading November 22: Elvis Presley released “Elvis (NBC TV Special)” in 1968

Elvis Presley recorded “Little Sister” June 25 & 26, 1961

elvis presley little sister

 

Great song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman recorded by Elvis Presley June 25 & 26, 1961.

Here are some videos & some nice version by Dwight Yoakam, Robert Plant, Pearl Jam & Ry Cooder.

Wikipedia:

Released August 8, 1961
Recorded June 25 & 26, 1961
Genre Rock, Blues
Length 3:00
Label RCA
Writer(s) Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Producer(s) Steve Sholes

 

Little Sister” is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who turned it into a No. 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The single (as a double A-side with “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame”) reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. An answer song with the same melody, but different lyrics was recorded and released under the title “Hey, Memphis” by Lavern Baker on Atlantic Records (Atlantic 2119-A) in September 1961. In 1970 Elvis Presley performs this song as part of a medley with “Get Back” in the rockumentary film, That’s the Way It Is.

Continue reading Elvis Presley recorded “Little Sister” June 25 & 26, 1961

Video of the day: Elvis 68 comeback special


Elvis NBC 1968

Elvis, starring Elvis Presley, is United States television special that aired on December 3, 1968 on the NBC television network. The special is commonly referred to as the ’68 Comeback Special, because of subsequent developments in Presley’s career, but the soundtrack album was released simply as NBC-TV Special.

Presley’s informal jamming in front of a small audience in the ’68 Comeback Special is regarded as a forerunner of the so-called “Unplugged” concept, later popularized by MTV.

Classic TV moment and a testament to Elvis’s greatness!

Continue reading Video of the day: Elvis 68 comeback special

Today: Elvis Presley recorded Always on my Mind in 1972 42 years ago

elvis-presley-separate-ways-rca-victor-3

Always on my Mind is seldom considered among the best of Elvis’ 70’s output, but if you ask me it’s at the top of the list. The recording sessions was great, it included Burnin Love and For the good times. I almost cry when I listen to it, it embodies everything, everything I love about Elvis, heartbreak, slow ballads, empathy and true feelings. What a voice!

Peter Guralnick writes in his book Careless Love:

The trouble was, he (Elvis) wasn’t interested in cutting a hit record. “He was trying to get something out of his system.”

On the second night Felton finally got his way, but he was under no illusion that Elvis was doing it for any other reason than to indulge his producer. With encouragement from Joe Esposito and Jerry Schilling, and with Charlie pounding away on acoustic guitar, they got a good, energetic version of “Burning love”, the song Felton had brought to the session, but it was tossed off in six quick takes, in almost throwaway style, and everyone could see that Elvis’ heart wasn’t really in it. They kept working till four in the morning but got only one more song that night and two the following night, including “Always on my mind”…

Continue reading Today: Elvis Presley recorded Always on my Mind in 1972 42 years ago