Today: Elvis Presley released From Elvis In Memphis in 1969, 45 years ago (read more)
|
 |
| Decoration Day is a rock album released by Drive-By Truckers June 17, 2003. The album was recorded mostly live over two weeks at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, Georgia, and was produced by noted producer and former Sugar bassist David Barbe. The album is the Truckers’ fifth, including their live album Alabama Ass Whoopin’, following the critically acclaimed Southern Rock Opera. The album features a more mellow, stripped down, and reserved sound compared to Southern Rock Opera’s heavy hitting southern rock. Decoration Day is the first album to feature Jason Isbell on guitar; he would record two more albums with the band before leaving to pursue a solo career in 2007. |  |
| The Beatles’ version of “Act Naturally” is sung by Ringo Starr. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called it “an ideal showcase for Ringo’s amiable vocals.” They performed the song during an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was taped on August 14, 1965 and broadcast on September 12, 1965. It was also performed at the Beatles’ famous Shea Stadium concert on August 15, 1965 and played at some concerts throughout the Beatles’ 1965 U.S. tour (alternating with Ringo’s other “hit” song, “I Wanna Be Your Man”). The Beatles recorded the song on June 17, 1965 in 13 takes. The first 12 takes were evidently used to work out the arrangement; the master was take 13, the only take with vocals. It was mixed the following day. The Beatles almost recorded a song by their engineer Norman Smith, but realized that Starr did not yet have a vocal on Help!. They originally recorded the song “If You’ve Got Trouble” as Starr’s intended song for the album, but were dissatisfied with the results and recorded “Act Naturally” to replace it. It was the last cover they recorded until the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in 1969. |  |
Spotify Playlist – June 17 |
|
Tag Archives: Elvis Presley
Video of the day: Elvis 68 comeback special
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
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
Video of the day: Austin Lucas – Alone in Memphis
It is Elvis’s birthday and we love Austin Lucas so it is very fitting that today’s video is the official video for the fantastic song Alone in Memphis. Brought to you via CMT.COM.
“Honestly, it just seemed so perfect to be telling a story about Memphis and to include Elvis. He’s so intrinsically wrapped into the fabric of that city’s mythology and the collective consciousness of the world. I felt as though it could make everything that much more tangible and relatable for the listener.”
– Austin Lucas to CMT
Enjoy, and happy birthday Elvis (wherever you may be)!
Alone in Memphis (Official Video)
– Hallgeir
The 5 Best box sets and reissues of 2013
I am one of those old guys that still buy physical copies of art (albums). I say it is because I need it to play in the car, but that’s really just an excuse. I love the sensation of unpacking a new album, the feel, the artwork, the printed lyrics, the smell, hell, the whole package!
When the record companies have sold me all the classic albums, they release them again, with better sound, with more songs and bonus features, I don’t feel cheated, I feel blessed. I love archival music stuff, and long to hear studio outtakes, live takes and alternative versions of songs.
It has been a good year for music archivists, and my favorite reissues/archival releases this year are:
1. Bob Dylan – Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) The Bootleg Series Vol.10
This is from my post right after I bought the box set:
I have now had a few days listening to the new Bootleg series 10 deluxe box set. It is very interesting, and it is actually rather good. I am one of those few that kind of liked the original album, so I expected to like Another Self Portrait. I was not expecting that I would like it as much as I do.
That said, there are two things that stand out however. The first is the demo version of When I Paint My Masterpiece, it knocked me out. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
But the best of the release is the full Isle of Wight performance with The Band, and I really did not expect that!
When I paint my masterpiece – Demo:
A fantastic historical document!
2. The Band – Live at the Academy of Music 1971
A 4-CD/1-DVD box set chronicles Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel’s 1971 concerts at New York’s Academy of Music, featuring arrangements by New Orleans great Allen Toussaint.
One of the best live albums in rock history got the deluxe treatment, and yes, it got even better. Rock of Ages had 18 wonderful tracks, this upgrade has 56(!) tracks with The Band (and Bob Dylan) at their very peak. 56 best takes of songs from four evenings in 1971 (including the New-Years eve show in its entirety). I have played Rock of Ages so much I thought that nothing could surprise me, but this set did. The sound, the packaging, the liner notes and the pictures, everything is top-notch.
Life is a Carnival (Live, 1971):
Continue reading The 5 Best box sets and reissues of 2013