Softly, as I leave you [rare spoken version]

[presley31]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH6GkNbrS7o

very nice clip, never heard before.

[john carpenter]

It was a very touching spoken song. I've heard Elvis sing this song and it's fantastic,but sad in any case. I would buy a c.d. of him reading the phone book. LoL Thank you Presley31.

[SweetCaroline]

It was a very touching spoken song. I've heard Elvis sing this song and it's fantastic,but sad in any case. I would buy a c.d. of him reading the phone book. LoL Thank you Presley31.

You are not alone, John Carpenter.
Elvis could have sold a lot of....Elvis reading the phone book albums. :D

[Wendy56]

Spoken with style... Elvis was even able to do that... So touching! :'(

[Holly]

loved the clip :'( ..... Elvis had such a soft voice ..... have heard before a version where he tells this same story before singing this song ..... but he doesn't get so emotionally about it .... in this clip you can hear he's about to cry ...and that made me teary too :'( ... love this song, cos it's really beautiful, altho it's really sad ... thanks Jen for posting the clip! :king:

[marijaep]

Oh my god...that was so wonderful :'( I've never heard this version before either...it gave me goosebumps. So, this is why we love him so much, the man had a heart! :'(

[toffe]

So touching, beautifull! :)

[elvislady]

Thanks presley great clip.
elvislady:D

[cameron]

Beautiful, just beautiful. I remember this .
Thanks, Jen.

[Diane]

I just heard this again on EP Radio Express the other day, the link you gave me Jen and this spoken version is a favorite of mine...such a beautiful soft voice!

Thanks so much for the link by the way Jen, I use it a lot! :hug:

diane

[TotallyInsane]

This is one song I cannot listen to. I would click on it, but if I did, I would not be ok the rest of the day!!

[elvis himselvis]

Very nice audio.
thanks for sharing

[Suzan]

I have had this on record (yeah the old vinyl things) since late 70's. Good to hear again.

[Getlo]

This is one song I cannot listen to. I would click on it, but if I did, I would not be ok the rest of the day!!

Yeah, I've never liked it either. Too schmaltzy. (n)

And the (completely untrue) story Elvis told about it only adds to the song's annoyance for me ...

Oh well, can't love 'em all ... ;)

[Suzan]

Getlo I read that he was fed that story and bought it and told it to the audience...

[Getlo]

Getlo I read that he was fed that story and bought it and told it to the audience...

Yeah, apparently. It's a nice story and all.

But, after a while, Elvis exaggerated it to the point where he actually says "and I met the people (involved)" during the pre-song monologue.

No big deal; just an exaggeration on Elvis' part.

It was originally an Italian song (called Piano (Softly))written in 1960 by Antonio DeVita and Giorgio Calabrese. The lyrics were nothing to do with anyone dying.

In 1961, Hal Shaper, an Englishman, wrote English lyrics and called it Softly As I leave You. But Shaper just made it up, as good songwriters do.

As Elvis said, "its a story of a man in hospital". Well, he was half right: it was a story, nothing more.

And you can bet that RCA only released it because Elvis died, so the title had extra poignancy. Otherwise, it wouldn't have seen the light of day for many years (especially as RCA had to resort to releasing it, and America, taken from a soundboard recording!)

It's not even Elvis singing anyway; it's Sherrill Nielsen!

[cameron]

Yeah, apparently. It's a nice story and all.

But, after a while, Elvis exaggerated it to the point where he actually says "and I met the people (involved)" during the pre-song monologue.

No big deal; just an exaggeration on Elvis' part.

It was originally an Italian song (called Piano (Softly))written in 1960 by Antonio DeVita and Giorgio Calabrese. The lyrics were nothing to do with anyone dying.

In 1961, Hal Shaper, an Englishman, wrote English lyrics and called it Softly As I leave You. But Shaper just made it up, as good songwriters do.

As Elvis said, "its a story of a man in hospital". Well, he was half right: it was a story, nothing more.

And you can bet that RCA only released it because Elvis died, so the title had extra poignancy. Otherwise, it wouldn't have seen the light of day for many years (especially as RCA had to resort to releasing it, and America, taken from a soundboard recording!)

It's not even Elvis singing anyway; it's Sherrill Nielsen!

Too bad you didn't listen. No one sings on this.

[Getlo]

Too bad you didn't listen. No one sings on this.

And too bad you didn't read my post before choosing to respond.

I said:


And you can bet that RCA only released it because Elvis died, so the title had extra poignancy. Otherwise, it wouldn't have seen the light of day for many years (especially as RCA had to resort to releasing it, and America, taken from a soundboard recording!)

It's not even Elvis singing anyway; it's Sherrill Nielsen!

I am clearly referring to the 1978 single release, and nothing else. The thread had evolved into discussing the song itself, not the rather crappy non-musical version posted here.

[cameron]

:hmm:


I am clearly referring to the 1978 single release, and nothing else. The thread had evolved into discussing the song itself, not the rather crappy non-musical version posted here.
No one was referring to any clip but the one posted -except you . Perhaps you should specify next time .
Some of us liked it.

[Suzan]

Thanks Getlo.:)
I have both versions...and yes I agree I didn't like the exaggeration either. But overall I think it's good (mostly because I like hearing Elvis talk LOL).

Thank you for the extra info, I did not know it stemmed from an Italian song...I thought that was only w/"It's Now or Never" but should have known better.:) LOL

[marijaep]

Yeah, I've never liked it either. Too schmaltzy. (n)

And the (completely untrue) story Elvis told about it only adds to the song's annoyance for me ...

Oh well, can't love 'em all ... ;)

Even if the story wasn't true, I love the way he told the whole thing.
He was a great story teller :blush: hehe

[Suzan]

Even if the story wasn't true, I love the way he told the whole thing.
He was a great story teller :blush: hehe

Hi! :notworthy:D

Yeah that is true, he did tell a good story.:) Plus just listening to that beautiful speaking voice of his...:D

[Getlo]

:hmm:No one was referring to any clip but the one posted -except you . Perhaps you should specify next time .

Check posts 11, 13 and 15 ... and read the thread again.


Some of us liked it.

There's no accounting for taste ...

[cameron]

Check posts 11, 13 and 15 ... and read the thread again.
There's no accounting for taste ...

We're "wasting space". Some of us liked the clip and understood it ; some didn't ,for various reasons.

[Getlo]

We're "wasting space". Some of us liked the clip and understood it ; some didn't ,for various reasons.

Yeah, that clip was so difficult to understand and all ...

:rolleyes:

Just because you like something and others don't, cameron, is no excuse for snobbish comments like this.

[cameron]

Yeah, that clip was so difficult to understand and all ...

:rolleyes:

Just because you like something and others don't, cameron, is no excuse for snobbish comments like this.

I believe your attitude is rubbing off ---:hmm: :P

[marijaep]

Hi! :notworthy:D

Yeah that is true, he did tell a good story.:) Plus just listening to that beautiful speaking voice of his...:D

Hi Suzan!:hug: Yes, he said it very beautifully! :D

[Suzan]

Hi Suzan!:hug: Yes, he said it very beautifully! :D

(y)(y) Him talking in that recording and him laughing in "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and cussing in "Hurt" are among my prized Elvis recordings that I have. :D:D

[DodgeGal]

Always an Amazing Voice, thankyou for posting this clip!