1970 V's 1977

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Elvis's voice changed over the 1970's IMO, sometimes this was good other times questionable, especially live.

For the most part I like what I hear live in the 70's, 1970 would be considered a very controlled and smooth year, whereas 1977 seems more powerful but less controlled IMO.

So to the question.... do you believe that Elvis would have been able to perform songs like 'Unchained Melody' or 'Hurt' in 1970 and be able to give it the heartfelt power he did in 1977?

[ehollier]

I think that in 1970, he could have sung these songs; however his voice wasn's as mature as it was in the later 70's, so these songs wouldn't have some have come off as powerful as they did in 1977. Personally, I prefer the raw, sexiness of 1970 to the sound of 1977. Although he could sing songs like Hurt with amazing passion, he couldn't do as much with his voice in 1977 as he could in 1970.

[Getlo]

Yes, obviously.

The 1970 versions would just sound quite different to what we're used to is all.

Hurt was above much of the 1970 studio material Elvis had to choose from at the time.

But as for live in 1970? Kinda glad he never did 'em.

Both songs required the bombastic approach, and I think they're both more suited to the '77 version of The Man and his voice.

[Sonny]

I voted no, but he did have to power and passion back in 1970.

However, not to do those songs.

Those fitted him better in 1976 and 1977 when of course his entire show was diffrent from 1970, as was his presence.

In 1970 he was moving around!! And he loved those fast songs, and doing the movements to go with them.

In later years the shows focussed more on his amazing voice.

I also like to say, that even if his voice was superb in 1977, the first word on Hurt f.i. was backed up by Sherill Nielson as well!

[beckelvis]

In Them 70´was Agile To Move,but The Truth I Belive That His Your Voice Always Has Had The Unique Force,but When He Listens Unchained Melody In 77´,was Perfect,his Voice Was The Same,and His Passion Was Furthemore Big,i´m Charmed With Him

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

So what about somewhere in the middle?

1972, Hampton Roads' American Trilogy or Greensboros' Bridge Over Troubled Water both demonstrate to me that Elvis could have pulled off better versions of Hurt & for me definitely better version of Unchained Melody. I don't particulaly like Elvis' versions of that song anyway, there's an atmosphere of "out of breath" that comes across in the versions I've heard.

So 1970 or 1977 as a selection dismisses everything in between as not being worthy of being an option and I wouldn't vote for 1970 for certain reasons and I'd not like to give the vote to 1977 for other reasons so it's rather easy for me to not vote for either but there's no option to select for "none of the above" so unless people like me actually write it in a post how are you going to know who else feels the same?

The reason I put 1970 was because there is a huge difference between 1970 and 1977, perhaps I should change the question and let people choose?

[Unchained Melody]

I voted no, as I think his voice suited those songs better in 1977 than in 1970. But like Steve, I think he could've pulled them off in 1972. That would be something to hear!

[Unchained Melody]

I think I understand what you mean when you say he lost the delicate touches.

To me, that was just him bored, and had lost interest in live performing by 'December 76 when we hear I Just Can't Help Believing when comparing it to the versions from say August 1970 etc.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Hi Steve, I agree about 69-70 being my favourite years also.

I too have secret guilty pleasures when it comes to the early to mid 60's, there is something very special about the song 'Surrender' and what Elvis was capable of. It is a shame that Elvis was in a monotonous cycle of movies where very mediocre songs were treated to a fantastic voice,

[Unchained Melody]

Hi Steve, I agree about 69-70 being my favourite years also.

I too have secret guilty pleasures when it comes to the early to mid 60's, there is something very special about the song 'Surrender' and what Elvis was capable of. It is a shame that Elvis was in a monotonous cycle of movies where very mediocre songs were treated to a fantastic voice,

Of course 68-73 was elvis in his prime imo, but its interesting to listen to shows from the later years when comparing the two. Something totally different than one another.

As with the 60's stuff, Elvis Is Back, Pot Luck, Something For Everybody, Elvis Sings Memphis TN, need i say more :D

[Unchained Melody]

Steve how come you can't send private messages to you on here you have that disabled or something.?

[utmom2008]

When I say "camp" as in faggot talk (can i say that in 2008 or is that just not PC?)

Sorry, but no, it's not PC.:blink::blush::blink::blush:

[Unchained Melody]

Sorry, but no, it's not PC.:blink::blush::blink::blush:

PC as in Personl Computer ? :hmm:

[Unchained Melody]

PC as in "Politicaly Correct"

I'm no sure why no PM on here? Have I ticked a wrong box or something?

I go take a looksey.

Alright I follow ya now son ;)(y)

[Unchained Melody]

Not really sure what would be the problem is then Steve.

hopefully a mod here would know (y)

[rickb]

of course he could have sung both in 1970 but i believe the passion and even desperation in his voice circa 76-77 made them more compelling.
For example Rags to Riches in the studio is not as good as live 76/77 and not as good as Hurt

[rams]

:hmm:I think it's really not a question of when at Elvis' career if those songs could of been sung with passion but if he was in the mood at the time ..............then he could of sang anything we are asking about here at any given time ! It was all in his mood at the time of any year !!!!:hmm:

rams

[Stutz Blackhawk]

well Elvis' voice was always incredible, however, it was very different from when he came back in '68 as opposed to live in '77. in my opinion, yes he could have pulled those types of songs off in '70, BUT his voice was far superior in the later years. i think they would have been equally as enjoyable:)

[Unchained Melody]

:hmm:I think it's really not a question of when at Elvis' career if those songs could of been sung with passion but if he was in the mood at the time ..............then he could of sang anything we are asking about here at any given time ! It was all in his mood at the time of any year !!!!:hmm:

rams

Couldnt agree more Rams, and also you have to remember much of the time the medication he was under would determine what mood he was in.

[The Welz]

I have voted "..from 1974 onwards" because to my ears his voice gained more depth during his final years. I think he needed that depth to sing songs like HURT or UNCHAINED MELODY.

When Elvis was in a clear frame of mind and had the will to deliver a great performance he sang better than ever. But unfortunately this wasn't the case too often anymore.

[Suspicious Minds]

I voted for Yes he has a versatile voice.

I would say Elvis had the passion in 1970. He was back on stage again and top of the charts. How can you say he had no passion in 1970?

[Davey]

I voted "difficult to say". He could have hit the notes for sure in 1970, it just would have sounded very different as there would have been the grain in his voice (like at the beginning of I Can't Stop Loving You) instead of the smoother, more rounded tone he had in 1977.

[Wendy56]

Yes... but they may sound with a very different style. :hmm:

[KPM]

I'm sure that he could have sung them in 1970-but in 76 and 77 he seemed to really pore his heart out in doing them partly due I think to the roads his life had taken in the 7 years after 1970.
These songs seemed to personally be more to him in 76-77 than most other songs in his set-so because they meant more to him IMO he gave them more of himself.

[Burning_Love]

Obviously Yes, because Elvis, IMO had a very strong voice in 1970. And the passion was always there, that's why his songs stand out.

[Dekethecreep]

I think he could of sung those songs in 1970.
I recently heard a cd of outtakes from 1967 and elvis was hitting some really high notes,had no idea he could hit those notes in 1967!

[SatninLove]

I believe he could have sang those songs then.....
His passion was there then!
-SatninLove

[Pacer72]

Yes Elvis could have sung both in 1970. He had the power in his voice but they could have turned out more Heart of Rome-ish. Also, it is the feeling with which he sings them in 1977 that would have been missing in 1970. The melancholy would not have been there in '70, that came after 'Cilla left him. Just listen again to "It's Still Here" compared to the rehearsal version of "How the Web was Woven" from TTWII. That's what made those '77 versions so special, as he sang from the heart.

[Unchained Melody]

Yes Elvis could have sung both in 1970. .

Of course he could've sung them in 1970, it just wouldnt' have sounded the same.:doh:

[Elvis&me]

I think that elvis could have sang anything at any time no matter what
I LOVE YOU ELVIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Unchained Melody]

I think that elvis could have sang anything at any time no matter what
I LOVE YOU ELVIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even spit some ryhmes with Run DMC ?

[elvisfan92]

I think that in 1970, he could have sung these songs; however his voice wasn's as mature as it was in the later 70's, so these songs wouldn't have some have come off as powerful as they did in 1977. Personally, I prefer the raw, sexiness of 1970 to the sound of 1977. Although he could sing songs like Hurt with amazing passion, he couldn't do as much with his voice in 1977 as he could in 1970.

Couldn't have said it better my self(y)

[1100ccRider]

Even spit some ryhmes with Run DMC ?

Elvis was good with rhymes, yo. Or have you not heard "Ode to Robin"? :P

[elvisfan92]

lol yeah i remember that

[Unchained Melody]

Elvis was good with rhymes, yo. Or have you not heard "Ode to Robin"? :P

yep its on the import CD Cut Me And I Bleed :D

[Albert]

he could sing it in 1970 just as good as in 1977. But then it's just about hitting the right note and use enough power. What made these songs so special was because in the late 70s it seemed like he was really putting his heart and soul in these few songs.

So yes, he could sing them, but no, it wouldn't be as epic as in 1977.

[Elvisgirl]

Yes - He Had A Versatile Voice

[Unchained Melody]

What made these songs so special was because in the late 70s it seemed like he was really putting his heart and soul in these few songs.


Exactly the point Albert. It makes it that much more epic for me anyways.

[EnigmaticSun]

I too have secret guilty pleasures when it comes to the early to mid 60's

A secret quilty pleasure would take something more earth-shattering to qualify.

But I do understand. I was the same way when I was your age! (y)

Elvis' voice had passion and range in 1970, no doubt.

However his vocals were more suitable for this demanding operatic material later on and, as has been mentioned before, he was able to draw compelling emotion from his difficult experiences in life which only added to the power.

[Tony Trout]

of course he could have sung both in 1970 but i believe the passion and even desperation in his voice circa 76-77 made them more compelling.
For example Rags to Riches in the studio is not as good as live 76/77 and not as good as Hurt


I'm not so sure I'd agree that the studio version of "Rags To Riches" isn't as good as the '76 versions but then again the '70 version of "Rags To Riches" is the first one I heard on "Walk A Mile In My Shoes - The Essential 70s Masters".

As a few others have said, I think he could've sang the songs but they would've sounded very different.

[Martin Smith]

Elvis had not been through the emotional turmoil in 1970 that shaped him later in the 70s hurt was a personal choice as was unchained melody, here he rings out every drop of emotion from the song.

[Silenz]

The answer is in my opinion clearly yes he could have sung those songs any year

[Unchained Melody]

Elvis had not been through the emotional turmoil in 1970 that shaped him later in the 70s hurt was a personal choice as was unchained melody, here he rings out every drop of emotion from the song.

Again, the song choices from the later years imo was a way he could get what he was feeling inside out in the open...a way of expressing himself obviously. Heck , JRS and MoodyBlue are prime examples of that those two albums are like autobiographies of his life and what he was feeling at that time the recording took place.

[Unchained Melody]

The answer is in my opinion clearly yes he could have sung those songs any year

I don't think Hurt would've sounded as good in '54 :P

His voice was just, had that edge and deepness to it by early '76 in the studio that can't be topped imo.

[Unchained Melody]

As a few others have said, I think he could've sang the songs but they would've sounded very different.

That's what should be the main point here. Of course he could've sang them in '70, just wouldnt' be the same have the same feel so to speak.:blush:

[renapap05]

Ofcourse Elvis could have sang "Hurt" or "Unchained Melody" in 1970!(y)(y) I believe he had the passion he had in 1977 as well(y):newyear:

[epmoodyblue]

yes.......easily elvis could of handled those 2 songs in 70 .....without any problems at all.... early 70 listen to rags to riches ....so why not:notworthy(y):king:

[elvispresleytheking]

Finally figured this out, after a lot of thought. Listening to "How The Web Was Woven" and "Rags To Riches," I think he could've done "Unchained Melody" in 1970, but it wouldn't be as good (like the 1959 'Danny Boy'). Hurt, however, would've probably had to wait until 72-74.

[cibetty]

I think yes, he had the passion in 1970, what these songs needed. When I think about "Just Pretend", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water", these are passionate songs as well.

[easyrider]

Elvis can do anything

[LtCarman]

I believe that he could sing songs like "Hurt" in 1970, but it wouldn't be as emotional or epic as in the late 70s.

[molokai123]

Elvis voice in 1970 was very versitile, i believe he had more control over it then,although he never lost that vesitlaty but from 1972-75 his voice became a little more nasely,still very good but, he just sounded bored,76-77 he had more his voice would have his good and bad day's,but one thing i know we can all agree on is that good days outnumber the bad days by a landside.

[elvia7]

Elvis can do anything

Yes...:notworthy:notworthy
I agree (y)(y)(y)(y)

[debtdbruno]

I think that in 1970, he could have sung these songs; however his voice wasn's as mature as it was in the later 70's, so these songs wouldn't have some have come off as powerful as they did in 1977. Personally, I prefer the raw, sexiness of 1970 to the sound of 1977. Although he could sing songs like Hurt with amazing passion, he couldn't do as much with his voice in 1977 as he could in 1970.

Agree with you 100%
Also 'Rags to Riches' in '70' was AWESOME!!!!!

Deb