Guitar Man-studio version or 68 special, which do you like better?

[Joe Car]

For years I liked the 68 special better, but the studio version is incredible, and Elvis frickin nails it! Which do you prefer? They are so different as the 68 special version as a more upbeat tempo, but lately I'm leaning towards the studio cut, with the great Jerry Reed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3gkBMuyq8U

[1100ccRider]

The studio version, with the great Jerry Reed on guitar. Bonus points for the extended ending with "What'd I Say." There're some nice alternate takes, as well.

It's still cool in the TV special, though.

[Unchained Melody]

Definitley the Studio version with the late great Jerry Reed on guitar..completely flawless performance if you ask me..:notworthy

[MojoElvis]

I like the 68 comeback special version better only cause it sounds more raw & raunchy.
He puts more into it too. But the guitar does better on the studio version.

I also really like the 1980s version with the new music added to it.

[Joe Car]

I like the 68 comeback special version better only cause it sounds more raw & raunchy.
He puts more into it too. But the guitar does better on the studio version.

I also really like the 1980s version with the new music added to it.

They're both excellent in completely different ways. Raunchy and raw is certainly the 68 special, but in the studio version, Elvis's tone was perfect.

[MojoElvis]

but I think on the 68 special he was going for a different voice so he didn't sound like he did on his movie soundtracks. He did that with the, How Great Tho Art, LP too.
My opinion is that he never really liked that really short hair, no sideburns and clean cut image.

[hounddog]

The studio version i really like the long version with the What'd I Say ending

[Unchained Melody]

They're both excellent in completely different ways. Raunchy and raw is certainly the 68 special, but in the studio version, Elvis's tone was perfect.

Couldn't agree more Joe.

[KPM]

I like the 68 comeback special version better only cause it sounds more raw & raunchy.
He puts more into it too. But the guitar does better on the studio version.

I also really like the 1980s version with the new music added to it.
My feelings also.
The original version was tame compared to the 68 version. He sings it closer to a live feel-it rocks. Sure Jerry Reeds guitar work is better-but you can hear the fire in Elvis's vocal on the 68 version and to me thats what I am listening for.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Yeah, they're almost like two different songs. I heard the Comeback version before the studio version so I was used to that one and thought the studio version was way too subdued at first. That vicious vocal treatment is hard to beat.

But over time I definitely came to appreciate the studio performance. Agreed, the What'd I Say ending is killer. I just remembered that growl or whatever he did at the very end, nice.

I do not care of the '81 remix because the Jerry Reed work is gone, and it not only lacks the power of the Comeback vocal but they screwed the pitch up on it as well presumably for the sake of speed. Eesh.

[Teddy]

The studio version is the better take but the Special really put this tune on the map and galvanized the song as a historical Elvis moment in a way which possibly wouldn't have occurred as significantly otherwise. I usually get more excited about it when he does it on the show too, so my vote has to go with the '68 Special in this instance. (y)

[JerryNodak]

Back in '67 I really liked the studio version when it first came out as a single. But then came the '68 Special version. Wow! Blew the single away.

[Jungleroom76]

I like the 68 comeback special version better only cause it sounds more raw & raunchy.
He puts more into it too. But the guitar does better on the studio version.


Gotta agree with you MojoElvis!!! The '68 Special version is just such a more raw and rough sounding version, which I think makes the song just stand out that much more...the roughness of the '68 Special version just fits the overall mood of the song better to me!!! :hmm:

But there is no denying the unmistakable guitar work on the studio version that Jerry Reed did.... (y)

TCB!
Mike

[rmk101]

I personally like the studio version beter because it has Jerry Reed on guitar.

[kamikazeeab2003]

I actually like the 1980 version. Jerry Reed did play guitar on that version (As per original album credits) and listening to JR's live recordings of the song from the late 70's on, that was the same instrumentation as the "1980" version


James

[Tony Trout]

I do not care of the '81 remix because the Jerry Reed work is gone, and it not only lacks the power of the Comeback vocal but they screwed the pitch up on it as well presumably for the sake of speed. Eesh.

Jerry's guitar work (albeit not the original guitar work) is still there. He played guitar on the '81 version.

[KPM]

Jerry's guitar work (albeit not the original guitar work) is still there. He played guitar on the '81 version.
I have always thought his 81 version had a "Smokey and the Bandit" guitar sound to it, similar to his guitar work on the songs he did for that movies soundtrack.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Ah, thanks for the correction. I probably should have picked up on that even if I hadn't read it.

I still don't care for it. I can appreciate that they tried to liven it up some -- make it more like the Comeback version in that respect -- but the end result doesn't do it for me.

It seems overdone and "unnatural"...On a number of songs from those sessions to my ears it seems apparent that they've been tampered with too much. Perhaps that can be chalked up to the technological limitations of the day, I don't know, but Elvis' vocal did not come out sounding right on most of them...and it's not just the pitch issue I mentioned with this song. It was just not very dynamic or clear. I'm glad it did well on the charts though.

A pity too that Felton died before its release.

[molokai123]

the 68 special is my fav but you cant deny that the original is almost just as good,but like the others have said i like the rawness almost blusey feeling to the 68 spacial!!:king:(y)(y):king:

[Tony Trout]

I have always thought his 81 version had a "Smokey and the Bandit" guitar sound to it, similar to his guitar work on the songs he did for that movies soundtrack.

It did have that sound to it...and that's one reason I enjoy it so much.



Ah, thanks for the correction. I probably should have picked up on that even if I hadn't read it.

I still don't care for it. I can appreciate that they tried to liven it up some -- make it more like the Comeback version in that respect -- but the end result doesn't do it for me.

It seems overdone and "unnatural"...On a number of songs from those sessions to my ears it seems apparent that they've been tampered with too much. Perhaps that can be chalked up to the technological limitations of the day, I don't know, but Elvis' vocal did not come out sounding right on most of them...and it's not just the pitch issue I mentioned with this song. It was just not very dynamic or clear. I'm glad it did well on the charts though.

A pity too that Felton died before its release.


You're welcome....and I agree. This is one case (especially on some of the other tracks) where Felton screwing around with the songs didn't pay off.

I hope ya didn't mind me correctin' ya....

[Lonniebealestreet]

No, much appreciated, Tony. In fact if it can be proven that you have called out a moderator on an error on 5 occasions then he has to give up his moderator status for a month during which time you can do as you please and ban the whole board if you so desire.

OK, I might have made that up. At any rate, you'll never be asked to stand down when you are armed with the facts (especially when you are polite as you always are). Keep them coming.

I should add that I really like the Guitar Man album. I think they did a good job of picking the best of the bunch for that release. It is most of the leftovers that were heard for the first time on the FTD Too Much Monkey Business where that inferior sound is most in evidence.

I must point out -- before I get called out yet again and one step closer to giving Tony my badge -- that I haven't played either in some time. But I believe the above assessment to be on target. :lol:

[Dino78]

Love the studio-version, even when the 68-versions sounds very interesting.
Specially because of the changed lyrics.