Elvis sang If I Can Dream during one of his "stand-up" shows for the '68 special. It was obvious that he was lip-syncing during this song which means it had been recorded earlier. I have noticed though that Elvis sang this song for the closing of the show a couple of days later in his white suit.
This leads me to think that there is a "studio" recording of the song that was perhaps recorded before the making of the special.
Any thoughts on this?
HI emsteph
Elvis recorded If I can dream, june 23 1968 at Western recorders Burbank and I believe that it`s the recording that appears in the lip synched footage, it`s on the 2 to none cd and believe that it`s the master. The 4 recordings that you see in the special outtakes(White suit), were recorded june 30 1968.
Elvisia
Last edited by elvisia; 04-11-2007 at 01:16 AM.
If you go to songhere.com And register (it's free) and type in Elvis Prelsey. Click on his name then go to through the pages until you get to 'I' and you can find all takes of Elvis singing that song. There are some really good ones
Since Earl Brown says he was asked to write the song during the making of the special, its probably not likely that Elvis recorded a version before the special was started. (unless Earl Brown is wrong about when he wrote it)
Well, I reckon Earl meant he wrote it during the preparations for the tv show.Originally Posted by KPM
Obviously it was all done & dusted for the Western Recorders recording sessions held on 20th-23rd June, 1968, because Elvis cut the studio version on the 23rd.
Colin B
Judge a man not by his answers, but by his questions - Voltaire
According to the book "Elvis Day by Day"
Elvis reported to rehearsals at the Burbank Studios on June 17th 1968 and the special was completed on June 30th 1968. The idea for a new a song was suggested by Director Steve Bender because of the intensity he saw Elvis putting into the rehearsals for the special and from conversations he had with Elvis. On June 20th or 21st (this is how it is listed in the book) he asked Earl Brown to go home and write a song that could end the special with the same hope and intensity. So it was either written between, 6-20-68 and 6-21-68, or 6-21-68 and 6-22-68. Then, as has been stated already, Elvis recorded it on 6-23-68. According to the book several impassioned takes were done on 6-23. The band also recorded a backing track for the song "Memories" to be used in the special.
Some more insight into If I Can Dream.
Many of the songs for the special were nostalgic, "Blue Suede Shoes," "Hound Dog," "Mystery Train," etc. The fans always wanted to be reminded of the good old days. But there were some refreshing new sounds, "Memories" by Billy Strange and Mac Davis, and "Guitar Man" by Jerry Reed, which Elvis had recorded the previous year.
Most importantly, there was the gospel-bluesy "If I Can Dream," written especially for the close by musical director, W. Earl Brown. Elvis resisted Colonel Parker's standing order that the special close with a standard Christmas carol and avoid any kind of social comment. Steve Binder, the producer, felt a message song about peace, humanity and brotherhood would be a bold and fitting send off. Binder sold the idea to Elvis:
Earl sat down at the piano and played it through. Elvis sort of sat there listening. He didn't comment; he just said, "Play it again." So Earl sat there and played it again - and again. Then Elvis started to ask some questions about it, and I would venture to say Earl probably played the song six or seven times in a row. Then Elvis looked at me and said, "We're doing it."
It was a significant and unusual moment. Elvis rarely over-ruled Parker, and it demonstrates the confidence he felt as he began to retool his image.
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