Reply With QuoteNicely put ...Originally Posted by rocknroll
Maybe true but not the whole story. Elvis may have liked balads better than rock, but he also knew he was a d a m n fine rock and roll singer. Generally, in the '70's, when he recorded rock songs they were, for the most part, his better efforts.
BTW, Love Letters LP is a poor album. What the reviewer was saying was Elvis' efforts were drowned out by the overdubbed and overblown horns, strings and background voices. All of which I and anyone with ears would agree.
Last edited by rocknroll; 04-11-2008 at 09:52 PM.
Nicely put ...
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
Hey Getlo, I owe you a big apology. You're point about, Elvis Country and On Stage LP brought out a good point.
Brother in Elvis - Levi Silver
See I don't see it as a poor album-I see it as a different album. It was not a rock album, nor country, nor middle of the road-it was truely "smorgasboard" He liked so many differering types of music and I think this album shows that.
It was a hodge-podge of different styles and music. If you like harder music from Elvis you are not going to like it much. When the mood strikes me I like to listen to it.
IMO His recording career was directed by one thing most of the time-what Elvis liked and wanted to do at the time. He made some great music that way, but when a strong creative force was helping him-Sam Phillips, Chips Moman, Steve Binder etc.... his music had more direction and he did his best work. The collaboration, and boundaries, they brought to the studio helped harness his best work.
I've been saying this forever, glad to see some one else caught it.
Cool.
We're good ...
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
Hodge-podge is the correct term. It reeks of throw aways just being thrown together on an album (seemed to be SOP at RCA). No concept, no theme, no purpose. And the overdubs....OUCH! Remember, at that time Elvis was not too far removed from peoples memories as a movie idol who starred in countless bad movies (perception). I think this album only slowed the momentum he built up in 1968 to 1970. It's o.k. to grow up and mature as he did with the '69 and '70 releases, but to do it with sub par material (as with the Love Letters LP) was just 1 step forward and 1 step backward. Same with Elvis Now. Elvis in the studio in the '70's was just wildly inconsistant.
I agree with you on this one. Maybe it's just me, but I want to cringe every time I hear Three Corn Patches.
The purpose was to meet the contracted 3 albums a year. Like I said if you don't like this type music you won't like this album. I happen to like a variety of music and do not see all the songs on the album as sub par. But its a matter of preference. I see it as a pleasant album with no particular direction.
As I pointed out if Elvis had been allowed to collaborate more with people who could bring ideas and direction to the musical table he would have not relied basically on himself for musical inspiration. That also would have helped with his consistancy in the studio. No artist grows forever on just his instincts alone. Other people help you grow when they bring energy and talent into the mix. The Col. never did see this as a necessity-and Elvis may have felt it was not needed- but he seemed to excel when someone else helped push him with ideas. The Col. (not being an artist unless you count con artist) did not understand this-he would push Elvis to fullfill his contracts-but would balk at suggestions of artistic change. Would we have had the great Elvis rebirth in 68 if Parkers idea for the special had been followed? Steve Binder told Elvis ther truth about how the special should go and got Elvis motivated and involved in the idea process. Parker hated outsiders becoming too involved with Elvis. (Leiber and Stoller being warned by the COl not to advise Elvis are an example of this) Parker wanted Elvis to be suspicious of others who wanted to become creatively involved with him. Bad direction.
The Love Letters "hodge podge album was not bad now and then"-the trouble was it happened too often. Back into the late 50s to the 60s "For LP Fans Only" "Pot Luck" "Something For Everybody" when Elvis got bored in the studio they "hodge podged" Parker never recognized the need for creative interplay-only contract fullfillment. He truely believed their were 400,000 500,000 thousand hard core fans who would buy anything (which probably was true) so he felt that the fan base covered making a profit and fullfilling contracts with anything that was recorded.
Why was the Colonel that way? Was he afraid he would lose his grip on his boy?? Yes, there were lots of fans like myself that would buy anything that Elvis put out. But...why couldn't the Col. see that fabulous material would only INCREASE the number of sales, thereby putting more money in the Col.'s pockets as well.
Its just a guess-but I think he just did not understand what makes a creative person tick. He was a dollars and cents type person who knew how to maximise profit with little output. That may work for toothpaste, or mouthwash make a new cover, a new slogan- but do not spend anymore than you have too.(-but even then when a newer toothpaste comes along you have to change the formula of yours to keep up- bad comparison)[/B]
[COLOR="DarkRed"]Why was the Colonel that way? Was he afraid he would lose his grip on [I]his boy??[/I] Yes, there were lots of fans like myself that would buy anything that Elvis put out. But...why couldn't the Col. see that fabulous material would only INCREASE the number of sales, thereby putting more money in the Col.'s pockets as well.
IMO he was always afraid Elvis would slip away or become to independant and pull away. IMO he wanted Elvis to believe Parker was more responsible for the his great success-than Elvis's talent and charisma. That without Parkers management-Elvis's career would die. DEPENDENCY was his con.
Parker worked for Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow-but never made the kind of money which he did with Elvis. Also Parker never had the power with Arnold or Snow that he possessed with Elvis. So I do think he never wanted Elvis very chummy with anyone who might lead to a more enlightened Elvis.
Agree to disagree.
Remember, Elvis was in the Army during this time and not recording, hense the need to "hodge-podge". Regardless, at least these were done with superior material.
From what I've been able to see; I agree with you and KPM.
Control was his power over Elvis. He couldn't take the chance of losing his money maker .
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
"Pot Luck" came out in 1962 and "Something for Everybody" came out in 1961 and "Elvis for Everyone" (forgot this one) came out in 65- well after the Army years of 58-60. Only "For LP Fans Only" in 59 came out during the Army years. These were mainly what was left over from other recording sessions and had never been on albums. The quality of the material is debateable depending upon your taste-I happen to like these albums as well.
Too bad for Elvis. He should have been his own man. No ones fault but his own.
A pont being lost in this discussion is the fact that Elvis no longer enjoyed recording anymore for the most part.Hence the subpar material and weak performances that dogged his later work.Elvis just didnt put much effort into recording period at that point.After a huge surge the Love Letters lp was a major step backwards.
[QUOTE=rocknroll;205054]Too bad for Elvis. He should have been his own man. No ones fault but his own.[/QUOTE]
In a perfect world where you can trust everyone, where you are not lied to, where you can accept someones word of "working for your best interest" I would agree. But this is not a perfect world. Not then- not now.
Jak-In a way that is my point. When so many things on the creative end of his life, became tainted by the business end it caused the lack of interest. Creative people need interaction with other very creative people-ideas and thoughts which spur you to want to create. IMO from the late 50s on Elvis was tied to a policy started by Parker (supposedly in Elvis's best interest) which limited too many creative possibilities. I think by the time Elvis began to understand how limiting the policies were (such as no songs without a cut of the song) he just did not care anymore. As far as I have read Parker never encouraged nor promoted any creative growth. His every action-in the name of profit,business and control discouraged creative growth-creative independence. When he worked the deals- creativity was not considered, nor material, nor quality-but Elvis's salary plus 50% of profits after costs were recouped was.(plus any side deal the Col. could work for himself.
I know you and I differ somewhat on this subject, but are opinions do cross over here and there.
I agree. I don't think it would have upset him because it never put him down. In fact, it was coming from a fan who believed in him very much and wanted him to give us his best. I enjoyed the review and although I like many of the songs on there even a couple of the ones he put down, I overall agree with the review. The album could definitely have been better. Here's the thing though, "Love Letters" is basically a hodge podge of what's left after "That's The Way It Is" and "Elvis Country". I think this album overall are the rejects from those two GREAT albums.
"I always liked that hillbilly."
-Waymore
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