40 years since the American Sessions

[KPM]

you asked for my opinion so I gave it

This is true.
If I recall one of your gripes about Elvis is that he did not record more original songs and that he did so many covers. I think on another thread about the FEIM album you brought this up.
I am curious as to what attracted you to Elvis as an artist, since he always has relied on songs done by others?
Elvis did do originals but he liked doing covers he liked doing songs which for some reason touched or moved him. Since you do not like covers-what drew you to Elvis? What do you think put him on top-and what do you think keeps people 31 years after his death finding his music?
I was drawn to Elvis by his voice-the feeling he puts forth and the flexibliity of his style. I had no idea what songs were covers, what songs were originals I liked the voice. I still like the voice and it matters little if the songs are covers or originals to me. So that is my attraction to Elvis-not the songs-but the way he sings them. Thats what makes him great-the voice, the charisma the talent. I've said this before Bob Dylan said Elvis's voice was his instrument-I might add he plays it uniquely-one of a kind.

[Diane]

Diane

[Brian]

This is true.
If I recall one of your gripes about Elvis is that he did not record more original songs and that he did so many covers. I think on another thread about the FEIM album you brought this up.
I am curious as to what attracted you to Elvis as an artist, since he always has relied on songs done by others?
.

I became a fan because of songs like Crawfish and Return to sender
Don't be cruel etc.



I do think Elvis should have done a little more original material especially later in his career but
you have to look at the 69 sessions in context

Marty Lacker set the sessions up because he wanted Elvis to work with Chips Moman and the American studio band who played on 122 top 40 hits throughout a 6 year period, and he also wanted Elvis to have access to material from songwriters better than what he was getting from Hill and Range.For a session where he could've gotten good comtemporary written songs he relies mostly on covers of old country songs
As you pointed out Elvis did covers thoughout his career so why not take advantage of the opportunity and do something different for a change.
He could do covers of Eddy Arnold and Johnny Tilotsson anytime

most of the newer songs like Bobby Russell ''Do you know who I am''
and Dallas Frazier's ''True love Travels on a Gravel Road'' I like.
and think Elvis should have continued in this direction

[ehollier]

I became a fan because of songs like Crawfish and Return to sender
Don't be cruel etc.



I do think Elvis should have done a little more original material especially later in his career but
you have to look at the 69 sessions in context

Marty Lacker set the sessions up because he wanted Elvis to work with Chips Moman and the American studio band who played on 122 top 40 hits throughout a 6 year period, and he also wanted Elvis to have access to material from songwriters better than what he was getting from Hill and Range.For a session where he could've gotten good comtemporary written songs he relies mostly on covers of old country songs
As you pointed out Elvis did covers thoughout his career so why not take advantage of the opportunity and do something different for a change.
He could do covers of Eddy Arnold and Johnny Tilotsson anytime

most of the newer songs like Bobby Russell ''Do you know who I am''
and Dallas Frazier's ''True love Travels on a Gravel Road'' I like.
and think Elvis should have continued in this direction

I think Elvis historically relied on covers when recording. If he heard a song and liked it or it struck a chord in him, there was a good possibility he would one day record it. I don't think he ruled out new or original songs, but he liked to record the things that were familiar to him and make each song his own. This is the way he began his career and he would continue this practice until the last session.

[LtCarman]

Though the 50's recording sessions were far more revolutionary and creative, I still like the 68-76 Elvis a heck of a whole lot more. Songs like T-R-O-U-B-L-E, Way Down, Moody Blue, and Love Song of the Year are my absolute favorites. I can pick out a lot more songs from 68-76 that I like than 50's songs, but again, that is just the type of music I prefer, not fact.

[Trelane P]

I've stated it before and i will state it again. The trouble was RCA released everything form all sessions. If they had justb released the cream of the crop from each session then elvis would have has classic 69 and 70's albums:

best of 69 memphis
best 70 nashville
best of 71/72
best 73 stax
best of what followed

the america, nashville and stax session albums would be in the top album list of all time if they were nmore selective. elvis in memphis album is not as good as it could have been by including tracks such as suspicious minds and stranger in my own home town.

rca dropped the ball sooooooooooooooo many times. But hey hindsight is a wonderful thing.

also, a distinction needs to be highlighted between singer/songwriters and singers. I am sick people looking down on singers that do not sing their own songs. it doesn't happen in the movie world. Does anyone slate brando for not writing the "i could have been a contender" scene. No, because ultimately it's about the delivery. In my optinion many songwriter screwed their career by not letting great singers record their songs and many great singers screwed up by insiting on recording their own songs when they were below par songwriters. Elvis relaised his limitations and concentrated on delivery. Years later he was proved right.

[KPM]

I became a fan because of songs like Crawfish and Return to sender
Don't be cruel etc.



I do think Elvis should have done a little more original material especially later in his career but
you have to look at the 69 sessions in context

Marty Lacker set the sessions up because he wanted Elvis to work with Chips Moman and the American studio band who played on 122 top 40 hits throughout a 6 year period, and he also wanted Elvis to have access to material from songwriters better than what he was getting from Hill and Range.For a session where he could've gotten good comtemporary written songs he relies mostly on covers of old country songs
As you pointed out Elvis did covers thoughout his career so why not take advantage of the opportunity and do something different for a change.
He could do covers of Eddy Arnold and Johnny Tilotsson anytime
most of the newer songs like Bobby Russell ''Do you know who I am''
and Dallas Frazier's ''True love Travels on a Gravel Road'' I like.
and think Elvis should have continued in this direction

Until I heard Elvis's "I Really Dont Want to Know" I had never heard that song. So to me and many other people who had no idea who Eddy Arnold was it was an original.
When I played it one day my mom said-"Thats an Eddy Arnold song"
She had an Eddy album with that song on it. I listened to Eddys version and I liked it-but Elvis's had a more bluesy feel-it had more soul to it-I liked it better. But I also discovered that Eddy Arnold was a great country singer.
In a way Elvis doing so many covers helped me broaden my musical taste and knowledge. But I almost always liked Elvis's cover better-occasionally I do like the original more but not often. Elvis's voice, to my ear, had it all-soul, blues, country, rockabilly.....a hardness and a whisper. I don't think anyone else I had ever heard before had that quality IMO.
I think his originals were fine -when he wanted to do them, I wanted to listen.
But his covers were just as good-music to my ears, and many times the first I had ever heard of those songs.

[Getlo]

Until I heard Elvis's "I Really Dont Want to Know" I had never heard that song. So to me and many other people who had no idea who Eddy Arnold was it was an original.

This was not an Eddy Arnold original. Like Elvis, he merely covered it.

It was first recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1953.

[KPM]

This was not an Eddy Arnold original. Like Elvis, he merely covered it.

It was first recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1953.

You know now that you mention that I just saw an old tape of those 2 doing it from the 50s. I did not know they had done it first. They also did some comedy guitar playing in which Les would play a weird run or note and Mary had to repeat it-it was pretty cool and funny. He broke a string and continued on for 2 songs just ignoring that fact.

[Brian]

Until I heard Elvis's "I Really Dont Want to Know" I had never heard that song. So to me and many other people who had no idea who Eddy Arnold was it was an original.
When I played it one day my mom said-"Thats an Eddy Arnold song"
She had an Eddy album with that song on it. I listened to Eddys version and I liked it-but Elvis's had a more bluesy feel-it had more soul to it-I liked it better. But I also discovered that Eddy Arnold was a great country singer.
In a way Elvis doing so many covers helped me broaden my musical taste and knowledge. But I almost always liked Elvis's cover better-occasionally I do like the original more but not often. Elvis's voice, to my ear, had it all-soul, blues, country, rockabilly.....a hardness and a whisper. I don't think anyone else I had ever heard before had that quality IMO.
.

That's true for other artists as well


I like Eddy Arnolds version of ''I really don't want to know'' better than Elvis.

[KPM]

That's true for other artists as well


I like Eddy Arnolds version of ''I really don't want to know'' better than Elvis.

Well then obviously we disagree once again

[KPM]

I'm curious Brian what music did you like as a teenager? You say you had heavy metal friends-so I'm assuming you had something in common with those people. You just seem to not like a lot about Elvis. The things which are almost universally considered great by him (not just by fans but by critics and the public)-you seem to have a much lower regard for-which is curious to me as to what the appeal is to you of Elvis Presley? If the things most consider well done and great by Elvis are of such low appeal-why do you like him?

[Brian]

I'm curious Brian what music did you like as a teenager? You say you had heavy metal friends-so I'm assuming you had something in common with those people. You just seem to not like a lot about Elvis. The things which are almost universally considered great by him (not just by fans but by critics and the public)-you seem to have a much lower regard for-which is curious to me as to what the appeal is to you of Elvis Presley? If the things most consider well done and great by Elvis are of such low appeal-why do you like him?

I liked different types of music as a teenager Rock was my favorite though I liked the early Rolling Stones and several country artists.

I have a very eclectic taste in music

I even like classical music

I like all sorts of songs Elvis did throughout his career, but their are many I don't like.


not everybody thinks the Memphis sessions are the best sessions he ever did it just happens that i'm the only one on this board that thinks that but their are others.

Not everybody thinks Peter Guralnick is the best writer there is but I just happen to be the only person on this board that thinks he isn't but their are others. I have my reasons and some valid criticisms for his work.

I've have met and talked with fans who love Elvis movie songs the best
they like sand castles and Barefoot ballad etc.
haven't met any of these fans on this board though
don't think there are any.

[KPM]

I liked different types of music as a teenager Rock was my favorite though I liked the early Rolling Stones and several country artists.

I have a very eclectic taste in music

I even like classical music

I like all sorts of songs Elvis did throughout his career, but their are many I don't like.


not everybody thinks the Memphis sessions are the best sessions he ever did it just happens that i'm the only one on this board that thinks that but their are others.

Not everybody thinks Peter Guralnick is the best writer there is but I just happen to be the only person on this board that thinks he isn't but their are others. I have my reasons and some valid criticisms for his work.

I've have met and talked with fans who love Elvis movie songs the best
they like sand castles and Barefoot ballad etc.
haven't met any of these fans on this board though
don't think there are any.

This is true-but my point was that the majority of fans, non fans and critics do see MSessions as some of his best work. So its not like theres a 50/50 split on it- most do seem to think these are some of his great recordings. So if you can base an opinion of great by how well its received and reviewed the 69 sessions would pass that test-and how well its received and reviewed is ruled by how good the recordings perceived to be. Would that be a fair statement? When a majority of varied groups like something-it seems to lend itself to the idea that what they like must have something which draws them all to a similar conclusion.

Sgt. Pepper is considered by most to be some of the best work the Beatles ever did-I agree not everyone thinks so-but the majority do think so-critics, fans and non fans. So there must be something to it-the same with the 69 sessions.

I do happen to like songs like Barefoot Ballad and many other movie songs-but if I had to rank them against the 69 sessions there is just no comparison.
Most movie songs should be ranked with other movie songs IMO.
Except for the 50s movies, the emphasis was not so much on good music as
was getting something to fit into a prescribed section of a film. After 62 the movie music just kept getting of lesser quality.
Very few movie songs after 1960 can be compared to recordings outside of the movies. But I do like many movie songs.

[Brian]

This is true-but my point was that the majority of fans, non fans and critics do see MSessions as some of his best work. So its not like theres a 50/50 split on it- most do seem to think these are some of his great recordings. So if you can base an opinion of great by how well its received and reviewed the 69 sessions would pass that test-and how well its received and reviewed is ruled by how good the recordings perceived to be. Would that be a fair statement? When a majority of varied groups like something-it seems to lend itself to the idea that what they like must have something which draws them all to a similar conclusion.


I do happen to like songs like Barefoot Ballad and many other movie songs-but if I had to rank them against the 69 sessions there is just no comparison.
Most movie songs should be ranked with other movie songs IMO.
Except for the 50s movies, the emphasis was not so much on good music as
was getting something to fit into a prescribed section of a film. After 62 the movie music just kept getting of lesser quality.
Very few movie songs after 1960 can be compared to recordings outside of the movies. But I do like many movie songs.

I know what the majority of fans and critics say about the memphis sessions
it's praised very much but I just gave my opinion

I've have met fans who think that songs like Barefoot Ballad and other songs like Wisdom of Ages are among the best stuff Elvis ever did

[KPM]

I know what the majority of fans and critics say about the memphis sessions
it's praised very much but I just gave my opinion

I've have met fans who think that songs like Barefoot Ballad and other songs like Wisdom of Ages are among the best stuff Elvis ever did

Well they are good movie songs with a tranquil feel and that was great in the films-but lets face it Elvis could not have done most of those songs anywhere else but in the films they were written for.
He maybe could have worked up a medley of movie songs for the stage-but since he disliked much of the movie music and recognised the restricted quality I think he chose to ignore the bulk of them.
But he could have done a tour of singing nothing but songs from the 69 sessions and had no problem in doing so.
He could not have toured singing only the songs of Speedway or Harem Scarem ie........
I like the song "Pocket Full of Rainbows" from GI Blues and learned to play it in 1968-I had a small band and wanted to teach it to them so we could work it up. I did it for them and they asked who were we going to play for that wanted to hear it. "Memories" from the TV special they liked and we learned, and "If I Can Dream"-they even learned "One Night"-but the movie songs I liked were basically just not live group material. Although my brothers band does do "Wolf Call" from "Girl Happy" now and then-they just think its a fun song. They explain the the audience that its and Elvis movie song and everyone seems to have fun with it.

[ehollier]

I know what the majority of fans and critics say about the memphis sessions
it's praised very much but I just gave my opinion

I've have met fans who think that songs like Barefoot Ballad and other songs like Wisdom of Ages are among the best stuff Elvis ever did

Brian, could you please tell me what you do like about Elvis, why are you compelled to come here, share with us the things that you don't like, because you always seem to always go against the majority (which is perfectly okay), but without explanation. I am just baffled why you spend so much time here, but are always in disagreement with everyone.

[Brian]

Well they are good movie songs with a tranquil feel and that was great in the films-but lets face it Elvis could not have done most of those songs anywhere else but in the films they were written for.
He maybe could have worked up a medley of movie songs for the stage-but since he disliked much of the movie music and recognised the restricted quality I think he chose to ignore the bulk of them.
But he could have done a tour of singing nothing but songs from the 69 sessions and had no problem in doing so.
He could not have toured singing only the songs of Speedway or Harem Scarem ie........
I like the song "Pocket Full of Rainbows" from GI Blues and learned to play it in 1968-I had a small band and wanted to teach it to them so we could work it up. I did it for them and they asked who were we going to play for that wanted to hear it. "Memories" from the TV special they liked and we learned, and "If I Can Dream"-they even learned "One Night"-but the movie songs I liked were basically just not live group material. Although my brothers band does do "Wolf Call" from "Girl Happy" now and then-they just think its a fun song. They explain the the audience that its and Elvis movie song and everyone seems to have fun with it.

you should tell the fans that like those movie songs this

I was talking with some of them awhile ago and the conversation turned to songs Elvis should've done live

They said Elvis should've sung Gualdlahara and Double Trouble live in the 70's

[Brian]

Brian, could you please tell me what you do like about Elvis, why are you compelled to come here, share with us the things that you don't like, because you always seem to always go against the majority (which is perfectly okay), but without explanation. I am just baffled why you spend so much time here, but are always in disagreement with everyone.

I like Elvis Gospel music

I do give explanations that's what i've been doing
explaining what I don't like about the memphis sessions

I come here to discuss Elvis it is a coincidence that I disagree with the members here often

if everybody had the same opinions this place and the world would be boring

[KPM]

you should tell the fans that like those movie songs this

I was talking with some of them awhile ago and the conversation turned to songs Elvis should've done live

They said Elvis should've sung Gualdlahara and Double Trouble live in the 70's

Now Brian they can't be serious? If he was touring New Mexico with a heavy espanic population may....bbe...."Guadalajara" may....be. But no where else.
"Double Trouble" ?? no where would it be a good choice for a live tour.
If they like the songs so well-they have the soundtracks. The reason the bulk of these songs were never done live is because Elvis saw they were not touring stage material.
"Viva Las Vegas" which has been seen as a good iconic song was never incorporated into his Vegas show and it could have been its a good song.
But "Double Trouble" I'm sorry I strongly disgree with whoever suggested this-are you sure they are not putting you on??? If not something is definitely wrong IMO