SEE SEE RIDER

[memphis69]

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE ELVIS GOT THE IDEA TO START USING THIS SONG AS HIS OPENING SONG IN THE 1970s.

[Brian]

Elvis liked the song so he just choose to use it as an opener

[mozzarella]

I think it was because he liked the opening riff to it and it was very rhythm and blues, very simple, very gospel so basically what Elvis is all about. It was an essence of all the music he started out with. It has a driving energie and I guess he wanted to "storm" the stage with a song like that... That's All Right is just not "agressive" enough to start with...

[Jungleroom76]

It's weird though when you listen to the shows from 1970 when Elvis first started performing SEE SEE RIDER on stage to hear it in the middle of the show!!

TCB!
Mike

[Wendy56]

And what about the Zaratustra opening? How he picked that song?

[Jungleroom76]

And what about the Zaratustra opening? How he picked that song?

Actually there are several different versions of this story...

One version is that Joe Guercio's wife was watching something on television one night and the 2001 theme came on and she made a comment to Joe along the lines of "you'd think Elvis was coming on", which gave Joe the idea to use the 2001 theme as Elvis' opening theme.

Another version of the story has Joe Guercio himself coming up with the idea to use ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA as Elvis' opening theme.

Then of course, you have the George Klein and Joe Esposito versions of the story that THEY came up with the idea to use the theme and presented their ideas to Elvis.

HOWEVER...I think the version that I have heard most often is the first one involving Joe Guercio's wife.

Anyone heard anything different or have more proof on this one???

TCB!
Mike

[LtCarman]

Yeah, I've always heard the one involving Joe's wife.

[utmom2008]

Then of course, you have the George Klein and Joe Esposito versions of the story that THEY came up with the idea to use the theme and presented their ideas to Elvis.
TCB!
Mike

I absolutely LOVE TTWII, but I wish they had filmed one more Vegas show later in time so that everyone could see what it was like when he walked out on stage to 2001 in that small setting!
Also.....I wish "American Trilogy" had been filmed in Las Vegas.

[utmom2008]

It's weird though when you listen to the shows from 1970 when Elvis first started performing SEE SEE RIDER on stage to hear it in the middle of the show!!

TCB!
Mike

I agree Mike!
I consider myself fortunate to have seen Elvis open with both "That's Allright" AND "See See Rider."

[Jungleroom76]

I agree Mike!
I consider myself fortunate to have seen Elvis open with both "That's Allright" AND "See See Rider."

Ahhh yes Rosanne....BUT were you lucky enough to see Elvis when he opened with a MEDLEY of SEE SEE RIDER/THAT'S ALL RIGHT???

TCB!
Mike

[ehollier]

It's weird though when you listen to the shows from 1970 when Elvis first started performing SEE SEE RIDER on stage to hear it in the middle of the show!!

TCB!
Mike

I actually like the Feb. 1970 version. His voice is really rough and perfect for this song. And the 1970 version is quite as fast as when he opened with it.

[Getlo]

I would suggest either Elvis or someone close to him listened to On Stage when it was first released, then decided C.C.Rider was a good opener.

[Wendy56]

Actually there are several different versions of this story...

Thanks Mike. I always thought Elvis himself saw a movie or heard the song and liked it. You know Elvis had some special taste (like the jungle room and I don't mean any ofence to Elvis' personal taste: I really like it. ).