The Elvis Blues Collection

[Skjernaa]

Hi everybody!

One of the (many) great things about Elvis is the way you can put an endless number of perspectives on his recordings, and they paint a brand new picture.

Several months ago I made myself a 2 CD set of his blues recordings - after toying with the idea for a long time - which has been steady in my car since, and which is actually really a treat to listen to.

Here's the tracklist:

Elvis Presley ?Blues singer?

CD 1:
1. Tomorrow night (Master) (9/54)
2. Good Rockin? Tonight (Master) (9/54)
3. Milkcow blues boogie (Master) (11/54)
4. Fool, fool, fool (Radio-demo) (1/55)
5. Mystery train (Master) (7/11/55)
6. When it rains it really pours (Sun-rehearsal) (11/55)
7. Heartbreak hotel (Alternate take 5) (1/10/56)
8. My baby left me (Master) (1/30/56)
9. So glad you?re mine (Master) (1/30/56)
10. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Master) (2/3/56)
11. Anyplace is paradise (Master) (9/3/56)
12. Reconsider baby (Million Dollar Quartet) (12/4/56)
13. One night Of Sin (Version #1) (1/57)
14. When it rains it really pours (Master) (2/24/57)
15. Santa Claus is back in town (Master) (9/7/57)
16. Trouble (Master) (1/15/58 )
17. New Orleans (Master) (1/15/58 )
18. Ain?t that loving you baby (Alternate take 11) (6/10/58 )
19. Mess of blues (Alternate take 1) (3/20/60)
20. It feels so right (Alternate take 2) (3/20/60)
21. Like a baby (Alternate take 4) (4/3/60)
22. Reconsider baby (Master) (4/3/60)
23. Give me the right (Alternate take 9) (3/12/61)
24. What?d I say (Master) (8/30/63)
25. Hard Luck (Master) (5/13/65
26. Frankie & Johnny (Alternate take 1) (5/14/65)
27. Down in the alley (Alternate take 1) (5/25/66)
28. Big boss man (Alternate take 2) (9/10/67)
29. Hi-heel sneakers (Unedited master) (9/11/67)
30. Too much monkey business (Master) (1/15/68 )

CD 2:
1. When it rains it really pours (Rehearsal) (6/24/68 )
2. Baby what you want me to do (Live) (6/27/68, 8pm)
3. One night (Live) (6/27/68, 8pm)
4. Trying to get to you (Live) (6/27/68, 8pm)
5. Lawdy miss Clawdy (Live) (6/27/68, 8pm)
6. Clean up your own backyard (Undubbed master) (10/23/68 )
7. Power of my love (Alternate take 1) (2/18/69)
8. Stranger in my own hometown (Chips Moman remix) (2/17/6
9. After loving you (Alternate take 2) (2/18/69)
10. Baby what do you want me to do (Live) (8/25/69, ds)
11. My babe (Live) (8/25/69, ms)
12. What?d I say (Live) (8/25/69, ms)
13. See See Rider (Live) (2/18/70, ms)
14. Got my mojo working (Unedited, undubbed master) (6/5/70)
15. Staggerlee (Rehearsal) (7/16/70)
16. That?s all right (Rehearsal ? blues version) (7/16/70)
17. Stranger in my own hometown (Rehearsal) (7/24/70)
18. Merry christmas baby (Long master) (5/15/71)
19. Reconsider baby (Live) (6/10/72)
20. Steamroller blues (Live) (1/12/73)
21. Down in the alley (Rehearsal) (8/16/74)
22. Big boss man (Live) (8/19/74)
23. Tiger man (Studio jam) (3/11/75)
24. Shake a hand (Alternate take 2) (3/11/75)
25. Pledging My Love (Unedited master) (10/29/76)

A few comments:

- I have chosen the chronological approach quite simply because it's the easiest. One of these day I'll I try doing something else.

- I worked basically from the idea of an expanded version of the 1985 'Reconsider Baby' set, so I've included every track on that collection.

- Blues or rhythm & blues? Yes, I know I'm crossing that line a few times, but it isn't a very narrow, well-defined line in my mind, rather a quite broad one, since, essentially, rhythm & blues could be considered one of the major postwar blues traditions, rather than something 'different' from the blues itself.

- Of course any serious Elvis blues collection would have to include 'Merry Christmas Baby', probably one of a handful of the bluesiest performances he ever did. The full-lenght version is incredible but I have chosen the regular edit here simply for lack of space.

- Trying to get to you is indeed a country song, but Elvis 1968 Comeback Special version is about as blues as they come in my opinion.

Finally, do try this at home and you won't regret it. I'm looking forward to your critical comments.

All I'm missing is a nice cover and back... Anyone?

TCB,
Jakob Skjernaa

[simmerrocks]

hi jakob, top notch cd . i would pick all of those tracks myself. i also like that you included hard luck from frankie and johnny . thats always been one of my favorite blusey elvis songs. keep up the good work, maybe bmg could take some tips from you . rock on.. simmerrocks

[elvis1970nl]

Great cd set Jakob I really like the versions you choose.
Only would I have chosen another version of "Stranger in my own home town", I would have taken the rehearsal version from 1970 because it's a slow blues version. In my opinion this version is more blues than the version you selected.
But again, this is offcourse my own opinion.
But besides that great song selection, and maybe this cd asks for a cover made by our designers.

Hans

[Skjernaa]

Thanks for the kind words to both of you.

Hans, the rehearsal version of 'Stranger In My Own Hometown' is actually on the list already; it's no. 17 on CD2. But I was in a real pain to decide whether to include the undubbed master of 'Stranger..' or the Moman remix. The undubbed master is really fabulous, but since I decided to work from the 'Reconsider Baby' tracklist, I stuck to the Moman version.

Thanks again, TCB
Jakob (h)

[elvis1970nl]

Thanks for the kind words to both of you.

Hans, the rehearsal version of 'Stranger In My Own Hometown' is actually on the list already; it's no. 17 on CD2. But I was in a real pain to decide whether to include the undubbed master of 'Stranger..' or the Moman remix. The undubbed master is really fabulous, but since I decided to work from the 'Reconsider Baby' tracklist, I stuck to the Moman version.

Thanks again, TCB
Jakob (h)

GEE Jakob, I must have been blind, why did I overlook track 17 (must be my age LOL).
I was also thinkin if the song "City by Night" would be added to this cd??? Sounds bluesy enough I think.

Now all that's left to get is a nice cover to go with it.

[P.S. Annie]

Great idea Jacob, I love his blues songs Was just listening to the outtakes from Power of my love (h)

[Jungleroom76]

NOW THAT IS ONE AWESOME COLLECTION JAKOB!!! :worthy:

VERY UNIQUE IDEA...perhaps we should nominate you to the Elvis compilation committee at RCA!! (h)

WELL DONE MY FRIEND!!
TCB!
Mike

[T_J]

I was also thinkin if the song "City by Night" would be added to this cd??? Sounds bluesy enough I think.

Nooooo Don't ruin a great set with that uninspired dross.

[jbgude]

Though lyrics are corny " Beach boy blues" is certainly a very bluesy number that should figure on such a compilation as also " Santa claus is back in town" (TTWII-SE).

I cannot figure out the reason for putting " Pledging my love " or some other tracks chosen, on this collection .... but to each his own.... (h)

I have compiled a 28 track " Blues" collection for my personal use, that is among my most played CD.

jb

[stillrockin]

Excellent tracklist, I just love 'Reconsider Baby'. If this were available commercially I'd buy it.

Happy listening...George.

[P.S. Annie]

Yeah like JB said Santa Claus is back in town that one I should ad to it. And Reconsider baby one of his best songs in my opinion

[Skjernaa]

Hi folks

Thanks a lot for all the kind words - as I said before, I have to admit I really dig this collection myself, too

Re. 'Santa Claus is back in town', I included the studio master (CD1, track 15), but I agree: The '70-rehearsal version would really be great to fit in somehow... Hadn't thought about that one.

'Beach boy blues', charming as it is in it's own right', isn't really a blues song in my opinion, more what you'd term 'faux blues'. (h)

'Pledging my love', on the other hand, I do consider a blues song. Listen to JB's solo and Elvis' phrasing - it's the blues allright, though more in the Bobby Bland-vein rather than e.g. Muddy Waters. The song was originally recorded by Memphis blues-crooner Johnny Ace in 1953.

Once again, thanks for your kind words and good comments.

TCB,
Jakob

[Sonny]

Whether someone considers a song to be a blues song is very personal.

I think you've made a terrific compilation, but some of the titles aren't real blues songs if you ask me.

The true Elvis blues catalogue is far more limited, but that's my opinion.

Sonny

[minni1]

I agree, great compilation. Elvis's voice was perfect for the blues.

[jbgude]

While listening yesterday I realised that one could perhaps include the Dylan song " Tomorrow is a long time" on a blues compilation : would you ? Some of Elvis' phrasing was certainly quite bluesy...

jb

[Jungleroom76]

While listening yesterday I realised that one could perhaps include the Dylan song " Tomorrow is a long time" on a blues compilation : would you ? Some of Elvis' phrasing was certainly quite bluesy...

jb

GREAT CALL JB!!!

I agree with you 100%....TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME would have been an excellent addition to this set!! VERY BLUESY to be sure!! (h)

TCB!
Mike

[Skjernaa]

Hi there!

'Tomorrow Is A Long Time' is a very interesting suggestion, but I think I'd rather put it on an Elvis folk-type of material collection.

Actually, I'm working on a tracklist at this very moment, and will be happy to post it here.

TCB,
Jakob (h)

[Jungleroom76]

THANKS JAKOB!!!

Would love to see your tracklisting when you get it finished!! And, actually, I think TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME would be a worthy addition to either a blues compilation or a folk songs compilation!

TCB!
Mike

[jbgude]

Hey Mike! I am already recompiling my CD...... I am adding " Tomorrow" and perhaps " Santa Claus " but if I cannot fit in these two I plan to omit either "New Orleans" or " Trouble" from the existing disc.

I needed to edit a couple of tracks like the Ode to Billy joe intro into " High Heel sneakers" so this is a good time to redo it: anybody want my original disc ?

jb

[Lonniebealestreet]

Well, if everybody else is gonna be bashful...Has no one PM'd you about it, Rajiv?