The Jungle Room Sessions

[Brian]

The 1969 Memphis sessions and the Sun Sessions are discussed a whole lot and are very acclaimed but there is one session Elvis did in Memphis that isn't discussed half as much as those sessions i'm talking about the 1976 recording sessions held in the den of Graceland in Februrary and October of that year commonly referred to by fans as the Jungle Room Sessions

Elvis recorded these sessions at Graceland because he didn't want to record at all but was forced to by his record label so they sent Recording equipment to record Elvis at his home. What comes out of these sessions are a wide variety of good material imo She Thinks I still Care, Moody Blue, He'll Have to go, Pledging my love, Danny Boy and For the Heart. Where I think Elvis misses the mark from these sessions are Blue eyes crying in the rain, Solitare, I'll never fall in love again and the Andrew Llyod Webber-Time Rice composition It's Easy for you my main criticism of these sessions comes from this set of songs as I don't think they are as good as the originals and the fact that Elvis recorded 98% covers during this session.

2 albums were compiled from the Jungle Room Elvis Presley Boulevard and Moody Blue. EPB hit #41 on the Billboard 200 album chart while the Moody Blue album hit #3 while also hitting the exact same position in the U.K. and Australia both albums were huge hits on the country chart peaking at #1


3 hit singles came from the Jungle Room Moody Blue hit #31 on the pop charts while hitting #2 on the adult contemporary charts and was a top 10 pop hit in many countries while Way Down hit #18 on the U.S. pop charts and #1 and top 10 throughout the world. Moody blue and Way Down both topped the U.S. country charts while Hurt hit #6 there.

So all in all not a bad session commercially for Elvis what do you think of the quality of the material from the Jungle Room Sessions do you like them or dislike it. Which songs do you like it the most and which songs in particular do you hate?

A lot of people from various Elvis message boards across the internet have a very low opinion of these recordings how about you

[rickb]

I find these sessions fascinating.
The February sessions have a melancholy (spelling???) feel to them and they were over-produced on the original album. The JRS FTD release is far superior.
FELBMT was not Elvis' most commercial album nor his most polished but it was from the heart.
His voice was much stronger in October and selection of material more commercial and upbeat. Too bad it was cut short
PS
I like Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and It's Easy For You (which was an original)

[italianfan]

I like alot of the songs from these sessions. Moody Blue and Way Down, i think, have a really up to date feel, fitted in well with other music in 1976/77. Where as Pledging My Love has a good old rock nd roll feel to it.

Also didnt She thinks I still care do well in the country charts?

[molokai123]

I find these sessions fascinating.
The February sessions have a melancholy (spelling???) feel to them and they were over-produced on the original album. The JRS FTD release is far superior.
FELBMT was not Elvis' most commercial album nor his most polished but it was from the heart.
His voice was much stronger in October and selection of material more commercial and upbeat. Too bad it was cut short
PS
I like Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain and It's Easy For You (which was an original)

i have to agree,the JRS FTD is a revelation,over the over produced album, sumtime Felton went overboard with the overdubs,but these sessions as a whole are an up and down ride,but its a fascinating ride.

[debtdbruno]

I love this FTD, one of my favourites

[Tommy]

It's a shame no photos have surfaced from this session. I really love this FTD.

[Brian]

It's a shame no photos have surfaced from this session. I really love this FTD.

What do you think of the original albums Moody Blue and Elvis Presley Boulevard?

[Tommy]

What do you think of the original albums Moody Blue and Elvis Presley Boulevard?

I have them both on LP's saved the Moody Blue one, only played it once. I have not heard either of these for a long time. My turntable is no longer hooked up.

I really like the sound of the LP's something is different, the bass sounds better.

I love the original albums.

[rocknroll]

I think it's obvious that the chart success of Moody Blue (song and album), as well as Way Down benefitted greatly from Elvis' death.

[utmom2008]

I really like the sound of the LP's something is different, the bass sounds better.

I love the original albums.

Amen to that!

[Tommy]

Amen to that!

[Jungleroom76]

Personally (as my username will attest), the Jungle Room Sessions are my favorite for a variety of reasons.

First, I think the material that he recorded during the JRS are a true insight into Elvis' life at that time....perhaps an audio autobiography some might say? I just think these recordings are perhaps the closest thing we'll ever have to an in-depth look into the soul of Elvis Presley during the final years of his life and what he was feeling.

Second, while the choice of material is considered by many to be somewhat of a departure from the rock n' roll that made Elvis a worldwide sensation, I actually think that Elvis was considering a re-establishment of his country roots. Of course, Elvis had much success on the country charts during the early part of his career and considering it was getting harder for him to find good rock n' roll songs (as he eluded to during the famous Madison Square Garden press conference), I think gospel and country music were going to be the road that Elvis was going to travel down, had he lived beyond August 16th.

Third and most important, I just like the material that he recorded during the JRS. I have always been a fan of Elvis' ballads, so the fact that these sessions were heavy on the ballads is a plus for me! Of course, WAY DOWN is one of my favorite songs but for the most part, I just love the ballads that can out of these sessions.

I do have to agree that the final mixes of the JRS songs are for the most part overdone...the unmixed versions are much nicer to listen to...much cleaner and prettier.

TCB!
Mike

[utmom2008]

.
Third and most important, I just like the material that he recorded during the JRS. I have always been a fan of Elvis' ballads, so the fact that these sessions were heavy on the ballads is a plus for me! Of course, WAY DOWN is one of my favorite songs but for the most part, I just love the ballads that can out of these sessions.

TCB!
Mike

I completely agree with you...I have always loved the music that came out of those sessions.

[Jungleroom76]

I completely agree with you...I have always loved the music that came out of those sessions.

See...just one more verification that you are a very smart woman!!!




TCB!
Mike

[debtdbruno]

Pledging my Love, It's easy for you, and Bitter they are Harder they fall.........are my 3 favourite tracks on there

[Trelane P]

Only one classic song came from these sessions > Way Down. It is a cracker and worthy of it's place on any best of Elvis album. Everything else is either poor or average quality.

Hey but that's just my taste!

[debtdbruno]

Hey, I love that too........excellent beat to it
Others are a little bit melancholy, and ballady type of music. shows his voice off

[utmom2008]

See...just one more verification that you are a very smart woman!!!




TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

Pledging my Love, It's easy for you, and Bitter they are Harder they fall.........are my 3 favourite tracks on there

All excellent choices deb -- 3 of my favorites as well!!

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

Just stating the facts ma'am!!!

TCB!
Mike