The Cancelled Jan. '77 Recording Sessions

[Jungleroom76]

We briefly spoke about this in the "Down In The Jungle Room" thread, but I thought this topic might warrant it's own thread...

There are many published rumors as to what songs Elvis had in mind to record in Nashville during his January 1977 recording sessions. Of course, as we all know, Elvis never made it to those sessions and thus consequently, the October '76 sessions held in the Jungle Room were Elvis' last recording sessions ever.

BUT...what I would like to do is to find out what songs everyone thinks Elvis SHOULD have recorded during those January '77 sessions, if Elvis had made it to Nashville!

Should he have continued to re-examine his country music roots, as he was doing to some degree already? Remember that MOODY BLUE wound up being a #1 COUNTRY HIT in early '77! Obviously, Elvis' music was once again being accepted by the country music fans...so would Elvis have continued down this path? Or, would he have tried some new Rock N' Roll numbers? Would Elvis have experimented with disco? Disco was becoming quite popular in 1977, and one could even say that WAY DOWN had an almost disco-like feel to it. Perhaps Elvis would have been simply satisfied continuing to record music which held personal meaning to him, like he had during his 2 previous sessions in the Jungle Room at Graceland?

Any thoughts??

TCB!
Mike

[carolynlm]

The one thing I have always been grateful about was that Elvis didn't do any disco material. I know that Saturday Night Fever was reaching the headlines all around the world and disco-fever was the rage......even I bought that album, but Elvis was Elvis and I really think he would have stayed within the ranges that he had found tried and true throughout his own recording career. Could you imagine Elvis singing something like 'Stayin' Alive'....perish the thought.....Elvis didn't really need to follow trends, he just needed to do what he did best, and the thing he did best was to sing whatever came from his heart.

[curtis simpkins]

He might have done "Fire down blow" and it would be nice if he did.
and he might do another country album. with "Let me be there" & If you love me let me know."

[peter]

I think that Elvis didn?t like studio sessions... He loved audience and fans!!! That?s the reason why he played to end of his life... But the songlist which should be recorded in Jan 77 is well known...

[peter]

Songlist...

1. That?s What You Do To Me
2. Energy
3. Rainy Day In Georgia
4. Day by Day
5. Let Me On
6. Yes I Do

[peter]

But I think that October 76 session is great studio adios for fans!!! All songs are cool from this session!

[curtis simpkins]

I Don't know i think that Elvis did love working in the studio, he just didnt like the people he had to put up with.

[Lonniebealestreet]

I think it would have been more in the country vein, but still I think there would be elements of all his influences--as all his recording sessions had basically been from the beginning. But the country charts were treating him nice during that time, and so perhaps there would have been a little more effort to concentrate on that type of material--as long as nobody told him to do so...in which case he might have made that disco album like Carolyn wanted!

[Jungleroom76]

Originally posted by carolynlm@May 28 2004, 06:08 AM
Elvis didn't really need to follow trends, he just needed to do what he did best, and the thing he did best was to sing whatever came from his heart.

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF!!

Thanks everyone for your input....it definitely would be interesting to see what would have happened. Perhaps, had Elvis lived beyond that fateful August day, he would have decided to just continue recording at Graceland...maybe even going as far as to build his own recording studio. Elvis could have set another first in his career -- having his very own recording studio at home!!

As for putting up with the studio people, that could very well be a big part of his reasoning for not wanting to work in the studio...but considering he was in charge of the session, I would guess he could just put an end to the whole thing if he wanted to or if he didn't like the way things were going. But then again....Elvis had such an incredible sense of loyalty and respect, that unless he was REALLY mad about something, he probably wouldn't just put an end to everything out of respect for the musicians, studio executives, etc. Another key reason to think that Elvis might have wound up building his own recording studio at Graceland...he could work on music IF and WHEN he wanted, without studio executives watching his every move!

And yes Bobby, I imagine he would have probably continued in the country flavor, since as you said, the country music charts were very good to him in 1977!!

THANKS AGAIN for your input everyone!
TCB!
Mike

[rick]

That was actually `Rainy Night In Georgia' that was planned, another nice Tony Joe White song that Elvis would have done so well.
Pity
rick

[Jungleroom76]

I agree Rick....just from the little snippet you hear of Elvis singing "Rainy Night In Georgia" while riding in the car during ELVIS ON TOUR, it sounds like he would have done a FANTASTIC job with that song!!

Truly a shame he didn't record it...

TCB!
Mike

[rick]

And it's a pity he didn't chose more of Tony Joe's songs to record. He's a great writer and his material always suited Elvis so well.
I would have loved to hear Elvis do `Feelin' Snakey' which is a fantastic rocker on TJW's most recent album,
rick

[Jungleroom76]

It is a shame that Elvis didn't record more of Tony Joe's material!! :cry:

I would have also liked to see Elvis record some more of Mark James' material as well....I think Mark's songs are some of the strongest of the Elvis catalog!!

TCB!
Mike

[elVis112]

I would have loved to hear a professionally recorded studio version of "Unchained Melody" and also "My Way" had been a great addition to a 77 studio album.

[U.S. Male]

I have read at least three accounts where Rainy Night in Georgia was being strongly considered as a choice for recording. There are a few other songs that, in my opinion, been very well suited for Elvis:

1) Green River (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
This song is a true swamp rocker that would have suited Elvis vocal and style perfectly, plus one could just imagine hearing James Burton pickin' that catchy guitar solo.

2) Crying (Roy Orbison)
Here would have been an excellent sad song for Elvis to perform, although it might possibly have been better had he tried it during the late 50's-early 60's while his voice was a bit higher, but regardless I am sure Elvis could have made it an even bigger song as Orbison did.

3) Sunday Morning Coming Down (Johnny Cash)
Another gritty song with a country tone that again could have suited Elvis well tremendously.

4) I Saw The Light (Hank Williams)
This old time classic up-tempo gospel song would have been right up Elvis' alley, because of the superb arrangement and the fact that Elvis loved gospel music so much.

5) Ruby (Kenny Rogers)
Here would have been a song that I am sure Elvis could have made even bigger than Kenny Rogers had he attempted it. The songs story is a classic and the musical arrangement is superb due the the haunting sound that comes from it.