Elvis Sings the Blues

[Raised on Rock]

Remember back in 1985 an Album called: "Reconsider Baby"? (rereleased on CD in1990).

It had Peter Guralnick essay in the booklet, it starts like this:

"I remember the first time I met the great bluesman, Howlin Wolf, in 1966. He started talking about white blues singers... He liked Paul Butterfield, he said, also "that other boy -what?his name? somewhere out in California, that "Hound Dog Number". He was talking about Elvis Presley. But surely Elvis couldn?t be considered strictly a blues singer, somebody pointed out. Maybe not, conceded Wolf in the great hoarse growl of his, but "he started from the blues. if he stopped, he stopped. Its nothing to laugh at. He made his pull from the blues".

Elvis was a tremendous blues singer, he had that powerfull voice, but more than that he had the blues, not everybody have it. He grew up hearing this music, he loved this music and he was able to perform it as much as well as Gospel music, he knew so much about it.

And people like the Woling Wolf and the great Muddy Waters respected for sure ELvis as blues singer, they were impresed when that boy first apeared; as far as 1956, Muddy Waters made a record called "All Aboard", it was obvious on that one that he had been following ELvis trace since "That All RIght Mama".

Joe Cocker called him "The greatest Blues singer in the world" and Jimi Hendrix who saw Elvis live in 57 aknowledge him "As a fine blues singer". Eric Clapton told Jerry Schilling that "it would be an honor to play with Elvis and James Burton".

THere had been loads and loads of Elvis Country compilations same with gospel, needless to say: Love songs (aka ballads) and of course: Elvis rockers. (same year appeared an album called Elvis the Rocker Great album cover by the way, I treasure that CD as much as Reconsider Baby)

But as far as I know, with the exception of the import: Elvis Rythm and BLues, "Reconsider Baby" stands alone as the only Blues complitation on Elvis catalogue, and actually is deleted for a long time. Pretty soon the abomination of Elvis History would be released, a non sense move, "one broken heart for sale" nice toon, but don?t think Elvis win anynew fans on that one, neither any artistical recognition among the new generations. Would bee much much better to pull some projects like the release of a compilation of ELvis BLues and R&B music? with a well planed publicity campaing, even a tv documentary about it, and a new essay inside from Guralnick ore someone like him, maybe some interviews with people like B.B. king and so... wouldn?t do so much better for Elvis than something like the history release?

But of course something like that wouldnt make so much money as the history volume will. But in the end, stuff like History will burn Elvis and there would be no more money, while other proyects like a Blues CD will preserve ELvis by the means of showing his true atistic value.

But I guess is better to bet for the safe buck way of think, and then in the future will say; well, none of ELvis 1 Second to None and History volumes lost any money. For sure no money lost, but Elvis true artistic value may will remain unknown for the newer generations

[Lonniebealestreet]

Great post, ROR. But when you start thinking so logically and in favor of preserving the legacy and spotlighting the artistry of the man, well...just know EPE is watching.

The problem is they have no faith in the public. The fans, in their eyes, are the nutjobs who will always love Elvis and have always loved Elvis, so EPE can have their way with them. And only that select group of weirdos can ever appreciate songs that go deeper into the catalogue than this Sh!tstory collection...because, you see, they were born that way.

The rest of the record-buying public can only handle the hits. If they hear anything else, immediately that conjures to mind images of a bejeweled Vegas lounge singer who eats jelly doughnuts all day long and just says, "Uh-uh-huh" and "thankyouverymuch". Besides that, that's simply all they want to hear. After going through all the top ten hits, they never think, "Hey, I wonder what else he was doing in those years," or anything of that sort. They're content with the hits because they know that's all the music he ever made.

The Elvis story is after all: rise to fame, Army, movies, Comeback, TTWII, Aloha, death.

Not that anyone around here is jaded or anything.

Whew! I feel better. Yes, I agree totally. An expanded version of Reconsider Baby is much needed, both for the sake of the variety in the Elvis catalogue and for the blues being the most underpromoted musical genre in which Elvis excelled.

[Wendy56]

"Elvis was a tremendous blues singer, he had that powerfull voice, but more than that he had the blues, not everybody have it. He grew up hearing this music, he loved this music and he was able to perform it as much as well as Gospel music, he knew so much about it..."

Yes!!! Elvis was a marvelous blues ans gospel singer. The album you mentioned contains great songs. Reconsider baby it's my favorite... Oh, how much I love that sexy piece of art...

By the way... Nice pics ROR!

[Lildarling]

yeah, "Reconsider baby" is one helluva song

But what about "Merry Christmas baby"? ok, it's x-mas themed, but nevertheless a great blues song

And "Steamroller blues" as well...

[Wendy56]

yeah, "Reconsider baby" is one helluva song

But what about 'Merry Christmas baby'?... a great blues song And "Steamroller blues" as well...

That's for sure!!! And, won't you like to be that lucky ( ) Steamroller to roll over Elvis? I guess all Elvis' blues songs are awesome. He just had the perfect voice to sing them.

[EnigmaticSun]

Yes - it's true. Elvis and the blues is a combination that may set your body and soul on fire. Like James Brown said: 'he taught white america to get down'!

Incredibly enough, Elvis was great with the blues, but with so many other styles as well. I can't really tell if he is white with a black influence, or black with a white influence!

Lonnie B. is right - EPE wants to let us think that Elvis' career was: rise to fame - army - movies - comeback - TTWII - Aloha - Death. Of course, this is not exactly the way it went, because Elvis had many great moments after the Aloha special as well. That last concert sends shivers down my spine; the voice was so terribly good...

[Raised on Rock]

Feels good to know that there is some people there that enjoy Elvis blues side, it really surprise me that RCA/BMG never had any attempt to release any BLues or R&B CD set just like they released "Great Country Songs" or even "Love", and of course all the Gospels compilations. It surpriese me to that some fans underestimate the blues sides of Elvis.

If a BLues/R&B CD set compilation would be released what would be your choices? Im not sure what would be better: a Cd with Blues sides an another with R&B sides, or a 2CD with both sides together.

These is what it goes through my mind right now.

"Elvis Presley,
Reconsider Baby (upgrade): The R&B Sides".
Any suggestions for a title?

The songs are not in strictly chronological order, but they follow that path.

CDI

1. Reconsider Baby 60'
2. That?s All Right Mama 54'(Maybe the Alt Take with false starts for a change)
3. Fool, Fool, Fool. 55'
4. Milkcow Blues Boogie. 54'
5. Good Rockin? Tonight. 54'
6. Baby Let?s Play House. 55'
7. Mystery Train. 55' (Complete till it really fades)
8. My Baby Left Me 56'
9. I Got A Woman 56'
10. So Glad You Mine 56'
11. Lawdy Miss Clawdy 56?
12. Shake Rattle And Roll 56' (I know this is more like a Rock song but it was originaly a R&B song)
13. Hound Dog 56' (Same explanation as above)
14. One Night Of SIn. 57' (Best Blues Performance from the 50's?)
15. When it Rains it Really Pours. 57?
16. Blue Christmas 57'
17. Santa CLause Is Back In TOwn. 57'
18. New Orleans 58'
19. Hard Heades Woman 58'
20. Trouble 58'
21. Aint that Loving You Baby. 58'
22. Big Hunk of Love 59' (58') (This was nominated for a Grammy as best R&B performance by a male singer in 59?)
23. A Mess of Blues 60' (Led Zepelin played this one on a classic blues songs medley tha they used to perform)
24. It Feels so RIgth. 60' (I like more the alternate from Platinium)
25. Feel SO Bad. 61' (Elvis Best BLues Performance from the 60' along with Reconsider Baby? and Stranger In My own... hard to say)

CD. 2

1. Like a Baby. 60' (Alt Take on Collectors Gold)
2. Little SIster. 61'
3. Memphis Tennessee 63' (The 60's Box from nashville to Memphis alternate take)
4. What I Say. 63'
5. Down in the Alley. 66' ( The 60's Box from nashville to Memphis alternate take)
6. Tomorrow is a Long Time 66' /Maybe The alternate take on FTD So high)
7. Big Boss Man. 67' (Same as above)
8. Hi-Heel Sneakers. 67' (The complete unedited version as released in the 60?s box)
9. Tiger Man. Live 68'
10. Baby What You Want Me To Do Live 68' (6:00 Pm Third Version or we can be creative an make a splice between the second and the third version of that show, and the version on the 8:00 pm show specially for these CD)
11. Stranger in My Own Home Town. 69' (FTD Memphis Sessions version)
12. Reconsider Baby. Live 69'
13. My Babe Live 69' (Elvis In person)
14. See See Rider. Live 70' (In the Elvis Platinium Version the solo is more raw, better for these release)
15. Got My Mojo Workin?/Keep You Hands Off of it 70' (unedited and undubbed Jam from essential Elvis Vol. 4)
16. Merry Christmas Baby 71' (with the James Burton Guitar overdubb, maybe theres a unreleased long version but with the overdubb guitar lick form James)
17. Just A Little Bit 73'
18. Find Out Whats Happening 73' (Maybe here we can edit the MuleskinerBlues fragment on the Essentian Elvis Vol 5 jut before this song, but the song itself would be the master released on Raised on Rock)
19. Steam Roller Blues 73' (I got a bootleg that has this song out of radio show with Wolfman Jack introducinf this then Elvis new single)
20. Promised Land 73' (Today Tomarrow and Forever released take)
21. If You Don?t COme Back 73' (Alternate take from Essential 5)
22. Three COrn Patches. 73 (Alternate take from Essential 5)
23. Santa Claus is back in Town/Father Along/Oh Happy Day (rehearsals released on TTIIW Spetial Edition)
24 Stranger in My own HOme Town (slow vesion) 70' (rehearsal released on the 70's box Walk a Mile in my Shoes)

What do yo think? I really need to know. Will you buy this one? This was a long post, hope you don?t hate me for that, doesn?t have any one to share this stuff so I needed to take it out.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Wow! What an impressive collection of music that is...for any genre!

It makes you sick when it's pointed out this way how BMG clearly isn't getting the job done.

You know? There is no reason a tracklisting like that should not be on a mainstream release, but we look at it and think, no way that will happen! Not with the current trends being what they are, anyway.

Great songlist, ROR. Obviously a lot of thought went into that. Nobody's hating you for it and yes, if you release that set, I'll give you some business.

[EnigmaticSun]

That's a very nice tracklisting - I was thinking about 'Shake A Hand', because I did not see this one and I thought it was a R&B original.

[Raised on Rock]

Yeah Shake a Hand is a nice R&B song, I like the alternate take just released on FTD Today; there are more great R&B song for sure, I just wanted to be a 25/25 two Cd Set, not sure if there is space for more on a Cd.

Shake a Hand is a good choice if there is more space, I was also thinking on "Tiget Man" as the studio take recorded on those same sessions.

Some other songs that I will concider to add are:

"I?ll Need Sombody to Lean On" 63' (probably the closest thing we got of Elvis singing some Jazz, this is a great performance, pretty unknown and underrated, this one should deserve more atention; imagine Elvis singing "My Funny Valentine" around this same period.)

"Only The STrong Survive" 69' a soul classic by Jerry Butler, and one of Elvis greatest performances.

"Money Honey" 56' Originaly recorded by The Drifters. Elvis deliver is just great.


Maybe some one remembers some others that can be here to.

PD And maybe there?s still a BLues Jam hidden somewhere...

Its been known that Elvis financed Crudup?s recording sessions with Fire Records, but the two of them never meet (Elvis His Life From A to Z. Fred L. Worth page 41) does anybody know something more about it?

[Jungleroom76]

Great post, ROR. But when you start thinking so logically and in favor of preserving the legacy and spotlighting the artistry of the man, well...just know EPE is watching.

The problem is they have no faith in the public. The fans, in their eyes, are the nutjobs who will always love Elvis and have always loved Elvis, so EPE can have their way with them. And only that select group of weirdos can ever appreciate songs that go deeper into the catalogue than this Sh!tstory collection...because, you see, they were born that way.

The rest of the record-buying public can only handle the hits. If they hear anything else, immediately that conjures to mind images of a bejeweled Vegas lounge singer who eats jelly doughnuts all day long and just says, "Uh-uh-huh" and "thankyouverymuch". Besides that, that's simply all they want to hear. After going through all the top ten hits, they never think, "Hey, I wonder what else he was doing in those years," or anything of that sort. They're content with the hits because they know that's all the music he ever made.

The Elvis story is after all: rise to fame, Army, movies, Comeback, TTWII, Aloha, death.

Not that anyone around here is jaded or anything.

Whew! I feel better. Yes, I agree totally. An expanded version of Reconsider Baby is much needed, both for the sake of the variety in the Elvis catalogue and for the blues being the most underpromoted musical genre in which Elvis excelled.

YOU??? SOUND JADED???? NAHHHH...

Gee, I've never noticed that EPE basically wants nothing to do with Elvis in the post-Aloha years...wonder why that is???

Seriously pal, as always, you have hit the nail right on the head!! Of course you know my feelings on EPE's treatment of Elvis post-Aloha, but I also agree with you and ROR that a new compilation of Elvis' R & B material is DEFINITELY warranted....I mean, let's face it....how many more gospel compilations does RCA plan to cram into the marketplace??? Then of course, there is the VERY EXCITING "Sh!tstory" (nice name, by the way!) set which will be in stores next month.....gee, what a creative piece of marketing genius that set is!!!

At the very least, an upgraded version of the RECONSIDER BABY CD is warranted with bonus songs! Sadly, though, I am also a jaded Elvis fan and just don't see RCA even giving this idea a second thought....MAYBE Ernst will consider giving this idea of an updated R & B collection some thought for a future FTD release, but as a mainstream RCA product....I won't be holding my breath!!

And as I have said many times before, EPE/RCA really doesn't know what they are missing by not seriously considering this type of a release for the general public...but apparently RCA feels that re-re-re-re-re-re-re-releasing HOUND DOG is much more attractive to the public than issuing a compilation of R & B material with songs like DOWN IN THE ALLEY, TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME, SHAKE A HAND, etc.
As Fats Domino once said...."Ain't That A Shame"...

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

Great songlist, ROR. Obviously a lot of thought went into that. Nobody's hating you for it and yes, if you release that set, I'll give you some business.

I AGREE ROR!!! IF YOU RELEASE THAT SET, COUNT ME IN!!!

TCB!
Mike

[T_J]

Great thread Raised on Rock and nice tracklist. I'd lose the tracks from Raised on Rock as I think they are below par, but I guess we don't agree on that judging by your choice of name Otherwise it would be a fantastic set and although i have all the songs I'd certainly buy it. With imaginative and inspiring presentation and good promotion, it could do well. I'm sure it would be reviewed favourably by the critics too.

[Raised on Rock]

I Agree about If you Don´t Come Back and Three Corn Patches, maybe they could be considered below the standard, we could take them out in favour of others; but I think "Just a Little Bit" and "Find Out What´s Happening" are great R&B tracks, both have great guitar work from Jame Burton (a man that is a legend on his own) and Elvis sounds all right, maybe his voice is a little bit too low, but it doesn´t sound wrong to me, lot of R&B singers use that aproach, any way Elvis was having a hard time those days, but its part of the whole panoramic view of this hipotetic CD.

I think those tracks are somekind underrated under the prejuice of: Elvis was having trouble with his voice in the summer of 73', and the after the Satellite Show there is anything else to care. Those tracks: Just a little BIt and FInd Out Whats Happening are really not well known, but, at least for the Elvis Fans with a taste for the Hard Rock and R&B material could be great companions for Promised Land, recorded a few months later in the same place, they could be a way to disolve the mith that after the Aloha there was no more rock and roll. I Mean, Its ELvis at the famous Stax Studios! and this is an R&B CD.

I choose If you don´t come back becaue of that, is 100% 70's Stax sound, remember Shaft? haha...