About the Songs They Called "The Greatest Shit"

[ElvisBlue]

These words are not my words and for sure it's not my opinion, of course there is no Song of Elvis who should be called like this...

...My question in this thread is, what is your opinion about some song, like "Queenie Wahini's Papaya", "Ito Eats", "Dominic", "Crawfish", "There's No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car", etc.?
Some of the music-critic said that about these songs...

...For me some of them are nice, especially i like "Crawfish" and "Song Of The Shrimp". These songs have a great feeling, I think. Others, like "Dominic", "Ito Eats" or "Britches", are really funny. And the rest of the songs only gets they effect in the movies.

But these kind of Songs aren't the first who gets listed when we talk about Elvis' songs, but on the Elvis-Songlist they're still there...
So what do think about this kind of songs...?

Take Care,...ElvisBlue

[RS277]

I agree the title is in extremely bad taste. It's actually a 1977 bootleg lp. I assume the bootlegger is implying the song list on his lp was the bottom of the barrel in Elvis' song book, thus comes the title.

Of course the opionion of an ***** that would name his album "Elvis' Greatest ****" , speaks for itself.

[Sonny]

The entire release suffered from bad taste. As I recall the cover picture is the one of Elvis in his coffin... So, that's even worse than the title.

And sure, some of the songs are really poor, but this release is not one to take very seriously. It is however a title that's not so easy to come by these days.

Sonny

[jbgude]

Taste is subjective - there a few songs that many people pan that I have always liked " Song of the shrimp" is one of them.

[Cryogenic]

Come on, people, get a sense of humour!

I doubt Elvis held most of these songs in high esteem - why should we? In my opinion, that explains the title. I like it.

Nonetheless, taste is subjective and songs are songs. Once a song has been recorded and released, it is essentially "out there". Thus, people are free to enjoy it. Clearly, the act of compiling some of these songs together on a single album belies an inherent value perceived by the album-maker in the songs themselves. In other words, actions speak louder than words, so don't berate this guy too harshly.

Just my two cents.

[semero]

Elvis´ Greatest Shit ( Dog Vomit Records LP 1980 )


Red Vinyl

The LP was originally released in 1980.
It offended a great many people with the artwork and the bonus description by doctor nick.

01 Old Mac DonaId Had A Farm
02 Ito Eats
03 There's No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car
04 Confidence
05 Yoga Is As Yoga Does
06 Song Of The Shrimp
07 U.S.Male
08 Ford Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce
09 Signs Of The Zodiac
10 The Bullfighter Was A Lady
11 Wolf Call
12 Can't Help Falling In Love
13 He's Your Uncle Not Your Dad
14 Scratch My Back Then I'll Scratch Yours
15 The Walls Have Ears
16 Poison Ivy League
17 Beach Boy Blues
18 Dominic
19 Queenie Wahine's Papaya
20 Do The Clambake *
21 Datin'
22 Are You Lonesome Tonight? ( live 1977 )

* Track 20 was a medley : Do the Clam > Clambake.


Green Vinyl


Elvis`Greatest Shit first pressing as CD was in 1997 ( Dog Vomit > CD with red label ) and the second CD pressing in 2002 ( Arc Victim > SUX 005 ) .





01. Introduced (:31)
02. Old Mac Donald (2:05) Double Trouble '67
03. Ito Eats (1:22) Blue Hawaii '61
04. There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car (1:52) Fun in Acapulco '63
05. Confidence (2:33) Clambake '67
06. Yoga Is As Yoga Does (2:09) Easy Come Easy Go '67
07. Song of the Shrimp (2:20) Girls Girls Girls '62
08. US Male (2:42)
09. The Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce (1:32) Girl Happy '65
10. Signs of the Zodiac (2:18) The Trouble with Girls '69
11. The Bullfighter Was A Lady (2:03) Fun in Acapulco '63
12. Wolf Call (1:27) Girl Happy '65
13. Can't Help Falling In Love (1:30) Blue Hawaii '61
14. He's Your Uncle, Not Your Dad (2:28) Speedway '68
15. Scratch My Back (2:15) Paradise Hawaiian Style '66
16. The Walls Have Ears (2:31) Girls Girls Girls '62
17. Poison Ivy League (2:03) Roustabout '64
18. Beach Boy Blues (2:02) Blue Hawaii '61
19. Dominic the Impotent Bull (1:43) Stay Away, Joe '68
20. Queenie Wahine's Papaya (1:34) Paradise Hawaiian Style '66
21. Do the Clambake - Medley (2:46) Girl Happy '65/Clambake '67
22. Datin' (1:36) Paradise Hawaiian Style '66
23. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (2:47) Live '77

Bonus Tracks:
24. Intro Reprise (:31)
25. Yoga Is As Yoga Does (1:54) film version w/Elsa Lanchester '67
26. Smorgasbord (1:58) Spinout '66
27. Petunia the Gardener's Daughter (2:59) Frankie and Johnny '66
28. Barefoot Ballad (2:25) Kissin' Cousins '64
29. Cotton Candy Land (1:34) It Happened at the World's Fair '63
30. I'm Not the Marryin' Kind (1:50) Follow That Dream '62
31. A Cane and a High Starched Collar (1:47) Flaming Star '60
32. You're the Boss - w/Ann-Margret (2:31) Viva Las Vegas '64
33. Who Needs Money? (3:16) Clambake '67
34. The Whiffenpoof Song (:31) The Trouble with Girls '69
35. Violet (Flower of N.Y.U.) (:53) The Trouble with Girls '69
36. All I Needed Was the Rain (2:09) Stay Away, Joe '68
37. A Dog's Life (5:09) Paradise Hawaiian Style '66

[Jungleroom76]

The entire release suffered from bad taste. As I recall the cover picture is the one of Elvis in his coffin... So, that's even worse than the title.

And don't forget the "bonus" prescription inside the album jacket from Dr. Nick!!!

I agree with you completely Sonny that this release was in EXTREMELY bad taste! True, the songs included on the album were certainly not Elvis' best material, but still....regardless of what songs are included on any album, calling ANY music Elvis recorded s**t is derogatory to the man's legacy!!!

It is however a title that's not so easy to come by these days.

Certainly can't argue with you on the collectibility of this album though!!

TCB!
Mike

[Tommy]

I think it stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tommy

[Lonniebealestreet]

I don't own this record, nor have I sought it out.

I do wonder about one thing about it. Which version of CHFIL does it feature? I was thinking a logical choice might be the one from Dayton '74 in which he sang, "...can't help falling in sh!t with you," which is really quite amusing.

[Cryogenic]

Hmm...

That is testy cover art! I actually think the prescription note is quite funny - but the front cover is a step too far! Clearly, this thing was meant to provoke and offend. I'm sorry I defended it now.

[elvisdownunder]

U.S male, can't help falling in love, are you lonesome tonight, Elvis's greatest shit? especially U.S male, thats some of Elvis's BEST shit

[Kapu]

Yeah, I thought "good shit" was a compliment, so "greatest shit" has to be even better, right?

I like some of these songs for various reasons. "Girls! Girls! Girls!" was my introduction to Elvis so I have a soft spot for all the songs in it, even "Song of The Shrimp" and "The Walls Have Ears".

By no means are any of these Elvis' best output, but every song has its place. If you're sitting around a campfire and you suddenly get the urge to sing an Elvis song, are you gonna sing "Hurt" or "Song of The Shrimp"? (Ok, so you'd sing neither; I'd sing "Song of The Shrimp" because I'm weird that way...)

To me, a song is really bad only if it fails in creating the mood or feeling it's supposed to. For example, "Do The Clam" was apparently done in all seriousness, with the goal of being "hip" and introducing a new "dance craze". Boy, does that one fail royally. That song truly is hideous, in terms of lyrics, melody and rhythm - nothing "hip" about it.

On the other hand, many of the other songs on the compilation were supposed to be comical, and guess what, they succeed. If you're not laughing your posteriors off while listening to "Yoga Is As Yoga Does", something's wrong with you. So to me, that song is good - it's supposed to make me laugh and it does.

Of course, if you take your Elvis really seriously and feel that he had the capacity to be a "serious actor" and shouldn't have been doing fun fluffy comedy movies and songs, then you're not gonna like any of these. That's certainly one valid way of looking at the songs. Me, I like the goofy fun stuff, and would rather see something like "Softly As I Leave You" on a compilation named like this. That one grates my nerves more than the 22 songs on this compilation combined!

The cover picture is vile, it must be said.

[Sonny]

Yep, that's the cover I was thinkin about...

It still is horrible, especially with the text below the picture... I appreciate a sense of humour, but this is just as tasteless today as it was the day this pile of sh*t got released.

Sonny

[nabelt24]

I have to say that "U.S. Male" and "Can't Help Falling In Love" are deffinately no where close to being "shit" songs!!!!

[KPM]

Come on, people, get a sense of humour!

I doubt Elvis held most of these songs in high esteem - why should we? In my opinion, that explains the title. I like it.

Nonetheless, taste is subjective and songs are songs. Once a song has been recorded and released, it is essentially "out there". Thus, people are free to enjoy it. Clearly, the act of compiling some of these songs together on a single album belies an inherent value perceived by the album-maker in the songs themselves. In other words, actions speak louder than words, so don't berate this guy too harshly.

Just my two cents.

I see this as nothing more thatn a gig at Elvis and his fans. Its an inside joke by whoever did this-They bought it before now we give it a horrid cover, horrid title and they will buy it again. The songs are not the best but have an innocence that fit the movies. The innocence of those times is gone, and to be truthful I miss them. Perhaps to some its humor but not to me. Sometimes what passes today for humor is what we called bad taste-crossing the unwritten line for a buck or a point.

[Jungleroom76]

WELL SAID KPM!!!!

By the way, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to the TCB-World Forum!! It's a pleasure to have you here as a member of our family, and we hope to see you posting around the board often!!

TCB!
Mike

[KPM]

WELL SAID KPM!!!!

By the way, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to the TCB-World Forum!! It's a pleasure to have you here as a member of our family, and we hope to see you posting around the board often!!

TCB!
Mike

Thanks for the welcome, I have appreciate the kindness.

[Albert]

Critics....... they are the worst

According to them only acts like Bob Dylan and the Beatles are great. They forget to music is not only to birng a message or a piece of art across, but formost to entertain people. And that's where Elvis comes in.

The interview before the Aloha Elvis summs it up perfectly: "in the one hour that the show comes across, we will try to make people happy, no messages or anything".

I enjoy those simple songs, that critics call shit, they are upbeat and can make you smile. Fortunately Elvis also offers serious and good pieces of music. There's no artist that was so balanced as Elvis....