Reply With Quote1978 to 2005, because he should've still been here.
__________
"Wasted years, wasted years, oh how foolish."
Wasted Year?
Hi everyone!
I was wondering if ya'll ever thought that Elvis might have wasted his time and talent in a certain time period???Think over certian years and look at what he accomplished keeping mind the "quality" verus time spent. For instance consider the following years:
1965
1966
1971
1976
Thanks so much, can't wait to hear what ya'll think!
I don't know anything about music.
1978 to 2005, because he should've still been here.
__________
"Wasted years, wasted years, oh how foolish."
I see what yor saying, and while I may not have used the word 'wasted', I do understand what you mean.
Personally, the movie contracts for me, were a disaster for Elvis. His artistic creativity was stifled, so I would neary say everything from Viva Las Vegas untill the 68' Comeback, was a low period.
Of course, we can't forget How Great Thou Art and other great recordings during this period, but if we are to be general then, in the most blatent way by saying that I am being so.
Then 68', 69', 70' for me were excellent years. Then by 71', I'd nearly say that the lethargy of performing in Vegas starts to creep in on Elvis. Same situation as the 60's with a vegas contract replacing the movie ones. I think 71', would have been a great year to of taken Elvis Global, with a European and Asian tour.
72' - MSG, On Tour and one of my favourite Elvis years just for those two reasons. Elvis also had an image change during this year. He developed the image that became associated with him for the rest of his career, introducing a lot more jewlery etc..
73' - Bar Aloha, I think it was a wasted year.
74' - I happen to like this year, don't know why, maybe its the enthusiasm, albeit short, with a whole new set for Vegas.
75' - I think that year went well. He was in great voice, on the road a lot, but seemed to be sorta stuck in cruise control. Not a bad thing, but no real highs, or for that matter lows in my opinion. I really enjoy 75' soundboards.
76'/77' I think this was wasted. He shouldent of been performing at this stage, and the performances wernt as good, because Elvis wasnt healthy. Ultimately these tours/performances cost him his life.
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
Yes!
SadlyOriginally Posted by PaleRider
you are so right, yes He should have been here if only he could have had the right help and the right time.
I don't know anything about music.
Some great points...
(He should have had this time for healing and deliverance from his personal demons.)
I don't know anything about music.
1973 was not a wasted year when it came to his studio recordings. in july 'for ol time sake ' and i've got a thing about you baby were great songs recorded, and then don't forget the november and december sessions at stax that year. such classics as 'its midnight' and 'promised land'. i can't say that this was a wasted year
also 76 and 77 were'nt wasted years, again recordings such as hurt, moody blue and also, the spring tours. i would'nt shift the years, but i woud shift the months. eg spring tours of 77, moved to 1976 so that in 77 he coud have a year off and come back better than ever
personally i wish Elvis recorded those songs such as energy, thats what u do to me etc. he would've had his first killer album in years!
the only years wasted were 1959, when E was in the army, and 1965, when only movie soundtracks were recorded
this topic was a good idea
sincerely, Scott, a 15 year old Elvis fan
prayers to Jackie my auntie in law, and R.I.P Charlie Hodge, both victims of cancer
Your right about the Stax and Jungle Room Sessions. But I can't help but feel that both those sessions, only showed glimpses of his ability, and they really stretched the albums out of them as well.
Has he done what you were suggesting, it would have been fantastic. Anyone know what they might have called the Album from the January 1977 Nashville recordings, had Ginger not being playing up and Elvis then declaring he had a toothache?
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
I don't know, but I would say that in all likelihood the usual method to choose an album title would have been employed: the Colonel asks Larry Geller to come up with a couple titles via his Ouija board, and then he blows a few hundred thousand in a casino from two "accounts", each representing a different proposed title. Whichever one lasts longer wins, and voila--we get a title like Elvis Sings For Blue-Haired Old Ladies And Midgets. It's genius.
...you won't forget me when I go.
maybe something like theres a fire down below, energy, well look at the song titles that are from the cold night in nashville cd, they're all fantastic for an album title!
like i said, this could've been Elvis's strongest album sice the late 73 stax sessions. the tracklisting could've looked like this. i think songs from the late 76 sessions could also have made the cut, and the moody blue album could use other titles
1.theres a fire down below
2.by day by day
3.rainy night in georgia
4.energy
5.thats what you do to me
6.thats what you do to me
7.yes i do
8.way down
9.he'll have to go
10.its easy for you
thats not in order, plus the last 2 songs and rainy night would have given the album a real fresh feel. like i said, had E done the album, i think it would've been one of his finest .oh what might have been
sincerely, Scott, a 15 year old Elvis fan
prayers to Jackie my auntie in law, and R.I.P Charlie Hodge, both victims of cancer
Personally, I think that the true wasted years were 1965 (only movie soundtracks) and 1967-1968 because of the way they released the nashville 1967-1968 material (a BIG BOSS MAN album would have been his best studio album since ELVIS IS BACK!).
1966 was not wasted thanks to the HOW GREAT THOU ART LP.
1971 was not thanks to the incredible ELVIS COUNTRY and to the underrated WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS (remember it reached #1 in the Christian charts and remains one of the best christmas sellers).
1973 was definately not a wasted year : ALOHA + STAX July + STAX December = some of his best music ever. Taylor?s live cover, both White?s tunes and Berry?s cover being some nice examples.
1976 was not a total wast but could have been much better if they had done one Graceland LP instead of two.
I think the endless touring was much more wasteful than the movies. Why do I say this? When Elvis made those films, he was still a young man - and it was good that, despite the quality of the films themselves, he was captured so clearly on celluloid. Again, because he was a young man, he was able to bounce back and re-invent himself in 1968 and again in 1969. No problemo. But once Elvis got locked into touring, he was really starting to feel his own mortality. The touring was the killer. But the touring was also a sort of "chicken and egg". In other words, Elvis spiralling health and depression re-inforced the drive to tour just as the touring reinforced his spiralling health and depression. It's a sad state of affairs when you think about it. What's more, his shows were WAAAY too short - and I've never appreciated rock numbers he had no passion for and sped up/truncated versions of many songs he did. Just a waste. (Yet it must be said that many great performances come from this same era).
At the end of the day, it's swings and roundabouts. Being an Elvis fan, I don't think you can ringfence off any part of his life. You have to accept it all for what it is.
He's got it!
...you won't forget me when I go.
Hey, hey, hey....I LOVE that album!!!!
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
PRECISELY CRYOGENIC!!!!
I couldn't agree with you more on this one!! Although Elvis' career had many highs and lows, I don't think you can write off any one particular year as being "wasted".
There are certainly periods of Elvis' career that are lowlights, such as the abysmal College Park shows in September, 1974. But then again, the opening engagement in August '74 in Las Vegas, where Elvis tried changing up his concert song lineup, was an excellent show! Elvis didn't really give a very good show in South Bend on October 1st, 1974 (as heard on the FTD release DRAGONHEART) but he gave some outstanding shows in Houston and Memphis in March '74. So can you write off the entire year of 1974, just because he gave a few poor performances? In my opinion, you can't because despite some poor performances, there were many other good ones. And as I see it, most of Elvis' life was like that....despite some lowlights in his career, there were many highlights that kind of overshadowed the lower points.
But to narrow it down and label specific years as being "wasted", I just don't think you can do that...but again, that's just my humble opinion!!
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
If only the audience on opening night 74 in vegas had responded better to his bew line up. He may have just kept it....
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
ABSOLUTELY 0349054!!!
Have you ever heard this show?? If not, you definitely owe it to yourself to find a copy and listen to it....it is a GREAT show, and you are 100% right that it is a shame that the show was not more well received!!
Could you imagine the possibilities of his concert song lineups during the rest of '74 and beyond, had he received a positive response from this opening show and started changing his lineup more dramatically??
It is indeed a shame and another missed opportunity for The King...
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
Yeah I've heard it. Loved Down in the Alley, it's such a shame. Imagine 74' with a new set list and a Gospel TV special. What could have been......!
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
I don't think you can define any years as wasted.......
Think about being contracted to do something for 5 or 6 years, at first the thrill and excitment will be second to none, the live audience new material mixed with some of the classics, two or three hundred concerts later the shine has gone off the thrill. The audience that loves you will not let you change the format and your creativity is stifled, the contracts come to an end and you realise that you will have to maintain a punishing schedule to maintain yours and your entourages lifestyle!
I can't think of a single year when something hasn't contributed to the legend.
We should not get cought up in the same trap as EPE who have conveniently erased the last four years of Elvis' life because it suits them!
It's because Elvis worked through the highs and lows for the fans that makes me respect him all the more.
Matt
I agree that you can not call any year truely wasted. In every soundtrack there were moments that I can say were very satisfying. To me most of the movies
are worth the watch.(if you just want mindless fun removed from real life) I honestly think doing the soundtracks gave Elvis a way to develope his range and style. I mean you name it in the soundtracks he got a chance to sing it. Broadway type songs, rock, ballads, blues, country ets...Also if the Col. had let him he was getting stronger as an actor in 68, 69.
Posting Permissions
