One Track......... One Picture.......

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Ok it's been a while since we had a topic addressing new fans and how you would enlist them into the fandom.

So if you had to show a picture which summed up Elvis and one Elvis track what would it be? (very hard to do I know) you might want to do a each decade kind of thing, 50's, 60's and 70's your choice. Heres mine

50's - Jailhouse Rock

60's - Suspicious Minds

70's - Burning Love

Now your probably going to say you have picked songs that are pretty run of the mill because there is so much material out there!! yes I have and for good reason, many everyday non Elvis fans will have heard all of the songs I have chosen, this will suck them in until I can strap them in a chair and delve deeper and pick some other tracks more unknown

As for the pictures.... yes I have gone with what people preconceptually associate each decade to be, I just don't think showing some 70's stage shot will entice them into the fold with the exception of something from TTWII or maybe Aloha from Hawaii? (Once strapped to the chair I could give them a slide show of my collection)

Matt

[diamond]

Great question
If I wanted anyone to be introduced to Elvis it would have to be the 70s...and especially TTWII, but I also think the 68 special would be a highlight too

[MauriceColgan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCFJC8GMCsU
Thanks to PEP on FECC

[spinout-designs]

An impossible task really, Matt,particularly for an artist who covered as many diverse styles as Elvis did.

However, to try and work within your boundaries I'm going to place a vote for the 60's as being the most suitable period to pool from.

For the picture, probably a live 1969 stage shot of him really rocking out, or completely immersed in his craft, wearing contemporary style clothing and from a year of course which he was still at the peak of his powers.

Musically, again 1969 would be a good year to go for, either studio wise or live, that said, I'd probably also select the studio track 'Suspicious Minds' (as have you) as being as good a choice as any, if it had to be just the one track.

Perhaps a track such as 'One Night' from the Black Leather sit down show performance of the Comeback Special would be a better choice actually, marrying the return to live appearances with the rocking rebel of the 50's (and including a dash of the familiar Presley humour for good measure) as well as showcasing the power of the later years performance wise.

No, I was right, it's an impossible task

[elvislady]

I think the 70s era would be great.
elvislady

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think the 70s era would be great.
elvislady

Love the picture of the White Sleek 1970 shot

Matt

[Raised on Rock]

Too dificult to decide for just one track one pic, but heres is my choice if you ask me just for one:

***Mystery Train***

THe Sun sound, those where the sessions that leaded to a revolution, great stuff, still remains as the this is rock and roll about, that powerfull raw sound that incites provokes and evokes A LOT! inside your body and mind, delivered in basic 3 piece band, when I hear nowdays bands like "The White Stripes" or "The Yeah Yeah Yeahs", thats it man, they even keep the tape echo cause is just such a great sound that can be surpased, even Bob DYlans new album "Modern TImes" gives you traces from the Sun era, actually any classic Rock album in one way or another is in debt with the Sun sessions and the early Elvis RCA sound.

Now from all the great tracks ELvis did there "Mystery Train" from my point of view was the one that hit us deeply, there is something about it that is so Elvis, so unmistakeable ELvis yet so undefinable, it is not explosive but haunting, and it is not just simple early days rock and roll, this is not Berrys Maybellene or Richards Lucille, this is not like any Beatles classic track or The STones Satisfaction, this is not even like other Elvis classics from any era, there is something about this song that makes it undated, and it contains in itself all the faces of what latter Elvis and rock music could be, and you can play it any time today in between any kind of rock bands, and there is something on that song tha would not make it sound like an oldie, but like a spectrum that pull some nerves and leave us wondering what the hell was that, there is something gloomy about it and it is simply a perfect record, if you dont like this, well thats fine, but you just simply do not understand rock and roll music and neither ELvis, no matter what other kind of music did he tried latter.

Just one Image, if there is only a chance to show one image Ill go for something like this:

[U.S. Male]

Those are all great looking photos imo...

[elvislady]

Love the picture of the White Sleek 1970 shot

Matt

thanks jumpsuite junkie

[MISSCLAWDY]

it's very hard to make a choice, but I think it would be best from '68 on!!!

[Wendy56]

I voted for 50s Elvis. I feel people does not know so much about it. 70s are famous and popular, but I think the rockabilly era is very important in Elvis life and work. Go 50s!

[Elvisgirl]

I think the 70s era would be great.
elvislady

me too

[Raised on Rock]

I voted for 50s Elvis. I feel people does not know so much about it. 70s are famous and popular, but I think the rockabilly era is very important in Elvis life and work. Go 50s!

Cool! Seems sometimes that The Elvis Sun Sessions are more respected by rock music people that are not necesary elvis fans than by most of Elvis fans themslves isnt it?

So you like my choice? what is yours if you can only chose one Elvis 50?s song to represent the man?

P.S. Before someone want to kill me I just want to say that I do Love ELvis music from the 60's and 70's to, but yes my favourite part is 50's rock an roll.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

what is yours if you can only chose one Elvis 50?s song to represent the man?

Any of these lol :- That's All Right, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Good Rockin' Tonight, I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine, I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone, Mystery Train, Blue Moon or Trying to Get to You.

Basically just buy The Sun Sessions.

Matt

[memphis 77]

elvis lady great pic from feb 70 stint, thanks for sharing.

[nerma]

I voted for 60s Elvis. Memories,blue Christmas,baby What You Want Me To Do
Can't help falling In Love

[waymore44]

I think the songs: Jailhouse Rock, Suspicious Minds and Burning Love are the exact right songs and I'll tell you why.

I've got an mp3 CD that has HITSTORY plus the other songs I thought that were important matched up with levels the same, eq etc. Took awhile to do, but necessary for road trips. Those songs are THE ones that my kids gravitate to the most from all three decades. If they move a child, what else needs to be said?

The other ones that they dig a lot are That's All Right, Heartbreak Hotel, All Shook Up, Hound Dog, Little Sister, Devil In Disguise, Viva Las Vegas, See See Rider, Polk Salad Annie, Promised Land, A Little Less Conversation & Rubberneckin'

As far as photos:

50's: Gold Lame album cover
60's: '68 comeback special rehearsal with blue shirt
70's: TTWII

[Diane]

I have to go with the '70's. TWII to me was fantastic and he just got better from then on.

[ELV1S]

I've voted for the 50's, not only is it my favourite era, I also think the 'younger' people would appreciate seeing Elvis that way more than a 70's jumpsuit scenario.

Even though I started out on the 70's :-s but I think times have changed since the early 90's

as far as songs are concerned I think I would let them listen to one of the June '58 session songs

[hounddog]

5o's track: Trying to Get To You or Blue Moon.
60's track; Indescribably Blue
70's track; Polk Salad Annie

Pic from Jailhouse Rock: http://www.tcb-world.com/gallery/sho...p?i=19392&c=54

60's pic: http://www.tcb-world.com/gallery/sho...hp?i=8592&c=86

70's pic
http://www.tcb-world.com/gallery/sho...p?i=14608&c=27