Really finally listening to Elvis

[Pricklycactus]

Someone tossed out a bag of Cds the other day (about 78 of them) and most of the stuff was stuff I was interested in exploring anyways or never bought more of their catalogue. There was Nina Simone, Thievery Corporation, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Bjork , Tori Amos, the Cure, Cocteau Twins, Kasbian among many others stuff. Only a few crap modern rock stuff but the rest were keepers with about 15 that I already had anyways.

Among what I found was an Elvis compilation. Elvis Second to None. I listened to his stuff when it came on the radio or was in movies or shows. Seen biographies but I guess what did injustice to the talent that was Elvis was the less than glory years that got attention and that is what overshadowed his music and turned me off really getting into him.

Listening to this now, the sound is so clean and crisp and I am really listening to how he sings and to the meaning of the lyrics. I started to get choked up hearing Always on my Mind related to the context of his marriage ending. Powerful. Maybe I shouldn't be listening to this stuff on a grey day and thinking about past relationships.

I also really like the guitar work (if anyone knows who it is) of whoever plays on Viva Las Vegas as I am sure he also played on Tom Jones' She's a Lady.

 

[luvmysuper]

Really finally listening to Elvis

Thank God!
I thought it was only me that could hear him talking all the time.



Elvis was a phenomenal vocalist, and his interpretation of the songwriting talents of others even though he never wrote, is a testament to his level of expertise.

He occassionally had a penchant for choosing the "glurge" type of songs, but even then not many folks could have pulled it off as successfully as he did.

 

[Phog Allen]

Agreed. Most only know his movie tunes and that is a shame. My mother in law and my aunt are both huge fans. They have vinyl Elvis collections that shame most fans of modern singers. He could sing anything. Most don't even know he won a Grammy Award...for gospel music.

I liked some of his movies and Bossa Nova Baby from Fun In Acapulco was just a blast. Same for some of the songs from GI Blues which I did not realise till recently was a platinum album. It is amazing how many types of songs he recorded.

Regards, Todd

 

[Pricklycactus]

It's good to explore the older stuff but I like it better cos it's remastered cos it still sounds warm and live but clean too.

Tell me more about what Elvis stuff I should listen next. I am thinking of getting the Elvis #1 Gold compilation but I realize that is only an capsule of what he did and there were probably great songs that were not hits.

 

[Phog Allen]

Prickly, that is a tough go. Elvis recorded thousands of songs. I am not an avid enough fan to know "what's best" so to speak. I should have asked my aunt. I was at her house this afternoon. I will try to see what I can dig up.

Regards, Todd

Here's the Bossa Nova Baby video from Fun in Acapulco. Fluff movie like most of his sixties stuff but the song was just fun. The man could dance too.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-yZifpgCR0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Phog Allen]

And his rather soulful version of Blue Moon. The guy had range.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLfTjTLnVIo[/YOUTUBE]

 

[auk1124]

I'm not sure who played guitar on Viva Las Vegas but for a lot of his early stuff a Tennessee rockabilly guitarist named Scotty Moore did the guitar. I'm no musician but my understanding is that Scotty Moore is highly thought of by other guitarists.

I also like the later Elvis stuff too - one of my favorites:

[YOUTUBE]ehogBCjWJ5E[/YOUTUBE]

Love him or hate him no one can deny the power of the guy.

 

[maxman]

Everyone has heard Elvis, but not many have actually listened to him.

Too many people stand behind the excuse that he just stole his music and didn't have any real talent.
I disagree. Elvis is certainly an entertainer and an excellent singer.
I'm too young to have been in the Elvis mania when it was happening, but I play bass guitar and guitar and as a student of music, you have to study the greats.
The roots of music stretch way back.
I suggest you really listen to the Beatles next.

 

[professorchaos]

Elvis is a tough one to approach. Who hasn't heard Elvis? Some of us can probably recall his devolution into fat Elvis. Nonetheless, he put together some very good songs.

 

[Pricklycactus]

Everyone has heard Elvis, but not many have actually listened to him.

Too many people stand behind the excuse that he just stole his music and didn't have any real talent.
I disagree. Elvis is certainly an entertainer and an excellent singer.
I'm too young to have been in the Elvis mania when it was happening, but I play bass guitar and guitar and as a student of music, you have to study the greats.
The roots of music stretch way back.
I suggest you really listen to the Beatles next.

Haha, actually I was a pretty hardcore Beatles fan when I was a kid. It was the first band I listened to and I listened to them everyday until I got into ABBA later on and then what is now classic rock then punk. I even joined this mailing list that sold bootlegs.

And recorded their Vancouver appearance to listen to and pretend I was there. But I am more into the early Beatles stuff. I want to save up to get their remastered box set. My next fave band is the Police!

 

[Pricklycactus]

Elvis is a tough one to approach. Who hasn't heard Elvis? Some of us can probably recall his devolution into fat Elvis. Nonetheless, he put together some very good songs.

I tried to get into his stuff and read biographies etc...but ended being too turned off by his craziness. I just wasn't ready for Elvis when I was such a Beatles fan. There is also Led Zepplin to check out but you hear only certain songs all the time and get a tainted view of what a band is really like.

Still getting passionate about music is expensive as I refuse to download on principle. And besides the CDs are usually better sounding.

 

[Pricklycactus]

Prickly, that is a tough go. Elvis recorded thousands of songs. I am not an avid enough fan to know "what's best" so to speak. I should have asked my aunt. I was at her house this afternoon. I will try to see what I can dig up.

Regards, Todd

Here's the Bossa Nova Baby video from Fun in Acapulco. Fluff movie like most of his sixties stuff but the song was just fun. The man could dance too.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-yZifpgCR0[/YOUTUBE]

Thanks if you get a chance but no worries either if you don't. Trying to watch his movies didn't help me get into the music too much. They were pretty lame! I never thought of him as a dancer but I can see he had moves.

I am curious to try the deep fried in a pound of butter peanut butter sandwich but probably would feel so ill and regretful.

 

[Pricklycactus]

And his rather soulful version of Blue Moon. The guy had range.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLfTjTLnVIo[/YOUTUBE]

man, that is a good version!

 

[Pricklycactus]

I'm not sure who played guitar on Viva Las Vegas but for a lot of his early stuff a Tennessee rockabilly guitarist named Scotty Moore did the guitar. I'm no musician but my understanding is that Scotty Moore is highly thought of by other guitarists.

I also like the later Elvis stuff too - one of my favorites:

Love him or hate him no one can deny the power of the guy.

I should ask my friend, he owns a record store that you guys would probably love cos it looks like a old school record shop. Nothing like the mall chains you see but like a store from the 60s with posters, records, memorablia etc...

 

[Walker]

I'm not sure who played guitar on Viva Las Vegas but for a lot of his early stuff a Tennessee rockabilly guitarist named Scotty Moore did the guitar. I'm no musician but my understanding is that Scotty Moore is highly thought of by other guitarists.

I also like the later Elvis stuff too - one of my favorites:

[YOUTUBE]ehogBCjWJ5E[/YOUTUBE]

Love him or hate him no one can deny the power of the guy.

Scotty Moore was one of the guitarists on Viva Las Vegas. Along with Billy Strange and Tiny Timbrell. Elvis was popular because he was doing something new or fresh (which happend to be stealing music from acrossed the railroad tracks) my Dad is a huge fan of Elvis. Which means i had to listen to it growing up. I like some of his stuff but not most of it.