19 Elvis Fans Can Be Polled: The ILM Elvis Presley poll roll out thread

https://hips.hearstapps.com/cos.h-cdn.co/assets/14/51/1600x799/gallery_nrm_1418919225-elvis.jpg

19 ballots received, 222 songs received votes. Rollout to come.

I usually hate the poll-punning for these thread titles, but that one's great.

probably we won't roll out until Monday but I couldn't wait to start the thread, anticipation can continue here

I'm SUPER HAPPY with the results btw, ILM always makes its own way

Looking forward to this, was an absolute treat to revisit his catalogue.

Good to have clemenza on board

222 songs!

So how many songs in the rollout, 222, 50, 77?

(xpost) Thanks, but mostly as an observer. My ballot was 10 songs only, and I had to scramble a bit to get past seven or eight. The Bible, Shakespeare, and Elvis: the three biggest voids in my life.

A pink Cadillac, pink Cadillac, my kingdom for a pink Cadillac!

Is that s cheeseburger I see before me.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_St4oXbQSaHg/ScRxeNdH_CI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Q7EGWyRFClM/s320/Elvis+and+Liberace.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4dt1paJcUk/TpEiIgD9o4I/AAAAAAAAAhM/V5Or5nwdiHQ/s1600/Elvis+Pan+Pacific+Auditorium+Oct+29%252C+1957.jpg

Is that s cheeseburger I see before me.

since he's not in the building yet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoHDrzw-RPg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8oNHMNCSjQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEwcMvcWKgk

These clips indicate why this poll is such a challenge... the originals of the tunes Elvis did are also great so you have to sort of tease out the added Elvis-ness of his versions.

This is a good point. I often worry that I will think “why bother?” but usually come around in the end.

Also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkd9ZQOtbI

I sometimes think the same about Susanna Hoffs covers, but usually come around in the end as well, and not just because I am a Redd-blooded U.S Male.

speaking of buildings, i grew up literally around the corner from his first palm springs abode. learned to ride a bicycle on the street right in front
http://✧✧✧.elvishoneym✧✧✧.com/index_htm_files/1✧✧✧@2✧.j✧✧

That's an amazing house. Seems to be up for sale now for $4.9 million. Down from $5.9 million last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc08gY8wfVc

I think the talent of Elvis in interpretation was his ability to mine the emotion of a song & pull you in with a level of feeling. He was such a fan of so many types of music and artists that i think it was almost innate for him to honor the material as best he could.
Like, he’s saying to the artist “this is what I love about your song” rather than “look at how much better than you I am.” imo

These clips indicate why this poll is such a challenge... the originals of the tunes Elvis did are also great so you have to sort of tease out the added Elvis-ness of his versions.

Nice line (and funny Susanna Hoffs rejoinder). There's no real equivalent, is there, where you have to differentiate in that direction, from cover to original? (I collect Beatles, Neil Young, and Velvet Underground covers, where you do the usual thing, try to figure out if the covering artist has brought anything to the original.)

Hold on...I guess it is the same thing, except in this case the cover is almost always the more famous version (with occasional exceptions like "Tomorrow Is a Long Time").

VegemiteGirl otm. He doesn’t really change the melody, he sings it pretty close to the original, but he still seems to find his own convincing emotional center.

Pretty much the only difference seems to be that Elvis’s version is a little more rockabilly.

Sorry, was referring to “Money Honey.”

It's worth bearing in mind the question of whether it's a "cover" if the song was written by third-party songwriters to begin with. I mean, Big Mama Thornton didn't write "Hound Dog," Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller did. Now, in the case of "Promised Land" (which placed pretty high on my ballot), that's a cover, 'cause Chuck Berry wrote it.

I'd agree with that distinction. Elvis is doing versions of songs that others recorded before him; he's covering "Tomorrow Is a Long Time," because the original belongs exclusively to Dylan. (It gets weird where you get someone like Carole King recording one of her own compositions years after someone had a hit with it.)

Another distinction is that even when it's the same songwriters it could be Elvis hearing the song from a previous hit version... or directly from the songwriters' demo. For example, "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" are both Leiber-Stoller but only the former had been a hit record. "Jailhouse Rock" was written expressly for Elvis.

(*Elvis's "Hound Dog" was evidently derived more from Freddie Bell and the Bellboys' version btw).

Then there's a song like "Gentle On My Mind," which was basically mandatory for albums released in 1968 and 1969, including From Elvis in Memphis. Roger Miller, Tammy Wynette, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin...fucking everybody recorded that song.

and he still bodies the fuck out of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhFnTjia_I

I just read that Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" was produced by Chips Moman et al. at American Sound in Memphis

somehow Elvis managed to get a little different sound there

Yes, in fact I believe that the story is that when Elvis went to record at American a Neil Diamond session was already scheduled and Neil had to be bumped. Which didn’t sit well with the musicians as this is kind of a session musician no-no. Leading to some Q&As at the time of the form
Q: Are you looking forward to recording with Elvis?
A: Well, it’s not like he’s Neil Diamond or anything

The story about the session being bumped is true; I suspect that's why Elvis recorded "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind," which Diamond wrote. It was payback for the use of the studio, and ended up on Back in Memphis, the "sequel" album.

Thanks. Found the quote in Sweet Soul Music, which I always assume was written when the bumping of Neil had yet to be revealed, making the quote seemed somewhat puzzling without the extra context:

There was nothing really special about it, says Wayne Jackson, who played trumpet on the session; it was just another date. “We had been doing Neil Diamond just before Elvis came in, and Neil was a big deal to us. I mean, we were thrilled about Elvis, but it wasn’t like doing Neil Diamond.”

This article provides all sorts of detailed context for the events leading up to and through that session. Opened my eyes when I first read it and still packs a nightly (karate) punch. Ho!
http://www.furious.com/perfect/elvis69.html

Can’t seem to find anything else that guy wrote but damn if writing that article doesn’t constitute a one hit wonder, Have A Nice Day, thank you very much

Chip's exact words were, "Fuck Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond will just have to be postponed. Tell Elvis he's on."

Interesting (to me) to see that the original version of “Suspicious Minds” was on the Scepter label. Which led me to find that BJ Thomas also cut a version at American with the Memphis Boys which I have yet to hear. Forgot about the Fine Young Cannibals version.

BJ Thomas version uses exactly the same arrangement with the same players, with maybe some slightly more in your face horn lines peeking out like that extra piccolo trumpet line in the alternative version of “Penny Lane.” And a little more blue-eyed soul shouting on some of the vocals, I guess, which is kind of interesting. Sounds a little like The Box Tops (d’oh!) but really a little more like The Buckinghams.

lol @ this thread title

I’d like to think the thread title was inspired by my ballot title, but only Elvis Preston knows for sure.

Dwight Yoakum version of “Suspicious Minds” is pretty good. Retains some of the hooks, particularly in the backing vocals, but changes stuff up as well, such as playing a (simplified) variant of the rhythm guitar lick a little more louder and upfront.

Sorry, Dwight Yoakam not
Pappy Yokum

Pronounced duh-white yolk-ham

“This is ‘Dwight Yoakam,’ and it’s Take 1! Take 1”
“It’s, it’s ‘yolk-ham,’ actually.”
“What did I say?”

Ah, the Scepter connection deepens. Dionne Warwick also recorded an album at American.

Also had overlooked the Billy Strange connection and forgotten the rest of this Mac Davis story, from Guralnick’s Careless Love

even the Colonel seemed to sense there was something special about Strange’s twenty-seven-year-old protégé, whom he had met for the first time at the Charro! session. “That first night Colonel Parker said [to me], ‘Are you the boy who wrote that “Little Less Conversation”?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘You a pretty good-lookin’ boy, you’re going to be a star.’ I said, ‘Well, thank you very much.’ He said, ‘You want the Colonel to rub your head?’ I’m looking around, and I’m thinking he’s really putting me through the grease, but these guys with him are dead serious, they’re all just looking at me. So I bent over, and he put his hand on my head, like Oral Roberts, and he said, ‘You’re going to be a star. You tell everybody the Colonel touched your head.’

And here is the original, pretty-much-identical except-for-the-vocal version of “Suspicious Minds,” performed by the composer, Mark James. No need for any advanced degree in Kingology to recognize what Elvis brought to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFP0EP-Oi2I

A little lessmore pre-rollout preamble posting from a different point of view:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9psq4wzl98

Seems that Mark James also wrote "Hooked on a Feeling" and, um, "Always on My Mind."

(xpost) A bunch of songs about or referring to Elvis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_or_referencing_Elvis_Presley

My favourites are X's "Back 2 the Base" and R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon."

Yeah, those are two good ones.

Presumably “The King Is Gone (So Are You)” as posted up thread is also mentioned

Elvis is such an all-encompassing subject, I wouldn't doubt that there are a few dozen songs not on that list where, if you asked the songwriters, they'd tell you they were elliptically writing about Elvis.

Forgot about Mojo Nixon and Gillian Welsh songs.

Yes, he is such a wide-ranging subject that if you can hang on as you dive into the omphalos of his belt buckle, you end up appreciating whole worlds of other music other than what he himself actually recorded.

One thing not on that list that explicitly references Elvis is the Odds' "Wendy Under the Stars."

In parallel to this thread, something just made me remind myself of the interesting story of how the Grand Ole Opry got its name, but sleep is coming so I will save it for another day or another thread.

Doing the images from this poll and damn there's so many good photos of him. He was a very photogenic, gorgeous looking man.

It also makes it very noticeable how bad his health got in his final year. He looks out of shape in 1975 and early 1976 but he still looks great in front of a camera... the spark in his eyes is still there. Then in one year it seems like he aged ten years.

otm. the Wertheimer photos in particular completely slay me

Larry Geller had a good gig putting the L’Oréal into Elvis’s hair every few weeks.

Yeah. For years had the poster on my wall for Sam Shepard’s Fool For Love with the Wertheimer “kiss” on it. http://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/ten-days-with-elvis-presley

this photo from 76 haunts me, he looks so ...clammy. like you can see his chemical dependence completely catching up with him & overtaking him physically

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fe/a8/c5/fea8c5fe7adb083a637411d01ab1d6da.jpg

I guess we should wait until the American day to get this going? the King never made it here to Olde Europe so it's only right to wait

He didn’t get up early to see a moon launch, apparently, so I suppose you are right

Well, good eveningmorning
Don’t that sun look good going downcoming up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0x6U1aPuk

it's time to take care of business

TCB in a ⚡️

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nX6vC_GKlr4/VfFgiJW76bI/AAAAAAAByLA/NxfZOobP-U0/s1600/1970.%2BNail%2BSwirl.jpg

thanks to Moka for the images

https://i.imgur.com/BO1V4eI.jpg

50. Elvis Presley - “Love Me” 112 points, 5 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMKIGD07F8

classy but the following one is definitive I think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxS0xRpsfgY

https://i.imgur.com/bn4Mgty.jpg

49. Elvis Presley - “Always On My Mind” 119 points, 7 votes

Treat me like a fool.....

Love the images. Always On My Mind too low!

https://i.imgur.com/GOtmGTh.jpg

48. Elvis Presley - “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” 127 points, 5 votes

(Have to admit I’ve never taken the time to understand how the points weighting works on these polls)

I gave 50 points for a number 1, 49 for number 2, and so on.

i have a soft spot for this song. and it has a good bouncy rhythm

That’s the first one I voted for here, but don’t mind the other two, just maybe voted for similar stuff in their “slots.”

https://i.imgur.com/e6INzqs.jpg

47. Elvis Presley - “It's Now Or Never” 128 points, 7 votes

this one feels very Bobby Darin to me. love it tho

It must have been his first post-Army single that sounded different to people, like here's a new Elvis. I think of it as part of his Italian restaurant music trilogy, along with "Surrender" and "Kiss Me Quick"

https://i.imgur.com/UJd8LTJ.jpg

46. Elvis Presley - “Crying In The Chapel” 130 points, 7 votes

oops forgot the bold

One of the things I was wondering about during the Jarecki film was whether or not Elvis was in Germany at the same time as the Beatles. They missed each other by a few months: Elvis left in March 1960, the Beatles arrived in August 1960. Not sure how close Elvis was to Hamburg...take some Llewyn Davis-like liberties there and you've got a great movie scene: Elvis gets bored and leaves his post one night, wanders into a club...

The Beatles were pretty green at the beginning of their Hamburg residency, though; Elvis would've wondered why those skinny kids weren't getting booed off the stage.

(In 1962 they played Hamburg with Little Richard, who was sufficiently impressed that he said he'd go back to the States and tell Elvis that the Beatles were the best band in the UK.)

https://i.imgur.com/qedVhSs.jpg

45. Elvis Presley - “Crawfish” 132 points, 5 votes, 1 first place vote

lol 1 #1 vote

Wow

I was surprised! But then I'm currently listening to the drugs dialogue from Vegas, 2 September 1974, so to each her own...

Crawfish RULES! but I didnt have as my 1, i had it a fair way down my list iirc

https://i.imgur.com/3t1Nl8h.jpg

44. Elvis Presley - “True Love Travels On A Gravel Road” 136 points, 5 votes

so good

i love this one

I see that I had that one at 35.

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear: my #34
True Love Travels On A Gravel Road: my #37

I didn't vote for anything else that's popped up so far

https://i.imgur.com/kTM5yaA.jpg

43. Elvis Presley - “Polk Salad Annie” 142 points, 5 votes, 1 number one

I voted for this one too (#47). I don't even think he ever recorded this in the studio, did he? Only live versions.

Two of mine placed so far 'True Love Travels...' (#3) and 'Always on my Mind' (#13) which I expected to be much higher. Didn't vote for 'Teddy Bear', but pleased to see it, light as candyfloss and almost as sweet.

I was the #1 for “Polk Salad Annie.” To me it’s his quintessential live number- suspenseful intro, spoken not sung most of the time, all kinds of rhythmic and lyrical adlibs or interludes, lyric not heartbreak-related so can be listened to in any mood.

Is there a Spotify playlist?

https://i.imgur.com/BpWrmun.jpg

42. Elvis Presley - “Any Day Now” 145 points, 4 votes, 1 number one

I'm not a Spotify user, so I won't be making a playlist, but it would be cool if someone did. We'll have had our own take on Elvis' top songs and there's a certain vibe I think you'll recognize as we continue (though that may just be me).

I was surprised by how high "Any Day Now" placed, but a #1 will do that. I think of it more as a Ronnie Milsap song.

One of my least favorite tracks on From Elvis In Memphis. But I voted for some pretty gooey early '70s stuff, so we'll see what happens as we go on.

https://i.imgur.com/L9uMnnz.jpg

41. Elvis Presley - “Baby What You Want Me To Do” 153 points, 5 votes

Another one where I figure the votes are for the '68 comeback special versions, which are admittedly incredible. As we talked about yesterday, though, it's hard to decide which songs are "enough" Elvis' to vote for them, and like "Any Day Now", this isn't enough his for me to vote for it. But those '68 versions are spectacular, so I understand voting for it.

I didn’t vote for Polk Salad Annie but it is one of his A+ live songs for sure

Was thinking there's not many people who could cover "Polk Salad Annie" and do any kind of justice to Tony Joe White's original. Bobbie Gentry would be one of the few.

Other than Elvis, I mean

https://i.imgur.com/hmYvNTA.jpg

40. Elvis Presley - “Trouble” 159 points, 8 votes

some votes for "Trouble" included "Guitar Man", from the '68 comeback special version. I put those votes all into "Trouble, since it's the first song of that melody. "Guitar Man" is #56 as it is.

"Trouble" was in my top ten (#9, to be exact). Didn't vote for "Baby..."

Oh, and "Guitar Man" was my #23, at least half because of the Jesus & Mary Chain's cover version. They've rarely sounded this alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wr-ufpIhmo

I'm gonna hurry up the last three for the day so that I can get off my computer for the day & move onto phone as needed

xp yes I love the JAMC cover, it's what I think of when I think of "Guitar Man". I wish ZZ Top had covered it too.

https://i.imgur.com/8ufuyl3.jpg

39. Elvis Presley - “(You're the) Devil in Disguise” 171 points, 7 votes

https://i.imgur.com/C8Bjt0w.jpg

38. Elvis Presley - “(You're so Square) Baby I Don't Care” 180 points, 8 votes

Trouble is great - one of my favorite performances from the movies

oh actually that's the last for today

I'll continue the roll out tomorrow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaKds2nev-k

Looking up "You're So Square..." I had no idea Buddy Holly had done it before Elvis. (It's a Lieber/Stoller song.) I've never liked Holly, so have only ever heard his four or five biggest hits.

In the early days of MTV that was the one Elvis "video" they would always show (the clip from Jailhouse Rock Probably the introductory Elvis tune for a lot of '80s kids.

Looking up "You're So Square..." I had no idea Buddy Holly had done it before Elvis. (It's a Lieber/Stoller song.) I've never liked Holly, so have only ever heard his four or five biggest hits.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/cryptosicko/playlist/15K0ZzVnHRRa3a95ZqLNZz?si=NQL5hJJqQRWp2JGNFvKMzg

I've tried my best to get original studio versions of everything, but the Elvis discography is often confusing (including a few things that only appear to be available on compilations). Please let me know if I've grabbed the wrong version of something if you catch it.

Jackie DeShannon did a great version of Trouble. Embarrassingly I didn't even know it was an Elvis song (well it's Leiber/Stoller, but Elvis did it before Jackie)

And it's very similar to Leiber/Stoller's later hit, "I'm a Woman" by Peggy Lee. Those guys loved Muddy Waters riffs.

I voted for "You're So Square," and always thought it was a Buddy song first, but James Redd is correct.

Did not know Holly recorded it, will have to check it out. Such a funny, silly song can't listen without raising a smile.

You’re So Square was actually played a lot on early MTV, there was a black and white video for it. Great song.

With regard to Spotify playlist, I’m sure all the votes for Baby What You Want Me To Do are from comeback special, released as the Tiger Man album.

I know mine was. Was it released in some other configuration?

Where did you get this information, Phil? Pretty sure it was written for the film Jailhouse Rock.

I must have just misread the dates. That, plus thinking Holly died pretty early on led me to assume he must have gotten to it first. Either way, Elvis's version is the one.

Any Day Now was my #1. For me it's the pinnacle of the American Studios sessions. The band came up with an unbeatable arrangement (I love Reggie Young's descending intro lick), and Elvis's vocal is impeccable. BTW, Ronnie Milsap was working out of Memphis at the time, appearing nightly at a club called TJs, and Elvis went to see him several times. Milsap recorded over a dozen sides at American and was also a background singer on the Elvis sessions. He did a fine version of the song but doesn't communicate anguish like Elvis does.

I’ve always preferred the first version by Chuck Jackson, never even listened to Ronnie Milsap, will listen again to Elvis’s version.

47. Elvis Presley - “It's Now Or Never” 128 points, 7 votes

― droit au butt (Euler), Monday, July 30, 2018 3:22 PM (three hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

couldn't fit this on my ballot, i love his wannabe mario lanza phase. there are a couple of other tunes that edge it for me in that regard.

actually am posting after seeing a lot of the rollout so far and worried/perplexed that my choices aren't making it, particularly my no.1.

was looking forward to seeing your no.1 james redd. great rationale for it. he never (or very rarely) failed to use it in live concerts, like it was a kind of 'tuning up' exercise to get into a groove.

I voted for this one too (#47). I don't even think he ever recorded this in the studio, did he? Only live versions.

― grawlix (unperson), Monday, July 30, 2018 4:43 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i thought he did, but i could be wrong, going to go check.

Any Day Now was my #1. For me it's the pinnacle of the American Studios sessions. The band came up with an unbeatable arrangement (I love Reggie Young's descending intro lick), and Elvis's vocal is impeccable. BTW, Ronnie Milsap was working out of Memphis at the time, appearing nightly at a club called TJs, and Elvis went to see him several times. Milsap recorded over a dozen sides at American and was also a background singer on the Elvis sessions. He did a fine version of the song but doesn't communicate anguish like Elvis does.

― Ρεμπετολογια, Monday, July 30, 2018 7:10 PM (twenty-eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

nice description. it's also quite a challenging melody line in the verses, which he nails with aplomb.

I voted for "You're So Square," and always thought it was a Buddy song first, but James Redd is correct.

― clemenza, Monday, July 30, 2018 6:38 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Did not know Holly recorded it, will have to check it out. Such a funny, silly song can't listen without raising a smile.

― Dan Worsley, Monday, July 30, 2018 6:45 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Interesting fact about 'Baby I don't care' is that Elvis played the electric bass introduction because Bill Black (his sidekick from the beginning at Sun Studio and a master on the slap double bass) couldn't nail it on an electric bass guitar. I think from memory that if you listen closely Elvis is slightly ahead of the beat to start with before the rest of the band comes in.

Understand Dan's point about the lyrics, but I've always thought the song was quite threatening, partly because of the bass line and partly because of the spare punkish arrangement. What my dad would describe as a 'tough sound'.

Up to date now with my comments :-) and none of my picks have appeared so far. Thanks Euler and Moka, this has been one of my favourite ILM days in all my years on here.

https://i.imgur.com/4L244EQ.jpg

Always thought it was quite welcoming in that the protagonist is clearly a rocker/beatnik/hipster but overlooks the girls faults in not fitting into his clique and is happy to accommodate her warts and all. May be due to my first exposure being through the Bryan Ferry version where he's plays it rather more needily.

Also love that "You're So Square" is 1:50! That's the length of, like, a Minor Threat song.

That one was my #8

“You’re So Cubed (Baby, I’m No Rube)”

xxxxp Polk salad Annie never recorded in studio

Apparently Bill Black threw or slid that electric bass across the floor, he was that frustrated by his inability to play it.

Polk salad Annie never recorded in studio

There's a lot of contemporary '70s material that he only did live, presumably because the Colonel's publishing reigns weren't as tight. That's one of the interesting facets of the Elvis On Tour film from '73 is that the setlist is almost all those kinds of songs.

Also, speaking of movies, I guess there weren't enough votes for the side poll?

There's a lot of contemporary '70s material that he only did live, presumably because the Colonel's publishing reigns weren't as tight. That's one of the interesting facets of the Elvis On Tour film from '73 is that the setlist is almost all those kinds of songs.

― Making Plans For Sturgill (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, July 30, 2018 8:34 PM (eleven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I didn't know that, I'm going to go back and check the soundtrack! Had On Tour as my no.2 film, as even thought it's more hectic and unexpected in parts, that's the way it is is so magisterial.

I've never seen On Tour. I own That's The Way It Is on DVD, though. The alternate cut with more performance and rehearsal footage is fantastic.

On Tour is awesome -highly recommend if you havent seen it

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

it's basically 'that's the way it is' but with added prescription meds and karate yoga

https://i.imgur.com/Q4V1Jac.jpg

oops

https://i.imgur.com/Q4V1Jac.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdCHF9Y8jcE&frags=pl%2Cwn

added bonus: the band and his backing singers are UHmazing

OMG euler I've made a terrible mistake that I just realized as I was finishing the rest of the songs. I was counting the opening line in the excel file as numero 1 so all the songs so far are actually one slot up from current position. We started in number 49 not 50 =_=

I can correct it for the following songs for tomorrow but for the ones so far well I fucked up... I'm terribly sorry everyone!

Anyhoo we'll start tomorrow at 36 as 37 is in fact "you're so square".

The actual number 50 was "Power of my Love" with 111 points and 4 votes.

I didn't know that, I'm going to go back and check the soundtrack!

I checked IMDB, and the it's not quite as packed with newer songs as I remembered, but still the film was an attempt to present Elvis as being "With It" to the point that there were objections(thankfully unheeded) made to the filmmakers and editing crew (headed by Martin Scorsese!) that were including too much vintage footage montages between the new bits. But it all works beautifully, particularly when juxtaposed with the verite passages of a visibly fucked up and bored Presley faking his way through umpteen meeting with local dignitaries before shows.

I own That's The Way It Is on DVD, though. The alternate cut with more performance and rehearsal footage is fantastic.

I can see why people prefer the alternate--it's tighter and more rockin'--but I looked at both again with my dad right before I submitted my ballot, and the theatrical cut is one of my favorite films period. I love all the Christopher Guest-esque interview bits with fans and employees, the behind the scenes stuff in the offices (including that amazing Elvis office decorated from floor to ceiling--including the whole ceiling--in Elvis memorabilia) and at the hotel. It's kind of like the anti-Woodstock or Gimme Shelter: Grownups in action putting on the "Elvis Summer Festival" (as that run of shows was promoted).

Moka that's fine, I'll just continue with the correct numbering today. Thanks again for the images!

I'll start today a bit earlier than yesterday. We'll continue with 36, taking account of the off-by-one error discussed earlier (wherein "Power of My Love" is the real #50, and yesterday's #50, "Love Me", actually #49.

https://i.imgur.com/Oh1nJiV.jpg

36. Elvis Presley - “Reconsider Baby” 184 points, 6 votes

Just found this book today

https://i.imgur.com/rgAX5Ry.jpg

Sax solo is soooo brilliant in reconsider baby.

https://i.imgur.com/yS7d5l9.jpg

35. Elvis Presley - “Only The Strong Survive” 191 points, 7 votes

https://i.imgur.com/4aZNRzZ.jpg

34. Elvis Presley - “Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 193 points, 8 votes, 1 number one

https://i.imgur.com/TQydel1.jpg

33. Elvis Presley - “Lawdy, Miss Clawdy” 200 points, 7 votes

My ballot has
#29 Only the Strong Survive
#30 Lawdy Miss Clawdy

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” didn’t quite make it

It lost out to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” in the Achy Breaky Ballad Dept.

Ha! "Only the Strong Survive" was my #35, and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" was my #33! I am ILM's most representative Elvis fan (at this moment).

"Lawdy" was my #10...and I think it was the only non-Sun '50s Elvis on my ballot.

https://i.imgur.com/LsvYomX.jpg

32. Elvis Presley - “Blue Suede Shoes” 205 points, 7 votes

Had it at #21. Think the story is that Carl Perkins got the title from Johnny Cash who was telling a story about an army buddy.

Also, at least partially voted for “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” because of story about Scotty in the Comeback Special.

https://i.imgur.com/WhgBVkK.jpg

31. Elvis Presley - “Can't Help Falling In Love” 206 points, 8 votes

last song performed at his last concert

Had it at #42

https://i.imgur.com/QsnYtwu.jpg

30. Elvis Presley - “Viva Las Vegas” 214 points, 9 votes

We've had a good time so far, but the rest of the poll is where it really shines imo.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ac/b8/2f/acb82fcfbc8df7a6c8bf108ba3739a2a.jpg

Had it at #19. Love that little “Aquerela do Brasil” lick. Perhaps in this thread I will finally tell my story of meeting Doc Pomus.

So all 50s and Sun Sessions from now on?

http://www.essentialelvis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/small_1381435122-10h0n82.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/w6iOFBf.jpg

29. Elvis Presley - “Trying To Get To You” 219 points, 7 votes

One of my favorite Sun sides

"Blue Suede Shoes" was my #15, "Trying to Get to You" was my #42. Didn't vote for the others.

https://vimeo.com/170507670

when I watch this, I think, I shoulda voted this #1, #infinity, godhead
I mean, he's fucking the guitar at 2:00
& it's a religious song!
Elvis, like Prince, had the deepest glimpse of the unity of sex & religion, "the roots of rock and roll", America at its most primal

https://i.imgur.com/yDDpnoi.jpg

28. Elvis Presley - “An American Trilogy” 236 points, 9 votes

That performance of “trying to get to you” is sooo fucking good.

Yeah, just added to my relevant playlist

It’s also great to compare his voice on the original single and the comeback performance as he still didn’t have the well-known “Elvis voice” on the former. He sounds like someone else.

The audio of the video I posted is track 10 on Tiger Man, from the 2nd show of the comeback special.

https://i.imgur.com/TU4EdBL.jpg

27. Elvis Presley - “Milkcow Blues Boogie” 237 points, 8 votes

34. Elvis Presley - “Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 193 points, 8 votes, 1 number one

My number one! And the first of my ballot to appear!!

My ballot has
#29 Only the Strong Survive
#30 Lawdy Miss Clawdy

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” didn’t quite make it

― 3-Way Tie (For James Last) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, July 31, 2018 2:34 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

LMC my no.8. I love the NBC special when he sings it because it was Scotty Moore's favourite from way back...

Almost forgot about “Milkcow Blues Boogie,” then ended up putting it #3

Re Scotty: Weird fact I just learned, H.P. Lovecraft’s dad was also a Winfield Scott

27. Elvis Presley - “Milkcow Blues Boogie” 237 points, 8 votes

waaay too low. any song that has elvis talking in it (cf. are you lonesome tonight) is a total winner. plus the whole slow fast thing in this one. and no drummer. just.

Mind you, who am I to talk, just checked my ballot and had MBB at no.12...

Highest average points per vote so far = Trying to get to you (31.29)
Lowest average points per vote so far = Always on my mind (17.00)

Hold it, fellows -- that don't move me. Let's get real, real gone for a change.

WELLLLLLLLL

https://i.imgur.com/GjSsLhL.jpg

26. Elvis Presley - “Return To Sender” 244 points, 10 votes

A+ image.

https://i.imgur.com/nr4h6ZE.jpg

25. Elvis Presley - “If I Can Dream” 245 points, 7 votes, 1 number one

I didn't expect a number one for this song, but it's cool!

Did Elvis' had problems with chronic migraines and glaucoma all of his life or just in the final years? Looking at the image I chose on "return to sender" and this one of him looking at a poster it seems to me like he needs to get too close to the object to see it properly. Maybe he needed prescription glasses all of his life?

https://i.imgur.com/PtgkJZK.jpg

Oh wait I see in that poster he's reading a very small print. So it makes sense for him to get so close to it.

https://i.imgur.com/bZQ2iSq.jpg

24. Elvis Presley - “Promised Land” 257 points, 8 votes, 1 number one

"Promised Land" was my #1. Fucking love that song, and the band absolutely tears it up. Those 1973 sessions at the Stax studio were really great, second only to the American sessions of '69 (in his late career, I mean).

https://i.imgur.com/1J3QSLB.jpg

23. Elvis Presley - “Promised Land” 259 points, 9 votes

ah shit

https://i.imgur.com/1J3QSLB.jpg

23. Elvis Presley - “Stranger In My Home Town” 259 points, 9 votes

man these last two cook

"Stranger..." was my #22.

I want to finish for the day so here's one last doozy

Mine:
15 Return To Sender
48 If I Can Dream

Slept on “Promised Land,” will revisit
“Stranger In My Home Town” never paid attention to, will review

https://i.imgur.com/utuPjWg.jpg

22. Elvis Presley - “One Night” 260 points, 9 votes

Slept on “Promised Land,” will revisit

Dude, it cooks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9YfEZtQBtY

“One Night” is another one that just didn’t quite make the Redd Hott 50. Need to get over the bowdlerized lyrics, maybe

https://youtu.be/XI_DaBGjQNA

I love how he switches the two versions.

It occurs to me that I've never read contemporary accounts of the 68 comeback special from other musicians. Like, did Lennon say anything about it? Elvis is so ferocious here, it's just completely different from, like, watching the rooftop concert a year later.

That concert makes me almost wish he retired for a decade after 1970. Get clean, enjoy life and eventually do a comeback... maybe he could've kept recording just without doing live performances which I feel are what really took a toll on him. He was a bit of a workaholic.

I think if he had retired 1969 or 1970 for a decade or so that 1968 performance would've been just as mythic in the rock pantheon as that rooftop performance of The Beatles.

xp "Promised Land" is one of the very few Chuck Berry covers that is better than Chuck's version ... Elvis' "Memphis, Tennessee" comes close too

What about Lonnie Mack’s “Memphis” instrumental, which features tangentially in my Doc Pomus story?

I loooove that Lonnie Mack guitar sound, but to me "Memphis" is about the message on the wall, the Mississippi bridge, and the twist ending

personally I am always ready for a Doc Pomus story

I didn't expect a number one for this song, but it's cool!

My number one, just such a committed performance which wrenches empathy and hope in dark times.

It occurs to me that I've never read contemporary accounts of the 68 comeback special from other musicians. Like, did Lennon say anything about it? Elvis is so ferocious here, it's just completely different from, like, watching the rooftop concert a year later.

― droit au butt (Euler), Tuesday, July 31, 2018 6:28 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

funny you should ask that Euler, and weird synchronicity that i had a day off work today to go buy some records and on the way found that elvis book that i'd never heard of before, because it mentions john lennon talking about elvis... i'll see what i can do.

In the HBO doc, Springsteen said it was a huge and exciting event for him, and he can remember exactly where he was sitting/where the TV was/etc. (Can't remember what else he says about it, though...should rewatch)

He was a bit of a workaholic.

Sadly I don't think this was the case. The Colonel had a huge stake in any revenues Elvis brought in, and a massive gambling habit. Elvis had a huge addiction to spending money (as well as many other addictions) and was not prepared to deal with that (or the other addictions), despite some periodic interventions from different members of his family or inner circle. Ultimately there was a sad downward spiral of spending and drgs which had to be mitigated by performances. The colonel, being the colonel, didn't do things by half measures. Once he knew he had got E off his ass he was going to milk each tour for as much as he could.

Whenever I think of the colonel i think of a quote from the elvis: what happened book that three of his close bodyguards wrote. That you could eat your dinner off the Colonel's driveway it was kept so clean by Mrs Colonel.

The HBO doc does a great job in using the electricity of that NBC show to give Elvis a real cultural grounding. The sit down black leather performances are so good.

I should go back and look at the cd/dvd sets of the NBC show just to be sure on the guitar front. As I remember it, Elvis starts the first sit down session with a (lovely) acoustic guitar. At some point (and this is the bit I need to refresh) he swaps guitars with Scotty, who has one of his beautiful Gibsons (I think). From then on Elvis plays the electric guitar like he's the leader of the group, and Scotty never gets to play any meaningful solos again. Elvis hogs the limelight and only plays the songs that he can do the lead guitar bits to, hence why there are lots of versions of 'Baby what you want me to do'.

So i think all that happened through accident in the first taping session, then for every other session that they recorded Elvis was on Scotty's electric guitar from the beginning.

Can't remember why the guitars got changed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsaFnfCISQg&list=PL5IvmzEBXO4DE3daD-3UpeCVEa5eLAI0J&index=15&frags=wn

Away all day so just catching up. One Night was way up there on my ballot, the version on the 68 comeback special is my single favorite Elvis live performance.

I know it's bad ILM poll form to guess the top songs, but what do we think will be the winner here? It seems wide open. Before the rollout, my money was on Mystery Train taking it, but based on the results I'm not so sure anymore.

No idea

"Poison Ivy League" or GTFO.

"Mystery Train"'s a good guess. From the hits, my guess would be..."Don't Be Cruel"? Or "Suspicious Minds" if it's Mature Elvis.

As someone who knows the results I’ll be honest to admit I had absolutely zero idea on what songs of his are the consensus picks. Before knowing them I thought songs like “Can’t Help Falling in Love” or “Devil in Disguise” were top 20 locks. There’s also like ten songs of his which I thought would be in the top 50 for sure and they didn’t make the cut (won’t tell which ones yet) goes to show how many great to good songs he had... he was always a top performer even at his most forgettable soundtrack work. Hell as someone who speaks Spanish I’ll admit even his traditional Mexican songs with bad accent are somewhat charming if only for the energy he puts into it, he very rarely half-assed a performance.

There’s many Elvis qualities to admire but I’m specially fond of how hard-working he always was. And he clearly didn’t do it for the money as he was always giving it away, he just really really loved his job.

Well, that and Parker keeping him on an exploitative schedule for almost a decade.

I took a nap instead of starting this. Let's see how far I can get today.

https://i.imgur.com/7dW2iQ3.jpg

21. Elvis Presley - “Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues” 290 points, 9 votes

Tough way to make a living, Euler.

http://cdn6.wn.com/pd/6c/9f/f1145d1e02ef04f4b7083835540b_grande.jpg

Had to look up whose hit that was: Danny O'Keefe, 1972.

https://i.imgur.com/d9XQxXL.jpg

20. Elvis Presley - “Wearin’ That Loved On Look” 296 points, 10 votes

No more single digit votes from here on out. It's the top 20!

"Good Time Charlie's..." was my #17, and "Wearin'..." was my #12.

https://i.imgur.com/3w5nIcr.jpg

19. Elvis Presley - “In The Ghetto” 303 points, 11 votes

My number #7, and subject of another oft-cited Wayne Jackson quote, about hearing the playback and feeling “slimy,” moved by the performance and knowing it was going to be a big hit.

I love the stripped down version on the last disk of the 60s box. I'm not finding a link to it online.

From Careless Love, although I remember originally seeing it in Sweet Soul Music as well:

“The first time I heard ‘In the Ghetto,’ I just really felt slimy all over. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is wonderful. This is it!’ ”

Hm, quote does not appear in Sweet Soul Music

I think of this as part of the poverty chic trend of '68-'70.. Love Child, I'm Living in Shame, etc... the original Polk Salad Annie too

Good observation.

https://i.imgur.com/mnEgpQy.jpg

18. Elvis Presley - “Good Rockin' Tonight” 339 points, 11 votes

https://i.imgur.com/McvJYpS.jpg

17. Elvis Presley - “Little Sister” 349 points, 12 votes

Had those at #9 and #5

https://i.imgur.com/O1QoDf0.jpg

15 (tie). Elvis Presley - “Don't Be Cruel” 390 points, 13 votes

https://i.imgur.com/EcbRWIB.jpg

15 (tie). Elvis Presley - “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” 390 points, 12 votes, 1 number one

Had “Don’t Be Cruel” at #32, the other one didn’t quite make the cut, figured others would vote for it.

https://i.imgur.com/vVGJlfG.jpg

14. Elvis Presley - “Baby Let's Play House” 411 points, 11 votes

Had it at #22. Sorry, can’t post more extensive comments right now due to constraints.

https://i.imgur.com/cUjfJ3k.jpg

13. Elvis Presley - “Jailhouse Rock” 418 points, 12 votes, 2 number ones

"Baby Let's Play House" was my #8; "Jailhouse" didn't make my ballot, though it should've, since I prefer it to all other non-Sun '50s Elvis apart from "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."

I'm rolling out quickly today, hope that's ok, because I'm thinking it'd be good to finish this today and I don't want to be on my laptop a whole lot longer today.

https://i.imgur.com/8u52HT7.jpg

12. Elvis Presley - “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” 429 points, 14 votes, 1 number one

My #1.

https://i.imgur.com/1m54cLV.jpg

11. Elvis Presley - “Burning Love” 432 points, 14 votes, 1 number one

I think in some ways blue moon of kentucky is more revolutionary than the a-side. Such a freedom and clarity in the vocals.

Mine:
10 Blue Moon of Kentucky
11 Jailhouse Rock
14 Burning Love

Kudos to anyone who can tell me without googling who first recorded “Burning Love.”

I think in some ways blue moon of kentucky is more revolutionary than the a-side.

It's definitely a more radical rearrangement/reimagining of the source material than "That's All Right."

https://i.imgur.com/uxWS8ED.jpg

10. Elvis Presley - “All Shook Up” 436 points, 12 votes, 1 number one

#18 for me

https://i.imgur.com/8ehGfgX.jpg

9. Elvis Presley - “Heartbreak Hotel” 437 points, 14 votes

Kudos to anyone who can tell me without googling who first recorded “Burning Love.”

Surprised heartbreak hotel is that high tbh.

Probably I should have voted for "Heartbreak Hotel" higher, but as Lennon said, it has a corny title.

I didn't vote for "All Shook Up", or "Don't Be Cruel", or another one that's coming up, because this guy had a lot of great songs and I don't really need to hear these ones very much anymore. They're in tv advertising land now.

may as well post that third one then

I'm guessing my baby left me isn't going to place. Shame because it's 10 times the performance of heartbreak hotel. When the rca engineers finally cracked how to replicate the sun studios sound. They tried on heartbreak hotel but it's just the wrong side of clunky and overdone.

https://i.imgur.com/3wep5FV.jpg

8. Elvis Presley - “Hound Dog” 438 points, 14 votes

"My Baby Left Me" was #52. I agree.

(I mean, I agree with you, wtev. I also voted it higher than "Heartbreak Hotel".)

ok let's get to the business now

https://i.imgur.com/6cPiWUd.jpg

7. Elvis Presley - “Kentucky Rain” 480 points, 12 votes, 1 number one

Had “My Baby Left Me” at #44, but could have put it higher

That was my #6

"Kentucky Rain" probably the biggest King hit that snuck up on me as a fav. It got a lot of play on the local classic country station when I lived in Kansas. Chips Moman knew the score. Apparently it's Ronnie Milsap on piano.

https://i.imgur.com/HFJevjK.jpg

6. Elvis Presley - “Blue Moon” 487 points, 14 votes, 1 number one

My #2. A foundational text for so much pop music.

https://i.imgur.com/lcw3szh.jpg

5. Elvis Presley - “Long Black Limousine” 512 points, 14 votes, 1 number one

Another astonishing song, and probably our deepest cut to place so high.

I wanted to vote just to make sure Long Black Limousine got on the list, glad it didn't need my help! It's so great

That makes seven from From Elvis in Memphis. That and the '68 Special are the big winners here.

"Long Black Limousine" makes me wonder what Elvis thought of "Sing Me Back Home".

https://i.imgur.com/s3UC0a8.jpg

4. Elvis Presley - “That's All Right” 538 points, 16 votes

yeah, I got nothing either. good song but what's left to say.

however...

https://i.imgur.com/2uYY6ga.jpg

3. Elvis Presley - “His Latest Flame” 560 points, 15 votes, 1 number one

is this our Sway? It was my #7 but I didn't expect it to get this high! Immense groove. Hearing the Smiths' cover was when I finally gave into liking them.

huh never heard of this before. can def see what the Smiths saw in it.

surprising to see "His Latest Flame" so high ... great tune, but #3, really?

I remember hearing "Kentucky Rain" in steady rotation when it was released, probably my first exposure to Elvis as a child ... I still love the huge histrionic chorus, very much of the same pop era as "Bridge over Troubled Water"

Phillips' production on "Blue Moon" is mindbogglingly futuristic, sounds like Elvis is singing on the moon

Kentucky Rain was my #1. shoutout to Eddie Rabbitt

https://i.imgur.com/6kztBic.jpg

2. Elvis Presley - “Mystery Train” 616 points, 15 votes, 1 number one

and now...it is no secret (what God can do)...

https://i.imgur.com/NmAinQH.jpg

1. Elvis Presley - “Suspicious Minds” 700 points, 17 votes, 1 number one

“Latest Flame” was one of the first songs that really got me into Elvis. One of his finest pop songs, his voice at peak and he was still the most relevant artist in the world before the brit wave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sTpzXmCwdQ

thank you Moka, thank you voters, thank you Gladys, now I gotta get a peanut butter and banana sandwich and hit the road, until we meet you again, God bless you, adiós

love the final image

"Good Rockin' Tonight" - my #7
"Don't Be Cruel" - my #3
"Tomorrow is a Long Time" - my #10. I talked about that one in a great-cover-songs thread not too long ago; didn't expect it to get this many votes, but it really is fantastic.
"Jailhouse Rock" - my #21
"Burning Love" - my #4
"All Shook Up" - my #2
"Heartbreak Hotel" - my #6
"Hound Dog" - my #16
"Blue Moon" - my #8
"Long Black Limousine" - my #11
"That's All Right" - my #14
"Mystery Train" - my #24
"Suspicious Minds" - my #25

The only song from my top 10 that didn't make the rollout was my #5, "There’s A Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In)".

Wow--I was the #1 for "Marie," but I'm shocked at how high that placed, even with a relatively small sample. I always thought that was some bizarre quirk of mine, something only an arm's-length Elvis fan would arrive at, one I'd become almost apologetic for over the years. Not for the song, which I love, but the idea that this could be someone's favourite Elvis song, how that might look to a hardcore fan; it'd be like someone telling me that their favourite Neil Young song is some throwaway from an '80s album.

Thanks for doing the poll.

1. “(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame”
2. “Mystery Train”
3. “Kentucky Rain”
4. “Viva Las Vegas”
5. “That’s Alright (Mama)”
6. “Suspicious Minds”
7. “Blue Moon”
8. “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone”
9. “(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care”
10. “Tomorrow Is a Long Time”

Here's my full ballot:

1. Promised Land
2. All Shook Up
3. Don’t Be Cruel
4. Burning Love
5. There’s A Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In)
6. Heartbreak Hotel
7. Good Rockin’ Tonight
8. Blue Moon
9. Trouble
10. Tomorrow Is A Long Time
11. Long Black Limousine
12. Wearin’ That Loved-On Look
13. Never Been To Spain
14. That’s All Right
15. Blue Suede Shoes
16. Hound Dog
17. Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
18. Baby What You Want Me To Do
19. Clean Up Your Own Back Yard
20. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
21. Jailhouse Rock
22. Stranger In My Own Home Town
23. Guitar Man
24. Mystery Train
25. Suspicious Minds
26. Funny How Time Slips Away
27. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’
28. In The Ghetto
29. You Asked Me To
30. I Got A Feelin’ In My Body
31. If You Talk In Your Sleep
32. I’m Movin’ On
33. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
34. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
35. Only The Strong Survive
36. Tiger Man
37. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road
38. You’ll Think Of Me
39. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
40. It’s Midnight
41. I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago
42. Tryin’ To Get To You
43. Fool
44. For Ol’ Times Sake
45. He’ll Have To Go
46. Snowbird
47. Polk Salad Annie
48. One-Sided Love Affair
49. Help Me
50. Walk A Mile In My Shoes

Wonderful poll, amazing pictures. Thanks for doing this, Moka & Euler!

Yeah, the graphics were fantastic.

I thought "Mystery Train" was a lock for the top spot, but I guess I was the only one who voted it #1 ... maybe I underestimated ILM's anti-Marcusism

thangyouverrahmuch Euler and Moka!

My too-small, hastily-assembled ballot. I didn't have enough time to do any serious relistening, so I stuck with what I know best: Sun Sessions, gospel, and the '70s:

1. Blue Moon of Kentucky
2. Bridge Over Troubled Water
3. Blue Moon
4. Mystery Train
5. I've Got Confidence
6. We Call On Him
7. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
8. Baby Let's Play House
9. Never Been To Spain
10. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
11. Good Rockin' Tonight
12. That's All Right
13. Suspicious Minds
14. How Great Thou Art
15. Milk Cow Blues Boogie
16. You'll Never Walk Alone
17. Power Of My Love
18. He Touched Me
19. An American Trilogy
20. Don't Cry Daddy
21. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
22. In The Ghetto

Bravo Euler and Moka. Didn't vote but enjoyed the rollout immensely. Lots to check out now!

great job guys!!

Beautiful poll. I'm so happy Marie's The Name placed so high. I thought it was gonna get shut out which would have been a crime.

Here's my ballot:

Tomorrow Is A Long Time
Long Black Limousine
(Marie’s the Name of) His Latest Flame
Change of Habit
Mystery Train
One Night
Kentucky Rain
Memories
That’s All Right
All Shook Up
If I Can Dream
Where Do I Go From Here
Clambake
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Always On My Mind
Wearin’ That Loved On Look
Good Rockin’ Tonight
Baby, Let’s Play House
I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Stranger in My Own Home Town
The Wonder Of You
Inherit The Wind
Baby What You Want Me To Do
Viva Las Vegas
Jailhouse Rock
I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Hold You In My Arms)
Burning Love
Separate Ways
It’s Now Or Never
Hound Dog
In the Ghetto
Don’t Be Cruel
Shake, Rattle & Roll/Flip Flop Fly
Heartbreak Hotel
American Trilogy
Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
Power of My Love
Only the Strong Survive
You’ll Think Of Me
Don’t Cry Daddy
Blue Moon
Love Me
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Never Been to Spain
Patch It Up
Hard Headed Woman
Crying In the Chapel
Fool

Many thanks to Euler and Moka for running this.

This poll has been a pleasure to take part in. Thanks Euler for being pollrunner and Moka for smashing it out of the park with the graphics.

Tracks:

1. “Burning Love”
2. “Mystery Train”
3. “Suspicious Minds”
4. “Such A Night”
5. “Way Down”
6. “One Night”
7. “Hound Dog”
8. “Wearin’ That Loved On Look”
9. “Baby What You Want Me To Do?”
10. “Marie’s The Name Of His Latest Flame”
11. “Little Sister”
12. “Jailhouse Rock”
13. “Long Black Limousine”
14. “All Shook Up”
15. “Return To Sender”
16. “A Big Hunk O’ Love”
17. “That’s All Right”
18. “Money Honey”
19. “An American Trilogy
20. “US Male”
21. “Tomorrow Is A Long Time”
22. “Blue Moon”
23. “Hard-Headed Woman”
24. “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water”
25. “Guitar Man”
26. “Moody Blue”
27. “The Lady Loves Me”
28. “The Power Of My Love”
29. “Baby I Want To Play House”
30. “Polk Salad Annie”
31. “Dirty Dirty Feeling”
32. “Blue Suede Shoes”
33.”I Was Born About 10,000 Years Ago”
34. “Blue Moon Of Kentucky”
35. “For The Heart”
36. “Don’t Be Cruel”
37. “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
38. “My Baby Left Me”
39. “Heartbreak Hotel”
40. “Stranger In My Own Hometown”
41. “Reconsider Baby”
42. “You’re So Square Baby I Don’t Care”
43. “You’re The Devil In Disguise”
44. “I’ll Hold You In My Heart”
45. “It’s Now Or Never”
46. “Tiger Man”
47. “Always On My Mind”
48. ”I Feel So Bad”
49. “Edge Of Reality”
50. “The Last Farewell”

Movies:

1. Elvis: That’s The Way It Is
2. Viva Las Vegas
3. Jailhouse Rock
4. The Trouble With Girls
5. Elvis On Tour

Ups to Euler & Moka!

Thank you to all who voted! Helped me rediscover his catalogue and the top 50 is tight! Also Crawfish made it! (I was the number one vote apologies to the haters of the song)

My ballot is a bit weird. And I criminally forgot to vote for the 1968 performances.

CRAWFISH
POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS
ANIMAL INSTINCT
(MARIE'S THE NAME) HIS LATEST FLAME
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
BURNING LOVE
THE GIRL OF MY BEST FRIEND
(YOU'RE THE) DEVIL IN DISGUISE
RECONSIDER BABY
JAILHOUSE ROCK
ALL SHOOK UP
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
HOUND DOG
LOVE ME TENDER
BOSSA NOVA BABY
KING CREOLE
NO MORE
LITTLE SISTER
TROUBLE
BLUE MOON
I'M LEAVIN'
GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES
BLUE SUEDE SHOES
MEAN WOMAN BLUES
MEXICO
SURRENDER
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
PLEASE DON'T STOP LOVING ME
DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT
CRYING IN THE CHAPEL
LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE
RUBBERNECKIN'
WHOLE LOT-TA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON
DON'T BE CRUEL
SUCH A NIGHT
FEVER
A DOG'S LIFE
BIG BOSS MAN
MYSTERY TRAIN
FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT
IN THE GHETTO
A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION
RIP IT UP
LONG TALL SALLY
IT'S YOUR BABY, YOU ROCK IT
KISSIN' COUSINS
PLEASE DON'T STOP LOVING ME
YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN
VIVA LAS VEGAS

1. If I Can Dream
2. Only The Strong Survive
3. True Love Travels On a Gravel Road
4. (Marie's the name of) His Latest Flame
5. Wearing That Loved In Look
6. Long Black Limousine
7. Stranger In My Home Town
8. In The Ghetto
9. Power of My Love
10. Any Day Now
11. Hound Dog
12. Blue Suede Shoes
13. Always on my Mind
14. Suspicious Minds
15. Jailhouse Rock
16. Rubberneckin'
17. All Shook Up
18. Viva Las Vegas
19. Kentucky Rain
20. (You're the) Devil in Disguise
21. Trying to Get to You
22. Can't Help Falling in Love
23. Gentle On My Mind
24. Burning Love
25. Return to Sender
26. (You're so Square) Baby I Don't Care
27. Love Me Tender
28. Heartbreak Hotel
29. Don't Be Cruel
30. Return to Sender
31. Tomorrow is a Long Time
32. A Little Less Conversation
33. You'll Think of Me
34. Trouble
35. Promised Land
36. Surrender
37. Little Sister
38. U.S Male
39. She's Not You
40. Are You Lonesome Tonight
41. Inherit the Wind
42. I've Got a Thing About You, Babe
43. Blue Moon of Kentucky
44. Stuck on you
45. Guitar Man
46. Loving Arms
47. Fool
48. Hi-Heel Sneakers
49. Without Love (There is Nothing)
50. The Fool

No doubt would reorder if I were doing it today and some things may drop out entirely but happy with it.

Eight US Number Ones missed the cut: Love Me Tender, Too Much, Don't, Hard Headed Woman, A Big Hunk O' Love, Stuck On You, Surrender, and Good Luck Charm.

Not to mention a bunch of UK Number Ones. This is a really deep oeuvre.

Mystery Train
Blue Moon
That's All Right
Promised Land
Stranger In My Own Home Town
Baby Let's Play House
Long Black Limousine
Heartbreak Hotel
Kentucky Rain
Tryin' to Get to You
Only the Strong Survive
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Suspicious Minds
Baby What You Want Me to Do
Good Rocking Tonight
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Down in the Alley
Memphis Tennessee
Crying in the Chapel
Tomorrow Night
When It Rains, It Really Pours
Tiger Man
I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Ready Teddy
Rip It Up
Little Sister
Trouble
Faded Love
If I Can Dream
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Reconsider Baby
I Got a Woman
Tomorrow is a Long Time
Jailhouse Rock
I Forgot to Remember to Forget
Hard Headed Woman
Any Day Now
(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
Love Me
Viva Las Vegas
Burning Love
I Really Don't Want to Know
Always on My Mind
Wearin' That Loved-On Look
He'll Have to Go
Gentle on My Mind
(You're the) Devil in Disguise

Thanks Euler and Moka. I've been waiting for an ILM Elvis poll for sooo long, it's been a great rollout and have loved all the comments. Unperson I'm with you on 'honky tonk angel'. I feel I left so many stonewall classics off my ballot but I went with ones that have stuck with me for different reasons for many years. Marie's the name was way too high.

My ballot, all ranked.

Films:

Elvis: That’s the way it is
Elvis on Tour
Jailhouse rock
Kid Creole
Loving you

Tracks:

Are you lonesome tonight
My baby left me
Pieces of my life
Anyway you want me (that’s how I’ll be)
Baby let’s play house
Blue moon of Kentucky
That’s alright mama
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Hound dog
How great thou art
Milkcow blues boogie
Tomorrow never comes
Milky white way
Good rockin’ tonight
Blue moon
One night
Peace in the valley
Little sister
Tomorrow is a long time
Unchained melody (live 1977)
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
There’s a honky tonk angel (who’ll take me back in)
For the good times
His hand in mine
Loving arms
Lead me, guide me
An American trilogy
Anything that’s part of you
Mystery train
Don’t be cruel
All shook up
There’s always me
It’s midnight
Blue Christmas
Hurt
She’s not you
Bitter they are, harder they fall
Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on
Fame and fortune
Stranger in my own home town
Love coming down
The girl of my best friend
She’s not you
Merry Christmas baby
Return to sender
Surrender
Is it so strange
When my blue moon turns to gold again
Just pretend
You gave me a mountain

It occurs to me that I've never read contemporary accounts of the 68 comeback special from other musicians. Like, did Lennon say anything about it? Elvis is so ferocious here, it's just completely different from, like, watching the rooftop concert a year later.
― droit au butt (Euler), Tuesday, July 31, 2018 6:28 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

funny you should ask that Euler, and weird synchronicity that i had a day off work today to go buy some records and on the way found that elvis book that i'd never heard of before, because it mentions john lennon talking about elvis... i'll see what i can do.

― lefal junglist platton (wtev), Tuesday, July 31, 2018 8:05 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

https://i.imgur.com/tm1mlBf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4FrLpBZ.jpg

Just remembered this about milkcow blues boogie. If you listen closely to the beginning of the fast section you get a window into (in my opinion) the brilliance of his vocal technique and innate studio craft. It's the taking of two breaths in quick succession so that he's got enough lung power to do justice to how he needs the performance to sound.

Well I woke up this morning and I looked out the door (breath)
And I can tell (breath) that old milkcow I can tell the way she lows
Now if you see that milkcow please drive her on home (breath presumably)
I aint' had no milk and butter etc..

Thinking about the few sun outtakes that exist, one of them is key here, which is sam philips telling elvis not to get "too close to the mike". Cos sam had his levels pretty well set in the studio and these couldn't cope dynamically with some of the extra input Elvis was giving (I'm not explaining very well, but I think when he was recording he was also performing so was going into and away from the mike, something he did all through his career e.g. in the aloha performance he moved the mike away to create a 'fade' on his vocal). The fact that we can hear his in-breaths means he was close in on the mic at that point but maybe moved away a little at the end of 'drive her on home' because we can't hear the in-breaths any more. I like to think that these details in the performance also show the rehearsals that must have happened prior to the recording, and that Elvis had worked out in those rehearsals how he could best get through that opening verse. There are no outtakes from that session (and its date isn't fixed either) so we can't be sure of how many takes there were, but I'm fascinated by what the recording we actually have can tell us about the recordings that we'll never hear.

Also think that the effect of the double breath, allowing him to keep going to "drive her on home", also means his voice works as a kind of percussive accompaniment alongside the slap bass. No drums so all other percussive hands needed to be on deck, and his vocal has a great rhythmic quality to it.

Jailhouse Rock
Marie's the Name (His Latest Fling)
Burning Love
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Suspicious Minds
Return to Sender
Hound Dog
I Need Your Love Tonight
Too Much
Don't Be Cruel

I am v glad Blue Moon of Kentucky placed so high. One of my favorite covers of his, still gets me every time I hear it

Surprised "Jailhouse Rock" (my #1) placed outside the top 10, and grateful for the voting thread for introducing me to "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues." Thanks Euler and Moka!

Thanks wtev for those informative posts!

xp He set the bar unbelievably high right from the start with "That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as his first Sun single

no question

My #2 matched the poll, poll #3 was my #12, and my #1 for years was the poll #1, but in the end I dropped it to #4. My ranking was really very general and if I wrote up my ballot on another day, it would have a different order and some different songs. Really, the strength of the talent and as somebody said upthread, the depth of the catalogue means there are not too many wrong answers and I'm pretty happy with the results here.

My ballot (In ranked order, but numbers aren't copying properly)

James Redd and 50,000,000 Blecchs Can't Be Wrong!

Polk Salad Annie
Mystery Train
Milkcow Blues Boogie
Suspicious Minds
Little Sister
Kentucky Rain
In The Ghetto
You're So Square (Baby, I Don't Care)
Good Rockin' Tonight
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Jailhouse Rock
Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)
Sweet Caroline
Burning Love
Return To Sender
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
Heartbreak Hotel
All Shook Up
Viva Las Vegas
Money Honey
Blue Suede Shoes
Baby Let's Play House
Stuck On You
Moody Blue
Hurt
(You're the) Devil In Disguise
Young and Beautiful
Blue Christmas
Only the Strong Survive
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
King Creole
Don't Be Cruel
Hound Dog
Long Black Limousine
True Love Travels on a Gravel Road
Baby What You Want Me To Do
Rock-A-Hula Baby
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Santa Claus Is Back In Town
That's All Right
It's Now Or Never
Can't Help Falling In Love
Crying in the Chapel
My Baby Left Me
Suspicion
Is It So Strange
A Little Less Conversation
If I Can Dream
Steamroller Blues
Ito Eats

Thread made me dip into Memphis Boys:The Story of American Studios by Roben Jones and now I can’t stop thinking about whether certain string charts were written by Mike Leech or Glen Spreen.

Here’s the Mann/Weil song that Elvis gave to Roy Hamilton instead of recording himself when they both were recording at American
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI3gKJw7RbA
although apparently it had already been recorded and charted several times prior to Hamilton’s version
https://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53046

From Memphis Boys, about the recording of “In The Ghetto”:

When Elvis came in that night, Marty recalled that Chips asked him, "If y' ain't gonna do it, can I have it?' Elvis said, `No, I'm gonna cut it:" Chips had thought that Joe Simon or Rosey Grier could do the song, if Elvis had not wanted to; if he did, Chips was determined that the song would be an exclusive. And sing it Elvis did, in a recording whose significance, if anything, has grown over the years. "I played the exact same guitar part Mac played when he was pitchin' the song, it's built in;' said Reggie Young, who used the same old Gibson 440 he had played on Dusty Springfield's "Windmills mills of Your Mind" and Tommy had played on Sandy Posey's "I Take It Back," that Scotty Moore had traded to Chips. It gave the session continuity, as if Scotty were still represented in some way. "When we did `Ghetto, my hands were shakin', the guitarist continued. "The whole front end of the song was me and him. It was nervousness, in a good way. Boy, he was just bigger 'n life. You definitely knew he was there.”

Marie's the Name (His Latest Fling)
― Police, Academy (cryptosicko)

I like that.

Oops! I hope my vote for it still got counted (not that it would've hurt much).

I assume so. Same as mine, which also had the parentheses in the wrong place.

Scott Walker did "Angelica" too.

Yeah. That link has his version listed

So, a few decades ago I went to see Lonnie Mack at The Bottom Line. Before the show started the soundsystem was playing a Roy Buchanan version of “You Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover.” This was pre-smart phone days, and I couldn’t remember who did the original which was driving me a little crazy. But then I looked over and saw somebody I recognized from having seen his picture and thought: “Oh that’s Doc Pomus, maybe he’ll know.” So I went over and asked him and he said “How the hell do I know?” He proceeded to elaborate: “Do you know how many records dates I was on and people send me letters berating me because I don’t know who was playing saxophone on a particular date?” Since nobody else was sitting at the table I just sat there myself and watched the show and we didn’t really talk anymore. Lonnie played great. He said “Just because it ain’t to the walls tonight, don’t mean we can’t have a good time,” perhaps before playing an excellent version of “Why?” Almost immediately after the show ended, Doc’s wheelchair started wheeling backwards, whether purely of his own propulsion or with the aide of a helper I couldn’t tell, it was happening so fast, and he quickly disappeared into the night. That was the last I saw of him. I don’t believe this incident influenced my voting for several of his songs in this poll. For further information, I highly recommend the book Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus, by Alex Halberstadt. Have yet to see the film about him.

That’s a really cool story. I would have probably annoyed him by being chatty.

my ballot:

Beyond The Reef
Blue Moon
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
An American Trilogy
Suspicious Minds
My Happiness
His Latest Flame
Mystery Train
Burning Love
Where Did They Go, Lord
Baby Let’s Play House
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Long Black Limousine
You’ll Never Walk Alone
One Night
In the Ghetto
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Love Me
It's Your Baby, You Rock It
Stranger In My Own Home Town
My Baby Left Me
It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
Blue Christmas
Trying To Get To You
Teddy Bear
Faded Love
Tomorrow Never Comes
Wearin’ That Loved On Look
Kentucky Rain
Little Sister
Hurt
Milkcow Blues Boogie
I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago
Tiger Man
Change of Habit
(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
Make The World Go Away
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
In The Garden
Heartbreak Hotel
It Ain't No Big Thing (But It's Growing)
Always On My Mind
I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
A Hundred Years From Now
White Christmas
Seeing Is Believing
That’s All Right
Hound Dog
Return to Sender
Viva Las Vegas

love that Dylan/Lennon anecdote

Thanks for running this. I didn't feel I had enough to contribute a ballot but am excited to do some listening.

Suspicion got just a single lowly vote! I love that song.

If only I had told Doc Pomus that

Maybe somebody else voted for it whose ballot hasn’t been posted yet

Thanks Euler and Moka and everybody who participated, really enjoyed this poll and hope to comment a little more this weekend.

My copy of the Elvis On Tour DVD came in today's mail. Really looking forward to checking it out this weekend.

treat city, here you come!

Been off-grid for a few days so just catching up with results now. Thanks Euler and Moka, hope to see the complete results at some point. Here's my ballot.
1. Any Day Now
2. Suspicious Minds
3. Mystery Train
4. Don’t Be Cruel
5. Trying To Get To You
6. Kentucky Rain
7. Reconsider Baby
8. Tomorrow Night
9. All Shook Up
10. Jailhouse Rock
11. A Mess of Blues
12. Baby, Let’s Play House
13. Tomorrow is a Long Time
14. I’ll Hold You In My Heart (till I Can Hold You In My Arms)
15. Blue Moon of Kentucky
16. True Love Travels on a Gravel Road
17. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
18. I Feel So Bad
19. So Glad You’re Mine
20. If You Talk In Your Sleep
21. That’s Someone You’ll Never Forget
22. One Night
23. (Marie’s The Name Of)His Latest Flame
24. That’s All Right
25. Heartbreak Hotel
26. Love Me
27. Promised Land
28. Wearin’ That Loved On Look
29. Good Rockin’ Tonight
30. Blue Christmas
31. Little Sister
32. Spinout
33. Let Yourself Go
34. Hound Dog
35. Love Lettters
36. Crawfish
37. Don’t
38. (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me
39. Separate Ways
40. Surrender
41. Stranger In My Own Home Town
42. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
43. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
44. Run On
45. Guitar Man
46. Burning Love
47. Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby
48. Blue Moon
49. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
50. When It Rains, It Really Pours

Glad to see there was at least one other vote for the majestically lewd "Santa Claus Is Back In Town".

Is there a lazy way to post the full results? I have a spreadsheet.

Just link to it in Google Docs?

I’ll see how easy it is in the next few days then

thanks for running this Euler and Moka, was fun to follow

This may have been mentioned already--the Comeback special is going to be in theatres within a couple of weeks. There was an ad for it where I was yesterday. I've never seen it, so if it shows up here I'll definitely be there.

Marie's the name was way too high

https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis-presley-doc-pomus-mort-shuman.shtml

Okay, getting a little far down in this POLL-induced rabbit hole. Just heard Elvis say "Play it, James!" and thought he was talking to me.

Hm, seems that "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" was originally recorded by Del Shannon.

I'm surprised no one posted it during the preamble.

Oh wait, just found that version on Youtube. It's a misfire. The King strikes again, TCB in a flash.

C
T ⚡️B

     C
T ⚡️B

(Oh well, the latter works in zing, at least, sort of)

Love the acoustic/electric bass combo on Marie...

OK so I'm obsessed with Elvis now, thank you to the pollrunners and voters for settin' my soul on fire

:D

Where Were You When Elvis Died?

Have to admit I don’t have the deepest knowledge of the catalog. Over the years I just went for some of the obvious high points, made my way through some box sets, stuck random probes into different career phases, followed various blips of reappraisal or cover versions leading me back to the Elvis version. First heard “Little Sister” - my #5- when it was done by Robert Plant and Rockpile at the Concert for Kampuchea. The more I listen, the further into the rearview mirror go various retro/kitschy/American/bloated pop-star baggage simplifications and I just hear the excellence in the singing, the combination of technical chops, careful listening and emotional interpretation. For one thing, he has a lot of big effects that one might imagine he lays on a bit thick, but in fact way more often than not he keeps a lot of it in reserve so it doesn’t get wasted until the big moment is needed.

yeah the conventional wisdom re cheesiness of his later material really falls away once you dig in

unless majesty is cheese in which case CHEDDAR ME UP

Yup. Meant to type “Americana” above.

It's funny, because he didn't even become an album artist in the post-Beatles sense of that term until From Elvis in Memphis, but almost all of the 12 non-gospel studio albums he did between 1969 and 1977(!) are really good. There are a couple of awful ballads (I really, really hate "My Boy") but overall the music is pretty astonishingly strong.

I would like someone to tell me which of the 1971-77 albums are really good, because I only know the singles from that period, and to be honest, I'm skeptical. I don't like "My Boy" either.

By the way, apologies if I've overstated this, but 10 of the final 50 in this poll were recorded in January-February 1969. That means seven of the From Elvis in Memphis tracks plus "Stranger in My Home Town," "Suspicious Minds" and "Kentucky Rain." That's remarkable.

As a person who has had an longstanding fascination with the various studio house bands, particularly along the Memphis/Muscle Shoals axis, to me those recordings represent one of the greatest harmonic convergences in pop music history (and I still keep finding/relearning new trivia about them I’d like to bore you with). Even so, I mostly concentrated on the biggest hits and only gradually spread out in concentric circles to listen to the other tunes and after the voting was in I saw that I may have given some of those short shrift.

I had three in my top seven (could easily have been 1,2 and 3) and then another three in my top forty.

I would like someone to tell me which of the 1971-77 albums are really good, because I only know the singles from that period, and to be honest, I'm skeptical. I don't like "My Boy" either.

Weird how some of the singles were not originally on From Elvis to Memphis, same way singles were not on UK Beatles albums, and their corresponding live versions weren’t on the original release of On Stage.

Looking at the cover art for the single “In the Ghetto” b/w “Any Day Now” and the image of Elvis totally makes it seem to be another soundtrack-related release

Both of which were on the original version of the album, as you are aware.

Another weird thing is that the singles released from this recording session were alternating with singles drawn from soundtracks. To add another layer, some of those tracks were also written by Mac Davis (and Billy Strange)

One of my new favorite stories is of Freddy Bienstock flying back from the sessions in Memphis, running into Bob Dylan on the airplane and, momentarily forgetting about being mumped up about missing out on his taste of the publishing, going on and on about what a great job Elvis did on “Only the Strong Survive.”

that's an awful lot of Coke, ribeyes, and ring-dings you're buying there, Mr. President. I think I'm gonna need to see some ID.

I would like someone to tell me which of the 1971-77 albums are really good, because I only know the singles from that period, and to be honest, I'm skeptical. I don't like "My Boy" either.

He touched me
Good times
Promised land

They're all good

otm

Elvis Country is great

This may have been mentioned already--the Comeback special is going to be in theatres within a couple of weeks. There was an ad for it where I was yesterday. I've never seen it, so if it shows up here I'll definitely be there.

I would like someone to tell me which of the 1971-77 albums are really good, because I only know the singles from that period, and to be honest, I'm skeptical. I don't like "My Boy" either.

They're almost all good (Love Letters From Elvis kinda sucks). Also, this set (Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters) is easy to find very cheap and is totally worth it.

Thanks for all the album recs everyone. Since Elvis Country is the earliest of this batch I think I'll start with that and move forward. Also I remember from the Guralnick book that the sessions that that record comes from, June 1970 in Nashville, had a relatively good vibe to them. Love Letters is from the same sessions but I'm guessing those are the second-tier selections. Will consider Walk a Mile in My Shoes as well.

It's hard with Elvis not to constantly psychoanalyze the man, but it seems to me mid-1970 is when something changes and the late-life oddness comes to the forefront. Pills, paranoia, failed relationships etc. Inevitably one listens to the music with that in mind, whether it's fair or not.

I go back and forth on that. It used to bother me more, but now I can tune it out for longer periods of time and in recent years it hasn’t seemed to interfere with my listening at all *knock wood* Not to start a fite, but at some point I crossed over and had more of a problem listening to The Beatles and thinking about the nonsense they got up to.

I just dug up this review of Goldman’s bio, gone off the web because of Moody Blue, but in the wayback machine, which I long ago found a helpful corrective to certain ways of thinking
https://web.archive.org/web/20160421064858/http://www.ulmus.net:80/ace/aceworks/presley.html

Also, this set🕸 (/Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters/) is easy to find very cheap and is totally worth it.

Meant to say he could always sing, even when he was hurt, way down in the jungle room.

Btw: speaking of The Beatles, don’t think we ever got the correct answer that the first recording of “Burning Love” was by Arthur Alexander.

Always think the backing vocal hook for that one comes from The Isley Brothers version of “Love the One You’re With” but maybe it’s just an obvious thing to do.

Ooh could well be the case

We never really discussed Patch It Up, which is one of his great 70s singles. I should have had it higher on my ballot. If you've never heard it, a quick youtube search will do you right.

Can you feel it?

It’s track 5 on that box set.

Which box set is also available on various major streaming services.

Looking at old setlists it's interesting to see that Elvis was doing not one but two Olivia Newton-John hits in his regular set for a stretch in the mid-'70s... "Let Me Be There" and "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)."

Both of those are on the album Moody Blue!

The way I try to think of it is: Do I NEED to hear Elvis sing those two Olivia Newton John songs? Probably not. Do I MIND listening to them. No. Does the album which they appear on, Moody Blue, have some good to great material and performances, which also appear on the box set Walk a Mile In My Shoes: The Essential ‘70s Masters? Hell yeah.

Part of the problem is that it was/is hard to parse Elvis through the lens of classic rock. Since he didn’t write his own material, he looked even more like a ‘50s vintage oldies act.

Meant to add “just going through the motions.”

Also, there is at least one interesting detail here in this Wikipedia entry
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_Down?wprov=sfti1

”Way Down" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley. Recorded in October 1976, it was his last single released before his death on August 16, 1977. The song was written by Layng Martine, Jr. and was later covered by Status Quo and Cliffhanger. Presley recorded the song at his home studio in Graceland on 29 October 1976.

Watching Elvis On Tour right now, as I type, and there's no way you can accuse him of "just going through the motions." He's on camera talking about how he always reminds the band that they need to approach every show like it's their first, because for the audience, it is; then there's the footage of him singing gospel songs backstage with a bunch of other people...plus, the range of material he does is pretty crazy. I mean, he's covering Creedence and Simon and Garfunkel (I'm not too pleased about the latter choice, but whatever) and is clearly more enthused about singing new songs like "Burning Love" than revisiting the 50s hits...

I'm also kind of amazed what a bunch of post-hippie dirtbags his band looked like, despite their uniforms.

Yeah, I am not saying he SHOULD be accused of that, just that one might have been encouraged to believe that at the time by lazy thinkers.

His act seemed corny to a certain segment of the population- he was back to projecting like a stage actor while others were emulating a cooler, more filmic style, trying to walk like Brando- and some never seemed to get beyond this way of thinking.

Perhaps I am projecting my own attitude at the time onto others, sorry.

yeah i dunno, maybe ppl think that bcz he stopped doing live shows when he was stuck doing movies all those years that his later period residencies would be sleepwalking through sets etc. But his skills & commitment were so ingrained, it’s honestly naive to think it would drop off. The “freedom” to perform again gave him a vigor to approach it wholeheartedly. I say “freedom” bcz the concert grind did turn into a prison sentence of its own too, sadly.

Also the fact that this dude had an incredible work ethic because of his dirt poor upbringing. Everything, whether it’s recording, acting, performing live - he knew it could be taken away at any moment, that nothing should be taken for granted, AND that you should always give people their money’s worth. Sure he might be playing every night in this ballroom but Mr & Mrs Hamhock from Idaho might be treating themselves to a once in a lifetime show. He understood that on a serious level imo.

Otm

In other news, just noticed super-low subwoofer backing bass vocal on the chorus of “Suspicion.”

Also sometimes think the rhythm of James Brown saying “Que pasa, people?” at the beginning of “Get On The Good Foot” sounds like the drum break intro to “My Baby Left Me.”

Mmm the Arthur Alexander version of Burning Love sounds like freaking John Mayer. I thought a different take on the song would be interesting but Elvis’ version is pretty much definite.

This has been posted on other threads but not on this one yet, where it is needed now in case there is an iota of doubt remaining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVPS0ETuUYE

Wait, sorry, I had one of those weird copy paste YouTube things happening, meant to post:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx7I4DfUGM4

Also the fact that this dude had an incredible work ethic because of his dirt poor upbringing. Everything, whether it’s recording, acting, performing live - he knew it could be taken away at any moment, that nothing should be taken for granted, AND that you should always give people their money’s worth. Sure he might be playing every night in this ballroom but Mr & Mrs Hamhock from Idaho might be treating themselves to a once in a lifetime show. He understood that on a serious level imo.

― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, August 6, 2018 9:40 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is otmfm.

Also sometimes think the rhythm of James Brown saying “Que pasa, people?” at the beginning of “Get On The Good Foot” sounds like the drum break intro to “My Baby Left Me.”

― Suspicious Hiveminds (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, August 6, 2018 10:02 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Speaking of James Brown, this is from Brown's autobiography The Godfather Of Soul (I think this is around 1965-66):

At a big party he threw in the Hyatt Continental, I think, when it got late, we threw everybody out of the room, and Elvis and I sang gospel together. We sang "Old Jonah," "Old Blind Barnabas," all the ones I'd been singing since I was little. He knew the harmonies, too. That's how we communicated -- by singing jubilee, the real upbeat kind of gospel. He told me he wanted to use my band to record. He said he wanted the horns and things behind him, but he wanted them strong.

If Elvis's Memphis '69 sessions have got you interested in hearing more music recorded by Chips Moman, Tommy Cogbill and the American Studios musicians, I made this Spotify playlist.

Cool, thanks!

Nice, but don’t forget Mike Leech, who passed away last December and who had a health scare causing him to leave during the middle of Elvis’s sessions, but not until after he already played the iconic “Suspicious Minds” bass line. Played on “Drift Away” too, in the running on another thread right now.

Finally getting caught up on the results and really enjoyed both threads. Thanks, Euler and Moka, for doing this. And thanks, cryptosicko, for putting together the Spotify playlist. Here's my ballot:

Blue Moon
Long Black Limousine
Stranger in My Own Hometown
Crawfish
Memphis Tennessee
The Girl of My Best Friend
Suspicious Minds
Polk Salad Annie
Promised Land
All Shook Up
If You Talk in Your Sleep
I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine
Mystery Train
Heartbreak Hotel
Don't Be Cruel
Milkcow Blues Boogie
(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
That’s All Right
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
Wearing That Loved On Look
Snowbird
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
Moody Blue
Blue Moon of Kentucky

The recent Malcolm Gladwell podcast w Jack White on Elvis’ parapraxis when it came to singing ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ is pretty interesting, would def recommend.

Thanks.

That Ray Connolly book looks good. May have to get myself a copy.

yeah otm, i just put it on my to-read list

Just finished it yesterday. Not as insightful as I had anticipated but a decent read none the less.

Seems pretty smoothly written but ... a little simplistic maybe?

Okay, he tells of Vernon being fired for using the company truck for bootlegging before the move to Memphis but Guralnick seems to label this story a supposition. How to triangulate the true story?

Or maybe I just need to read the Elaine Dundy book as well, to see how she originally reported it.

Popped into a Barnes and Noble for a quick look at the books I shouldn’t buy or have already bought and should probably read sometime and almost as soon as I got in there “Hurt” started playing. /ElvisIsEverywhete

Relistening to the Walk a Mile In My Shoes box. Lots of good stuff on that, still sticking with my #1

This poll has made me reevaluate a lot of the 70s stuff which is far better than I gave it credit. Particularly stuff on the Burning Love compilation that I have no recollection of purchasing.

Also, I had Where Do I Go From Here too low at 12. It's Top 5 fer sure

Hey, just looked up one of my non-finishing votes, the James Taylor composition “Steamroller Blues” and see that an ilx0r weighed in on the song, if not Elvis’s version of it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamroller_Blues?wprov=sfti1

Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Mark Coleman, said Taylor's song "effectively mocks the straining pomposity of then-current white bluesmen."

Listening to him singing “Something” and there is, um, something that sounds likes a theremin every now and then

Is it the live version on the '70s box? I'm 90% sure that's one of his backing vocalists...but I wouldn't rule out a theremin.

Yes and I agree with your assessment

Listened again. Doesn’t quite sound like a human voice.

Maybe it’s a pedal steel?

Perhaps some astute YouTube commenter will know

Just listened again, and am leaning more towards the sound being a backup singer. There's a slight breathiness to the sound, and you can hear her joined by the rest of the singers on the chorus.

(I almost added, "and anyway, Elvis wouldn't hire a theremin player for his touring band just to play one small part on one song," but then realized, of course he would.)

I'm pretty sure it's Kathy Westmoreland. It's more recognisable as a vocal line here (at 00:38)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdDhwa3WYHo

Okay, I’ll take your word for it

I’m a big fan of E thanks to my parents, but I was too lazy and uninformed to vote in this poll. But if I had done it, I would have voted all the songs on the This Is Elvis movie soundtrack, which was a frequently spun disc when I was a lad

would have been solid votes imo

Got my copy of Elvis Country and gave it a few spins. I like it, it's pretty solid. It's so all over the place stylistically, and also so beat-heavy, that you don't feel like you're listening to a "country" album. (Not crazy about the gimmick of fading in & out of "I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago" between every track though). The single, "I Really Don't Want to Know" is a good cut... I first heard this tune when Jason & the Scorchers did an excellent version of it back in the '80s. Elvis does a Lee Hazlewood song here, "The Fool" - wonder if he ever did another one (wish he had); would think the Speedway soundtrack would be the time for it, but evidently no.

These June 1970 sessions in Nashville must have been one of Elvis's most prolific moments. He cut 35 songs then that were spread over four separate albums. None of them made the cut in our poll, sadly. Which is curious, considering that this was his next big recording project after the early '69 Memphis sessions that we all love so much.

(Not crazy about the gimmick of fading in & out of "I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago" between every track though).

Oh yeah. I shared the album w/my dad (who's a big Elvis fan from way back--he bought the s/t on original release, which had for a little while before his mom threw it out) and he couldn't make it to the end solely because of those edits.

And so 41 years ago today....

... I seem to recall seeing Geraldo on tv in a jumpsuit. An unfortunate image I can thankfully usually keep at a considerable distance.

At the time I didn’t really know the fuss what about. I had mostly only seen the artist on television when my mother would watch his films. But then soon after I saw this and it opened my eyes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk

I would like to think one of the connections James Brown saw with him was the dancing, the ability to feel the rhythm all over his body and to use different sections of his limbs and torso as if they were parts of a drum kit.

That clip I hadn’t seen before, the films my mother watched always seemed to have him in a marina with a little captain’s cap or some other boring getup.

Two years later there was an intriguing tribute from Rockpile to pique my interest once again:
https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/22/archives/rock-rockpile-performs.html

Then a few months later they also came up with this tribute, playing a song I had never heard of before https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/11/concerts-for-the-people-of-kampuchea-little-sister-rockpile-with-robert-plant2.html, which eventually led to my fateful encounter with Doc Pomus and the minor blues turnaround.

Of course, prior to this, in addition to the studio films I had also seen my mother watching some of the concert films or performances but to be an honest I had a hard time telling him apart from Tom Jones although it was clear to even me that Engelbert Humperdinck was a distant third.

In high school I knew the songs that were oldies staples on WCBS-FM and I ended up buying A Date With Elvis and Elvis' Golden Records. A few years later in the college library I ran into and befriended a guy wearing a little Elvis pin on the lapel of his denim jacket, a fellow now known on WFMU as Mr. Fine Wine. Finally right after college I read a excerpt from an upcoming book about soul music in the Village Voice about Roosevelt Jamison, Quinton Claunch and the Goldwax label and their artist James Carr, none of whom I had ever heard before, http://www.peterguralnick.com/post/47106712366/roosevelt-jamison-1936-2013 and of course that ultimately led me to further Elvis exploration

Tbh not sure what date or year Geraldo started wearing the jumpsuit but it was pretty early on

The local multiplex has had limited screenings of the Comeback Special--last Thursday, the anniversary of Elvis's death, and again today. (That's it.) Saw it tonight in a theatre that was almost full.

My favorite songs were the three Sun recordings, and the Jimmy Reed and Lloyd Price covers. The hits medley reminded me again that my appreciation of a lot of Elvis's music is arm's-length. The "Guitar Man" set-piece, which was like some bizarre synthesis of The Band Wagon and Laugh-In, went on forever. I liked Elvis's throwaway mockery of "MacArthur Park," and the Steve Binder/Priscilla making-of interview beforehand was really good.

My favourite moment of all was non-musical: when Elvis got very quiet and said he wanted to say a little about music. ("Very little.") He came right up to the edge, then backed off into generalities--if felt like he wanted to say a lot more than he actually did. Maybe he wanted to apologize for the movie phase of his career, or confess that he was completely baffled by what was going on around him. He said he liked the Beatles, but I don't know how convincing he was ("The Beatles, the Beards..."--that was great.) It was a great, vulnerable moment, and he got to pay tribute to the importance of gospel in his life, but I do think he left some things unsaid.

ARGHHH i forgot to go & i missed it ;_;

I don't know why they limited this to two days. I was in Oakville, 25 miles outside of Toronto, and the theatre was almost sold out. I'm sure they would have done well with a week-long run.

That Beatles Beards quote is all time.

Here are the full results, finally.

Thanks! I feel like maybe one of my tail end votes went missing but don’t want nitpick.

Really enjoying the 136-ranked gospel tune, “I, John,” which keeps appearing in my Release Radar playlist, although it may be a “sweetened” version with a new backing track and vocals.

FYI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool%27s_Gold_Loaf

holy cow

Any Day Now was my #1. For me it's the pinnacle of the American Studios sessions. The band came up with an unbeatable arrangement (I love Reggie Young's descending intro lick), and Elvis's vocal is impeccable. BTW, Ronnie Milsap was working out of Memphis at the time, appearing nightly at a club called TJs, and Elvis went to see him several times. Milsap recorded over a dozen sides at American and was also a background singer on the Elvis sessions. He did a fine version of the song but doesn't communicate anguish like Elvis does.

― Ρεμπετολογια, Monday, July 30, 2018 2:10 PM

Did Ρεμπετολογια die? otherwise I am confused:(

Yes, sorry. Rolling Obituary Thread: 2020

oh wow. I don't normally look at that thread. RIP indeed

Bunch of these showing up in one of my Made For You algorithmic playlists. I must have been revisiting last summer.

Unless the algorithm mixes various summers together and is reaching back to years past.

this poll only getting 19 ballots taught me a good lesson about the alleged breadth of ILM listeners. it's nevertheless a good music message board, but in essence a pavement fan club. RIP

Yup. Same for this POLL: Wishin' and Votin' - the BURT BACHARACH SONGBOOK Poll Results, speaking of Ρεμπετολογια's #1, "Any Day Now."

yeah, that one too.

I listened to Lonnie Mack's "Memphis" earlier today, speaking of something we talked about on this thread.

listening to the s/t debut and thinking about scotty moore's 25 watt echosonic, which is discussed in detail here with lots of interesting photos:

http://www.scottymoore.net/echosonic.html

this poll only getting 19 ballots

still regret not finding the time to do a ballot :/

here too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCKO9eQAK7o

here too

here three

i’d love to do this rollout again & comment some more on the tracks - i really enjoyed this poll & still love nothing more than talking about the King

i’d love to do this rollout again & comment some more on the tracks - i really enjoyed this poll & still love nothing more than talking about the King

― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, October 11, 2020 7:19 AM (one month ago) bookmarkflaglink

I'm up for this

Bassist Norbert Putnam looks back at the legendary Nashville Cats recordings with Elvis Presley

Sock a little polk salad to me.
Don’t you know I need a meal.

“Steamroller Blues” released as a streaming single yesterday. The Aloha from Hawaii version that is, don’t know from the Royal Philharmonic version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p2wX0Lh_rw

Ronnie Tutt is playing some sick stuff on "I Can Help" from the Today album.