Elvis

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 11:04 AM

The first time I heard Elvis I was a tiny little girl but still remember most of the words to most of his songs the same with Buddy Holly. I liked the more 'rocky' stuff rather than the ballads I considered them to be a bit soppy at the time although 'Love me Tender' does have beautiful words to it. Jail House Rock was my favourite and I used to dance a 5/6 year old version of it with a kitchen chair as a prop, great memories. But he himself was not a particular favourite of mine, my mother was in the Roy Orbison camp and my aunt was the Elvis fan. Buddy Holly was for me although he wasn't around long enough in that short span of my life, after he died his music was constantly playing in our house and his catchy lyrics and music just stayed lodged my brain, there was the feel good factor in his music which I didn't find in Elvis's stuff. Perhaps if Elvis had had a bit more education rather than sending him in the Army he might have got more control of his career and perhaps might not have died so young.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 05:30 AM

Buddy Holly once said " without Elvis, none of us would have made it "

He started it all.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 12:59 PM

He was a marvelous singer, great performer, tons of charisma. Overrated? Well, in this case I don't think so.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 03:46 PM

In my opinion, Elvis had a great voice- that he was "white and handsom" had nothing whatever to do with it. I couldn't stand his movies - only ever saw his first two - and although I could have gone to some of his concerts, I didn't because I couldn't stand the screaming.

But his voice and intonation- ah. We bought all of his records.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,Song Detective
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 03:14 PM

You don't even have "ask" Dylan. Just check out his codification of Thats All Right
Mama.
That guy knows more than he'll ever say but its in the music. Where it belongs.
Best.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,Song Detective
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 03:01 PM

Hmmm. I arrived on a hunt for the folk blues to western swing to "rockabilly" origins of "Blue Suede Shoes" because the connections are so clear. And they lead
directly to Elvis, not Perkins {especially when you consider that he was pressured by J. Cash to do it and coicidentally, he claimed, he saw that boy in the crowd right then}. Elvis was exposed to and sang and later even recorded the folk antecedents,
making connections that few even imagined until lond after his early death.
This is not CSI Memphis, but the whole matter of the song's official SET of stories
as to its origin sound fishy to me. The more I discover the more clear it seems. I haven't even discussed Elvis' reported reactions to Perkins appearance on Cash's TV show. Seemingly ''not him" but he did react in rage. Why?
The answers are in the history of the songs roots and EPs familiarity with them.
Didn't come for gossip about his dad. His father may have good reason to fear Parker, if you read Elaine Dundys amazing classic bio. And Vernon kept working at
United Paint well into his sons Sun career. Then he bought a pile of bookkeeping books and built his own office back of the house. And he tried
to run a tight ship with his son's lack of concern and Parkers manipulations,
it was impossible. Leave that man's memory alone and return to the sounds.
The sounds of our music. All of us. Elvis articulated real American music for
the world to hear. And now we must do the work of connecting the dots.
Best,
Song Detective

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 06:24 AM

Thanks Bob - lovely post!

It's interesting about Colonel Tom Parker. In part of the interview with Steve Christopher, he said that Elvis's father, Vernon, thought the Colonel was great, because he kept the money coming in, and he (Vernon) was able to continue not having to work and living in the style to which he had become accustomed. Elvis's mother couldn't stand him. Once she died, that left the way for the Colonel to keep control of everything.

However, once Vernon died, it was a different story. That was when they got rid of Colonel Tom Parker. That was Steve Christopher's story anyway.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 03:13 AM

Elvis overated? Ask the following, and they'd say "no"! Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Rait - need I go on?

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 03:42 PM

Actually, imho, when you get to hear a live-ish recording or film clip the early Elvis was a very very good singer. In the same way you never realised how good Desmond Dekker was until you heard a live broadcast or something. The records were plastic.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: HouseCat
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 03:41 PM

I'll never forget the day Elvis died, just for the sheer drama of it. I was 17. My sisters were fans but my great passion at the time was John Denver. So when I heard on TV that Elvis had passed, I was interested but not devastated. I went outside into the backyard, where my Mom and my cousin Betty were having a conversation over the last of the tomato plants. I said, "You'll never believe it, Elvis is dead." Poor Betty. She began to hyperventilate and tear her hair, all the while wailing "O God, it can't be true", and then she passed out cold in the tomato patch. My Mom picked up the lawn sprinkler and held it over her head until she came to.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 10:30 AM

I agree with ibo, good but overrated. Colonel Tom Parker was the death of him, artistically, and eventually, literally.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 10:07 AM

Wall to wall Elvis programmes on UK radio and tv stations this week.
I preferred the 1950s Elvis myself- my own version of Blue Suede Shoes has emptied premises (nay, whole islands) for years, while when I sang Always on my mind to Herself for her birthday one year she sighed "who let that man near a microphone"!

RtS
(uh huh)

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 07:26 AM

I was listening to some of his gospel songs on the radio tonight Listen here , including 'How great thou art'

sandra

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 09:36 PM

Memories of Elvis: As a young boy, the T.V. came on late in the day with a test pattern, in black and white. It featured an Indian. but when you're about 10 years old, it was the future. After all, my "radio" had been a crystal set, oatmeal box, wire to the plumbing, a headset and the crystal, with the needle you scratched with, to dial in the stations. So, on that afternoon when, I believe it was Paul Whiteman, the memory is so old now...anyway, a variety show. "Ladies and Gentlemen, ELVIS PRESLEY." What? El-vis, what kind of name is that? It wasn't Jimmy or Billy, or anything I knew...And this guy comes on, like a wild animal, black hair, sideburns, guitar, looking from side to side like somebody was going to jump him...And then he starts to sing..."You ain't nuthin' but a hound dog", and he's shaking, like he's possessed(I may not have even known what possessed was at the time) but one thing for sure...I NEVER saw or heard anything like THAT before...
    It was wild, crazy, I didn't know what to do. Then came the stories, how he was dangerous, or he was doing something wrong, something you couldn't show on T.V. So the next time he was on T.V., Mom and Dad were there. Dad said he had a good voice, and liked him. Mom just watched. And the show played, but you could only see him from the waist up. Then the screams, the song, and it was over. And Ed Sullivan said something like, "this is a fine young boy." Elvis was looking from side to side, shy like.
    And the mockers spoke with their "Elvis the Pelvis" and the later years it contnued with "the fat Vegas clown in the white jump suits." But I like to go back to that afternoon when I first saw him. And I'm going to remember the love of Gospel Music, "How Great Thou Art", the crazy stories,"Elvis, you just gave away $300,000 this month, we can't go on like that..." "It's O.K. Daddy, I'll just go on the road and make it all right back." The humility, the smile, sometimes making fun of himself and his image, with the lip. He would be your friend, if you just got to meet him. You knew he'd never let you down. All of that.
   No friends, for millions of fans around the world, Elvis was a lot more than a singer. He was a member of your family, everything that was decent, the man who stood up for what was right. All the good things America could be. So to all the fans around the world, he hasn't really "left the building". He's just smiling down on us...Thanks Elvis, God Bless...
bob

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: Rog Peek
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 06:40 PM

First record I bought:- "A Hard Headed Woman", I reckon I must have been about 10yrs. It was a 78 of course and got broken along the way. I still know the words by heart now.

When Jailhouse Rock came out I managed to persuade my mum to take me. It was an 'A' rated film, so I couldn't get admission without an adult. It was on at the ABC Cinema in Cirencester.

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,ibo
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 02:58 PM

He was good,but vastly overrated.The real kings of rock n roll were the writers.There were more talented black rockers,but elvis was white and handsome

Subject: RE: Elvis
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 02:42 PM

As a teenage boy in the mid 1950's, Elvis depressed me. All the girls were swooning over this guy with the perpetual semi-smirk and greasy hair. "Elvis the pelvis," we called him - and worse. But, within a short time, all the guys were growing their hair long and looking more and more like him. The same thing happened when the Beatles invaded. Guys with short hair wondered why the girls were going bonkers over these Englishment with the bowl haircuts. Shortly, long hair had taken over. And, whatever we thought of them then, we're all still listening to their music.

Subject: RE: ELVIS
From: JennyO
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:00 PM

No you certainly aren't 3refs. The first record I ever bought, at the age of 14, was "A Fool Such as I". I think I might even still have it somewhere. Like lots of 14 year old girls, I had a crush on him.

On the radio here they have been talking to "Elvis on the Air" MC Steve Christopher, and it's been very interesting. They played the laughing version of "Are you lonesome tonight" as I was driving home in the car. What a hoot!

Still The King as far as I'm concerned!

Subject: ELVIS
From: 3refs
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 12:52 PM

I hope I'm not the only one that still misses him after 30 years!