Elvis Presley: Classic Or Dud?

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For me his music has always been part of the pop background scenery, without it meaning much. His status as the pop uber-icon means that I'm always left with a feeling of 'is that it?' when listening to it, the songs themsleves being dwarfed by all the extraneous cultural bumpf that surrounds him. I'm not entirely comfortable with this state of affairs, as it feels like I'm missing out on something important, but even when I make the extra effort to listen to the music all the associations make it very difficult for me to go much beyond appreciation.

― , Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Elvis. GRR.

― Dan Perry, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Bugger. Forgot to type my name in.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

classic, in my opinion one of the ten most classic artists of all time, and it took me years to realize this. i lived in an elvis household and as part of the whole rebelling against parents thing that i never took very seriously, i decided to hate elvis. in high school one of my best friends had what could only be described as an elvis room; i called him a fool, never realizing that the fool was me.

with all due respect to little richard (who i love) and chuck berry (who i respect), elvis was rock n' roll, until those damned beatles showed up, as he epitomized what it was all about viz. white kids doing naughty things viz. commingling with blacks. he had the hair, the looks, the moves -- few people have looked as bad-ASS as the king did on his comeback special -- and most importantly the voice, the one thing he'd have after everything else was gone.

search: "mystery train," "jailhouse rock," "surrender," "can't help falling in love," "anything that's part of you," "it hurts me," "tiger man," "if i can dream," "wearin' that loved on look," "i'll hold you in my heart," "tomorrow never comes," "american trilogy," etc muthafuckin' etc.

destroy: the films and most of the concomitant music, the cult, his private life, the karate...it's not too difficult to figure out what should be discounted.

― fred solinger, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Classic, although the image, myth and 'iconography' are so overwhelming as to make actually HEARING the records through all that next to impossible, particularly when the same handful of 'classics' get played over and over. A rummage through the 50s, 60s and 70s box sets shows that above all else he's a great singer, of all different kinds of material - country, r'n'b, rockabilly, gospel, soul, torch songs, etc. Contrary to all that 'creatively dead after leaving Army' bollocks, he made fine records at every point in his career, right up to the end, as well as all the many, many bad ones. He wasn't the first, or even the best in any particular genre, but he's the great all-rounder, and often (despite all the 'artifice') the most nakedly emotional and raw. And he makes me laugh.

― Andrew, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

He's got so much out there that if you don't know where to start, you're bound to be confused. Few people actually have the vocal power he did on the old Sun recordings or that classic double live Memphis session where Suspicioius Minds comes from. What can beat Blue Moon? Even on CD it sounds like it's being played through an old tube radio. Nice and warm. It was years later when I could finally understand why Frank Black loved Elvis and insisted the Pixies were a cross between Elvis and ... er... what was it, the Ventures?

I even love his corny movie themes like wooden heart, blue hawaii and girls, girls, girls. Not to mention that awesome song about the stripper with the ruby in her bellybutton. Or the funky hard rocker Clean Up Your Own Back Yard where he tells the preacher man what he can go and do.

― , Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I agree with all the classic voters here, and esp with heybuddy re 'Wooden Heart'. Fantastic performance! That's in 'GI Blues', isn't it? I love that 'Frankfurt Special' song, too. And isn't that the film with the amazing moment when Elvis is in a bar, and an Elvis Presley record comes on the jukebox, and he smashes it up? Mind- blowing, man!

― the pinefox, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

all i can say in "wooden heart"'s favor is that it predated bryan ferry -- voice and style -- by about ten years. who else was ferry trying to be but a british elvis (sorry cliff), i mean, look in the for your pleasure sleeve.

― fred solinger, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

If I Can Dream is my favourite record ever most of the time. Written overnight by the songwriter/musician working on one of Elvis' comeback specials: they didn't have a song to close the show with so, unable to decide on which of the existing catalogue to use, the producer told this guy (shamefully I've forgotten his name) to 'go home and write the song of your life'. He did, by 7am the next day. Elvis said he'd never again sing a song he didn't 'believe in'.

― Jack Seale, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Oh so classic - enough that I dedicated a chapter in my book on his sweat, his gold lame suit and what exactly he was wearing when he died...the man, the myth, the monster and the methamphetamines, not to mention the karate moves

― Geoff, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Destroy: The idea of Elvis looking bad ass at ANY stage of his life.

I'm like Tom, I appreciate the idea of Elvis but I can't be bothered to listen to him, like ever. I own none of his CDs, because I have no desire to turn him on. If he comes on the radio, I won't turn it off, but really it's not my cup of tea. I won't search him out, simple as that.

― Ally, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Classic. GI Blues also has a Doc Pomus tune "Doing the Best I Can". Great Ballad. Elvis can really sing.

― Joseph Wasko, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Dud stretches the point. I have tried, and tried, and tried to understand what people saw in Elvis, either thick or thin, and I just do not get it. Yes, he's got a good voice. Sure, he could shake his hips. To me, though, he sounds like a very bland version of Little Richard. Elvis was, relatively speaking, safe. That's not rock and roll.

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Classic because he’s so hard to pin down. The great Elvis performances are poised between tears and laughter, irony and sentimentality, pop and rock’n’roll, sex and sanctity, showbiz and authenticity, country and blues. The 1968 comeback shows, themselves poised between the gorgeous beauty of his youth and the fabulous ruin that was his decline (I mean fuck Nick Cave this man could do gothic pathos and excess), capture Elvis as icon better perhaps than any other footage or recording.

― Guy, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Actually, I think the whole idea with Nick is that he was able to take Elvis' leanings there and not be dead on his toilet at his age, despite comparable substance abuse. Woo-hoo!

Elvis I think does the business, but proceed with caution. The really bad sixties movie cuts aren't even good for camp value.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

What's the book, Geoffrey? It sounds like an interesting read.

― Johnathan, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Elvis: CLASSIC... true pop icon. Only now is he beginning to have any meanign for me though.

DESTROY: Greil Marcus. Much of the time, he's worse than the folks who see the image of Elvis in the grease spattered on a toaster of the local Waffle House.

― badger, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Cave's excess remained tasteful - he stayed thin for-gods-sake. The Elvis binges on hamburgers, pills and coke, wearing rhinestone romper suits, were truly humiliating in their excess.

― Guy, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Guy, Elvis was a rather unique case. He could be bedridden in a pile of his own diarrhea and people would still pay to see him and line up to fellate him back stage. Nick Cave doesn't have that luxury. If he did, perhaps he would get fat on peanut butter banana sammiches and wear suits stolen off decks of cards.

― , Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I'll agree with Badger on Greil Marcus. His obsession with Elvis became downright embarassing after Mystery Train.

As for me, I would say classic. I think a lot of the mythology surrounding him has belittled the music he created.

― Nicole, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Apart from "Mystery Train," who really cares?

― alex in nyc, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Alex, do the posts above answer your question ?

― Patrick, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

He was a hero to most...including me. I love The King. The Sun Sessions is incredibly good. His voice on "Jailhouse Rock" is awe- inspiring. He had the best songwriters money could buy cranking out tunes for him, and he knew how to sing them (unlike the current crop of teen faves!) I love watching early footage of him performing. And I get teary-eyed when I see footage of him encoring with "Unchained Melody" at the piano in the 70s. Plus, he once bought 27 Cadillacs in one day, for friends and family. A mere "classic" is an insult.

― Mark, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I was expecting an iconoclasm overload from you lot, and have been really surprised. I can't really answer this question as I know nothing of his beyond the obvious, so I'll back out and leave you lot to it. But surely someone else out there HATES him?

― DG, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

my mother adored him, i came to him more slowly. i only have two cds of his and they are both gospel cds, his voice booms and makes me shiver. i always crank up the 'burnin' love' when it comes on the oldies station. destory--the colonel.

― keith, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

You guys are fanning the flames, that's all I got to say... (besides a resounding "CLASSIC")

― Keiko, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Pardon my earlier post, I thought we were talking about Elvis Hitler.

― Mark, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

the book's called Fuct & Fiction - you can pick it up via www.hungrypublishing.com under novellas for about 4.50 US I think.

― Geoff, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Well let's say dud. As with that other King (of Pop that is) so in your face your whole goddamn life his music becomes meaningless. Never meant shit anyway. That said: 'Alcapulco' the movie rocks. Man that was some tense shit when I watched it as a kid, . Saw it recently, can't stop saying "Hey senorita!" to my girlfriend in Elvis- drawl. So a glimmer of classic then :)

― Omar, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

My favorite Elvis song is that bit on Chill Out ("Elvis on the Radio, Steel Guitar in my Soul"), with Elvis' voice processed and echo-y and incredibly distant. That gives me chills, man. Chills. Chill Out.

Other than that, he never meant a thing to me. Dud I guess. I'm such a fucking kid.

― Ian White, Thursday, 3 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

eight months pass...

I'm young enough that I could have not cared either way - but the Sun sessions remain a favorite - along side all the other country/rockabilly stars of the 50's. The book "Last Train to Memphis" helps define what's so fascianting about the man; he really managed to define rock n'roll, teen culture and super stardom, and that is of historical interest. Take a step back from subjective opinion and take in the effect he had on American culture and music - that is what is truly interesting. It could have been anyone, but it was Elvis. He worked his ass off from the day he turned 19 and didn't know how to quit; he wanted 'it' that bad, before 'it' had even really been defined. I believe that given another 50 years his image will be restored. The 70's were an excessive time for everyone, had he not died in the midst of it, maybe there would be more respect and tact surrounding Elvis and less exploitation.

― Era Tanttros, Sunday, 20 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I went to see "McCabe and Mrs. Miler" at the Castro Theater a couple days ago, and before the film they showed a trailer for the Elvis concert film "That's the Way it Is". I've only recently gotten into Elvis; I own only "Elvis in Memphis", which is fabulous. Well, I could go and look it up, but this film looks to be after "In Memphis" but before his slow 70's decline was really underway. The man looked amazing. Yes, white bejeweled jumpsuits, but he's still in great shape. I mean just the fact that he dared look so outrageous is powerful in it's own way. And then there were some brief clips of him dancing onstage. His moves were unreal; he just goes wild. Many people in the audience laughed; I sat there with my jaw open in awe. To move around like that means either you're a fool or some kind of shaman, and I know what side I'm on. I can't wait to see this movie and to explore more of this era of his career.

― Sean, Tuesday, 22 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one year passes...

What some people have always ignored is that his voice was incredible.
They run his demise into the ground, search for dirt, print as much inuendo and trash as they can find. They never explore the fact that he had a 3 octave voice, and could virtually sing any style of music. Not only would he sing it but he could bring something new to it. The people who ignore the voice ignore what made him so unique in the first place. If you ignore the greatness of the voice(because of a pre-conceived notion of "ELVIS"), you will never see what millions have found in it. Its almost as if the voice is the last thing that is considered, taken for granted. His chrisma started with the voice! What artist today could go into the studio and in a couple of weeks cut over 30 songs as Elvis did at the Memphis sessions in 1970?
It seems to take newer artists years to produce new material. The Memphis material was varied and several hit singles came from these sessions plus a couple of gold albums. There were no gimmicks or technical enhancements, no digital computer setups. He went in picked his songs out and worked out arrangements then cut them until he felt he had given the performance he wanted. The songs he picked were songs that said something to him. He usually (after 1968)only did songs he wanted.(This was not always commercial, but honest)He never used the computer tricks which many of todays artists today use to make sure they are on KEY. He never lip-sinked at concerts because he was worried on fast numbers he would sound breathy, as some newer artists have been found to do. None of this is ever appreciated because no one explores beyond the image. Listen to the best Elvis impersonater in the world then play the same song by Elvis and you will see the greatness of the voice

― Ken, Thursday, 23 January 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago) link

that version of "Mystery Train" in "That's The Way It Is" where he's rehearsing with the TCB band is incredible.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 23 January 2003 16:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

Plus, he loved his momma like anything.

No wait, that was William Lyon Mackenzie King!

Dennis Lee to thread!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 23 January 2003 17:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

Been playing 30 #1 Hits a LOT around here lately. I've always liked him--reading Mystery Train was what sealed it (it's almost impossible for me not to hear the Sun stuff and Sly's Riot through the scrim of G. Marcus in some way, which is great as far as I'm concerned--enhances the music, doesn't limit it in the least). "Suspicious Minds" and "Burning Love" and "It's Now or Never" on the same disc is a hell of a thing for anyone.

I don't understand how anyone can say he's a "watered-down Little Richard" since (a) they sound nothing at all alike, even when Elvis covered Little Richard songs, and (b) Elvis started making records before Little Richard cut "Tutti Frutti," the first record he made in the style he's famous for.

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 23 January 2003 18:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

Nick Tosches (who's hardly an Elvis apologist) to thread on that front

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 23 January 2003 18:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

Thatis something that has always been overlooked, Elvis was developing his style and voice in 51,52, started recording in 53. Jerry Lee Lewis came to Sun after Elvis had left.Carl Perkins came later also. Little Richard recorded Tutti Frutti on Sept. 14, 1955 yet people claim somehow Elvis got his style from anyone of these gentlemen depending on who you read. Chuck Berry began recording for Chess records in May 0f 55. Bo Diddily also started recording for Chess in 55. Elvis was already established he had been recording and performing seriously for over 2 years. Elvis was affected by these guys later as they were in some ways affected by him, but all of them had their own style.

― Ken, Thursday, 23 January 2003 19:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

More than anything, all the other guys were more influenced by the amount of cash EP was getting than by his music.

Though he IS undeniably a great singer, with really terrible management, though try telling that to the billion dollar EP Estate.
Like Ali, his talent was squandered, though there are many moments of transcendence throughout his career.

Also, in Linda Gail Lewis's autobio, she claims that the time Jerry Lee stormed the gates at Graceland, it was because a doped up EP had called him to come rescue him, a claim not as preposterous as it seems.
Elvis might have been King, but Colonol Parker ruled.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 23 January 2003 19:13 (twenty-one years ago) link

The other guys should appreciate the fact that without his groundbreaking the bulk of white America would have never even heard of them let a lone bought their records. Jerry Lee was always jealous of Elvis, but he never had a voice for anything except country rock. He is a great rock pioneer, but he was not a complete package. Little Richard has said he owes a debt to Pat Boone(who covered many more Richard songs than Elvis) and Elvis for opening doors that would have stayed closed if not for him. Bill Haley had a "ROCK" hit before any of them but until Elvis no one gave black artists the time of day except other black people. Col. Parker was what Elvis needed in the 50's, but in the late 60's he needed a Brian Epstein or someone of his kind to let Elvis explore, and grow. To particpate in new music that would not have necessarily been Elvis music(which still sold and was still good) but would have allowed other people in the music world to produce, play, and collaborate with him.

― Ken, Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

I think Ken is oversimplifying things some: Louis Jordan and Louis Armstrong were possibly the two biggest singers in America (apart from Bing Crosby) during the 40s, so it's not like white people in this country were unaware of black artists back then, which isn't to say things were totally equal. (Still aren't.) I understand the frustration of a lot of people re Elvis as King what about other, just as or more talented black artists, though.

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Loved everything he did in 1956 or before. The Sun stuff, especially "Mystery Train," definitely lives up to the myth.
But everything he did after '56 sounds pretty close to easy listening to these ears.

Here's a question to ponder: What would Elvis's legacy be had he not been so incredible looking?

― Jim M (jmcgaw), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

Besides, everyone knows that James Brown is really the king of rock and roll.

― Jim M (jmcgaw), Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

Elvis - he's Jesus Christ but still Elvis meant nothing to some. But KERRIST just for the Albert Goldman book, being White Trash, the Fatty Glitter Stage pre-Bowie? Suspicious Minds and for that late-80s documentary of Elvis Fanatics* he is AMERICANA CLASSIC.

One of whom I phoned just to hear her voice after her repeating "Listen, we will invite some guys over, listen to Elvis and play some yahtzee".

― robotman, Thursday, 23 January 2003 21:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Elvis needs boats. Elvis needs boats. Elvis needs boats."
Classic for inspiring such haunting lyrics. I get chills.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Thursday, 23 January 2003 22:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Armstrong and Jordan were big singers, but they were "safe" in the eyes of white people. The music they made had a polish to it. You can not compare Armstrong with a white handkerchief in his hand and wearing a tuxedo to say the likes of Bo Diddily or Little Richard. They played ballrooms and upscale clubs in large metropolitan cities. Jordan could have an edge, but he was "Accepted". All I'm trying to say you don't sell a billion records, without having a very special talent that few artists are given. All the black artists mentioned are great artists. They were definitly shortchanged by the music industry in the 50's. But Elvis was not the reason for it. He had talent, looks, chrisma, that sent him to the top. He is undervalued, as I said before, because of the image people see in their minds. If they would set down and listen, not just to the 50's but a cross section of his work they would see how his voice grew, how his phrasing became more and more distinct. He could be raw and hard, when he wanted, he could be bluesy, he could be pop. I will admit that in the period of 75 to his death he had basically dreaded recording and he could sleep walk through a performance. He had no challenge, he had done it all. He needed someone who could have stood up and told him what everyone saw. But he was in a position that few have ever been in. He broke ground for rock super stars who needed to see not how to end.
Its funny most of the stars we have been talking about, with a few exceptions, have never had anything but praise for Elvis and his talent.

― Ken, Thursday, 23 January 2003 23:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

"undervalued"??

― jones (actual), Thursday, 23 January 2003 23:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

Undervalued? Elvis coasted on his sheer Elvisness for the last decade.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 00:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

By undervalued I meant his basic talent, not how he used it in his last couple of years. From 68 to 72 Elvis did not coast. He was still trying to please himself and his audience. 73 and 74 he still put on repectable shows and was working to make good music, to say he coasted for a decade is once again seeing the image portrayed of him by the media not what the truth was. I saw him in 76 in St. Louis, he gave a good show even then. I saw teenieboppers, young adults and gray haired men and women. I was 22 at the time. He is undervalued because someone is always looking for the reason he was great and coming up with instead "excuses for his success" Such as ,he was white, good looking and lucky, right place-right time etc... For some reason they leave the "well he may have had a huge amount of natural talent", till last or never mention it at all. Thats what I mean by undervalued.

― ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 00:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

(" Or did he never mean a goddamn thing to you? "
-- Tom (ebro...), April 30th, 2001.

quite apt, that. in my case. didn't ever mean much to me, really.
i have read, and probably will read, well-written articles (wouldn't stretch that to book-length, tho!) by various worthy people who have interesting - entertaining, meaningful, amusing, sad, shocking - things to say 'bout him, but i've never been tempted to get myself lots of his music (which doesn't mean i haven't heard any, "haha"). and the attempts of some of my best pals to help me "get it" haven't worked either. elvis simply fails to rock my world, period.)

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Friday, 24 January 2003 00:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

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this cover is good and incorporates george harrison's wa wa :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-FC177E8zI

― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 22 November 2022 21:37 (one year ago) link

Yes! Was thinking of posting that myself.

― Meet Me in the Z'Ha'Dum (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 November 2022 21:59 (one year ago) link

Oh, NEXT Tuesday is the screening

― Meet Me in the Z'Ha'Dum (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 November 2022 22:20 (one year ago) link

Starting to think this guy totally knew what he was doing every time he opened his mouth to sing.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:09 (one year ago) link

What was he thinking when he sang “The Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce” in the film Girl Happy” (1965)?

― Josefa, Monday, 28 November 2022 00:16 (one year ago) link

Ha, I actually like that one too!

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:21 (one year ago) link

I guess he was just a civic minded guy

― Josefa, Monday, 28 November 2022 00:23 (one year ago) link

Not saying he elevates that kind of material or everybody needs to listen to it, but his vocal performance of its own accord is fine.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:25 (one year ago) link

Tbh I like that song myself, I’ve spent a lot of time in Fort Lauderdale and I’m glad someone sang a song about it

― Josefa, Monday, 28 November 2022 00:29 (one year ago) link

A few days ago I listened to his cover of “What’d I Say,” which I think is also from a movie, don’t know which. Does it really need to exist? I dunno. But given that it exists, it sounds pretty damned good.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:31 (one year ago) link

Ah, it’s in Viva Las Vegas, which I never saw properly. Love the title track and some of the dancing though.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:33 (one year ago) link

Ugh, looking at some of this soundtrack stuff, kind of want to take it back.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 00:52 (one year ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbWBG0lS4Is

― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 28 November 2022 02:04 (one year ago) link

Ha, maybe you already knew about this thread: Elvis' Weirdest Songs

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 02:22 (one year ago) link

Tbh I like that song myself, I’ve spent a lot of time in Fort Lauderdale and I’m glad someone sang a song about it

― Josefa,

― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 November 2022 02:57 (one year ago) link

Of course, Motley Crue gave a shout out to Fort Lauderdale in "Girls Girls Girls," and Jaco Pastorius died there.

― Josefa, Monday, 28 November 2022 03:19 (one year ago) link

Forgot all about that and was imagining he had died in that apartment on Jones Street.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 28 November 2022 07:17 (one year ago) link

Oh hey. Just walked by MoMI and…

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 30 November 2022 00:16 (one year ago) link

Popped in, thought about approaching Baz to show off my new Elvis karaoke chops, but security gave me the stink-eye so I thought better of it.

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 30 November 2022 00:32 (one year ago) link

Listening to the new Elvis On Tour box: four complete concerts from April 1972, the movie on Blu-Ray, and two discs of outtakes and rehearsals and whatnot. These live discs are insane. He only plays for an hour, but does between 20 and 25 songs — it's a positively Ramones-esque pace. The set list is mostly the same from night to night, with a few changes. And the band absolutely destroys, of course.

― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 5 December 2022 19:06 (one year ago) link

four months pass...

finally watched the movie, was taken aback by how wall-to-wall insane it was, felt like a good 60% of it was just insane montages and transitions

Tom Hanks in a fat suit was really weird to watch. he reminds me of Malkovich as Teddy KGB in Rounders. that accent he uses is so over the top, I just can't believe an actual human being sounded like that. he talks like he's a big cartoon rat or something. that said I haven't actually heard Tom Parker talk, so...

― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 May 2023 18:48 (eleven months ago) link

he talks like he's a big cartoon rat or something.

ahahahaha that is totally it!

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 18:58 (eleven months ago) link

lol otm

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 19:21 (eleven months ago) link

Yeah, that's a fantastic description, and dead on.

― but also fuck you (unperson), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 19:34 (eleven months ago) link

Hahaha yes!

The whole thing is so garish and episodic and hard to digest in one sitting I think of it as Elvis: The CD-ROM

― Terrycoth Baphomet (bendy), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 20:41 (eleven months ago) link

I liked it in the theater but don't know if I could sit through it again.

― Because the Nighttoad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 20:43 (eleven months ago) link

six months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJFojCn6m74

― Shifty Henry’s Swing Club (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 17 November 2023 18:50 (four months ago) link

Forgot about this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCFNB1XNFRQ

― Shifty Henry’s Swing Club (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 17 November 2023 18:55 (four months ago) link

three months pass...

So about PRISCILLA.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 00:19 (one month ago) link

How is it?

― Sony's Sports Walkman Universe (morrisp), Sunday, 25 February 2024 00:20 (one month ago) link

It’s basically a bummer.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 01:07 (one month ago) link

― Sony's Sports Walkman Universe (morrisp), Sunday, 25 February 2024 01:38 (one month ago) link

i haven’t seen it yet, i think i’ll wait it out

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 25 February 2024 01:54 (one month ago) link

It’s all true I have no doubt but still

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:09 (one month ago) link

I learned a few things though

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:19 (one month ago) link

Maybe it’s a bummer in a good way, I still have to ponder.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:22 (one month ago) link

Lisa Marie didn’t like the script :(

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:22 (one month ago) link

Would love to see what someone else around here thinks

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:28 (one month ago) link

I saw lots of positive reviews out there. Think maybe around here Eric didn’t like it. Me, I’d much rather rewatch THE VIRGIN SUICIDES.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:30 (one month ago) link

I can use one of my expiring February hoopla credits for that

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:33 (one month ago) link

Hmm. Can't verify my library. Will have to wait until Monday I guess.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:56 (one month ago) link

Neither Elvis nor Priscilla had any real chariisma in this movie, as far as I could see.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:57 (one month ago) link

It's second-tier Coppola but good.

― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 25 February 2024 15:59 (one month ago) link

Hoping to watch it this afternoon or tonight.

― Tahuti Watches L&O:SVU Reruns Without His Ape (unperson), Sunday, 25 February 2024 18:35 (one month ago) link

Heh, just came across a brief J.G. Ballard review of Albert Goldman’s book in the recent Selected Nonfiction collection.

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 19:50 (one month ago) link

Some Priscilla discussion here: Sofia CopPOLLa

― Kim Kimberly, Sunday, 25 February 2024 19:58 (one month ago) link

Thanks!

― The Ginger Bakersfield Sound (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 February 2024 20:13 (one month ago) link

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