Elvis Presley: Classic Or Dud?

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

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

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-five years ago)

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-five years ago)

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-five years ago)

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-four years ago)

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-four years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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

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

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

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

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

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-three years ago)

"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-three years ago)

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-three years ago)

"undervalued"??

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

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

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

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-three years ago)

(" 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-three years ago)

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.

This statement is 100% OTM. He *did* collaborate with some different people on the Memphis sessions; is it any coincidence those sessions are some of his greatest? Even kings need to be challanged once in a while, not continuously coddled.

But everything he did after '56 sounds pretty close to easy listening to these ears.

Listen again. Maybe start with "Memories" (dud title), the soundtrack plus loads more of the famous "68 Comeback Special". Even the most MOR ballad is worth listening to in his hands... but don't worry; there's only a couple of those here! Of course there are many *ballads*... but with a couple exceptions ("Memories" itself being one of them), they're pretty electrifying.

I do agree he's undervalued too. It's strange saying that about one of the biggest stars of all time, but it's true. I guess I mean undervalued *artistically*.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 24 January 2003 01:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Best thing anyone ever said about Elvis, on the occasion of his death (does anyone know who said it): "It's like somebody just came up and told me there aren't going to be anymore cheeseburgers in the world."

Second best thing, from Nick Tosches: "I think that Elvis Presley will never be solved."

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 24 January 2003 05:21 (twenty-three years ago)

And, I just remembered, third best thing, from the man himself: "I don't sing like nobody."

I used to think exactly the way Jim M does, but now I realize it's kinda silly: Elvis's post-Army stuff is frequently just too WEIRD to be "easy listening" - I mean, "Do The Clam"? "Old MacDonald Had A Farm"? "There's No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car"? You can't make this stuff up. People will never cease to be impressed by The Beatles' interest in everything from random noise to showtunes, but the crackbrained audacity of Elvis's lifelong attempt to sing just about every type of song there was just makes them cringe.

Elvis was always a jumble of contradictions, musically and otherwise, no less pre-Army than after - that's what made him who he was. It's part of what made him so outrageous in the beginning: he was mixing blues with country with r&b and singing them in a way that often meant you couldn't tell where one genre left off and another began. That side of Elvis never really went away entirely, but we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking it was all there ever was. Just listen to "I Love You Because," recorded at Sun, and just as drecky and dull a song as he ever sang. He doesn't triumph over the dross: he succumbs to it, he likes it. Then listen to "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," and marvel at how slick and professional he sounds: this guy could easily have made a career for himself as a straight entertainer all the way, without offending a soul. Then listen to "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and wonder, 'Where the hell did this guy come from?' Like Tosches said, no one will ever know.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 24 January 2003 05:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree Elvis was a mass of contradictions personal and professional.
Theres a great saying, "For those who get it-no explanation is needed. For those who don't get it no explanation will do." I was at my brothers house and on VH1 they were running the 68 special, my niece and her boyfriend were watching also. They are 20 years old.
After about 15 minutes the boyfriend commented that he could not stop staring at Elvis. He said I never watch his movies, have heard little of his music but hes hypnotic,theres something about him that just draws you. Strange.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 14:41 (twenty-three years ago)

EP Phone Home

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 14:45 (twenty-three years ago)

One of the saddest things I've ever seen is the closing section of Presley's '68 special. After an hour of thrashing out demonic rock 'n' roll/blues with Scotty Moore & Co, he retreats to stage front and starts to sing the featureless ballad "Memories" over an orchestral backing track. It is as if he has become Tantalus; he has had a taste of what his life used to be like, and he yearns to go back there and stay there but Col Parker/Col Parker's creditors/the world won't let him. He has to carry on to Vegas, to self-excoriation, to death even, just to keep the industry afloat. It's as if he is being dragged away from his life by invisible forces. It is heartbreaking.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 24 January 2003 14:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Or when a PR encourage Elvis to walk amongst the plebians. He was frightened of recognition. He went out and realised that no-one knew who he was nor did they care.

― robotman, Friday, 24 January 2003 14:54 (twenty-three years ago)

There is a great saying, "For those who get it-no explanation is needed! For those who don't get it no explanation will do!" To explain why he was so good is impossible. Here are some quotes, "I had always wanted to be like Elvis, to be a rock star but I couldn't, so I joined a mod band instead."-Roger Daltry of the Who.
"Before Elvis there was nothing"-The late John Lennon "No one, but no one, is equal, or ever will be. Elvis was and is supreme"-Mick Jaggar "The highlight of my career? Thats easy: Elvis recording one of my songs"-Bob Dylan "Elvis is my religion. If it was not for him I'd be selling encyclopedias"-Bruce Springsteen "He taught white America to get down"-James Brown "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing black music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis-had always wanted to be Elvis."-The late Jackie Wilson "NONE of us could have made it without Elvis"-Buddy Holly

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 15:05 (twenty-three years ago)

A lot of that is hyperbole. Anyone who's interviewed more than 5 musicians know that they're not really qualified experts on ANYTHING.
While I don't dispute EP's greatness, if it hadn't been him, it woulda been someone else. In 54 the world was ready for a rock & roll star.
I would say Sam Phillips (despite all the gouging he did to his other talent) deserves equal credit for EP's impact on the world at large.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 15:08 (twenty-three years ago)

You're right most musicians are not qualified experts on most things, but in the case of music itself, and what makes it great, being that they create it and play it, and have their own level of expertise in the music industry it lends quite a bit of weight to what they say.
Sam Phillips was probably the greatest procurrer of talent in the history of rock-in-roll. But he has said on many occasions he never created the talent, he nurtured it.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 15:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, yeah, EP was just another southern Mama's Boy until Sam Phillips started working him.
It should be noted that Phillips squandered Roy Orbison's talent though, but so did Chet Atkins.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 15:38 (twenty-three years ago)

''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?''

this is a bit lame. there are plenty who could cut loads of songs in 30 days but the studio and what 'artists' do has changed. and its quality that counts anyway.

''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.''

could elvis do opera if he wanted to ken?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 24 January 2003 15:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Mario Lanza was a favorite of EP. He had great respect for opera singers and as most know had "Its Now Or Never" written, based upon the Italian song "O Sole Mio". He used to fool around with opera when he was singing with friends. As his voice was not classically trained I would doubt he could have sung a whole part in an opera. He loved to listen to tenors.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 16:04 (twenty-three years ago)

That was my point about recording artists today. It takes them forever to get the quality he (when he was serious) could get in a couple weeks of sessions. Sure anyone can record 30 songs quickly but can they produce quality hits and music in that time. Evidently not, or why would they be spending hundreds of thousands in some cases in production and studio time that stretches into years before album releases.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 16:13 (twenty-three years ago)

That has more to do with the labels and shady contracts and cutting everybody's friends in on the cash cow. Jerry Lee Lewis cut both volumes of his Sings the Country Music Hall of Fame in about 30 hrs. It's not his best work, but it's great.
As an Artist, I would place JLL higher than EP, as a STAR, EP rules.

Mind you, it was his human weaknesses that did him in.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 16:16 (twenty-three years ago)

If you're into Elvis, you have to check http://www.girlsguidetoelvis.com
it's probably the freshest (and largely sympathetic) look at EP since the earth cooled.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 16:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic, without a doubt.

Would love to rant on about Elvis for ages but loads of work to do before I leave tonight so I'll just quote Andrew from way up thread:

"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"

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 24 January 2003 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Make the World Go Away

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 16:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Jerry Lee Lewis is a great artist. I repect his never really having, for want of a better word, sold out. He is true to who JLL was and is. But does that make him a superior artist to Elvis? You could say JLL still plays the same, but is that growth as an artist? EP in the late 60's was trying to grow and be more than his image musically.
The reason EP did and tried so many styles of music was to get better at his craft. The more you learn, the better your voice becomes. JLL went ot London in early 70's and did a great double album, he should have done more like that.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 18:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yeah, JLL deserves to have a producer who cares.
But I think JLL was a better communicator, a better vocal stylist than EP. And no way did he just stay the same. His 50s 50s, 60s and 70s recording all showed tremendous growth as an artist. His later country ballads rival George Jones at his peak.

Sadly, Jerry Lee has had very bad management and frequent bad health for the last 15/20 years. His 95 or 96 album Young Blood was decent, but not what it could have been.

Plus, Elvis had many successful imitators, but Jerry Lee has none. Nobody dared. Partly this has to do with the expense and imcompatibility of travel intrinsic in being a piano man. But nobody has used the piano as the primary instrument ni Rock/Roll since JLL and Little Richard.
Elton John/Ben Folds/Billy Joel all play pop, not rock/roll.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 18:31 (twenty-three years ago)

JLL and EP had some things in common but chief among them was the fact that both were at times torn over playing rock-in-roll. JLL has at different times called it the devils music and felt he was doomed to hell for playing it and not strictly gospel. EP also felt he should only be doing gospel at times. As far as the gate incident according to Joe Esposito, Elvis's friend, the reason Elvis didn't want to let JLL into Graceland that night is because he came by without calling. The last time he had come by that way he sat at the piano and played country hits and did not want to leave. On the night of the gate incident he was drunk and pulled a gun demanding to be let in, then crashed his car into it. Elvis watched it on closed circuit tv from his room. Since Elvis and Jerry never seemed to get along all that well I doubt Elvis called him to save him. Jerry is lucky to be alive with the problems his health have given him. He has had a hard life with marriages, his sons death in 73, and the wifes death in the 80's. But JLL has had his own share of human weakness that hes lucky to be here.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 19:20 (twenty-three years ago)

I think JLL has been through every single human weakness. Except goofiness.
That's one thing EP has over JLL, he was never played by Dennis Quaid (a fine actor, but not for that role).

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 24 January 2003 19:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Ken: Louis Armstrong's "safe"? Has anyone else so dramatically altered the evolution of pop music? Take his singing alone. Listen to the way people sang on pop records before Armstrong's first recorded vocals in the mid-20s. It was a joke. He taught the world to swing, something we've been doing ever since. You can't do that being safe, and being in a tux with a white handkerchief doesn't change that.
I'd argue that he was one of the more subversive musical artists of the 20th century (and certainly the most important). And unlike Elvis, he was a genius.
And don't forget, Satchmo was so fed up with segregation in the 50s that he told the U.S. government to go to hell, while most other black performers like Sammy Davis Jr. ran for cover. Nothing "safe" about a black man talking like that in the 50s. He even fired his publicist after the latter tried to apologize for his remarks.

And as for JLL: Nobody cuts the Killer, baby, NOBODY!

― Jim M (jmcgaw), Friday, 24 January 2003 21:35 (twenty-three years ago)

JLL once said about Elvis"I thought he was the greatest thing since Popcorn, he pushed the door open some, maybe I can kick it down"

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Louis Armstrong was a genius at playing Jazz and he was revolutionary in his lifestyle for the 30's and 40's. Being in my late 40's I recall him from TV in the 60's. Perhaps he seemed safe,at the time because of the format-TV. But its all a progression. The 50's were the beginnings of major change for black artists and EP played a part.

― Ken, Friday, 24 January 2003 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Even if only truly King for a year, say, 1956...

Classic.

Plus now he's droppin' some lite techno! "A Little More Conversation" is what Bob Mould's new shit SHOULD sound like.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 24 January 2003 23:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Skipping 1012 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I keep replaying the "Zone of Interest" bit it's so funny

here it is on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e70LJp5BLJE

― frogbs, Friday, 4 October 2024 19:25 (one year ago)

Hilarious.

― The Clones of Dr. Slop (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:15 (one year ago)

Was watching this the other day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYEWwVgFIcg

― The Clones of Dr. Slop (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:20 (one year ago)

Especially hilarious because he'd marry Lisa Marie years later. I kind if picture him doing this bit in front of her and she's just "that's enough honey."

― birdistheword, Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:31 (one year ago)

*kind of

― birdistheword, Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:31 (one year ago)

Sad lol

― The Clones of Dr. Slop (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:52 (one year ago)

Apparenlty this was Lisa Marie's favorite song by her dad, and one of mine as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXu3EWPGdg

― The Clones of Dr. Slop (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:53 (one year ago)

If I had to guess I’d go with “Marie’s the Name”

― calstars, Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:57 (one year ago)

yeah mine too, i love it
and of course, famously written by Eddie Rabbitt <3

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:58 (one year ago)

xpost

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 5 October 2024 19:59 (one year ago)

Amazing (incl. seemingly shrewd, aptly detailed & empathetic) Chris Willman review of the Lisa Marie-Riley autobio (just keep scrolling):

https://variety.com/2024/music/reviews/lisa-marie-presley-riley-keough-book-from-here-great-unknown-engrossing-review-1236173374/

― dow, Wednesday, 9 October 2024 20:37 (one year ago)

Interesting, thanks

― Litso Mystic (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 10 October 2024 01:23 (one year ago)

Not sure I want to read that book, but I'm glad it exists.

― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 10 October 2024 02:04 (one year ago)

one month passes...

it's slightly (sleightly) snowing in the Netherlands, so spinnin' my favourite Elvis track:

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

― Ludo, Wednesday, 20 November 2024 14:38 (one year ago)

four weeks pass...

New Guralnick:

https://www.shopelvis.com/product/EPAM4778/the-colonel-and-the-king-by-peter-guralnick-hardcover-book

"The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World, will be released August 5, 2025.
From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley, The Colonel and the King is a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker, drawing on a wealth of Parkers never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his clients success.
In early 1955, Tom Parker the manager of the number-one country musician of the dayheard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than 800 people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is ELVIS PRESLEY. Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his own: Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me. I love you like a father.
The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel proved impossible for outside observers to understandnot during their lifetimes, and not in the decades since. It was a long-standing, deeply committed relationship, founded on mutual admiration and support.
Featuring troves of never-before-seen correspondence from the Colonels own archives, revelatory both for their insights andparticularly with respect to Elvistheir emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar by the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as theyve never been seen before: with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display."

― Okay, heteros are cutting edge this year, too. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 18 December 2024 18:09 (one year ago)

That sounds really interesting.

― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Wednesday, 18 December 2024 18:37 (one year ago)

oooh will read
love Guralnick’s Elvis books

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 18 December 2024 18:43 (one year ago)

On board

― calstars, Wednesday, 18 December 2024 21:23 (one year ago)

enjoyed and learned from several of his non-Elvis books (Owe him so much for revelatory presentation of Charlie Rich), but the Elvis sequence seemed kinda redundant, like I'd already read waaay too much Elvis (still need to check Elvis and Gladys). Prob unfair, would have learned something if I'd finished PG's EP chronicles. But with this revisionist news, I have to wonder if he dealt with, say, the Col. trying to get Elvis to stick to songs published by Parker's co.---also Lieber-Stoller's *joint* autobio sez that the Col. greatly begrudged their providing material for Elvis, who insisted on it, and even after their songs incl. "Hound Dog" and other hits Also, did the Col. prevent Elvis from performing in other countries because he, Parker, would have felt it necessary to stay behind, lest he be extradited to the Netherlands because wanted for murder? This has been said, hope G. deals with the Col.'s allegedly shady past, and his pre-Elvist American gigs in carnivals etc., as I believe he himself told tales about. Somebody who should have his own full-length bio, one at the very least.

― dow, Wednesday, 18 December 2024 21:43 (one year ago)

Classic. Better than The Beatles in my book.

― LightUserSyndrome, Monday, 30 December 2024 00:11 (one year ago)

Two different approaches.

― James Carr Thief (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 30 December 2024 00:26 (one year ago)

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