elvis Facts, ELVIS 2ND TO NONE, 3 / 5

Songs from ELVIS 2ND TO NONE, 3 / 5

An In-Depth Look at the Songs from the New Hit Album ELVIS 2ND TO NONE:


A MESS OF BLUES
This song was written for Elvis by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. This was Elvis's first recording session after returning from active duty in the U.S. Army and his first session on a three-track system. . It took place on March 20, 1960 at RCA Studios in Nashville. Working the session were: Elvis and Scotty Moore on guitar; Bob Moore on bass; Hank Garland on electric bass; DJ. Fontana and Buddy Harman on drums; Floyd Cramer on piano; and The Jordanaires providing vocal backup. "A Mess of Blues" was released in July 1960 as the B-side to "It's Now or Never". "A Mess of Blues" had an 11-week run on the pop chart in the U.S.A., peaking at #32, while the A-side made it to #1. In the U.K. "A Mess of Blues" had an 18-week run, peaking at #2. Other artists to have recorded it include Peter & Gordon, Delbert McClinton and Status Quo.

I FEEL SO BAD
This song was written and recorded by Chuck Willis in 1954. Elvis recorded it on March 12, 1961 at RCA Studios in Nashville. At this session Elvis, Scotty Moore and Hank Garland played guitar. Bob Moore was on bass. D.J. Fontana and Buddy Harman played drums. Floyd Cramer was on piano and Boots Randolph played sax. The Jordanaires were joined by soprano Millie Kirkham on vocals. The single was released in May 1961. In the U.S.A. it peaked at #5 on the pop chart and #15 on the R&B chart. In the U.K. it had a 12-week run on the pop chart, peaking at #4. Among the other artists to have recorded it are Little Milton and Ray Charles.

LITTLE SISTER
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman for Elvis, who recorded it on June 25, 1961 at RCA Studios in Nashville. Working the session that day were Scotty Moore, Hank Garland and Neal Matthews on guitar. Bob Moore was on bass. D. J. Fontana and
Buddy Harman played drums. Floyd Cramer played piano and organ. Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires also played piano. Boots Randolph was on claves and The Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham were vocal backup. "Little Sister" was released in August 1961. In the U.S.A. it had 13-week run on the pop singles chart, peaking at #5. In the U.K. it hit #1. Years later in concerts, Elvis sometimes sang this song in a medley with the Beatles hit "Get Back". Elvis can be seen singing the medley in the concert documentary film "Elvis: That's The Way It Is, Special Edition". In 1988 Dwight Yoakam had a successful country music video with this song. Using the same tune LaVern Baker recorded an "answer" record called "Hey Memphis" in 1961.

ROCK-A-HULA BABY
Elvis recorded this song on March 23, 1961 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood for the movie "Blue Hawaii". It was written by Fred Wise, Ben Weisman and Delores Fuller, who tried capitalizing on the then popular dance, The Twist, calling it a "twist special". At the session Scotty Moore, Hank Garland, and Tiny Timbrell played guitar. Bob Moore played bass. D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, and Bernie Mattinson played drums. Floyd Cramer and Dudley Brooks played piano. Dudley Brooks also played celeste. Boots Randolph played sax. Alvino Rey was on steel guitar. George Fields played harmonica. Fred Tavares and Bernie Lewis played ukulele. Backing vocals were provided by The Jordanaires. Also providing backing vocals were The Surfers, a group comprised of Patrick Sylva, Bernard Ching, Clayton Naluai and Alan Nalaui. "Rock-a-Hula Baby" was released as the flip side of "Can't Help Falling in Love" (another song from the movie) in December 1961. In the U.S.A. "Rock-a-Hula Baby" peaked at #23 on the pop chart, while the A-side made it to #2. "Rock-a-Hula Baby" shared the #1 spot with "Can't Help Falling in Love" for 4 weeks in a 20-week run on the pop chart in the U.K.

BOSSA NOVA BABY
This song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was recorded first by Tippy and The Clovers in 1962. Elvis recorded it at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on January 22, 1963 for his movie "Fun In Acapulco". At this session Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, and Barney Kessel played guitar. Tiny Timbrell also played the mandolin. Ray Siegal played bass. D. J. Fontana and Hal Blaine were on the drums. Emil Radocchia provided percussion. Anthony Terran and Rudolph Loera played trumpet. The Jordanaires were joined by The Amigos on backing vocals. The "Bossa Nova Baby" single was released in October 1963. In the U.S.A. it peaked at #8 in a 10-week run on the pop chart and it became Elvis's last song to make the R&B chart, peaking at #20. In the U.K. it peaked at #13 in an 8-week run.

VIVA LAS VEGAS
This song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman for the 1964 film of the same name. Elvis recorded it on July 10, 1963 at Radio Recorders of Hollywood. Working this session were: Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell and Billy Strange on guitar; Bob Moore on bass; D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman and Frank Carlson on drums and percussion; Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks and Calvin Jackson on piano; Boots Randolph and William Green on sax; James Zito on trumpet; and Herb Taylor and Randall Miller on trombone. Backing vocals were by The Jordanaires. "Viva Las Vegas" was released as a single in April 1964 and reached #29 in the U.S.A. and #17 in the U.K.. It has since been recorded by ZZ Top. In recent years the song has become recognized as the "unofficial" theme song for the city of Las Vegas according to columnist Mike Weatherford of the "Las Vegas Review-Journal".