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Songs from ELVIS 2ND TO NONE, 4 / 5
An In-Depth Look at the Songs from the New Hit Album ELVIS 2ND TO NONE:
First, a bit of backstory...
When Elvis returned from serving active duty in the U.S. Army in
March 1960, he plunged back into his career. Except for a couple of
charity events, he did not perform live concerts. Instead, he
concentrated his efforts on his movies and recordings. As the 60's
went on he became more and more dissatisfied with his movie career.
He was very successful in making money both for himself and the
studios with what became a formula movie style. However, he found
little creative challenge in the scripts presented to him. He had
wanted more dramatic roles rather than the musicals he became known
for. At the same time, music was evolving and changing, but Elvis
hadn't been touring or recording a great deal of non-movie music,
and he hadn't been a part of these changes. Elvis had serious
concerns about where to go from here with his career. In 1968, his
manager, Colonel Tom Parker, arranged what he thought would be a
Christmas music TV special on NBC, typical of the holiday specials
of that era. Instead, what evolved was one of the most exciting
events in music history - the comeback of Elvis Presley the rocker.
Elvis again proved why he had been, and would always be, an
inspiration to artists around the world.
Two songs on the new album "Elvis 2nd. to None" are from the 1968 TV
special: "If I Can Dream" and "Memories". Elvis recorded "Memories"
on stage for the special and in the recording studio. He recorded
"If I Can Dream" in the studio. The studio session was on June 23,
1968 at Western Recorders in Burbank, California. Working this
session were Tommy Tedesco, Mike Deasy, and Al Casey on guitar;
Charles Berghofer on bass; Larry Kenchtal on bass and keyboards; Don
Randi on piano; Hal Blaine on drums; John Cyr and Elliot Franks on
percussion; Frank DeVito on bongos; and Tommy Morgan on harmonica.
The Blossoms - consisting of Jean King, Darlene Love and Fanita
James - were vocal backup.
The album "Elvis-NBC-TV Special" spent 32 weeks on the pop album
chart in the U.S., peaking at #8.
January 1969 marked Elvis's return to recording in his hometown. He
had some amazing sessions at the small American Sound Studios
facility, run by producer Chips Moman . Even though Elvis was
plagued with a cold and bouts of laryngitis, these sessions were
very fruitful and brought forth such classics as "Suspicious Minds",
"In The Ghetto" and two songs we will profile from the new "Elvis
2nd to None" album -"Don't Cry Daddy" and "Rubberneckin'". Players
included: Elvis and Reggie Young on guitar; Tommy Cogbill and Mike
Leech on bass; Gene Chrisman played the drums; Bobby Wood on piano;
Bobby Emmons on organ; John Hughey on steel guitar; and Ed Kollis on
harmonica. Backup vocalists were Jeannie Greene, Donna Thatcher,
Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay and Susan Pilkinton.
And now more about the songs:
IF I CAN DREAM
After getting to know Elvis, '68 producer Steve Binder felt strongly
that Elvis should have a message song for the finale of the TV
special. He asked W. Earl Brown to write one for Elvis and the
result was this song. Elvis embraced the words and sang it with
great passion, telling Steve..."I'm never going to sing another song
I don't believe in." The "If I Can Dream" single was released with
"Edge of Reality" (recorded for the film "Live a Little, Love a
Little") as its flipside in November 1968. The single spent 13 weeks
on the U.S. pop chart peaking at #12. In the U.K. it was on the
chart for 10 weeks, peaking at #11.
MEMORIES
"Memories" was written by Billy Strange and Mac Davis. It was
released with "Charro", the title song of an Elvis movie, as its
flipside in February 1969. It peaked at #56 on the U.S. country
chart, #35 on the U.S. pop chart, and #7 on the U.S. easy listening
chart. "Memories" was used in the documentary films "Elvis On Tour"
(1972) and "This Is Elvis" (1981). In 1970, The Lettermen recorded
"Memories" in a medley with "Traces".
DON'T CRY DADDY
This song was written by Mac Davis, inspired his son Scotty. The
single was released with "Rubberneckin'" as its flipside in November
1969. It reached #13 on the U.S. country chart spending in a 12-week
run and #6 on the U.S. pop chart in a 13-week run. In the U.K. it
reached #8 in an 11-week run. On the 20th anniversary of Elvis's
death, as part of a commemorative concert event in Memphis, his
daughter Lisa screened a special video of herself in a newly created
duet of this song with her father. This was the first time Elvis
fans got to hear Lisa's singing voice. There was not an official
release of the duet recording or video as it was a one-time
presentation in tribute to her father an in thanks to his fans who
attended the event. Lisa Marie Presley has since gone on to her own
successful career as a songwriter and recording artist.
RUBBERNECKIN' - Remix 2003
Also on the "Elvis 2nd To None" album is a bonus track - a remix of
the song "Rubberneckin'". The original version was the was recorded
on January 20, 1969 in Memphis at American Sound Studios. It was
written by Dory Jones and Bunny Warren and used in the Elvis movie
"Change of Habit", Elvis's thirty-first and final film as an actor.
In 2003 it was remixed by renowned DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold
and mastered by Chris Blair at Abbey Road Studios in the UK. The
remix was released on September 9, 2003, charting impressively
around the world. |
