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A collection of my Elvis and Elvis-adjacent writings outside The Mystery Train.

Elvis revamps his show

/ TY / 18 Comments

Inspired by a recent eBay auction of Elvis’ handwritten rehearsals set list from August 1974, Thomas has a posted another creative piece over on his Elvis Today Blog. This is a must-read:

“The Handwritten Las Vegas Rehearsal Set List” — Elvis Today Blog

Sony’s Follow That Dream collectors label for Elvis fans documented the rehearsals on the 2-CD set From Sunset to Vegas. The unique opening show of this engagement is one of two concerts that appear on FTD’s 2-CD Nevada Nights.

“The Twelfth Of Never” and “Softly, As I Leave You” from the August 16, 1974, rehearsal first appeared on 1995’s Walk A Mile In My Shoes.

I always find it a little eerie while listening to “Softly” in particular to think that Elvis would pass away exactly three years later.

He felt himself start to die, and he took his notepad from the side of the bed, and he wrote, ‘Softly, I will leave you, softly. For my heart would break, if you should wake, and see me go…'” –From “Softly As I Leave You,” Elvis Presley version, August 16, 1974

Best wishes for Sonny West

/ TY / 6 Comments

In case you have not heard, Elvis’ longtime friend and bodyguard Sonny West is in the hospital after suffering serious injuries from a fall last week. My thoughts and prayers go out to him for a speedy recovery.

After being fired by the Presley camp in 1976, Sonny was part of a trio of former bodyguards, including his cousin Red West and Dave Hebler, that co-authored the 1977 book Elvis, What Happened?

Published just two weeks before the singer’s death, the book is notable as the first to expose Elvis’ prescription drug addiction and abuse. Gossip columnist Steve Dunleavy wrote the tell-all, giving it a sensationalized and negative tone. After Elvis passed away, Elvis, What Happened? became a bestseller.

While mourning the loss of Elvis, many fans were understandably hurt by this book. At the time, none wanted to believe what most of us know today – with thirty-four years of perspective – to be its underlying truths.

In 2007, Sonny published another book about Elvis, but with an entirely different tone.  In Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business, Sonny fondly remembers his friend.

“I am forced to concede that [Elvis, What Happened?] was largely a failure,” he says in the introduction. “It didn’t save Elvis, and neither did it convey to readers how much I loved the man. By focusing so much on Elvis’ addiction and oddball behavior, I was remiss in not telling readers how much he meant to me.”

Thirty-four years is a long time, but, given the cold stories and comments on various Elvis sites about Sonny’s hospitalization, some fans unfortunately continue to hold a grudge against him.

We will never know, of course, what might have been, but I personally believe that Elvis and the Wests eventually would have reconciled had he lived.

Again, my best wishes go out to Sonny.

“That’s why I’m saved…”

/ TY / 2 Comments
Let Yourself Go (2006)

Let Yourself Go (2006)

I gave the 2006 FTD release Let Yourself Go! a spin for the first time in quite awhile last weekend.

Due to its primary focus on segments for the production number medleys, it’s probably the ’68 special album I play the least – other than two or three of the rehearsal tracks.

On this listen, however, two of the non-rehearsal tracks demanded my attention.

Recorded for use in the gospel medley, “Saved” features as an alternate take here.

Unlike many of the other medley segments on this release, “Saved” works as a stand-alone track. In fact, it’s really cool finally to have “Saved” by itself!

Elvis’ exuberance on this version is so contagious that I prefer it far and above the comparatively subdued master take used in the medley. On the alternate, he even throws in a “whooh!” at one point, unable to contain himself. That’s what makes the comeback era so special, hearing such pure joy return to Elvis’ music.

Incidentally, if you have never heard LaVern Baker’s original 1959 version of “Saved,” do yourself a favor and find it somewhere. She does an incredible job on the song.

Anyway, I don’t remember the alternate vocal track of “Memories” jumping out at me when I first played Let Yourself Go! way back when. For some reason, this time, it really stood out. The difference between it and the master was not nearly as striking as it was for “Saved,” but the song is just beautiful.

Hearing a slightly different inflection on a few lines of a song I’ve played so often makes it feel new again. The sound quality on both of these tracks is superb.

I love re-discovering songs that have been in my collection for awhile. I wonder what will turn up next?

Fred Wolfe wins bragging rights for Elvis Trivialities #2

/ TY / 1 Comment

Fred Wolfe was the first person to correctly answer Elvis Trivialities #2. Answering only eighteen minutes after I posed the question, Fred becomes the inaugural member of The Mystery Train’s Night Riders – a priceless honor that earns him a set of bragging rights. And the answer is…

Elvis was referring to Jackie Wilson when he said the following:

I heard this guy in Las Vegas [with] Billy Ward and His Dominoes. There’s a guy out there who was doing a take-off on me, ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ and he tried so hard, until he got much better, boy, much better than that record of mine.”

Source: The Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley, Colin Escott (liner notes), BMG Music, New York, 1990.

By 1957, Jackie Wilson had left Billy Ward’s Dominoes to pursue a solo career. He earned much success, with hits that included “Lonely Teardrops” (1958) and “Higher and Higher” (1967).

As Thomas commented yesterday, Elvis impersonating Jackie impersonating Elvis is one of the highlights of the December 4, 1956, “Million Dollar Quartet” jam session.

Elvis went on to repeat part of that impersonation when performing for the third and final time on the Ed Sullivan Show a month later. His January 6, 1957, appearance is also notable as the one where TV cameras shot him only from the waist up, a move that just increased his legend.

Thanks for playing, everyone. Congratulations to Fred.

Elvis Trivialities #2

/ TY / 3 Comments

Back because you asked for it, here’s the next installment of Elvis Trivialities. Your question is:

Who was Elvis referring to when he said the following?

I heard this guy in Las Vegas [with] Billy Ward and His Dominoes. There’s a guy out there who was doing a take-off on me, ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ and he tried so hard, until he got much better, boy, much better than that record of mine.”

This is such an easy question. See if you can be the first to post the correct answer in the comments below.

Elvis Trivialities #1 stumps the whole train

/ TY / 4 Comments

No one correctly answered Elvis Trivialities #1, which means I get to keep this set of bragging rights. And the answer is…

Ned Miller said the following:

I remember going out and buying the album, From Memphis To Vegas, which included “From A Jack To A King.” I brought it home, played it and I was blown away. It thrilled me to death. I thought, I guess I’m a better writer than I thought I was. His version is my favorite, even more than mine. I was just a fan of Elvis, that’s all.”

Source: Writing For The King: The Stories Of The Songwriters by Ken Sharp, FTD Books, Denmark, 2006.

Elvis’ recording of “From A Jack To A King” first appeared on the Back In Memphis portion of From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis. In addition, takes 1, 2, and 3 of the song can be heard on the FTD release Memphis Sessions.

Ned Miller also wrote “Dark Moon,” which Elvis informally recorded. The home recording of the song first appeared on A Golden Celebration.

Next time, I’ll apparently have to make the question a little easier for you folks. Thanks for playing.

Elvis Trivialities #1

/ TY / 7 Comments

Good morning, fellow fans, and welcome to the first edition of Elvis Trivialities. Your question is:

Who said the following?

I remember going out and buying the album, From Memphis To Vegas, which included [a song I wrote]. I brought it home, played it and I was blown away. It thrilled me to death. I thought, I guess I’m a better writer than I thought I was. His version is my favorite, even more than mine. I was just a fan of Elvis, that’s all.”

First one to post the correct answer in the comments below wins an exclusive, limited edition set of bragging rights. If no one gets it, that means I get to keep this set for myself.