Rarities, Oddities, and other fun stuff
Out Of The Vault - Show #17 – Elvis
Airing Saturday mornings 10 am - 11 am - Hosted by Eric Davis
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Alannah Myles – BLACK VELVET -– "Black Velvet" is a song written by Canadian musicians David Tyson and Christopher Ward, and recorded by Canadian singer Alannah Myles in 1988. The song is a commemorative story about Elvis Presley that was inspired on a bus full of Elvis fans riding to Memphis attending the 10th anniversary vigil at Graceland. Upon his return to Canada, Ward brought his idea to Alannah & producer, David Tyson, who wrote the chords for the bridge. The first verse discusses the beginning of Elvis' life – "Mama's dancing with baby on her shoulder" – the second talks about the height of his career – "Mama's baby is in the heart of every schoolgirl; Love Me Tender leaves 'em crying in the aisles". The bridge references his death: "In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?" The first verse also gives reference to Jimmie Rodgers "on the Victrola up high." From her 1989 eponymously titled CD.
Paul McCartney – THAT’S ALL RIGHT – "That's All Right" is the name of the first commercial single released by Elvis Presley, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup. Elvis Presley's version was recorded in July 1954, and released with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as the B-side. The label reads "That's All Right" (omitting "Mama" from the original title), and names the performers as Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill. Arthur Crudup is credited on the label as songwriter, though he may never have received royalties from the recording.Crudup based his song and borrowed themes from Blind Lemon Jefferson's 1926 song That Black Snake Moan”. Taken from a Sun Records commemorative release.
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Roy Orbison & Friends – MEAN WOMAN BLUES -- "Mean Woman Blues" is a 12-bar blues song written by Claude Demetrius. It was recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1957 motion picture, Loving You. Also recordedby Jerry Lee Lewis -- his version differed a lot lyrically to the Claude de Metrius composition. Roy Orbison's version used the lyrics from the Lewis version. Taken from the CD “A Black and White Night – Live” – 1989.
Bruce Springsteen – HEARTBREAK HOTEL – "Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor.. It was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton. The lyrics were based on a newspaper article about the suicide of a lonely man who jumped from a hotel window. Axton subsequently presented the song to Presley in November 1955 at a country music convention in Nashville. Presley agreed to record it, and did so on January 10, 1956 in a session that featured his band, The Blue Moon Boys, as well as guitarist Chet Atkins and pianist Floyd Cramer. "Heartbreak Hotel" is composed of an eight-bar blues progression, and features major echo during the entire track, in an attempt to follow the characteristic of Presley's Sun recordings. Recorded live at the Roxy Theater, Los Angles – 7/7/78. – Unreleased.
Rockpile – JAILHOUSE ROCK – "Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was released as a single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock. Some of the characters named in the song are real people. Shifty Henry was a well-known L.A. musician, not a criminal. The Purple Gang was a real mob. "Sad Sack" was a U.S. Army nickname in World War II for a loser, which also became the name of a popular comic strip and comic book character. Recorded in concert at the Palladium, NYC, 8/20/79.
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Hall & Oates – CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE – "Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody is based on "Plaisir d'Amour” a popular romantic song by Johann Martini. It was featured in Elvis Presley's 1961 film, Blue Hawaii. During the following four decades, it went on to be covered by numerous artists, like the British reggae group UB40. During Presley's late sixties and 1970s live performances, the song was performed as the show's finale. Taken from "The Last Temptation of Elviis" 2-CD set.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – BIG BOSS MAN – "Big Boss Man" is a blues song written by Luther Dixon and Al Smith in 1960 and first recorded by Jimmy Reed. The song was a hit for Reed and has been interpreted and recorded by a variety of artists, including Elvis Presley and B.B. King. It is an up-tempo twelve-bar blues shuffle that features "one of the most influential Reed grooves of all time.” It was written by Jimmy Reed's manager, Al Smith, and Vee-Jay Records staff writer, Luther Dixon. The song is one of the few Reed hits that was written by someone other than Reed and his wife. Taken from Petty’s 5-CD set “Playback”. Recorded at Gone Gator Studios, 1981.
Jerry Lee Lewis – DON’T BE CRUEL -- "Don't Be Cruel" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and written by Otis Blackwell in 1956. "Don't Be Cruel" was the first song that Presley's song publishers, Hill and Range, brought to him to record. Blackwell was more than happy to give up 50% of the royalties and a co-writing credit to Presley to ensure that the "hottest new singer around covered it". Freddy Bienstock, Elvis' Music Publisher, gave the following explanation for why Elvis received co-writing credit for songs like Don't Be Cruel. "In the early days Elvis would show dissatisfaction with some lines and he would make alterations, so it wasn't just what is known as a 'cut-in'. His name did not appear after the first year. But if Elvis liked the song, the writers would be offered a guarantee of a million records and they would surrender a third of their royalties. Taken from “Hail to the King” a promo only release from England’s MOJO magazine, 2006.
Elvis Presley – BURNIN’ LOVE – "Burning Love" is a song written by Dennis Linde, first recorded by Arthur Alexander, who included it on his self-titled 1972 album, and made famous by Elvis Presley. It was Presley's final top ten pop hit in the U.S. Elvis had recorded it at RCA's Hollywood studios on March 28, 1972. The electric guitar opening and riffs were overdubbed and played by Dennis Linde himself. Reportedly, Presley did not care for the song, and did not feel comfortable performing it. Nonetheless, he performed it in at least two high-profile productions: the concert film Elvis on Tour and the later Aloha from Hawaii concert. Taken from “Elvis 30 # 1 Hits”, 2002
Elvis Presley – LITTLE SISTER -- "Little Sister" is a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by Elvis Presley. In (1970) Elvis Presley performs this song as part of a medley with Get Back in the rockumentary film That's the Way It Is. The song would later be covered by artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Robert Plant, The Staggers, Pearl Jam, and Ry Cooder. Taken from 4-CD collection: “Elvis 75 – “Good Rockin’ Tonight”.
Elvis Presley – (YOU’RE THE) DEVIL IN DISGUISE - "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" is a song first sung by Elvis Presley which was written by the songwriting team Giant, Baum and Kaye and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1963. Presley originally recorded the song May 26, 1963 at RCA Studios in Nashville. "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" and its flipside, "Please Don't Drag That String Around", was recorded for a full-length album that was scheduled for release in 1963, but RCA chose instead to release the album piecemeal on singles and as soundtrack album bonus tracks. The song is noted for Presley's singing in a low register to represent the Devil with the repeated phrase "Oh, Yes, You Are", before the song's fade. Taken from “Elvis 30 # 1 Hits”, 2002.
Dwight Yoakam – SUSPICIOUS MINDS - "Suspicious Minds" is a song written by American songwriter Mark James in 1968. After James' recording failed commercially, the song was handed to Elvis Presley by producer Chips Moman, becoming a number one song in 1969, and one of the most notable hits of Presley's career. "Suspicious Minds" was widely regarded as the single that returned Presley's career success, following '68 Comeback Special. It was his seventeenth and last number-one single in the United States. The song is about a mistrusting and dysfunctional relationship, and the need of the characters to overcome their issues in order to maintain it Taken from the import only release ‘La Croix D’Amour” CD 1992.
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The Pogues – GOT A LOT O’LIVIN’ TO DO - Got a Lot o' Living to Do is a song by Elvis Presley. It was written by Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman for the Broadway Play “Bye Bye Birdie”, the satire on American society set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army in 1957. Taken from "The Last Temptation of Elviis" 2-CD set.
Dead Kennedys – VIVA LAS VEGAS – “Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded by Elvis Presley for his Viva Las Vegas film vehicle of that year. It has since become widely known and often performed by others. Influential punk band Dead Kennedys recorded a version of "Viva Las Vegas" on their 1980 debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. Their version strips the musical arrangement down to guitar, bass, and drums, and uses a slightly faster tempo, yet maintains the song's melodic structure. It also features satirical lyric changes by lead singer Jello Biafra in the second and third verses. This version can also be found in Terry Gilliam's 1998 film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Taken from “Hail to the King” a promo only release from England’s MOJO magazine, 2006.
