Elvis: 38 Years Later

It's inconceivable to me, but it's 38 years ago today that the King died. It was one of those "I'll never forget where I was" moments. I had just graduated high school and rented a house with a bunch of friends out in Long Beach. When it came over the radio, we were stunned. And very drunk.

RIP to the best that ever was.

R.I.P. Elvis I remember my Mom turned on the TV and the news saying that Elvis is dead. I was "almost" 6 years old but I do remember.

Pizza,

Gotta ask.During your high school years some of the best music ever was coming out in most genres. I always felt that younger people back then would view EP and stars from that era as dinosaurs. Doesn't shock me that you'd go against the grain as I've pointed out before that your nickname,Dos Equis, is well earned.

Were you into his music when he passed or did you get into later?

Since the '68 Comeback Special. I was only nine years old and watched it with my Mom and Dad, and I became a fan for life. And when I say fan, I mean the whole nine yards. Not just the music. I could never get enough to read about the guy,

Same applies to Sinatra, even though the were polar opposites and Frank was a prick, they were both UNDENIABLY the two most influential music figures of the 20th century.

And before someone goes nuts and mentions The Beatles, I'm talking about an individual influence.

I only have Sinatra's album Sings for Only the Lonely and for Elvis his first album the self titled, any recommendations? Dylan also a major influence 20th century music, in regards the individual artist

I watched Elvis on TV in the Fifties, when he shook America to its roots. Always exciting, always the master showman. I had quite a few of his records, too. Saw "Love Me Tender" when it was released. I kinda lost touch with Elvis after he was drafted. But the comeback specials were very well done.

Below is a link to his first TV appearance, in January 1956. What's interesting here is how "the old order passeth" with this appearance. He was on the Tommy Dorsey Show. Dorsey was one of America's biggest Big Band leaders of the Thirties and Forties. But he was smart enough to see Elvis's potential. Note at the end of this video that he says he'll have Elvis back the next week. Also note that Elvis doesn't sing "Heartbreak Hotel," his first big single on RCA Records. He sings two songs originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, the Boss of the Blues: "Shake, Rattle and Roll," and "Flip, Flop and Fly."
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xu6tjv_19560128-elvis-presley-dorsey-brothers-stage-show-1_music

This is one of his later songs that I listen to a lot, and then just shake my head when it's over:

So Sad, my good friends Mother always had her house covered in Elvis items.

I thought she wa crazie but later on in life i got it, he was The King.

She was so sad hearing of his death, we had to console her for weeks, you would have thought she lost her Husband.

The best there was and ever will..

Roy Orbison was around the same time as Elvis? How popular was he? Anyone like him better?

I had tickets to see him in concert in Syracuse. I think it was supposed to be on the 19th. Would have loved to see him - I couldn't believe what I was hearing on the radio when they announced that he died.

"What Now My Love" was a huge hit for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, and covered by virtually every lounge singer from Jack Jones to Shirley Bassey. Elvis's version is so unique, being that he practically sung it as a ballad, that it's bone chilling.

But out of the lounge lizard set, no one swung it like Frank:

I love Shirley's version, and the original French version "Et Maintenant," by the songwriter Gilbert Becaud (who sings it more or less as a psychotic).

I cannot, though, pass by the Herb Alpert version when it's mentioned, because it spawned another video that I always shake my head at, for entirely different reasons:

Roy was a contemporary of Elvis. A great singer and composer. But, he was never as popular as Elvis. Then again, who was?

Me 6 years ago at Graceland..

That's why I was glad to grow up with the family that I did because my parents were into the 60's and 70's rock (Elvis was definitely in there) and I would listen to their 45's in their bedroom when I was little. Then when I hit teenager age it was gangster rap and grunge with country mixed in there so when I plug in my thumb drive in my truck you can literally hear anything.

Thanks for the clarification.

I am happy I got to see him in person in 75.

Elvis was totally awesome. There never was nor ever will be another Elvis. He is one of a kind!!!

RIP EP

DeNiro, I always wanted to see Graceland but never did. I'll make it one day. Thing is, that's probably the only thing I'd want to go to TN for.




TIS

elvis performed great music, I heard "heartbreak hotel" on my lttle radio in 1955, he became great because of colonel parkers promotion, although the colonel made him, he kept elvis in those idiotic movies, elvis might have been a better actor in better movies, if the colonel didn't make him do the bad ones.

Just watching the acoustic part of the '68 special for the millionth time with my guitar! Amazing stuff, timeless as well. The band all really looked like they enjoy bouncing off each other.

Makes me want to dye my hair black and buy leathers...Elvis got away with it, Id look like gimp!

Just about 4 weeks to go...

http://youtu.be/L9-PN1sftaI

The colonel was really good at making money for Elvis. He hooked him up with a producer known for making quick movies--8 weeks vs. 12 or 13 for most--and keeping costs down. Elvis's contract called for him to keep most of the profits after the first half-million in the black, so the quickie production (and cheap productions) got him past the half million mark real fast. On the other hand, most of the movies sucked, never taking full advantage of Elvis's talent as a natural actor.

The Defense Dept offered Elvis the usual deal for celebrities: he could skip basic training and grunt assignments if he agreed to tour and perform for the Armed Forces. Colonel said no--Elvis was a patriotic boy and would do his service just like anyone else. Real reason: If Elvis signed that contract, the Defense Dept., not the Colonel or Elvis, would order him around and control his output. Colonel was counting on making Elvis's music scarce during his Army stint--the better to keep the fans all leaped up for his return. It was a gamble, but it worked.

RCA constantly offered to build a recording studio at Graceland. Colonel turned them down. Reason: Elvis's contract required him to produce only one album every X number of months. Colonel didn't want to make it possible for RCA to get more Elvis product--the better to keep him scarce and in demand.

I've read Peter Guralnick's two part bio, TB. It's unparalleled. I came out with the impression that the "Colonel" was half a business genius, half a carnival barker. And there's no love lost for his memory by certain members of Elvis's inner circle of family and friends.

Couldn't agree more, PB. Then you also remember the story about how Elvis got to meet Nixon:

According to Guralnik, Elvis asked to visit FBI HQ in DC and to meet J. Edgar Hoover. He also wrote a letter to Nixon, saying that, since he was adored by young people, he'd make an ideal, voluntary agent in the fight against drugs (!!!) He had his limo driver stop at the White House, and he gave the letter to a sentry, who recognized him. The sentry gave the letter to one of H.R. Haldeman's aides, who gave it to his boss. Haldeman brought it right to Nixon, advising that the President meet with Elvis to boost his own popularity with young people,

Meanwhile, Elvis got the visit to the FBI, but with the No. 2 or 3 guy, not Hoover. Elvis was into collecting law enforcement badges ever since he gave a benefit for Hawaiian State Police and they made him and honorary trooper. He asked his FBI host if he could get DEA badges for himself and his entourage. Nope, said his host, the badges go only to legit DEA agents. Just as Elvis was starting to argue, a phone call came in from the White House: "President Nixon will see Mr. Presley in a half-hour."

So, Elvis had his famous photo-op with Nixon. At the end of the visit, he asked Nixon for the DEA badges. "Oh, sure, I think we can arrange that," Nixon said, ordering Haldeman's aide to arrange for the badges. The aide called the FBI--and got the same official who'd turned Elvis down less than an hour earlier. The badges arrived for Elvis tout-suite.

That story would be totally unbelievable if it didn't involve Elvis. I guess that's why it's good to be the King.