The Genesis Of Elvis

From the Netherlands comes a new Elvis book by Bart Eikema van Hommes, The Genesis of Elvis, first written in Dutch in 2016 but recently translated into English.

Synopsis:

This biography aims to uncover Elvis’s cultural roots and identify the sources he drew from on the path to his world-changing sound. The musical history surrounding the pop icon is excessive and this book takes an analytical approach to try and shed some light on Elvis’s world. Where did he live and which churches and schools did he attend with his friends? Which artists and radio stations influenced him at an impressionable age? Where did he perform in the early days and first commit his voice to the eternal grooves of vinyl? All these questions and more must be asked to begin to understand Presley’s sound and it’s invaluable influence on Rock and Roll. As John Lennon once put it: “Before Elvis there was nothing!”

For more info and an inside look at the book, have a look at Amazon here. At the time of writing the book is also available at Loot and Takealot.

Aloha From Hawaii

In 2023 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1st worldwide satellite concert by ONE man. 

Some interesting tidbits surrounding this historical broadcast:

1. There were other satellite concerts before and after Elvis. 
2. The satellite transmitting the concert signal belonged to NBC and was very costly to hire.  
3. The stage was made in L.A. and shipped to Hawaii.  
4. When Nani Lee, the wife of Kui Lee, heard of Elvis' concert for her charity foundation, she went  straight to the doctor for tranquilizers.
5. No money is to be charged for a TV audience, so donations were asked for each ticket.        
6. Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite was the most expensive TV concert of its time at $2,5 million.
7. The rehearsal concert would be recorded at 20h30 on January 12, 1973 but by 19h00 6,000 fans had already stormed the venue and crammed into the available 5,300 seats. 
8. Elvis wanted a suit that said America. Ideas included the outline of a map or the star-spangled banner, but eventually the decision went to the national bird. 
9. The live broadcast had to be shy of 1 hour, after which the satellite feed would be cut off, so Elvis organised for Joe Esposito to be at the side of the stage with a flashlight to indicate when 10 minutes were left.
10. The sound equipment of NBC and RCA combined overloaded the power. Two hours before the rehearsal concert the lights flickered on and off and the sound engineers went to borrow extra equipment from the Navy. A few minutes before the start of the show, there was a hum in the sound system, caused by the stage lights, and lead plates were obtained, again from the Navy, to counteract this.

There are many more fun facts, especially the 1.5 billion people having watched the broadcast, amongst others South Africa. (NOT!) At this point in time? Sure! The Parker marketing machine did the trick, though, and it's all now part of Elvis lore.

Elvis Songs With Spoken Segments

In the 1950s, talking over the music was big, especially on slow songs. The question is, what qualifies as a spoken segment in a song? The answer is, any of the following: a good poetry or dramatic reading, some idle chatter or everyday speech. Shout outs and cheering instructions to the crowd or band do not qualify.  

The goal of the spoken segment of a song is to give the singer a chance to take a step back and offer a type of director's commentary on proceedings. 

Quite a few Elvis songs feature spoken segments. Obvious ones are That's When Your Heartaches Begin, Are You Lonesome Tonight and I'm Yours. 

Let's have a closer look another few Elvis songs with spoken parts:

1. U.S. MALE

In 1965 Elvis recorded movie songs ONLY. In 1966 he recorded a Grammy Award-winning gospel album. In my opinion that's when his "comeback" started. From 1966-1968 it seems Elvis experimented different ways to go musically, but no one took notice. This talking blues was one of those early "comeback" songs. I bet Elvis was eager to cut his teeth on this one.

2. MAMA LIKED THE ROSES  

This one was recorded early in 1969 at the American Sound Studio in Memphis. According to accounts, Elvis loved this song but had laryngitis, so a backing track was laid down and Elvis overdubbed his vocal at a later stage. 

3. ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVED

Another one recorded at American. One time during the sessions they had to stop as the engineer heard a strange buzzing sound on the tape. Turns out it was a car idling outside. It seems Elvis found the song difficult to record as he reprimanded himself throughout but he prevailed and did 29 takes, of which the last take was seemingly used.

4. POLK SALAD ANNIE

This song, only recorded live on stage, is about the lifestyle of a poor girl and her family. Elvis introduced the showstopper at his 2nd Vegas season in Jan/Feb 1970. 

5. ARE YOU SINCERE

The July 1973 Stax Studio recording session had sound problems. One evening after noticing that his mic was gone, Elvis left and the band laid down tracks to be later overdubbed at Elvis' home in Palm Springs via RCA mobile truck. 

Also present at the dubbing session was VOICE, Elvis' new personal backing group. Elvis, excited to get the group on record, allocated most of his recording time to their demos. Resultantly, Elvis overdubbed only 1 of his required backing tracks and recorded 2 VOICE suggested songs, of which this was one. Parker was furious and ordered these tracks to be released as is, with no strings and horns overdubs.

Who Was Elvis?

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of children's books that explore the lives of outstanding people. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. In one of the new releases you can now discover Elvis.

This book might be just in time, because it seems as if we have reached a point in time where journalists have to explain to the younger generation who Elvis was. Hopefully they now know!  

The synopsis for Little People, BIG DREAMS: 

Elvis was born into poverty in North Mississippi, a place where opportunities were a rare thing to see. Still, he felt that someday, somehow, something amazing would happen. When he sang in a school talent show, he realized that singing was all he wanted to do with his life. 

He had just finished high school when he plucked up the courage and walked through the doors of Sun Studios, ready to record his first song. After this came hit after hit, and he popularized a new genre of music that mixed all kinds of different styles. That genre was Rock 'n' Roll, and it would take the world by storm!

All the great artists that came after him still look up to little Elvis, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, the unique and irreplaceable artist who changed the course of music history. 

From Dick To Roy

Dick Guyton has been the executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation that has overseen the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo for the last 20 years. At 82 he has decided it is time to slow down.  

It is estimated that the taxes that Elvis brings in is roundabout R18 million each year in revenue for Tupelo. More than a million guests have visited the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum since Guy came on board.

The new executive director is Tupelo's Roy Turner, an avid Elvis fan and key to the writing of the excellent book Elvis and Gladys by Elaine Dundy, who dedicated the book to Roy for his exceptional work.  

In an interview Guyton said, amongst others: Our board of directors have been looking to continue to improve the place but at the same time to keep it to how the fans want it to be, because that's what we're all about.