I’m so glad Jerry Reed did so much television. There are so many clips out there. Not a lot of guitar-playing in this one, but his persona, his vibe, his clothes, his energy, his maleness, his peacock-ness with his maleness … It’s all so fantastic.
The stories of Jerry Reed being called in from the swamps where he was fishing to play guitar on a couple of Elvis’ songs (in 1967) are legendary. He arrived in the studio, unshaven, a wild man, and Elvis started laughing at the sight of him. Reed then proceeded to take over the session. Elvis was the type of artist who LOVED shit like that (if you were talented, that is). He wanted to be pushed, challenged. Reed pushed, challenged. If you listen to all of the various takes of “Guitar Man,” you can feel how wild it was at first (it’s a Jerry Reed number, not an Elvis number), and then you can hear it slowly coming together. At one point during the session, something about “Guitar Man” reminded Elvis of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” so he started throwing in lines from it, and it shocked Jerry Reed (where’d he get THAT?) but Jerry Reed went with it, until it was a full-blown mini-tribute. Reed said later:
It was just a jamming session. I thought I was going to be so damn nervous I couldn’t play, but it was right the opposite. I got pumped, and then Elvis got pumped, and the more he got pumped up, the more I did – it was like a snowball effect. To tell you the truth, I was on cloud nine. And once Elvis got the spirit, things really began to happen. When the guitars and the rhythm sounded right, I guess the guitar lick kind of reminded him of What’d I Say, and he just sort of started testifying at the end. That was how it happened – one of those rare moments in your life you never forget.
Check it out, take 10. Jerry Reed to Elvis: “Sing the living stuffing out of it, El.”
Other numbers they recorded together after the “Guitar Man” session: “Big Boss Man,” “Hi-Heel Sneakers,” “U.S. Male”. Each have a very specific sound, unique in Elvis’ catalog. That’s because of Jerry Reed, for sure, but also what Jerry Reed helped bring out of Elvis. If I had to boil it down, I would say Jerry Reed’s playing, and his wild-man-I-don’t-give-a-fuck energy (there was a MAJOR confrontation during the sessions, involving Jerry Reed and the producers: Jerry Reed would not back down, and everyone stood around watching Jerry Reed resist the pressure. He was an independent guy who could not be bullied) brought out an aggressive male energy in Elvis – which was not too much of a surprise, since aggression like that – sexual aggression – was what Elvis originally brought to the table in the 50s. But this was the late 60s, and Elvis had felt stifled in the movie years. He was coming out of his shell now. Those songs – listen to them – they’re as gritty-sexual as it gets.
I mean, “Hi-Heel Sneakers” is practically indecent.
After the session, after Elvis left the room, Jerry Reed said out loud to everyone there: “Elvis is more beautiful than any woman I have ever seen.” He had held that back for the whole session. It’s like the story of Carl Perkins meeting Elvis for the first time. They shook hands, they said, “I like your work, man” “Yeah, I like yours too”, and it was all very manly and professional and grown-up. Elvis walked away and Carl Perkins turned, again, to Scotty Moore and said, “That’s the best-looking man I’ve ever seen.”
Here’s Take 2 of “Big Boss Man.” Listen to how Jerry Reed has taken over. Usually it’s the producer who “gives notes.” Here, it’s Jerry, telling Elvis – ELVIS – what to do. And Elvis loved it.
And now listen to the final version. You can hear that Elvis has developed his performance, along the lines of Jerry Reed’s original coaching which was: Elvis, sometimes you sound mad or mean: that’s okay. Go with it. Be mad/mean. Listen to how “mad/mean” Elvis sounds in the final version. Hot.
I think Jerry Reed’s music was probably the first that I loved. I latched on to it at a young age and I just held onto it ever since.
He was a genius.
I once played “U. S. Male” three times in succession: it’s that infectious. And Elvis sings it exactly the way Jerry Reed sings, because, well, you have to figure Jerry told him to. (Still got the old yellow-label RCA Victor promo single, from the days when RCA still made some darn fine-sounding singles.)
I think the Reed track I play most often is “Another Puff,” that four-minute ode to the horrors — and delights — of cigarettes. But the one I’m most likely to quote is “Lord, Mr. Ford,” mostly for this line: “I figured it up, and over a period of time / This four-thousand-dollar car of mine / Cost fourteen thousand dollars and 99 cents.” Boy, do I know that story.
hahaha His lyrics!! So smart and funny.
I love US Male too. There’s one take where on the fade-out, Elvis drawls, “I’m an American U.S. Male.” Hilarious.
The Elvis of the “Stay Away Joe” era is, in my opinion, not only the best HE ever looked, but possibly the best any man ever looked.
I think superlatives are in order here.
Oh yeah. Long, tall, lean, dusty cowboy boots. Gorgeous. He’s great in that movie, really loose and funny and relaxed. I love the group fight, rolling around in the dirt.