Someone once got to my site by Googling something about George Washington and landed on a post I had written about the man. But she was distracted by the banner on the top, and the big button on the side, and her only comment was: “Why is Elvis everywhere?”
She wasn’t judging. Just confused about where she had landed on the Internet. “I came here looking for George Washington and am bombarded with … Elvis? Why?”
The innocent way she phrased her question made me laugh.
“Why is Elvis everywhere?”
Well, because he is the greatest performer to ever walk the earth, sister, how ’bout that? Does that answer your question?
I’m not one for memorabilia. Or so I thought. I do like to have images around of things/people that inspire me, which is why I have old-time framed posters of Carole Lombard and Barbara Stanwyck on my walls. This morning, as I was working, and getting text messages about my new perfect nephew (Yay!), I glanced around and basically saw that, over a period of time, Elvis has infiltrated my entire apartment, without me going for that effect, without me even really noticing. It became funny to me, so I decided to take snapshots of each Elvis-related object.
Let’s take the tour.
My ticket to Graceland on my bulletin board:
1956 Elvis stuck in the frame of my old-timey dresser mirror:
Three Elvis pens, one given to me by my friend Michele, the other two I can’t remember where they came from.
One of my Elvis shelves: his movies, TV specials:
Elvis magnet, bought at Graceland.
My ridiculous Elvis doll, in his 1968 black leather outfit, sent to me by my friend Charlie.
Part of my Elvis book collection. Small metal Elvis suitcase, given to me by my brother-in-law, and Elvis pocket-knife, sent to me by my friend Luisa.
A rather cheesy “painting” of Elvis, which was given to me by the owner of a liquor store in Chicago. Spontaneously. Therefore, on the wall it goes, cheap frame and all.
My “VIP” badge for my first Graceland tour, and also the flier for the “Elvis at 21” exhibit I went to in Richmond, Virginia, which featured the extraordinary photos of Elvis taken by Alfred Wertheimer in the spring/summer of 1956.
My aunt Marianne sent me an “Elvis gift set” for Christmas. It included a plate, a coffee mug, and two plastic Christmas ornaments.
My sister Jean gave me this Christmas ornament. When you press the button, you hear Elvis singing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”.
My friend Allison sent me this Elvis-in-gold-lame card. An actual card, with an envelope and a stamp, sent through the United States Postal Service. An exciting event.
I bought this at a record store in Memphis on Beale Street. It makes me happy just looking at it.
My friend Kent sent me this framed poster of King Creole, one of Elvis’ best performances.
More magnets bought at Graceland. I love magnets.
See above comment.
A grotesque china jumpsuit-Elvis Christmas ornament. Someone in my family gave this to me and I can’t remember who.
Another Elvis shelf.
More Elvis books.
A watercolor “Jailhouse Rock” card, made for me by mother. I can’t really express how much I love this. My mother and I roared about it once I received it. I love his SHADOW most of all. Nice touch, Mum.
And that’s it.
It’s more than I thought I had, although I haven’t reached HER level yet.
It is something to strive for. Her commitment is admirable.
Charlie supports me by sending me links to Elvis bedspreads and leopard-skin “TCB” throw pillows. I said to Charlie, “But what about if I bring a man home? Won’t that freak him out?” Charlie’s response was: “Fuck ‘im.”
Either way you take that response, Charlie’s right.
Your Elvis doll looks like he could take on even more Agent Smiths than Keanu.
And the real question: “Why ISN”T Elvis everywhere?”
Oh, and congratulations on the new nephew!
Thank you! He is so cute!
So here’s a question, or maybe a suggestion for a post in the future (if you haven’t already done one): How would you steer someone curious about Elvis who doesn’t know a lot about him other than the “big hits” you tend to hear on the oldies stations? I mean, suppose a local college asked you to teach a one-semester general survey course on Elvis. What’s your syllabus?
Ooh great question. You know I have already thought about this.
1. Context. The ground from which he sprung. Immersion in blues/gospel/Grand Ole Opry. Discussion of black-white issues, racial blending, and radio stations – how radio stations having larger transmission power helped the Elvis thing happen. 10 years before, he would have stayed a regional star.
2. Sun Studio. What it was. Who Sam Phillips was. And then those early Sun recordings, which still leap out of the speakers at you today.
That’s All Right
Mystery Train
Trying to Get to You
Baby Let’s Play House
Good Rockin’ Tonight
My Baby Left Me
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
When It Rains It Really Pours
Blue Moon (I think you haven’t really heard the song until you’ve heard his version – Dave Marsh calls it an “eerie masterpiece” and it is indeed)
– all essential listening. These songs changed the world. No exaggeration.
3. The move to RCA. The RCA stuff, 1955, 56, 57. Elvis becomes an international star.
– Heartbreak Hotel
– Hound Dog
– Don’t Be Cruel
– Paralyzed
Those 4 songs were 4 of the biggest hits EVER in terms of their industry-changing power. As one country star said, “Elvis vaporized country music. It took us 20 years to recover our confidence.” And then there’s that great quote from George Harrison. In the 70s, he was asked what his musical roots were. He initially said he had no musical roots. (It’s a televised interview.) But then he thought a bit and said, “The only thing I can think of is one day I was riding my bike down the street in Liverpool and I heard ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ from out of an open window. That is my only musical root.” Now just THINK about that for a second.
But also – so many awesome RCA tracks – some of my favorites:
– Rip It Up
– So Glad You’re Mine
– All Shook Up
– One Night
– Stuck On You
– Surrender
– Are You Lonesome Tonight?
– Suspicion
– Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
– Judy
– I Want You With Me
– Put the Blame On Me
– Marie’s the Name of his Latest Flame
– Is It So Strange (gorgeous – not as well known as the others, not a huge hit – but gorrrrgeous)
– Santa Claus Is Back in Town – don’t laugh. It’s his sexiest recording ever, and it led off his Christmas album in 1957. Hard to believe they got away with it.
Other RCA tracks I love: the “50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong” album – recorded in 1958. I love every track.
I Need Your Love Tonight
Don’t
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
I Got Stung
A Big Hunk o’ Love
I Beg of You
Fool Such as I
— this was the album he recorded quickly in the spring of 1958 while on leave during army training. His mother was dying – he was leaving for Germany in September – he thought his whole world was ending. And indeed it was. And this joyous crazy sexy boisterous album is what he recorded in the midst of all of that. LOVE IT.
4. The movies. Pre-Army and then post-Army. I would show the class Love Me Tender. King Creole. Wild in the Country. Blue Hawaii. Viva Las Vegas. Flaming Star. Live a Little Love a Little. Maybe a couple others. The man was an amazing actor. I’ve had it with people dismissing his work as an actor. And along with that, there really are some great songs recorded for the films. The entire King Creole soundtrack is awesome. Some of my favorites from the movies:
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Beach Boy Blues
In My Way
Bossa Nova Baby
Follow That Dream
What a Wonderful Life
Frankfort Special
A Little Less Conversation
Mean Woman Blues
5. The gospel. Those albums are still going platinum today. His most successful albums ever.
How Great Thou Art – perhaps his most important recording, certainly his most personal.
He Touched Me
Milky White Way
Peace in the Valley
If the Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side
So many others. Nobody other than Sam Cooke used his stardom to bring so much gospel music to a wide secular audience.
6. The famous 1968 “comeback special” on NBC. I would show the class the whole thing. Its context is important. Elvis had been under contract at the studio for 10 years. He had stopped performing live. The Beatles came to the US and took over the whole world. Elvis was forgotten. His movies still made money but he no longer was seen as a “player” in the music scene. Until that comeback special. Nobody in the history of the planet has ever been as powerful as he was in those black-leather acoustic sections. You can’t even picture Paul McCartney being that ferocious. Because Paul McCartney was a Beatle – a member of a GROUP. Elvis was an individual. Huge difference.
7. The double-album he came out with in the late 60s – which again re-asserted his power. He took risks. He had a new producer who pushed him into new areas, didn’t let him slack off. No more singing of sappy ballads that anyone could sing. These were grown-up songs to be sung by a grown-up Elvis. The hits off of that album are phenomenal. These are the ones that still get radio play today.
In the Ghetto
Wearin that Loved On Look
Long Black Limousine (incredible recording)
Power of my Love
True Love Travels on a Gravel Road
Suspicious Minds
The mind boggles. But it goes on and on.
And more from those crazy productive awesome late 60s years:
Hi-Heel Sneakers
Memphis Tennessee
Down in the Alley
Listen to those tracks – the man is on FIRE.
8. The 70s. Some great stuff in the later 70s too – even though he was sick and tired. The myth is that Elvis just went straight to the bottom in the 70s. Not true. Amazing recordings from those years – as well as some AWESOME concert recordings
Polk Salad Annie (Youtube it. Watch Elvis in action in Vegas perform that song. Out. Of. Control.)
Burnin’ Love
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Talk About the Good Times
The American trilogy
If That Isn’t Love
That’s What You Get For Loving Me
Fool (OUCH)
It’s Still Here (OUCH)
Padre – the man has some serious freakin’ chops
Promised Land
If You Talk In Your Sleep
People who hate the ballads have a hard time with the 70s – but Elvis kicks ASS with some of these ballads.
And this now clearly is a two-semester course.
Here’s a post I wrote on just one of the incredible performances in the 1968 comeback special.
http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=41139
Also, my pal Troy who runs the great site Mystery Train has a lot of great “song list” compilations – which gives you such a good feel of the vast-ness of this man’s catalog. Lots of great stuff there.
http://themysterytrainblog.com
Wow! Sign me up! God, I would love it!
ha ha, I keep scrolling down, and each photo I’m like well this is the end of it right, and it’s NOT, I love it so much.
ha – I know, it surprised even me, how much Elvis stuff I have around, and I LIVE here.
So nice to see the Guralnick book!
I am counting the days until his Sam Phillips book comes out. Next year, apparently!
I did not know about the Sam Phillips book! Exciting!
Isn’t it?? He is definitely the man to do it!
I see Elvis ALL around new york and I can’t help taking pictures of him wherever he is:
http://instagram.com/p/lDfBOPLR1k/
http://instagram.com/p/lMHzHgrR4c/
http://instagram.com/p/kQiqJoLR9A/
http://instagram.com/p/j4IFZCLRxk/
http://instagram.com/p/j29XNjLR09/
Nice!!
Great list — but you left out TROUBLE in the 70’s list. And it’s fair to think that it would be good to do a list of the great ballads, because just by themselves they are incredible art from first to last.
By the way, love this site.
Bob – I always forget things when I write lists. I’m not a list-maker in general – but yes, Trouble is amazing! It’s on my workout mix. :)
And I agree. The ballads are wonderful – just as personal as his earliest stuff in the 50s. He MEANS that shit.
Thanks for your comment!
Was thinking of my 70’s list — it would go like this —
Wonder of You
You Don’t have to say You Love Me
Patch It Up
I Really Don’t Want To Know **
American Trilogy
Burning Love **
Separate Ways **
Always on My Mind **
Fool **
Steamroller Blues **
Promised Land **
It’s Midnight **
T-R-O-U-B-L-E **
Bringing It Back
Hurt **
For the Heart
Little Cabin on the Hill
Cindy Cindy
Bridge Over Troubled Waters **
Got My Mojo Working / Hands off of it **
Faded Love **
Tomorrow Never Comes **
I Washed My Hands in muddy Water **
Amazing Grace **
That’s What You Get For Loving me
Merry Christmas Baby **
Don’t Think Twice
It’s Still Here **
I Will be True
You Asked me To
Good Time Charlie
Unchained Melody **
I Didn’t Make It On Playing Guitar
I’ll Be Home on Christmas Day **
I probably left some gems out — but wouldn’t this be a hell of a double album?
The double asterisks are “exceptional” — distinguished from the merely unbelievable.
Ha!! Love that distinction. So so so many good songs. It’s still amazing to me that some people think the 70s were a time of decline for him. I mean, honestly.
It’s Still Here. OUCH. Great song.
Right about that — leaves me crazed every time I hear it. Always sounds as if I’m hearing it for the first time, too.
The last one on my list, Home on Christmas day, was a late discovery for me, but it is brilliant — and a surprise, not like other Christmas things he did or other songs styles even in the 70’s.
Home on Christmas Day is great – sooo bluesy, and so grown-up.
There are a bunch of takes of It’s Still Here – and each one is amazing. Like, he “went there” in take after take. Agony. Leaves me “crazed”, too.