For Elvis CD Collectors

Since I'm both a Elvis and Jim Reeves fan (my two favourite recording artists) I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread on the connections between Elvis and Jim Reeves. Let's collect as many as we can in this thread, shall we?

I'll start with quoting Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man from the Elvis 1960's songs thread:

Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man wrote:
"Elvis' character i the song Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello was obvously Jim. In many live versions of Big Boss Man, he was Jimmy "But you won't let Jimmy stop" and in Old Shep, the doctor tells him "I can't do no more for him Jim".

Jim Reeves on the other hand, was never called Elvis in any of his songs..."
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"LOL. There are far too many Elvis-Jim Reeves connections!!!

Best of all is...

Elvis' first official studio recording was I Love You Because - a bit hit for Jim Reeves a few years later

Elvis' last studio recording - He'll Have To Go - a big Jim Reeves hit earlier on!

There's a big crossover of songs they both cut but I always found it interesting that Elvis' first and last official studio recordings were of songs so closely associated with Reeves. Jim even cut My Happiness."

Songs recorded by Elvis and Jim Reeves:

I Love You Because
He’ll Have to Go
There’s Always Me
Just Call Me Lonesome
My Happiness
In the Garden
Blue Christmas
White Christmas
Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem

Dark Moon (recorded at home by Elvis)

Men with Broken Hearts (done live by Elvis)
Welcome to My World (done live by Elvis)

I may have forgotten a few songs.

Cool thread. I’m also a big Jim Reeves fan. Well, big may be an exaggeration, but I like his music.

My understanding of this is that "Jim" is sometimes used colloquially like "man" or "fella".

I'm sure I've heard the name used like this several times before.

An example that springs to mind is in the first "Superman" movie. Just before Superman takes off and rescues Lois Lane, there's a pimp who makes the following remark: "Say, Jim, that's a bad outfit! Woo!"



There are definitely others.

A few more from the top of my head:

"Hawaiian Wedding Song"
"From A Jack To A King"
"Make The World Go Away"
"I Can't Stop Loving You"
"Danny Boy"

Thanks, Ken!
The two artists are different in many ways, but also quite alike.
They were even friends. I'm not sure how close though.

What do they (in my opinion) have in common?

A one of a kind great voice.
Beautiful music.
Recorded several gospel albums. (Jim two, Elvis three)
They were christian.
Got their start in Country music (and kept returning to country until the very end).
Appeared on the Louisiana Hayride.
Recorded on RCA Victor.
Chet Atkins played guitar for both on recording sessions (to a lesser extent for Elvis)
The Jordanaires as backing song group (Jim let them go because they had to work with Elvis)

Elvis visited Jim and his wife Mary at least on one occasion, but the story is not verified.

Jim's guitar player, Leo Jackson, said they had to push Elvis on stage (or something along the line of that) because he was scared.

I've seen only one photo of the two together (a big, late 1950's, group photo with Elvis on the far right).

Back in the mid 80's I visited the Jim Reeves Museum in Nashville. It was full of Reeves momentos including the wallet he carried which was recovered from the plane wreckage.

Anyway, in a display case-on a mannequin was a karate outfit that Reeves widow Mary recieved from Elvis.

Through a series of unfortunate events and business deals the museum is no longer there. In fact I believe the beautiful old home that housed it has since been demolished.

I wonder what may have become of that outfit?

There is a radio station photo that has both Elvis and Jim in it with a group of others, I beieve it has been posted and discussed in the photo threads on this very board. I wonder if there are others.
Many photos and some film of Jim recording in Studio B exist.

Jim was an incredible talent, such a voice.

How could I forget those Cryogenic? Quite a few classics there I'd say.
But, I don't care much for Elvis' version of "From a Jack to a King".

Really agree with these subjective statements.

Elvis' music has many more dimensions to it (in my opinion), but a Jim Reeves record is a very transfixing thing.



I'm half with you. The softer approach is very enjoyable on this song, in my opinion. I do kinda like the boastful way Elvis sings on the Memphis cut, however.

Here is a link to a Dutch site Today Tomorrow And Forever with an interview with Jim Reeves about Elvis.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~bump/related/interview.html

Jim Reeves and Elvis met each other as part on the broadcast of the Louisiana Hayride on 23-04-55 in Waco, Texas.


colonel snow

In 1959 Jim Reeves had a top 20 hit with " I'm beginning to forget you"; perhaps Elvis had this song in mind when he made a home recording of the song in Germany.
The original version of this song was however recorded in 1955 by Earl Phelps & Phelps Brothers. A lot of songs both recorded by Elvis and Jim Reeves were originals by other artists and recorded before Elvis or Jim Reeves made their recording like I love you because - Just call me lonesome - My happiness - In the garden - Blue Christmas - White Christmas - Dark moon - Oh little town of Bethlehem.

colonel snow

Where's Ger when you need him!

"But you won't let Jimmy stop" is from the lyrics as it was originally recorded in 61 by Jimmy Reed and has nothing to do with Jim Reeves.


Elvis and Jim Reeves shared a bill in New Orleans in Sept of 55
http://scottymoore.net/pontchartrain.html

Nice thread.

Jim has long been a hero of mine and each and every recording is an experience. A happening. What a truly inspiring voice.

The Elvis-Jim connections are many.

As said above, both on RCA, both recorded at Studio B with many of the same musicians and singers, Elvis' first and last studio recordings were Jim Reeves hits.

Elvis' last official compilation album released in his life was entitled WELCOME TO MY WORLD. Another Reeves smash.

Both released Gold Records collections during their lifetimes.

Jim's demo of Adios Amigo was overdubbed by musicians and the Anita Kerr Singers at the same session as Elvis' unfinished SUN recording of Tomorrow Night.

They both produced flexi discs in the 50s which shared the same opening and closing comments:

"Hi this is Jim Reeves" - "Hi this is Elvis Presley"

"I'd like to thank the disk jockeys for playing them. Goodbye" - "I'd like to thank all the disc jockeys for playing 'em. Goodbye"

Both were big stars on the Hayride in Shreveport.

And there are many cross over recordings such as:

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
My Happiness
Mona Lisa
Peace In The Valley
An Evening Prayer
It Is No Secret
In The Garden
How's The World Treating You
Just Call Me Lonesome
A Fool Such As I
I'm Beginning To Forget You
He'll Have To Go
Dark Moon
Danny Boy
Men With Broken Hearts
There's Always Me
Welcome To My World
Take My Hand Precious Lord
After Loving You
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Silent Night
Silver Bells
White Christmas
Blue Christmas (Elvis sings the Heartaches verse like Jim in 68 version)
Hawaiian Wedding Song
From A Jack To A King
Make The World Go Away
I Can't Stop Loving You
I Really Don't Want To Know

Jim cut Roses Are Red which Elvis sang a bit of on stage. And his radio shows produced other cross over songs such as Tenessee Waltz etc

RCA issued an artificially made medley of studio recordings entitled "The Jim Reeves Medley". They did the same with Elvis.

Jim's film Kimberly Jim is well worth watching. Very similar to an Elvis vehicle such as Frankie and Johnny. The film songs resemble Elvis film songs like Beyond The Bend and Confidence etc.

In THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS, a folk trio attempt to impress Walter (ELVIS) with an impromptu version of the big Jim Reeves hit "Yonder Comes a Sucker".

If I think of more I'll add it here.

Wow!
What a post Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man!
The two recorded that many of the same songs it's a real job to find all of them.

I can add this:
One album was released featuring Jim in the "A Legendary Performer" series. There were several with Elvis.

Pick up this beauty - the bear family 16 CD box set and you'll have it all!

I remember having a Jim EP called A Touch Of Gold - another Elvis connection.

In a way, Jim's wife is responsible for the first ever remixes!

They were already experimenting with cutting backing tracks for his many unissued demo's as early as 1964 at Mary's suggestion! That astute business woman kept Jim's career in full flow for donkeys years after his death. He had new hits coming year after year after year. And yet no one ever suggested he faked his death.

Thank you for the tip about the Bear Family Box Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man. But, I bought the box back in 1995 when I was 15.
I had a pause from Elvis. It was all Jim Reeves for some years.

Since then I've aquired, almost, all of Jim Reeves 1960s albums. I don't have his three first albums, but almost all the rest.
I've even bought the same vinyl album several times over to have releases from different countries and to get the first presses. (My Elvis vinyl collection is a long way from being that extensive.) The sound from the original LPs is much better than CD (in my opinion). When it comes to Elvis, though, this isn't always the case.

Just recently I made an order for the quite unique album Jim Reeves - Talkin' to Your Heart (1961) where he reads poems and stories in rhyme. This is where he reads Men With Broken Hearts by Hank Williams.
I'm not sure when Elvis read part of the poem in his live shows. Was it at Hilton in 1970?

It hasn't been mentioned yet that Jim Reeves sang Aura Lee on television in the late 50's. Elvis used the melody of that song for Love Me Tender.

You must be a real Jim Reeves fan, Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man, just like me. And, apparently, we both like Elvis.

All the best,

Mr. Even B

Thjere is also an album called 'Elvis Presley and Jim Reeves - Country Christmas' containing six songs from Elvis and six songs from Jim.

Always liked Jim, who had a beautiful smooth voice.

Brian

Thats right,Brian.Dont remember when it was released though,or if its still available.
My dad had the Reeves album,"Tall Tales and Short Tempers",which came out in the early 60s.A must have LP,a shame its not available as a regular CD.Still have the vinyl,though.

it IS available on mainstream CD as a double feature with the Talkin' To Your Heart album. A fine folk-based pairing if ever there were one! To this day, The Tie That Binds makes my throat swell up and It's Nothin' To Me should be considered as much a classic as Welcome To My World and Adios Amigo! It's sublime!

My fave Reeves album is Good & Country, followed by Moonlight & Roses and then the two folk albums.

I think his most under-rated album is GIRLS I HAVE KNOWN which is a light Jazz album featuring the Jordanaires. Absolute class!

Jerry, the album was relased in December 1991.

Brian

UPDATE - 31st July, 2009:

'Gentleman' Jim Reeves died 45 years ago today in a plane crash.

He was 40.



Jim's 'velvet' voice was heard on many country hits like He'll Have To Go, Distant Drums & I Love You Because.

I think some of the past few posts have kind of indicated the biggest Reeves/Elvis connection. The way that RCA and to a lesser extent kept Reeves alive as a marketing phenomenon provided a model that the company and Elvis' estate would use after Elvis' death.

I had a Jim marathon on 31st and really enjoyed all the ironing whilst singing along!

As mentioned, Elvis' 1st n last studio recordings are closely associated with Jim - I Love You Because and He'll Have To Go.

Jims last two studio cuts were Make The World Go Away and I Can't Stop Loving You. Intriguing!

Also, Elvis was backed by The Blue Moon Boys back in 55, while Jim toured with The Blue Boys.