Your favorite American Sound Studios track

r&b · #1339135

Not counting the hit A sided singles, (Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Don't Cry Daddy , and Kentucky Rain), what is your favorite track from the 1969 Chips Moman sessions? It can be a B side. Also state a reason why you liked it best. Thanks.

My choice I think is Power Of My Love - just love everything about it. Lyrics, the performance of Elvis & the band, plus I thought it was commercial enough to be an A side.

#1339141

It changes...but I really dig Only The Strong Survive...I love the opening when he recites the lyrics..
a fantastic song..

I remember my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mama had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her sayin' it

#1339145

Ciscoking wrote:It changes...but I really dig Only The Strong Survive...I love the opening when he recites the lyrics..
a fantastic song..

I remember my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mama had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her sayin' it

Love that one, too. I'm Movin' On is pretty amazing as well.

#1339150

Many strong tracks to choose from.

Slightly above the rest for me is "Wearin' That Loved On Look". "Power Of My Love" also right up there close behind.

#1339151

As a PS, I never really understood why there was never an Essential Elvis volume on the American Sessions.
I mean if anything was Essential, this was. Ernst said "not enough strong material..." Obviously a joke.

Matthew · #1339152

If I had to walk away with only one, it would be none other than Suspicious Minds.

#1339155

r&b wrote:Not counting the hit A sided singles, (Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Don't Cry Daddy , and Kentucky Rain), what is your favorite track from the 1969 Chips Moman sessions? It can be a B side. Also state a reason why you liked it best. Thanks.

My choice I think is Power Of My Love - just love everything about it. Lyrics, the performance of Elvis & the band, plus I thought it was commercial enough to be an A side.

So many worthy candidates, so little time.

Today I choose "You'll Think of Me." It was first issued as the B-side to "Suspicious Minds," then appeared on the studio half of 1969's From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis. It has everything that made these sessions so remarkable: superb, contemporary material, stunning lead vocal from Elvis, excellent female backing vocals, tremendous rhythm section, especially Tommy Cogbill's bass and Reggie Young on electric sitar, and a fantastic arrangement.

Plus, it was Mort Shuman's final songwriting contribution to the Presley canon.

#1339165

Matthew wrote:If I had to walk away with only one, it would be none other than Suspicious Minds.

"Not counting the hit A sided singles ..."

#1339166

The American Sound sessions never get old to me.
I would say TRUE LOVE TRAVELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD is my personal favorite.
It's a country song that has the deep feeling of soul when it's sung by Elvis,
and the content and imagery work together to create the kind of
country-tinged, soul-tinged mature Southern Rock that Elvis was
the master of.
There really wasn't anyone else working in the same vein as Elvis
in the 69-73 period. His records certainly did not sound like the "country rock"
of the Byrds, Rick Nelson, or Michael Nesmith; he did not sound like
the "swamp rock" of Tony Joe White (though he would appeal to that audience)
or the roots rock of Creedence; he did not sound like "white soul" artists such
as Wayne Cochran. They also did not sound much like anything else on the country
charts at that time (and my father listened to country radio in that period,
so I remember it well).
I guess that's because Elvis was above and beyond fads or changes in style;
he carved out his own road.

The American Sound sessions are really in a category of their own,
and TRUE LOVE TRAVELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD is for me the perfect
example of that style. In fact, when I play lesser-known Elvis tracks
for friends and relatives to show them what an under-rated artist
Elvis is, in spite of being universally known, I often will play TRUE LOVE...

The material from those sessions is a fresh as the day it was recorded...
they still excite me FORTY+ years after I first heard them...

#1339167

And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind for me, love that ballad.

#1339170

To my point of view, nothing - not even Suspicious Mind - can beat Stranger In My Own Home Town. R&B, Rock, Blues. Plain perfect.

#1339171

A Little Bit Of Green.
Always loved that one

#1339176

Wearin' That Loved On Look kind of encompasses that what makes everything great about those sessions. There's a bit where the piano takes over, then after about eight bars the tambourine kicks in, then the girls give it the "ooooooOH" and it's back to the 'Had to leave town' line, and it's just perfection.

Actually, I've always thought Power Of My Love is one of the weaker songs on the first LP. Sure, it's got a great groove, but I remember thinking when I first heard it that it wasn't a great song in the way that, say, Gentle On My Mind was.

#1339177

Bill Tanner wrote:Wearin' That Loved On Look kind of encompasses that what makes everything great about those sessions. There's a bit where the piano takes over, then after about eight bars the tambourine kicks in, then the girls give it the "ooooooOH" and it's back to the 'Had to leave town' line, and it's just perfection.

Actually, I've always thought Power Of My Love is one of the weaker songs on the first LP. Sure, it's got a great groove, but I remember thinking when I first heard it that it wasn't a great song in the way that, say, Gentle On My Mind was.

I never got used to gentle on my mind, I still prefer glen campbells version
..

#1339185

And the grass won't pay no mind.

#1339191

I'm only listening on my phone, but are there some modern overdubs on that GOMM youtube version?

I often think 'Gently' was the best lyric Elvis ever had. And I mean ever. The Glen Cambell version posted sounds rushed to me, (though I'm sure to those more familiar with the GC version, Elvis' version sounds laboured).

I've got the American Way series, and the FTDs, and other out-take boots, but I don't think I'd take any of the undubbed/out-takes over the masters. But they sure are great to listen to!

#1339193

Any Day Now or Without Love

#1339197

Another great post!

Love 'Wearing That Loved On Look' - love the lyrics and the way Elvis sings it full on R&B!

The lyrics and Elvis' performance on the blues heavy R&B stomper > 'Power Of My Love' - fantastic!

The storytelling nature of 'Long Black Limousine' floors me every-time and the brilliant arrangement.

Great Glen Campbell cover 'Gentle On My Mind's' lyrical content and the Memphis cats backing...

R&B soaked 'Stranger In My Hometown' great arrangement and Elvis vocal - yeah baby!

'The Fair Is Moving On's' reflective storytelling qualities.

In fact, I love them all!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1416646074.501427.jpg

#1339202

I couldn't possibly pick one.

Scrolling down this thread, about six times I've read someone's response and thought "oh yes, that's the one".

Stunning sessions. Not much else I can add so I'm movin' on

#1339203

It's like choosing between your kids, but right now maybe "Do You Know Who I Am" - great to listen to at night. Or maybe "I'll Be There" = band & arrangement are not as good as they could have been, but the song & Elvis are just fantastic. I love all of them!

Poor Man's Gold could have been great.

Matthew · #1339207

drjohncarpenter wrote:
Matthew wrote:If I had to walk away with only one, it would be none other than Suspicious Minds.
"Not counting the hit A sided singles ..."

Well, if I have to.

I guess, After Loving You.

Mister Moon · #1339210

r&b wrote:Not counting the hit A sided singles, (Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Don't Cry Daddy , and Kentucky Rain), what is your favorite track from the 1969 Chips Moman sessions? It can be a B side. Also state a reason why you liked it best. Thanks.

My choice I think is Power Of My Love - just love everything about it. Lyrics, the performance of Elvis & the band, plus I thought it was commercial enough to be an A side.

So many outstanding songs and performances. It's difficult to dismiss one !

I will choose one that's not been mentioned so far in this thread : "I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)".

This track is the real thing. Elvis pouring out his soul in four and a half minutes, playing piano, with minimal instrumental accompaniment, no overdubs needed, just one take.

#1339212

Long Black Limousine

...so haunting & of course beautifully sung.

..

JEFF d
EP fan

#1339214

JEFF d wrote:Long Black Limousine

...so haunting & of course beautifully sung.

JEFF d
EP fan

Hell, yeah!
+1

Matthew · #1339215

Mister Moon wrote:I will choose one that's not been mentioned so far in this thread : "I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)".

This track is the real thing. Elvis pouring out his soul in four and a half minutes, playing piano, with minimal instrumental accompaniment, no overdubs needed, just one take.

A truly standout performance. Raw, full of vibe and emotion.

For Elvis CD Collectors