Mark vs. Elvis --> Whose Grass Is Better?

[drjohncarpenter]

There are always surprises to be found. Tonight I heard a terrific recording of "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind," not by Elvis Presley:


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Mark Lindsay "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" (Columbia 4-45229, September 5, 1970)
Cash Box "Top 100" #37, November 14, 1970, Billboard "Hot 100" #44, November 14, 1970.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Lindsay


Lindsay, of course, first had success as part of Paul Revere and the Raiders. His 1970 single, produced by Jerry Fuller, sports a more sunshine-pop arrangement by Artie Butler, right down to his lead vocal.

Is it better than Elvis' Memphis recording, which clearly surpasses Neil Diamond's 1969 rendition?



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Elvis Presley "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis (RCA Victor LSP 6020, October 14, 1969)



Hmm, I wonder what members here may say. It's a toss-up!

[When In Rome]

Nice arrangement but Elvis' phrasing nails it for me.
On the subject, I feel it's rude not to invite the songwriter himself to the party... (cheesy video notwithstanding)
..

Taken from the 1969 'Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show' album.

Cover.jpg

Side 1 UK pressing.jpg

[drjohncarpenter]

Nice arrangement but Elvis' phrasing nails it for me.
On the subject, I feel it's rude not to invite the songwriter himself to the party... (cheesy video notwithstanding)

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Neil only gets the bronze.

But who wins the gold, Mark or Elvis? It's hard to choose. Give the Lindsay single about 5 more spins right now.

[GERRY]

I like Neil's version better than mr Lindsay's, but like Elvis' vocal best, but i would also like to hear different backings (without the brushes)with Elvis' vocal, i like the female backing though.
Elvis liked the brushes but for me they are too overdone.

[drjohncarpenter]

I like Neil's version better than mr Lindsay's, but like Elvis' vocal best, but i would also like to hear different backings with Elvis' vocal, i like the female backing though.

Well, of course Elvis' recording was produced by Chips Moman, and arranged by Mike Leech and Glen Spreen. Those men did a fabulous job. Presley's later productions pale by comparison.

[stevelecher]

This must have been bigger locally here than on the national charts because I heard this a lot on 1970 radio. It's OK but Elvis' is better. I think I like Neil's better than Lindsay's.

The comments under Neil's version on Youtube support him, the comments under Elvis' support Elvis and I haven't read the comments under Mark's.

Even when listening to Elvis' version, it becomes clear immediately that this is a Neil Diamond song. On that 12 (13) hour radio show, they have tape of Neil saying that Elvis' version is beautiful and that he personally thanked him for it.

[GERRY]

Yes I was just looking at the lyrics.Is thid the most Psychadelic lyrics Elvis sang? I would like to hear the isolated vocal, I have a huge collection but cant remember if I have outtakes of this piece?

Listen easy,
You can hear God callin'
Walkin' barefoot by a stream
Come unto me
Your hair softly fallin'
On my face as in a dream
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind

Sayin' nothin', lyin' where the sun is
Bakin' down upon our sighs
My lips touch you
With their soft wet kisses,
Your hands gentle in reply
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind

Child, touch my soul with your cries
And the music
Will know what we've found
I'll hear a hundred goodbyes,
But today I hear only one sound
The moment we're livin' is now
Na, na, na, na

Young bird flyin'
And a soft wind blowin'
Cools the sweat inside my palms
Close my eyes
And hear the flowers growin'
As you lay sleeping in my arms
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind
No, the grass won't pay no mind

[drjohncarpenter]

This must have been bigger locally here than on the national charts because I heard this a lot on 1970 radio. It's OK but Elvis' is better. I think I like Neil's better than Lindsay's.

The comments under Neil's version on Youtube support him, the comments under Elvis' support Elvis and I haven't read the comments under Mark's.

Even when listening to Elvis' version, it becomes clear immediately that this is a Neil Diamond song. On that 12 (13) hour radio show, they have tape of Neil saying that Elvis' version is beautiful and that he personally thanked him for it.

Mark or Elvis, who gets the gold? I cannot decide, although the former Raiders effort is certainly striking, right down to the finale.

You should see the comments on the Lindsay YouTube page.

[norrie]

It's certainly a very good version.I particularly like the repeated bass phrase throughout the arrangement.Tough one but I'll give it to Elvis purely on the vocals both lead and backing but only just.


norrie

[When In Rome]

Yes I was just looking at the lyrics.Is thid the most Psychadelic lyrics Elvis sang? I would like to hear the isolated vocal, I have a huge collection but cant remember if I have outtakes of this piece?

It's pretty out there, mind you, 'The Edge of Reality' comes close :-

I walk along a thin line darling
Dark shadows follow me
Here's where life's dream lies disillusioned
The edge of reality

Oh I can hear strange voices echo
Laughing with mockery
The border line of doom I'm facing
The edge of reality

On the edge of reality she sits there tormenting me
The girl with the nameless face
On the edge of reality where she overpowers me
With fears that I can't explain
She drove me to the point of madness
The brink of misery
If she's not real then I'm condemned to
The edge of reality

On the edge of reality she sits there tormenting me
The girl with the nameless face
On the edge of reality where she overpowers me
With fears that I can't explain
She drove me to the point of madness
The brink of misery
If she's not real then I'm condemned to
The edge of reality

Reality, reality, reality, reality,
Reality, reality, reality, reality

And 'Yoga is as Yoga does' makes many Psychedelic tracks sound almost mundane.

BTW, If you have the FTD 'Back In Memphis' you'll have a few alternate takes/vocals on that CD...

[drjohncarpenter]

Yes I was just looking at the lyrics.Is thid the most Psychadelic lyrics Elvis sang? I would like to hear the isolated vocal, I have a huge collection but cant remember if I have outtakes of this piece?

Listen easy,
You can hear God callin'
Walkin' barefoot by a stream
Come unto me
Your hair softly fallin'
On my face as in a dream
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind

Sayin' nothin', lyin' where the sun is
Bakin' down upon our sighs
My lips touch you
With their soft wet kisses,
Your hands gentle in reply
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind

Child, touch my soul with your cries
And the music
Will know what we've found
I'll hear a hundred goodbyes,
But today I hear only one sound
The moment we're livin' is now
Na, na, na, na

Young bird flyin'
And a soft wind blowin'
Cools the sweat inside my palms
Close my eyes
And hear the flowers growin'
As you lay sleeping in my arms
And the time will be our time,
And the grass won't pay no mind
No, the grass won't pay no mind

The wordplay is really not psychedelic. We enjoy something a bit romantic, ethereal, and a tad "hippie," though. It's Neil Diamond, the one and only.

Presley really never essayed any such lyric, the only one that comes close in my mind is 1970's "The Next Step Is Love."

[LesterB]

Its Elvis all the way for me - that said, I really do not like Neil Diamonds voice in any case. The other chap's version is nice enough but simply lacks the authority that Elvis has as a singer.

The only other person with such an authority of greatness in his voice is Frank Sinatra. In Fact, Sinatra's version of this song, along with Dean Martins for that matter, is far better than what has been posted here.

Just my opinion of course (which is right ) but really good to hear these other versions!

[stevelecher]

Its Elvis all the way for me - that said, I really do not like Neil Diamonds voice in any case. The other chap's version is nice enough but simply lacks the authority that Elvis has as a singer.

The only other person with such an authority of greatness in his voice is Frank Sinatra. In Fact, Sinatra's version of this song, along with Dean Martins for that matter, is far better than what has been posted here.

Just my opinion of course (which is right ) but really good to hear these other versions!

There are versions of "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" by Sinatra and Dean Martin?

[r&b]

I like Elvis' best of all. I remember I told a girl back in the 80's that Elvis had recorded this song, and she had it by Diamond on an LP. She liked Elvis better than Diamond as a singer but had no idea he recorded this (what a surprise) and was really anxious to hear it. When I loaned her the LP, she told me she preferred Neil's version! Werent both recorded at American studios?

[stevelecher]

I think the song is romantic and not psychedelic. It's very beautiful though and Diamond has a lot of work between 1965 and 1975 to be very proud of.

[r&b]

I think the song is romantic and not psychedelic. It's very beautiful though and Diamond has a lot of work between 1965 and 1975 to be very proud of.

And in recent years, too. His albums with Rick Rubin, 12 Songs and Home Before Dark, are very good, as is Dreams and the recently released Melody Road. He released some good music in the eighties and nineties, too. The Jazz Singer soundtrack in particular.

I went to the CD signing of Melody Road in NY mainly because I wanted to meet him and get his signature. I was pleasantly surprised by the CD. it is good. To think all of these artists still putting out decent music all these years after Elvis is gone kinda pisses me off. Elvis stopped making decent albums even before he died.

[drjohncarpenter]

It's certainly a very good version.I particularly like the repeated bass phrase throughout the arrangement.Tough one but I'll give it to Elvis purely on the vocals both lead and backing but only just.


norrie

The rhythm on the Lindsay cut certainly is propulsive. Looks like he's edging towards the silver, according to the responses here.

[Pete Dube]

Diamond's live performance of And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind, as heard on the album Hot August Night, may even surpass his studio recording.

I love that version Greystoke! Diamond is fingerpickin' on guitar and despite him somewhat losing the tempo by playing slightly slower coming out of the bridge it's still a hypnotic, immensely sensitive performance.

Mark Lindsay's version pales in comparison to both Diamond and Elvis's recordings, in my opinion. Although it's certainly good, both with respect to Lindsay's vocal and the arrangement, but it's also too fussy, with undue musical flourishes and vocal inflections that only serve to detract. It also sounds quite dated in comparison to the other versions that have been discussed -- offering a sound that's very much in the pop music sphere of the era, which is fine, but there's riches in the lyric that aren't unearthed here.

Lindsay's version is too 'poppy' and overproduced for my taste. He also oversings in places.

[JosephC]

Wonderful song, always one of my favorite "unknown" tunes from Elvis. It is Elvis' version I treasure above the others, enjoyable as they are. May I just say a few things-I love Neil Diamon's 12 Songs, produced by Rick Rubin. His most important albulm to me since the Jazz Singer. Thank you Greystoke for mentioning it. So "Melody Road" is worth the purchase? Cool that you met him r&b! I have heard a couple tunes, seems decent. Saw Diamond on Fallon a few months ago..made me sad as Neil looked a bit old too me. I didn't care for his version of "Cracklin' Rose" that night.

JosephC

[stevelecher]

Yeah, Diamond's a little old now. He's been around for 50 years now. We should all lead such a life.

[Mister Mike]

Probably too much Lindsay for most here, but an excellent compillation nonetheless (and yes, the discussed song is on it).

[LesterB]

Its Elvis all the way for me - that said, I really do not like Neil Diamonds voice in any case. The other chap's version is nice enough but simply lacks the authority that Elvis has as a singer.

The only other person with such an authority of greatness in his voice is Frank Sinatra. In Fact, Sinatra's version of this song, along with Dean Martins for that matter, is far better than what has been posted here.

Just my opinion of course (which is right ) but really good to hear these other versions!

There are versions of "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" by Sinatra and Dean Martin?

There's not. There are terrific recordings of Gentle on My Mind by Martin and Sinatra, though.

Ah .... Yes..... That's what I meant. Can we change the song title so my point becomes valid?

Notwithstanding, my point regarding 'authority' (albeit a subjective one) is the overriding consideration here.

[promiseland]

Its Elvis all the way for me - that said, I really do not like Neil Diamonds voice in any case. The other chap's version is nice enough but simply lacks the authority that Elvis has as a singer.

The only other person with such an authority of greatness in his voice is Frank Sinatra. In Fact, Sinatra's version of this song, along with Dean Martins for that matter, is far better than what has been posted here.

Just my opinion of course (which is right ) but really good to hear these other versions!

There are versions of "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" by Sinatra and Dean Martin?

There's not. There are terrific recordings of Gentle on My Mind by Martin and Sinatra, though.

[promiseland]

Doc Mark Lindsay's is nice, as well as Elvis'. I don't think there's any winner here. Each version is unique in it's own way, and the highlights of each arrangement get the job done equally. Mark Lindsay's comments on Youtube can't really count as far as which is better, because we know what the taste of most that searched Youtube under "Mark Lindsay" already is, just as FECC is an "Elvis Presley" forum and most will choose Elvis. . This same song under a Youtube search of "Elvis Presley" yields as many positive results.

The verdict - There is no winner here.

[RonBaker2003]

I prefer Neil Diamond's version. It's perfect as is. The other two are nice, but Neil wins in my book.