"Loving Arms"

[Juan Luis]

Another great track and performance from the 1973 STAX sessions. Recorded December 14, 1973. The song was first recorded by composer Tom Jans and followed by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge on their 1973 album "Full Moon". Subsequently released by Dobie Gray appearing on his 1973 album of the same name. The single for Dobie Gray was a minor hit reaching #61 on Billboard.

A beautiful performance and song that perfectly depicted Elvis' feeling of lost love for his now ex-wife Priscilla Presley. I now understand how Elvis abandoned the song "We Had It All". It may be he had enough hurt expressed with this number for (12-73) the time being. Just a thought after reading (a while back) Norbert Putnam's recollection that Felton told him Elvis had left the song abandoned cause he was too upset about the divorce, or words to that effect.

I first noticed "Lovin' Arms" on the Felton Jarvis produced remake album "Guitar Man", released in 1981. The remake single reached #8 on the Country charts. That is the highest the song has charted to my knowledge by anyone. For some reason I skipped it when playing the "Good Times" album.
"Loving Arms" has been covered by many including the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Cole, and Etta James. I love it! Beautiful...

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[dennyelvis]

Nice post, he does well to hold his own in such esteemed company ....

[MikeFromHolland]

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In the Netherlands Lovin' Arms was the backside of My Boy, which topped at #9 in our charts (Top-40).



Lovin' Arms always was my favorite song of Good Times.

Still love it!


The original version by Tom Jans:

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[fn2drive]

One of the stand out tracks of the sessions. The master is fantastic. The only exception i take is to your intro 'another' great... Great tracks were few and far bewtween at Stax. Stax 1 was D and Stax 2 was a C with a few A's sprinkled in.

[Davelee]

The Song is passable - nothing to jump up and down about.

[Eggrert]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

[DarrylMac]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

[colonel snow]

Addition:

The first recording was a demo version by Tom Jans in 1971.
Recordings in 1973:
00-01-73 - Tom Jans (A & M 1496) = original version;
00-04-73 - Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (A & M 1498);
00-06-73 - Dobie Gray (MCA 40100).

colonel snow

[jetblack]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Ask and ye shall receive.

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Andy

[Juan Luis]

.

In the Netherlands Lovin' Arms was the backside of My Boy, which topped at #9 in our charts (Top-40).



Lovin' Arms always was my favorite song of Good Times.

Still love it!


The original version by Tom Jans:

..
.

Addition:

The first recording was a demo version by Tom Jans in 1971.
Recordings in 1973:
00-01-73 - Tom Jans (A & M 1496) = original version;
00-04-73 - Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge (A & M 1498);
00-06-73 - Dobie Gray (MCA 40100).

colonel snow

In the Netherlands Lovin' Arms was the backside of My Boy, which topped at #9 in our charts (Top-40).








Thanks...corrected in OP.

[elvisalisellers]

Anachronistic but stunning 1981 German single sleeve:

1981_German_45.jpg

[Juan Luis]

Kenny Rogers also recorded a good version of Loving Arms, for his 1999 album, She Rides Wild Horses. It's a good song and I agree that Elvis recorded a fine version. Which was nicely arranged and well produced. His singing is good, too. With nice phrasing and keen diction. It's a pity he didn't sing this carefully on stage at that time.

One of this recording’s strongest assets is the tone and atmosphere that's created from the opening bars. James Burton's guitar playing has an inviting quality that's met with Elvis completely on point. Nice harmonies also help, but this is a recording that finds the right mood from the very start. Elvis also manages to exert his dramatic sensibilities, which works with a vocal crescendo that's earned.

Thanks Greystoke! Norbert Putnam's fine bass playing & Ron Tutt's bass drum, raises the level of the arrangement that otherwise would be too similar (intro) to Dobie Gray's version, in my opinion.

[r&b]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

It is one of the FEW stand-out tracks from Stax. It is a good solid version, but surprisingly I didnt like the part where his voice soars on 'dreaming of the arms that held me tight'. A bit of bombast that to me, didnt work and the song lost a bit of its subtlety. But I like it overall. Also, blues great Etta James cut a nice version of this.

[Juan Luis]

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[ICanHelp]

Terrific song, sung very well by Elvis. Nice post Juan. Thank you.

[Squire Smart]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

It is one of the FEW stand-out tracks from Stax. It is a good solid version, but surprisingly I didnt like the part where his voice soars on 'dreaming of the arms that held me tight'. A bit of bombast that to me, didnt work and the song lost a bit of its subtlety. But I like it overall. Also, blues great Etta James cut a nice version of this.

Oh, I really like that bit. Always makes the hairs on my arms stand up. For me it makes a real connection with the emotion and sentiments of the song.

[r&b]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

It is one of the FEW stand-out tracks from Stax. It is a good solid version, but surprisingly I didnt like the part where his voice soars on 'dreaming of the arms that held me tight'. A bit of bombast that to me, didnt work and the song lost a bit of its subtlety. But I like it overall. Also, blues great Etta James cut a nice version of this.

Oh, I really like that bit. Always makes the hairs on my arms stand up. For me it makes a real connection with the emotion and sentiments of the song.

I dont think it is executed perfectly though. Listen to his voice on the word tight. It is a little shaky.

[Pete Dube]

In my view Loving Arms is Elvis' best post-1970 ballad recording. Lovely performance.

[Squire Smart]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

It is one of the FEW stand-out tracks from Stax. It is a good solid version, but surprisingly I didnt like the part where his voice soars on 'dreaming of the arms that held me tight'. A bit of bombast that to me, didnt work and the song lost a bit of its subtlety. But I like it overall. Also, blues great Etta James cut a nice version of this.

Oh, I really like that bit. Always makes the hairs on my arms stand up. For me it makes a real connection with the emotion and sentiments of the song.

I dont think it is executed perfectly though. Listen to his voice on the word tight. It is a little shaky.

True, it is on the edge but for me I think it adds to the story of the song - a sense of despair.

[FredAistair]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

An astonishing claim , Greystoke's comments nails it perfectly for me.

[skatterbrane]

One of the few I really like from the Stax sessions. The mix found on the 70s box and the mix found on the expanded Promised Land CD brings Elvis' vocals more forward, which I like.

[Ciscoking]

Terrific song, sung very well by Elvis. Nice post Juan. Thank you.

Couldn't have said it better. Thanks Juan Luis.

[Hobbes]

I prefer the undubbed versions of this song because they have that 'late-night-in-the-studio' sound that you don't hear too often.

[Domino]

Always liked the Elvis recording.Never heard all these other versions before.Looks to me the Dobie Gray version is the one that influenced Elvis's version.

[Steve Morse]

I really don't like Elvis' version of this. The arrangement is terrible, and there's something off about the vocal. Give me the Olivia Newton-John version any day.

Wow - really surprised to hear this opinion.

Id agree with the others who say that this is one of the standout tracks from the December sessions. The vocal, to my ears, is really well delivered, conveying all of the emotion of the song, and rising fantastically on the "dreaming of the arms that hold me tight" part without being over the top. Equally, the arrangement to me suits the song perfectly.

It is one of the FEW stand-out tracks from Stax. It is a good solid version, but surprisingly I didnt like the part where his voice soars on 'dreaming of the arms that held me tight'. A bit of bombast that to me, didnt work and the song lost a bit of its subtlety. But I like it overall. Also, blues great Etta James cut a nice version of this.

Oh, I really like that bit. Always makes the hairs on my arms stand up. For me it makes a real connection with the emotion and sentiments of the song.

I dont think it is executed perfectly though. Listen to his voice on the word tight. It is a little shaky.

I think people sometimes look at the date of a recording and then make a judgement. To me it sounds fine and adds to the feeling conveyed.

Loving Arms is one of Elvis's standout later-years performances and that line gives me chills, too.