"Something Blue"

[Juan Luis]

The first song recorded by Elvis Presley (since October 1961), for the new Nashville sessions on March 18, 1962. Steve Sholes credited producer with Bill Porter taking care of the sound recording business. "Something Blue" is a Paul Evans (of "I Gotta Know" fame) with Al Byron. Opening side two of the "Pot Luck" album features this lovely ballad, with standout playing by Floyd Cramer.

This song lyrics are partly based on an old traditional rhyme of what a bride should wear at her wedding for good luck.
"Something old something new, something borrowed, something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe"


Elvis Presley does a very convincing reading of love lost. Being the best man at the wedding of his love interest! When he sings... "I guess that I had better smile...walking behind you down the aisle. I feel I'm walking to my doom. I'm really not the best man in this room"! And if that wasn't enough, the last verse goes..."Something old, the dreams we planned. Something new, his wedding band. Something borrowed was the heart I gave you. You returned it torn in two." I feel for the guy! Elvis' emotion in his singing is almost palpable, just beautiful. I love it!


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[Chucky99]

Yesss.An incredible ballad.And that piano by Floyd.It' s a delight to my ears.Not to mention Elvis ' voice who was still in shape for 1962.

[Scarre]

Love it. Great ballad.

[keninlincs]

A great song,beautifully sung with care and passion,a sheer delight.

[r&b]

Arguably the best ballad on Pot Luck and possibly 1962-63. Great lyrics, and delivery. I always felt songs that led off an album side were done so because they were considered strong tracks and possibly single contenders. I think this fits that description. Sadly, this Studio B Nashville impeccable sound would soon be replace by the awful production done on the soundtrack albums

[colonel snow]

There's a demo-version circulating by the songwriter Paul Evans but I have not located it (except on his CD).


colonel snow

[jetblack]

Simply a beautiful ballad and a masterful performance by Elvis.

'Kiss Me Quick' / 'Something Blue' (RCA 1375) was released in December 1963 and reached Number 14 in the U.K.

U.K. Sheet Music


Andy

[jeanno]

My favorite track from a rather bland album. Top singing, great melody and impressing sound. A pretty good example about Elvis' golden voice.

[brian]

This was a good ballad and the best song that Paul Evans wrote that Elvis recorded.

[california boy]

I love love love this song, everything in it is Perfect...

[Pete Dube]

Lovely recording. Very much in the mold of the Don Robertson-penned ballads Elvis cut in the early 60's.

[stevelecher]

Yesss.An incredible ballad.And that piano by Floyd.It' s a delight to my ears.Not to mention Elvis ' voice who was still in shape for 1962.

Elvis' voice wasn't just still in shape. It was probably at its plateau. There's a fluidity and tonal quality here that would never be bettered than on this LP. And the two songs opening side 2 are worth the price of the album alone. If some of the Pot Luck songs are somewhat bland, the singer totally elevates them and the best songs on the album are simply wonderful.

[Pete Dube]

Yesss.An incredible ballad.And that piano by Floyd.It' s a delight to my ears.Not to mention Elvis ' voice who was still in shape for 1962.

Elvis' voice wasn't just still in shape. It was probably at its plateau. There's a fluidity and tonal quality here that would never be bettered than on this LP. And the two songs opening side 2 are worth the price of the album alone. If some of the Pot Luck songs are somewhat bland, the singer totally elevates them and the best songs on the album are simply wonderful.

The Pot Luck album has more 'personality' than Something For Everybody.

[Fabbe]

Love this song!


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[drjohncarpenter]

Welp. "Something Blue," written by Paul Evans and Al Byron, epitomizes the state of Elvis' career by the summer of 1962, when it was released by RCA.

Here we have a stunning singer, #1 in the world, ably supported by a superb studio rhythm section and quartet, singing a plaintive, unremarkable ballad that no one will care about in a year's time. As noted, it is the first song taped at the first studio session in nearly half a year and, yet, this is the best material his publishers send to him? And, even worse, a film soundtrack session scheduled a week later will include a great deal of substandard submissions from the same gentlemen. From such realizations a very dark foreshadowing of the future may be felt. It's a shame.

"Something Blue" does offer a moody atmosphere. It seems to emulate the feeling of the outstanding ballad that closes Side 2 of Pot Luck, written by the more interesting team of Red West and Elvis Presley, "That's Someone You Never Forget." But, despite Floyd Cramer's gentle piano trills heard throughout, the mood is broken by Boots Randolph's intrusive and unexpected saxophone notes at the close. But one imagines Elvis liked what he heard.

[r&b]

Yesss.An incredible ballad.And that piano by Floyd.It' s a delight to my ears.Not to mention Elvis ' voice who was still in shape for 1962.

Elvis' voice wasn't just still in shape. It was probably at its plateau. There's a fluidity and tonal quality here that would never be bettered than on this LP. And the two songs opening side 2 are worth the price of the album alone. If some of the Pot Luck songs are somewhat bland, the singer totally elevates them and the best songs on the album are simply wonderful.

The Pot Luck album has more 'personality' than Something For Everybody.

I think thats because of the sequencing of the SFE album. The ballad side, etc. Neat trick at the time I guess. Overall the SFE is a bit stronger material wise. If the songs were sequenced properly it would play better. There was nothing dreadful on it the likes of Fountain Of Love. Elvis however, was as good as he was on the previous album voice wise, as was the band and production.

[Dan_T]

Love it !

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Great song, recording belongs to the RCA Nashville Studio B period 1960-1964 when Elvis sung like a bird! .

The alternate take 1 with the wedding march at the beginning of the song is pretty cool!. Bye for now .

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Source: http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/620318.html#01

[stevelecher]

I probably like Fountain Of Love at least as much as Sentimental Me or It's A Sin. The vocal is wonderful.

On Something Blue, I'm so glad they ditched the Wedding March intro. Different the first time you hear it but too gimmicky. Doc, this song has not been forgotten in a year. I've loved it for 50 years now.

[Eggrert]

This is one of the few Elvis songs that I loved on first listen and love even more now. Perhaps one can make a case against the rest of the Pot Luck album, but this one is (imo) absolute perfection.

[rlj4ep]

Thank Juan for highlighting this Elvis masterpiece! I love "Something Blue" by Elvis. The arrangement is great for Elvis as his voice was maturing. He is so convincing in this song that it makes you feel like you are the best man at that wedding. His voice is dripping with emotion. The Jordanaires add nicely to the song in backing up Elvis. The second time Elvis sings the phrase, "Something borrowed was the heart I gave you, You returned it torn in two..." gets me every time. His phrasing and delivery is wonderful. I just run out of superlatives when talking about this song.

rlj

[Juan Luis]

Thank Juan for highlighting this Elvis masterpiece! I love "Something Blue" by Elvis. The arrangement is great for Elvis as his voice was maturing. He is so convincing in this song that it makes you feel like you are the best man at that wedding. His voice is dripping with emotion. The Jordanaires add nicely to the song in backing up Elvis. The second time Elvis sings the phrase, "Something borrowed was the heart I gave you, You returned it torn in two..." gets me every time. His phrasing and delivery is wonderful. I just run out of superlatives when talking about this song.

rlj

I know what you feel. There's magic from Elvis on this one!

[rlj4ep]

Thank Juan for highlighting this Elvis masterpiece! I love "Something Blue" by Elvis. The arrangement is great for Elvis as his voice was maturing. He is so convincing in this song that it makes you feel like you are the best man at that wedding. His voice is dripping with emotion. The Jordanaires add nicely to the song in backing up Elvis. The second time Elvis sings the phrase, "Something borrowed was the heart I gave you, You returned it torn in two..." gets me every time. His phrasing and delivery is wonderful. I just run out of superlatives when talking about this song.

rlj

I know what you feel. There's magic from Elvis on this one!

Gosh, there sure is. When I hear this song I will hit "repeat" several times. Elvis had such a way of making you feel the emotion of a song. The emotion is really dripping from every note on this delivery.

rlj

[drjohncarpenter]

I probably like Fountain Of Love at least as much as Sentimental Me or It's A Sin. The vocal is wonderful.

On Something Blue, I'm so glad they ditched the Wedding March intro. Different the first time you hear it but too gimmicky. Doc, this song has not been forgotten in a year. I've loved it for 50 years now.

Of course a hard-core fan is going to cherish certain album tracks from half a century ago, but in the summer of 1963 the pop- and rock-buyers were not talking about "Something Blue." Sorry, Paul and Al.

If at all, they were digging Elvis' newest single, "(You're The) Devil In Disguise." Or maybe picking up a copy of Elvis' Golden Records 3 Volume 3, which was loaded with some big-time hits.

I'll not make any comment on "Fountain of Love."

[Juan Luis]

I probably like Fountain Of Love at least as much as Sentimental Me or It's A Sin. The vocal is wonderful.

On Something Blue, I'm so glad they ditched the Wedding March intro. Different the first time you hear it but too gimmicky. Doc, this song has not been forgotten in a year. I've loved it for 50 years now.

Of course a hard-core fan is going to cherish certain album tracks from half a century ago, but in the summer of 1963 the pop- and rock-buyers were not talking about "Something Blue." Sorry, Paul and Al.

If at all, they were digging Elvis' newest single, "(You're The) Devil In Disguise." Or maybe picking up a copy of Elvis' Golden Records 3 Volume 3, which was loaded with some big-time hits.

I'll not make any comment on "Fountain of Love."

So what? Does't make it less of a song. It shouldn't be like what others think of it. Think for yourself! Sounds like a Beatle tune.