Some thoughts about »Way Down«

[Winston]

This great song shows that Elvis still enjoy making music. A bash in the face of all critics who thought that he spends his time thinking of cheeseburgers, medication and police uniforms. This song belonged to my TOP 50.

The writer Laving Martine Jr. sang the demo in the style of Elvis because he felt most comfortable with the kind of how Elvis doing songs. The publisher Ray Stevens sang the low notes of the demo. But the tape was fiddled to make the bass notes even lower.

After finished the work on the autobiographical »It’s Easy For You« the Emotional son of a ***** (quote from Elvis) try to lift his spirit higher. Elvis said they only had it when David Briggs (Piano) fingers start bleeding. (A Life In Music)

Take 2d from October 29, 1976 was the master. Moreover, Elvis road band sounds so funky on record on this song from the Jungle Room in Graceland. We can listen to it on Our Memories Of Elvis and it is fantastic. The old tiger whets his claws and fights again.

A flailing piano, throbbing bass lines and a double low C at the end from JD Sumner. Elvis himself was up to the challenge posed by difficult lead vocal and ambitious lyrics. His Producer Felton Jarvis tells Martine at the mixing of the song that they selling excitement. (Paul Simpson)

This great combination of 1950s rawness and the technology of the 1970s were overdubbed on January 1, 1977 in the Creative Workshop in Nashville. I’m a friend of the Overdub and like it. The same for all records from the Jungle Room. Elvis voice is better on »Way Down« than anyone suspected. We can hear it on The Jungle Room Sessions album.

It sounds like a man trying to start his own renaissance. (Paul Simpson) He is right!

Sadly, it makes only place 18 at the US POP Charts. The people do not appreciate his studio work. They go in the concerts and want the oldies. In Germany, it makes place 5 in the Deutsche Single Hitparade. In addition, in the United Kingdom he hit the one in the Singles Chart.

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Thread was also posted in TCB-Forum.

[A. C. van Kuijk]

I definitely like the song. It definitely has a touch of Rock' n Roll, but also includes elements of the 1970s. The band is also playing great, but Elvis lacks the energy the song demands. He sounds like if you are driving a Porsche at 50 km/h. One can imagine the power of the voice, but it's never used.

[stedders]

I would have loved to hear him record that in 1970 when he really attacked songs and had that 'break' in his voice.