Demos for Elvis # 2

[colonel snow]

Don Robertson / Hal Blair wrote ten songs for the movie Take me to the fair / IHATWF but most of the songs didn’t make it.

1 - Ballad of the bush pilot (Robertson-Blair)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection. (Song spot 7)

2 - I’m fallin’ in love to night – (Robertson) (Gladys Music – copyright 7 january 1963)

3 - It happened at the world’s fair (Robertson)
It could be the instrumental film music is registered here but I doubt. Instrumental film music (bridges between scenes etc) for Elvis’ movies are registered in another way
Film music by Leith Stevens & Van Cleave - orchestrator

4 - Mine all mine (Robertson)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection. (Song spot 2)

5 – Someone to come home to (Robertson)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection.

6 - Take me to the fair (Robertson - Blair)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection.

7 – The ballad of Sue Lin (Robertson)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection.

8 – The bright new world of tomorrow (Robertson)
The song was rejected in the pre-selection.
An acetate with this song was sold during an auction by EPE in 1999 (nr B 116)

09 – They remind me too much of you (Robertson) (Gladys Music – copyright 7 january 1963)

10 – I’ve no idea about this tenth demo version.
I still know a few other (rejected) demo versions for this movie but these songs were not written by Don Robertson / Hal Blair.


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

Demos – Jailhouse rock page 15 – from the script

Perhaps it’s nice to know:
The original version from the song “Barbara Allen” mentioned here is recorded by Vernon Dalhart in july 1927 (Perfect 12360).
The original version from “The frozen girl” is recorded on 7 december 1933 by Delmore Brothers (Bluebird 5338).
As far as known no dubs from these songs were submitted for the movie.

Finally selected for this scene “One more day” – first version


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

Sweet stuff
The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman for the movie Jailhouse rock; the song wasn't selected.
(Registered at ASCAP 14 may 1957)


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[colonel snow]

july 1969 – rehearsel
Selected and rehearsed between 7 and 31 july 1969 but not used:

18 Yellow roses (Darin)
The original version was recorded on 6 april 1963 by Bobby Darin (Capitol 4970)

Everybody’s talking
There’s nothing known about the song.

Folsom prison blues (Cash)
A small portion of the song was sung in concert on 14 august 1970 midnight.

Green green grass of home (Putman)
Recorded later on in the studio 10 march 1975

I walk the line (Cash)
The song was rehearsed again in august 1974 but not used.
A small portion of the song was sung in concert on 14 august 1970 midnight.

Little green apples (Leon Russell)
The original version was recorded on 24 january 1968 by Roger Miller (Smash S 2148).

Love letters in the sand (Nick Kenny - Charles Kenny - Fred Coots)
The original version was recorded on 27 august 1931 by Ted Black & his Orchestra on Victor 22799l. In 1957 Pat Boone had a no 1 hit in the US with the song.
In 1966/67 Elvis made a home recording but until now it is not released.
Rehearsed again in january 1970 at RCA studio in Los Angeles but no tape came to daylight.

Matchbox (Perkins)
The original version was recorded 4 december 1956 by Carl Perkins (Sun 261).

Release me (Miller-Stevenson)
The song was rehearsed again on 18 february 1970 aftermoon and inserted in the concerts.

Slow down
Selected and rehearsed between 7 and 31 july 1969 but not used.
The song is written by Red West-John Christopher-Richard Mainegra; Publisher Press Music.
Copyright 16-10-69.

Seventeen (Bennett-Gorman-Young)
The original version was recorded on 4 january 1955 by Boyd Bennett and his Rockets (King 1470).

When the snow is on the roses (Kusik-Snijder-Bader-Last)
The original version was recorded 5 june 1967 by Ed Ames (RCA 47-9319).
One live performance is known from 24 august 1970 midnight Las Vegas.

You’re the reason I’m livin’ (Darin)
The original version was recorded 25 september 1962 by Bobby Darin (Capitol 4897).
The song was peformed in concert on 22 march 1975 midnight.


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[Gerrit]

"Everybody's Talking" written by Fred Neil, made famous by Harry Nilsson. I would be surprised if this were a different song. "Slow Down" probably the Larry Williams song also covered by the Beatles. "Seventeen" could also be "I Saw Her Standing There" (Lennon/McCartney) which I read was rehearsed in 1969.

[colonel snow]

"Everybody's Talking" written by Fred Neil, made famous by Harry Nilsson. I would be surprised if this were a different song. "Slow Down" probably the Larry Williams song also covered by the Beatles. "Seventeen" could also be "I Saw Her Standing There" (Lennon/McCartney) which I read was rehearsed in 1969.

Thanks for your additions.


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

You never talked about me
Written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman (BMI) in 1961; selected for october 1961 recording session.
(source – A life in music- page 160)
The song was recorded in february 1962 by Del Shannon (Big top 45-3117).


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[colonel snow]

I'm a hog for you baby

Written by Leiber & Stoller and selected for september 1957 recording sessions but finally rejected.
The song was recorded by The Coasters (Atco 6146) and released in august 1959.


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

By request an updated list with demos / rejects from the movie Easy come easy go

A – 1 Easy come easy go
According to the book "Elvis frame by frame" written by Bill Bram (page 350) the song written by Weisman - Wayne was selected for the movie Easy come easy go; it was the first choice.

A – 2 Easy come easy go
The second choice written by Giant - Baum - Kaye was rejected.

A – 3 Easy come easy go
A version written by Dolores Fuller was rejected.

A – 4 Easy come easy go
Another version written by Gerald Nelson also didn't make it.

A – 5 Easy come easy go (Wise-Starr) – according to an interview with songwriter the demo was rejected.

B – 1 Wheel of fortune is an old song from the 50's; the title is probably changed with Wheel of love – unused demo written by Tepper Bennett for the movie Easy come easy go; replaced by The love machine in the movie.

B – 2 Wheel of love (Wise-Starr) – according to an interview with songwriter the demo was rejected.

C – Yoga is as yoga does
The version written by Nelson-Burch was selected for the movie Easy come easy go. A version written by Tepper - Bennett was rejected. Another version was written by Darrell Glenn was also rejected.

D – 1 Love on the rocks (Tepper-Bennett) unused / rejected song for the movie.

D – 2 Love on the rocks (Wayne-Weisman)
Deleted demo sung by Glen Campbell (scene 94). Registered at ASCAP

D – 3 Love on the rocks (Claude Demetrius)
Rejected in the pre-selection.

D – 4 Love on the rocks (Thomas Greene) – copyright 19-06-66;
I don’t know there’s a link with the movie ECEG.

D – 5 Love on the rocks (Wise-Starr) – according to an interview with songwriter the demo was rejected.

E – Love on the rocks – spot (scene 94)
According to the song selection from 12 september 1966 selected for this scene:
Sweet thing (Tepper-Bennett);
Saved in the nick of time (Giant-Baum-Kaye).
Both songs were not used.

F – Old man river
Suggested on 13 september 1966 for scene 94

G – Sing your sinners = Sing you children
Another choice for this scene was the song Golden train (Wayne-Weisman) but it was rejected.
(The) Golden train – publisher Holly-Hill Music – copyright 11-05-67).

It's nice to know that Hal B. Wallis got for the movie Easy come easy go 55 demo-acetates. Sometimes 3 or more acetates with the same title written by different songwriters. After a quick selection 43 demo's were cut off. The producer and / or Elvis made a decision which song was recorded.

H – Saved
According to the book "Elvis frame by frame" written by Bill Bram (page 351) the song was selected for the movie Easy come easy go; it was Elvis' choice. However the song was replaced by Sing you children. The song was recorded later on in the NBC TV Special.

I – Seventeen mile drive
Mentioned in the first scripts from march 1966; no information availabe

J – You gotta stop
No other demos were offered for the scene with this song.

K – I’ll take love
A few submissions were offered but the version by Fuller-Barkan is used.
Version # 2 – written by Gerald Nelson is rejected.
Version # 3 – written by Randy Starr – according to an interview with songwriter the demo was rejected.

L – We call on Him
This not a really rejected song but the song was submitted for the movie Easy come easy go; it was rejected in the pre-selection. Later on recorded in a non-movie recording session on 11 september 1967
(source: A life in music – E Jorgensen page 224)

M – Suppose
The song was written by Dee-Goehring and selected for the movie Easy come easy go (1966); the song wasn't used for this movie but recorded on 20 june 1967 for the movie Speedway (two versions).
(source: A life in music - page 227)

N – 1 You can’t hate me for that (Fuller-Barkan-Morris) *
* on CD Silver screen treasures vol. 1 mentioned for Roustabout

N – 2 You can’t hate me for that (Starr) – according to an interview with songwriter the demo was rejected.

O – Wonderful blue eyed girl of mine
The song was written by Gerald Nelson and Fred Burch. In the pre-selection replaced for the Yoga – scene by the song Yoga is as yoga does.

P – Don’t push me too far
Written by Gerald Nelson – Fred Burch. Publisher Shelby Singleton Music – copyright 20-03-67.
No information about the song-spot available.

Q – It hurts so good (Yoga baby)
There excists a demo version recorded by Glen Campbell for an unknown Elvis’ movie.
(source Kevan Budd)

Addition:
The song Hurts so good (Yoga baby) is written by Sid Wayne and probably Ben Weisman.
The demo version is sung by Glen Campbell for the movie Easy come easy go.

R – Originally send in 55 demo acetates including:
1 - He done her wrong (Wayne-Weisman);
Publisher: Holly-Hill Music; copyright 11-05-67.

From CD Silver screen treasures 1962/65:
Easy come easy go (unused demo Dolores Fuller)
Love on the rocks (unused demo Tepper – Bennett)


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[Mike C]

"Everybody's Talking" written by Fred Neil, made famous by Harry Nilsson. I would be surprised if this were a different song. "Slow Down" probably the Larry Williams song also covered by the Beatles. "Seventeen" could also be "I Saw Her Standing There" (Lennon/McCartney) which I read was rehearsed in 1969.

"Everybody's Talking" by Nilsson was feature in the film "Midnight Cowboy" in the early summer of 1969 and was a huge hit. No doubt, that is the song Elvis rehearsed.

[Liverbobs]

Fantastic. Thank you.