Jamming at Louise and Sam's House --> Nov 1973!

[drjohncarpenter]

On another discussion there was some debate over exactly what songs were done by Elvis when he visited Louise and Sam Thompson's Memphis home, picked up an acoustic guitar and decided to sing while a cassette player was running.

730200_w Sanford_Linda_Margie Thompson_Las Vegas.png

With Sanford, Linda and Margie Thompson, Las Vegas - circa February 1973


Some background: it was the weekend of November 3-4, 1973 when Elvis, Linda Thompson and Ricky Stanley made the five-minute drive to Sam's home to visit. Linda and Sam's folks were there too.

Memphis' favorite son just been released from Baptist Memorial Hospital after a two-week stay, which we later learned was due to Presley near-fatal overdose from abuse of Demerol and other drugs. Scary stuff.

The rest had done some good. Elvis' full, relaxed voice and the acoustic guitar created a gentle, off-line recording that night. It's better than almost everything he taped at Stax Studios a month later. After one of the worst years in his life, physically and emotionally, he proved all the magic was still right there.

740600_Louise_Linda_Sam_photo by Elvis.jpg

Louise, Linda and Sam Thompson, ready for family wedding - Graceland, circa 1974
Photo: Elvis Presley


Certainly the company was welcome and relaxed, especially Dusty:

Elvis
Linda Thompson (girlfriend)
Ricky Stanley (step-brother)
Sam Thompson (future bodyguard and brother to Linda)
Louise Thompson (Sam's wife)
Margie Thompson (mother to Sam and Linda)
Sanford Thompson (father to Sam and Linda)
Dusty (Louise and Sam's dog)

So . . . to settle the debates, what got caught on tape?

Well, I dug around a bit and found a few songs on the cassette, duets with Linda and an instrumental, were incorrectly titled.

This may be right:

Louise and Sam Thompson's home, 1317 Favell Drive, Memphis, TN
November 3-4, 1973

Elvis Presley, acoustic guitar and vocals

The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (instrumental)
Spanish Eyes
Baby What You Want Me To Do
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
C.C. Rider
That's All Right
When You Love An Alpha Delta (w/ Linda Thompson)
We Are Alpha Delta Pis (w/ Linda Thompson)
Elvis reads a favorite poem, "Ode To A Robin"
Elvis talks about James Burton, hospital food, karate, upcoming sessions

For those unfamiliar, the entire tape is online:

ELVIS JAMMING AT SAM THOMPSON HOUSE 1973
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqzKqWrI0zU


It's worth noting that some of these tunes were officially released back in 2006 on Made In Memphis (FTD), including a superb rendition of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" including a verse not heard on his "Aloha" special, which aired on TV back in April.

Listen and enjoy a really special moment in the career of the man and his music.


LOST SONGS FOUND AGAIN

Below is how I came to update the original track listing for this jam session.

Les Paul and Mary Ford had a big hit with a vocal version of "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" in the summer of 1951, which Elvis would've known, but a 1967 album cut by the Stonemans, done bluegrass style, shows what Elvis was aiming for with his brief jam on the tune. It was produced by Memphis legend Jack Clement, perhaps Presley heard it.





Stonemans "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" All In The Family (MGM SE 4511, January 20, 1968)


Linda Thompson belonged to the Alpha Delta Pi sorority in college, and her duet numbers are from that experience. In her book she called them "my silly Alpha Delta Pi sorority songs."

When You Love An Alpha Delta

When you love an Alpha Delta
You're a very special boy
When you love an Alpha Delta
Your heart is full of joy

She's the dearest girl, sincerest girl
Of all girls under the sun
When you love an Alpha Delta
Your life has just begun.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31677.html

We Are Alpha Delta Pis

We are Alpha Delta Pis, and we love our sisters dearly
We are Alpha Delta Pis, and we grow much closer yearly
We will cherish all the memories that we gather while we’re here
For they bring back many thoughts and happy teardrops

Rah-de-do-dah

We are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah, we are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah
And we love our sisters dearly, rah-de-do-dah
We are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah, we are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah
And we grow much closer yearly, rah-de-do-dah

We will cherish all the memories that we gather while we’re here
For they bring back many thoughts and happy teardrops

Rah-de-do-dah

Rah-de-do, rah-de-do, dah-de-do-dah

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-116281.html

The full tape has been released on a couple of different CDs through the years.

2009

Let Me Be The One - Behind Closed Doors
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/review_letmebetheone.html


1998

A Private Moment With The King
https://www.elvisinnorway.no/privatemoments.html


Are there more tapes like this? I wish.


'

[portlandjulian]

On another discussion there was some debate over exactly what songs were done by Elvis when he visited Louise and Sam Thompson's Memphis home, picked up an acoustic guitar and decided to sing while a cassette player was running.





With Sanford, Linda and Margie Thompson, Las Vegas - circa February 1973


Some background: it was the weekend of November 3-4, 1973 when Elvis, Linda Thompson and Ricky Stanley made the five-minute drive to Sam's home to visit. Linda and Sam's folks were there too.

Memphis' favorite son just been released from Baptist Memorial Hospital after a two-week stay, which we later learned was due to Presley near-fatal overdose from abuse of Demerol and other drugs. Scary stuff.

The rest had done some good. Elvis' full, relaxed voice and the acoustic guitar created a gentle, off-line recording that night. It's better than almost everything he taped at Stax Studios a month later. After one of the worst years in his life, physically and emotionally, he proved all the magic was still right there.





Louise, Linda and Sam Thompson, ready for family wedding - Graceland, circa 1974
Photo: Elvis Presley


Certainly the company was welcome and relaxed, especially Dusty:

Elvis
Linda Thompson (girlfriend)
Ricky Stanley (step-brother)
Sam Thompson (future bodyguard and brother to Linda)
Louise Thompson (Sam's wife)
Margie Thompson (mother to Sam and Linda)
Sanford Thompson (father to Sam and Linda)
Dusty (Louise and Sam's dog)

So . . . to settle the debates, what got caught on tape?

Well, I dug around a bit and found a few songs on the cassette, duets with Linda and an instrumental, were incorrectly titled.

This may be right:

Louise and Sam Thompson's home, 1317 Favell Drive, Memphis, TN
November 3-4, 1973

Elvis Presley, acoustic guitar and vocals

The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (instrumental)
Spanish Eyes
Baby What You Want Me To Do
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
C.C. Rider
That's All Right
When You Love An Alpha Delta (w/ Linda Thompson)
We Are Alpha Delta Pis (w/ Linda Thompson)
Elvis reads a favorite poem, "Ode To A Robin"
Elvis talks about James Burton, hospital food, karate, upcoming sessions

For those unfamiliar, the entire tape is online:

ELVIS JAMMING AT SAM THOMPSON HOUSE 1973
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqzKqWrI0zU


It's worth noting that some of these tunes were officially released back in 2006 on Made In Memphis (FTD), including a superb rendition of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" including a verse not heard on his "Aloha" special, which aired on TV back in April.

Listen and enjoy a really special moment in the career of the man and his music.


LOST SONGS FOUND AGAIN

Below is how I came to update the original track listing for this jam session.

Les Paul and Mary Ford had a big hit with a vocal version of "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" in the summer of 1951, which Elvis would've known, but a 1967 album cut by the Stonemans, done bluegrass style, shows what Elvis was aiming for with his brief jam on the tune. It was produced by Memphis legend Jack Clement, perhaps Presley heard it.





Stonemans "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" All In The Family (MGM SE 4511, January 20, 1968)


Linda Thompson belonged to the Alpha Delta Pi sorority in college, and her duet numbers are from that experience. In her book she called them "my silly Alpha Delta Pi sorority songs."

When You Love An Alpha Delta

When you love an Alpha Delta
You're a very special boy
When you love an Alpha Delta
Your heart is full of joy

She's the dearest girl, sincerest girl
Of all girls under the sun
When you love an Alpha Delta
Your life has just begun.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-31677.html

We Are Alpha Delta Pis

We are Alpha Delta Pis, and we love our sisters dearly
We are Alpha Delta Pis, and we grow much closer yearly
We will cherish all the memories that we gather while we’re here
For they bring back many thoughts and happy teardrops

Rah-de-do-dah

We are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah, we are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah
And we love our sisters dearly, rah-de-do-dah
We are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah, we are ADPis, rah-de-do-dah
And we grow much closer yearly, rah-de-do-dah

We will cherish all the memories that we gather while we’re here
For they bring back many thoughts and happy teardrops

Rah-de-do-dah

Rah-de-do, rah-de-do, dah-de-do-dah

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/archive/index.php/t-116281.html

The full tape has been released on a couple of different CDs through the years.

2009

Let Me Be The One - Behind Closed Doors
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/review_letmebetheone.html


1998

A Private Moment With The King
https://www.elvisinnorway.no/privatemoments.html


Are there more tapes like this? I wish.


'

Interesting and informative, thank you !

[drjohncarpenter]

Interesting and informative, thank you !

Mission accomplished!

[stevelecher]

His voice is fantastic on this tape. Almost like the 60’s again.

[wolfi]

Fantastic new information! Thank you!

[jurasic1968]

Great topic, Doc. maybe the best of this year. Thank you very much. If only Elvis continued to be healthy again....

[rickeap]

His voice sounds wonderful on these tapes, singing without having to show off. Some of the falsetto notes are particularly nice and I love hearing Elvis having fun.
Thanks for the share.

[Elvis2000]

I do hope FTD return to this home recording along with the rest they have in their possession and put it all together a sessions style box set.

[elvisalisellers]

Great topic, Doc. maybe the best of this year. Thank you very much. If only Elvis continued to be healthy again....

He was overweight.

[drjohncarpenter]

His voice is fantastic on this tape. Almost like the 60’s again.

It shows when the pressure was off, and Elvis was feeling good and singing what felt good in the moment, it was all still there.

The post-"Aloha" songs taped right after the big event for use in the April 1973 U.S. broadcast have a very similar feel.

[Mississippi slim]

Interesting and informative, thank you !

Mission accomplished!

Never heard the full tape before. Thank you!!

[If_I_Can_Dream]

How was it determined that the date of the home recording was November 3-4, 1973?

[yellowstone]

Too funny. Asking Sam as a guest on our convention about the recording I didn't get as much info on this as here. The main thing he told was that 'somehow' the bootleggers got it. Whow.

[drjohncarpenter]

Fantastic new information! Thank you!

My pleasure. This is what makes FECC the best place for Elvis music and career discussions.

[drjohncarpenter]

I do hope FTD return to this home recording along with the rest they have in their possession and put it all together a sessions style box set.

Given all they've already issued, plus what has come out on RCA, not really sure how FTD would create a compelling and coherent box set.

The best hope is if some more home tapes are uncovered, especially if in good or better quality.

In A Private Moment
Made In Memphis
A Date With Elvis
For LP Fans Only

[Elvis2000]

I do hope FTD return to this home recording along with the rest they have in their possession and put it all together a sessions style box set.

Given all they've already issued, plus what has come out on RCA, not really sure how FTD would create a compelling and coherent box set.

The best hope is if some more home tapes are uncovered, especially if in good or better quality.

In A Private Moment
Made In Memphis
A Date With Elvis
For LP Fans Only

Considering those releases contain edited down recordings (and poorly mastered), a sessions box would be the best place to put the full recordings, especially if new ones turn up, and with how excellent Jeansson and Anesini have been with the sessions sets it leaves you wondering what they could do with the home recordings.

[drjohncarpenter]

Considering those releases contain edited down recordings (and poorly mastered), a sessions box would be the best place to put the full recordings, especially if new ones turn up, and with how excellent Jeansson and Anesini have been with the sessions sets it leaves you wondering what they could do with the home recordings.

They primarily work with studio-recorded material.

You must have little understanding of what it takes to suggest, approve and create a box set.

The only chance of one for this material is if substantial, unheard reels are found, and exist in good or better quality.