Jimmy Wakely Inspiration --> A 1954 Mystery No More!

[drjohncarpenter]

Elviscirca1952a.JPG

Elvis Presley, circa 1952


For the longest time, It's always seemed a given that Elvis' second, two-sided personal acetate recording in 1954 included a song issued by country singer Jimmy Wakely.

MRSJan1954.JPG

Elvis Presley, "It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)" (January 1954 acetate)
Note: this is a reproduction of original label.


For example:

"I'll Never Stand in Your Way," a then- recent hit for Joni James, plus "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You," an older number by country songwriter Jimmy Wakely ...

Greil Marcus, Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music

For the other side he sang "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You," from a record by the respected country singer Jimmy Wakely.

Ernst Jorgensen, Elvis Presley: A Life In Music

... and "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" (a late '40s success for Hollywood cowboy Jimmy Wakely).

Phil Sutcliffe, Q Magazine, "Elvis: The First Sun Sessions," January 2004

But ... it seems there is no such single by Jimmy Wakely.

So what record did the kid from Tupelo hear?




With friend Luther Nall in Memphis, circa 1951


Well, the song came out when Elvis was 15, as a B-side, of all things.

500520_MGM 10709.jpg

Listen -->
Al Rogers and the Rocky Mountain Boys "It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)" (MGM 10709, May 20, 1950)
https://archive.org/details/78_it-wouldnt-be-the-same-without-you_al-rogers-wakely-rose-the-rocky-mountain-boys_gbia0008213b


Al Rogers had appeared on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry program, and around the time of this single for MGM he had a show on WMPS Radio in Memphis called "Hi Noon Roundup, " which featured guests such as the Blackwood Brothers. Elvis must have heard him.

AlRogers1951.JPG

Al Rogers, circa 1951


Interestingly, the single was covered as an r&b release in Billboard:

BillboardJun31950p111.JPG

Billboard - June 3, 1950


However, another version was issued much closer to Presley's early 1954 visit to the Memphis Recording Service, and one listen tells us.

It's sweeter, more yearning. THIS is the one!


..

Lily Ann Carol "It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)" (RCA 47-4985, October 4, 1952)

BillboardOct111952p46.JPG

Billboard - October 11, 1952

LilyAnnCarol.JPG

Lily Ann Carol, circa 1945


Carol originally started out at 18 as the vocalist in Louis Prima's Orchestra back in 1940, with her best known recording being "I'll Walk Alone” in 1944. She left Prima’s band in 1946 for a solo music career, her spot taken up by Cathy Allen, then Florida Keyes, until Prima found Keely Smith in 1948. Carol would later form a successful nightclub act with husband and saxophonist Joe Barone, in a style not unlike her work with Prima.

---

"It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)" is a sweet little ballad, an interesting choice for the teen-aged singer to brandish at the Memphis Recording Service in early January 1954.


..

Elvis Presley, "It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)" (January 1954 acetate)
Notice how Elvis coolly drops to a baritone just once, as he begins the reprise of the bridge, a hint of how he would change the world in just two year's time.

It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You)
Fred Rose, Jimmy Wakely
© Milene Music, ASCAP

I could wander the byways that we wandered through
But it wouldn't be the same without you

Those familiar old places would just make me blue
I just wouldn't be the same without you

I wasted my love on a careless romance
But I'd do it again if I had the chance

I could start my life over with somebody new
But it wouldn't be the same without you

I wasted my love on a careless romance
But I'd do it again if I had the chance

I could start my life over with somebody new
But it wouldn't be the same without you

Even before finding Carol's version on YouTube, it was clear the Presley rendition felt more "pop" than country, and the other number he brought to 706 Union that day was a recent top 25 hit by another female pop singer, Joni James ("I'll Never Stand In Your Way," November 1953, US Pop #23).

On June 26, less than six months after this 1954 demo session, Elvis would be called to Sun by Marion Keisker for an official try-out with owner and producer Sam Phillips.

Elviscirca1952b.JPG

Elvis Presley, circa 1952

[Joe Car]

Awesome and fascinating post Doc! Thanks again!

[Delboy]

Excellent post. Cheers

[Dixieland Rocks]

Thanks Doc.

[colonel snow]

Are there sound samples availabe?

colonel snow

[elvisa]

Thanks a lot Doc, great work

[elvisa]

Are there sound samples availabe?

colonel snow

It sure would be interesting to hear it if it can be found somewhere.

[drjohncarpenter]

If anyone has sound samples, please do post them here. That would be really interesting.

[elvisjock]

Jimmy Wakely and Elvis both worked with a little guy from Alabama, Charles F. Hodge. Charlie's book was full of references to Jimmy and his family.

[drjohncarpenter]

Jimmy Wakely and Elvis both worked with a little guy from Alabama, Charles F. Hodge. Charlie's book was full of references to Jimmy and his family.

Actually, a little guy from Alabama, Charles F. Hodge, worked with Jimmy Wakely and Elvis. Of course, Charlie had nothing to do with the selection of the Wakely tune for the second Sun acetate, his association with each man began well after that.

[George Smith]

Excellent detective work, bravo.

Just to add to the list of possibilities, Dude Martin's Roundup Gang issued the song as a single on Mercury (6290) in early 1951.

It's similar to Elvis' take (though with a more pronounced walltz beat).

He also uses the line "'Cause it wouldn't be the same ..." at the end of verse 1 the same way that Elvis does.

[KiwiAlan]

Jimmy Wakely did write the song.

Like others who recorded it perhaps Elvis heard JW sing it live or it appeared on a LP and was a radio hit.

[drjohncarpenter]

Excellent detective work, bravo.

Just to add to the list of possibilities, Dude Martin's Roundup Gang issued the song as a single on Mercury (6290) in early 1951.

It's similar to Elvis' take (though with a more pronounced walltz beat).

He also uses the line "'Cause it wouldn't be the same ..." at the end of verse 1 the same way that Elvis does.

Thanks, George!

Dude Martin, that's interesting! My suspicion is Martin's vocal may be following the one heard on the earlier MGM release by Al Rogers. Like that disc, the December 1950 Mercury platter was a B-side, with the label pushing the A-side, "If You Want Some Lovin'," as sung by Sue Thompson.

BillboardJan131951p33.JPG

Billboard - January 13, 1951
Notice Mercury ad truncates the Rose-Wakely title, and is hawking the A-side, sung by Sue Thompson.

As Martin's band was from the West Coast, he may not have garnered much Southern radio airplay.

One thing is certain, there is no known Jimmy Wakely recording on single or album.

Jimmy Wakely did write the song.

As noted in my original post, Wakely co-wrote the song with Fred Rose.



UPDATE:

Here is the version by Martin -->

501209_Mercury 6290.jpg

Dude Martin and his Roundup Gang "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" (Mercury 6290, December 9, 1950)
https://archive.org/details/78_it-wouldnt-be-the-same-without-you_dude-martin-and-his-roundup-gang-dude-martin-ro_gbia0006269b

[colonel snow]

According to the discography on this site the song was never recorded by Jimmy Wakely.


colonel snow


http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/search/label/Wakely%20Jimmy

[drjohncarpenter]

According to the discography on this site the song was never recorded by Jimmy Wakely.

http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/search/label/Wakely%20Jimmy

Yup.

This was one of my research points, it's a very dedicated country music site.

[kevinstevenage]

Great detective work ..............

it was recorded in 1996 by Jerry Byrd.....Not relevant to the above I know



and Chris Isaak in 2001.............this is a 2009 concert version

[drjohncarpenter]

Great detective work ..............

it was recorded in 1996 by Jerry Byrd.....Not relevant to the above I know

Thanks for the kind words. The Jerry Byrd recording offers the late Kalani Fernandes on vocals. It's a nice, Hawaiian-flavored arrangement.

[Blue-Gypsy]

Excellent column Doc!
I believe we all owe you a big "Thank You" for the due diligence that you put in before starting a new discussion. I know you have your detractors but you are a true gift to this bizzaro Elvis World we have all built up.
Keep up the good work and we will keep reading!

[YDKM]

Excellent column and VERY interesting reading thanks!~

[drjohncarpenter]

Excellent column Doc!
I believe we all owe you a big "Thank You" for the due diligence that you put in before starting a new discussion. I know you have your detractors but you are a true gift to this bizzaro Elvis World we have all built up.
Keep up the good work and we will keep reading!

Wow, thank you for the kudos. How Elvis made the magic is always worth chasing.

I sure wish someone had samples they could post of the versions from 1950 and 1952.

[promiseland]

Excellent column Doc!
I believe we all owe you a big "Thank You" for the due diligence that you put in before starting a new discussion. I know you have your detractors but you are a true gift to this bizzaro Elvis World we have all built up.
Keep up the good work and we will keep reading!

Wow, thank you for the kudos. How Elvis made the magic is always worth chasing.

I sure wish someone had samples they could post of the versions from 1950 and 1952.

Here is Dude Martin's Roundup Gang "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" sample:
circa 1951

Very similar style to Presley's acetate.

[Elvis2001.net]

I enjoyed it Doc
Very interesting indeed!
Joe K
http://www.elvis2001.net

[drjohncarpenter]

Here is Dude Martin's Roundup Gang "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" sample:

circa 1951



Very similar style to Presley's acetate.

How kind to locate this. Here is a direct link to the mp3:

Dude Martin, "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" (Amazon sample)

It does sound very familiar!

[drjohncarpenter]

I enjoyed it Doc
Very interesting indeed!
Joe K
http://www.elvis2001.net

Thank you kindly, Joe K.

[drjohncarpenter]

UPDATE!

Someone uploaded Lily Ann Carol's October 1952 single to YouTube, and I have added it to the original post.

Her version is gorgeous, and even though it didn't chart, it's clear now that Carol's rendition was the one Elvis carried with him into Sun fifteen months later. How unusual Elvis chose to cover two female pop singles in an effort to capture the attention of Sam Phillips. Or maybe this is typical of Elvis after all.

Thanks to FECC member George Smith for finding Lily's recording.