"I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

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Juan Luis

"I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Juan Luis »

..
..
A very good song in my opinion, composed by Tony Joe White and album opener for his "The Train I'm On" produced by Jerry Wexler in 1972, with the single released as well. Neither album nor single charted.

Recorded by Elvis on July 21/22 1973. Produced by Felton Jarvis with Al Pachucki behind the console. A top notch band was assembled for the July 1973 Stax sessions in Memphis. Comprised of James Burton, Reggie Young, Bobby Wood, Bobby Emmons, Jerry Carrigan, Ron Tutt, and last but certainly not least Tommy Cogbill. What a crackin' band! Backed by the very familiar (Memphis 1969) Mary Holladay, Ginger Holladay, Jeannie Greene, plus Kathy Westmoreland.

The overdubbed strings arranged by Glen Spreen and extra guitar overdub by Dennis Linde. I love the production and mix with Bobby Wood on piano left and the other Bobby (Emmons) on the organ right. Really an extra joy to listen with headphones coming from someone who rarely does, myself!
Excellent single that didn't chart high. Barely top 40 in the US at #39 and similar in the UK at #33. Elvis did a very fine job with that song. Bouncy, funky (Cogbill on bass was something!) and fun tune is how I describe it! Not a big hit although deserved to be an important one, in my opinion. I love it just the same!
Last edited by Juan Luis on Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:26 am, edited 3 times in total.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by SteamrollerBlues »

One of Elvis' best post-1970 efforts. Unfortunately, his vocal is..lazy? For the lack of a better term. He doesn't seem as involved in this record like he does in Promised Land (another Stax track). Nonetheless, it's a shame he didn't try this one out live, I'm sure it would be been decent at least, and it would have been a welcomed change to the usual set. Thanks for posting, I really do dig this track! :smt001




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Juan Luis

Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Juan Luis »

Instead of "lazy". I think he was going more for a smooth sexy laid back delivery. That he succeeded is open to question. My take. Glad you dig it!



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by midnightx »

One of the better quality tracks from the uneven Stax sessions, but not a particularly great vocal.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by promiseland »

It's one of those tracks I've noticed a lot of non-fans enjoy.




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Juan Luis

Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Juan Luis »

midnightx wrote:One of the better quality tracks from the uneven Stax sessions, but not a particularly great vocal.
One of the few good ones of July.




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Juan Luis

Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Juan Luis »

Would be interesting to listen to the original 45 mono mix. Anyone please feel free to post it. Thanks.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by promiseland »

Juan Luis wrote:
midnightx wrote:One of the better quality tracks from the uneven Stax sessions, but not a particularly great vocal.
One of the few good ones of July.
Its a great song done vocally since there's only so much he could have put into this laid back style. For what it is he nailed it.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by promiseland »

Juan Luis wrote:Would be interesting to listen to the original 45 mono mix. Anyone please feel free to post it. Thanks.
Our good friend Mike Windgren has all those mono 45's I'm sure he may upload it for ya. :wink:




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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by fn2drive »

Compared to what came out of Stax, it is fair to call it a highlight of the session. Never did much for me and i put in the category of vastly overrated both as a song and vocal by fans imo. The organ is another element of this song that never grabbed. The Stax sessions were mostly poor with the first one having a star in crisis.


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by stevelecher »

The singer was half dead when he recorded this and it shows. Probably why it didn't chart higher.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by dennyelvis »

Great info Juan thanks, when u listen to the outtakes it's obvious he tried to nail it but for some reason he couldn't get the intro right, not lazy but not focused either .....


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Juan Luis

Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Juan Luis »

dennyelvis wrote:Great info Juan thanks, when u listen to the outtakes it's obvious he tried to nail it but for some reason he couldn't get the intro right, not lazy but not focused either .....
It was the rhythm and pacing with the phrasing that was hard for him to nail. But he got it for the master take.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by dennyelvis »

He did, thankfully, it was always a highlight for from This is Elvis, and back in 81 still quite unknown really ....


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Davelee »

SteamrollerBlues wrote:One of Elvis' best post-1970 efforts. Unfortunately, his vocal is..lazy? For the lack of a better term. He doesn't seem as involved in this record like he does in Promised Land (another Stax track). Nonetheless, it's a shame he didn't try this one out live, I'm sure it would be been decent at least, and it would have been a welcomed change to the usual set. Thanks for posting, I really do dig this track! :smt001
Yes, good track and a great song, as you say, the vocal is very lazy dispute Juan's description of "laid back sexy vocals" :facep:



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by keninlincs »

Juan Luis wrote:..
..
A very good song in my opinion, composed by Tony Joe White and album opener for his "The Train I'm On" produced by Jerry Wexler in 1972, with the single released as well. Neither album nor single charted.

Recorded by Elvis on July 21/22 1973. Produced by Felton Jarvis with Al Pachucki behind the console. A top notch band was assembled for the July 1973 Stax sessions in Memphis. Comprised of James Burton, Reggie Young, Bobby Wood, Bobby Emmons, Jerry Carrigan, Ron Tutt, and last but certainly not least Tommy Cogbill. What a crackin' band! Backed by the very familiar (Memphis 1969) Mary Holladay, Ginger Holladay, Jeannie Greene, plus Kathy Westmoreland.

The overdubbed strings arranged by Glen Spreen and extra guitar overdub by Dennis Linde. I love the production and mix with Bobby Wood on piano left and the other Bobby (Emmons) on the organ right. Really an extra joy to listen with headphones coming from someone who rarely does, myself!
Excellent single that didn't chart high. Barely top 40 in the US at #39 and similar in the UK at #33. Elvis did a very fine job with that song. Bouncy, funky (Cogbill on bass was something!) and fun tune is how I describe it! Not a big hit although deserved to be an important one, in my opinion. I love it just the same!
I had that song played at my wedding,as my wife walked down the aisle,a favorite song for me


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by TINML »

Great song but flawed vocal performance, Jarvis should have had pushed harder imo.



Still I accept it and listen to it often, the TIE montage is fantastic.


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by drjohncarpenter »

As noted, Tony Joe White's recording debuted as a Warner Bros. album track. It kicked off side 1 of The Train I'm On, released April 15, 1972. After the first single, "Even Trolls Love Rock And Roll," didn't do much, "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" was issued shortly after, on June 24. There may have been a reason for the swift turnover.

The first single of "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" was not issued by White. In late May 1972, produced by Chips Moman, came a beautiful rendition by long-underrated Memphis rocker Billy Lee Riley. Back in 1957 on Sun Records, he cut some stunning rock 'n' roll sides, including "Flyin' Saucer Rock and Roll" and "Red Hot." But owner and producer Sam Phillips put all his promotion money behind Jerry Lee Lewis, so they did not have the success they well deserved. With this new disc, although Riley's sparkling recording barely made the top 100, it sounded very much like the template for Presley's 1973 Stax master. Imagine that.



..

Billy Lee Riley "I Got A Thing About You Baby" (Entrance 7508, May 27, 1972)
Produced by Chips Moman ... note the title change
Billboard "Hot 100" #93, November 4, 1972, Cash Box #100, October 7, 1972



Songwriter Troy Seals busted out a country single version in the summer of 1973, also before the Elvis recording hit the street. It was produced by veteran Presley session musician David Briggs, which is curious. Wonder how David found the song? It didn't do much better than Riley's effort.



..

Troy Seals "I Got A Thing About You Baby" (Atlantic CY-4004, August 4, 1973)
Produced by David Briggs ... note title mirrors Billy Lee Riley version
Billboard "Hot Country Singles" #93, August 18, 1973



Despite how much attention the song gathered after White first released it on his 1972 album, Elvis' RCA single issued in January 1974 was a bright way to begin the year, a bubbly uptempo number that he delivered with panache. It's too bad it didn't go higher on the charts. Maybe, given the failures above, the song was just an unlucky number.


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by jeanno »

Here is one of my favorite post-1970 studio recordings. It's a true gem and highlight despite being recorded at Stax during those terrible summer 73 sessions. The vocals are laid back indeed but I think it really works here. I love the lyrics and the way it mixes Country and Soul effortlessly. It's been in my personal 1971-1976 Top 5 since I first discovered it, in "This is Elvis" movie.

5- I, John
4- I've Got A Thing About You Baby
3- Steamroller Blues
2- Merry Christmas Baby
1- BURNING LOVE



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Ciscoking »

Juan..seems like you are picking songs that always belonged to my faves...really...always had a soft spot for this one...perhaps we meet in Miami in September..??


Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by rickeap »

Elvis didn't follow the Billy Lee Riley template, it came directly from Tony Joe. He was called and asked if he had any songs suitable for Elvis and took this, For ol times Sakes and a third song that was rejected to the studio. He couldn't recall the third title but was impressed with what Elvis did with these two.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by drjohncarpenter »

rickeap wrote:Elvis didn't follow the Billy Lee Riley template, it came directly from Tony Joe. He was called and asked if he had any songs suitable for Elvis and took this, For ol times Sakes and a third song that was rejected to the studio. He couldn't recall the third title but was impressed with what Elvis did with these two.
One listen to the version by Billy Lee Riley makes very clear that, if there was a version that they followed at the July 1973 Stax session, it was that one. All three recordings are on this page, give them a try!

And if you argue that a recording by Billy Lee, who Elvis knew, produced by Chips Moman, who Elvis knew and worked with, was something that Presley was unaware of, most would consider you mistaken. And that would include Elvis scholar and expert Ernst Jørgensen.


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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Scarre »

I don´t like it...




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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by rickeap »

I just base it on what Tony Joe White told me, which was that he took the three tracks to the studio at the request of one of Elvis' people, not Elvis himself. I have no reason to doubt him. He also spoke nicely of visiting As Elvis' guest in Vegas. I interviewed TJW when he toured Australia about 15 years ago.

Billy's version is similar to Elvis', but so too is Tony joe's original.

Either way, terrific song with a wonderful laid back vocal by Elvis that perfectly fits the song. I wish he had recorded more of TJW.



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Re: "I've Got A Thing About You Baby"

Post by Ciscoking »

The song captured my interest in the movie This Is Elvis....since then I like it.


Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !