"Such A Night"- The song!

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Juan Luis

"Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Juan Luis »

A favorite of mine from the immense "Elvis Is Back" album!

Lincoln Chase's "Such A Night" was first recorded by The Drifters on November 1st 1953, and released on January 1954 reaching #2 on the American R&B charts. Later that year the song was covered by Johnnie Ray becoming a #1 UK hit and reaching #18 in the Cashbox chart. Elvis' version was released four years later on a single, reaching #13 in the UK and #16 Billboard.

Rough home recordings made in Germany by Elvis, Charlie Hodge, and Red West include this number. On visits with Elvis on leave in Paris, and later Germany. Freddy Bienstock brought him demos for future consideration as well as taking back with him lists of titles Elvis was interested in recording when he got back Stateside. He also met Elvis in Memphis. Publishing was taken care of well in advance. Bienstock provided demos for older songs such as "Such A Night". -Ernst Jorgensen.

This song title is very fitting to the time it was actually recorded. After the continuation of the all-nighter (with seven masters in the can), recording for this track (RCA Studio B-Nashville) began on April 4,1960 at 4:00 am! Finished in only five takes. With take one being the only complete outtake. Producers credited were Sholes/Atkins, with the latter behind the console with the great Bill Porter engineering.

Compared to the Drifters and Johnnie Ray's versions considered "racy", and reportedly banned from some radio stations. Elvis' reading, in my opinion is superb! Playful, sensuous and powerful! Boots Randolph's pulsating, rhythmic saxophone playing, perfectly frames the songs meaning. The rest of the band is tight as well, leaving Elvis to sexy breathing ad-libs, while rocking it out effortlessly all the way to the high note ending immediately followed by the short drum solo. What a blast!

The sessions started at 7:30 pm on April 3rd with "Fever", advancing to "Like A Baby", "It's Now Or Never", "The Girl Of My Best Friend", "Dirty, Dirty Feeling", "Thrill Of Your Love", "I Gotta Know", "Such A Night", "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "Girl Next Door Went A-Walking"," I Will Be Home Again", finishing with "Reconsider Baby" at 7:00 am on April 4th!

SUCH A NIGHT indeed! Thanks for reading...enjoy!



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Re: "Such A Night". The song!

Post by elvis-fan »

One of my favorites of Elvis' recordings for sure... hadn't heard Johnny Ray's recording but I'm not a fan. Of the three, Elvis' version is definitely the coolest. The others sound dated...
Almost forgot... the first time I ever heard this song was on Legendary Performer Volume II... I was fascinated by the false starts... I love the way they included those outtakes.



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Johnny2523 »

Always loved this song, altough i do gotta admit i really enjoy the alternate takes. Here are some more versions of the song by elvis :)

Such a Night (Takes 1 to 5)
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Live, march 25 1961
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Rehearsal, July 29 1970
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Live, December 12 1976
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and the very last version by elvis of this song, December 30 1976
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Great topic juan!


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by poormadpeter2 »

I confess I prefer Johnnie Ray's version which really was pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable back in 1954 when it was released. Elvis is telling us about the night he's had, but Johnnie Ray (who I think is woefully under-rated in current times), despite (or because of) his affectations, is reliving it. There is too much polish on the Elvis version in comparison - and, strangely, the whole thing isn't helped by the beautiful sound quality which only adds to the sheen. I'd love to have heard Elvis sing it in June 1958, when he was recording some of his wildest rock n roll music of the decade. The 1960 version is very good, but it's all just a little too polite given the versions that had gone before.




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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Davelee »

Always thought this was originally done first by Dinah Washington - you learn something new everyday.

Oh, Elvis' version is stunning the best version of the song, Clydes being the second.
Can someone confirm who originally did the song first - Clyde or Dinah Washington?

I've looked on Wikipedia and a couple of other sites and it's a bit confusing - one site states Clydes version was released in 1956, another Feb 1954. Washington's released in Jan 1954 or March 1955.... :smt102
Last edited by Davelee on Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:33 pm, edited 4 times in total.




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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Eggrert »

I didn't think much of this song when I first heard it, but it's really grown on me since then (I think hearing the Pearl Harbor version is what did it). It's definitely a magical recording.

As for the Johnnie Ray version, I'm just not feeling it. It just feels stilted in comparison to the joyous looseness of Elvis' version.



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by bajo »

I must admit I actually like Johnnie Ray, but his rendition is one of his weaker performances of all his greatest output, imo. Elvis' is pure rock'n roll, sensual and vibrating all in the same. Classic! :)


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by DEH »

Elvis was also considering "Such A Night" as his closing number In Vegas in 1969 but we all know what he chose instead. :D



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by MikeFromHolland »

.

Love these song topics! Thanks Juan Luis!


In The Netherlands Ricky Gordon had a hit with Such A Night in 1974. It reached no. 5 and was in the charts for 10 weeks. His real name is Eric de Clerck, a singer from Belgium.

A clip from TopPop 1974 (a Dutch version of Top of the Pops):

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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by TINML »

I never really cared for this song, not one of my favorites by a long shot. :?


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Although there are actually no known German home demos of Elvis doing "Such A Night," somewhere there's a lascivious Studio B rehearsal of "Such A Night" that reveals completely Elvis' mindset while recording this classic number. Let's hope it gets issued someday.

Another thing not mentioned on this topic is the fact that RCA issued this April 1960 recording as a single in the summer of 1964. For whatever reason, Presley had only cut one new studio song since May 1963, and the label was desperate for something of studio quality as the "British Invasion" stormed the pop charts. A very nice cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee," Elvis' second attempt in seven months, might have been their A-side choice, but an unexpected and dismaying entry into the market by Johnny Rivers killed that idea for all concerned.

Besides being a four year-old recording, RCA also oddly chose an vintage portrait from 1956's "Love Me Tender" on the 45 sleeve, rather than a contemporary photo. This could not have come across well to retail in 1964. Ultimately, it scraped into the top 20 for a few weeks. One imagines a 1960 single would have scored much higher.


640711_RCA Victor 8400.jpg
Elvis Presley "Such A Night" (RCA Victor 8400, July 11, 1964)
Billboard "Hot 100" #16, August 22, 1964, Cash Box "Top 100" #13, August 29, 1964
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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Troubleman »

I agree with you Doc regarding the 45 sleeve. They had plenty of studio pictures of Elvis in 1964, so why use one from 'Love me tender' which had actually been use on that 45 single in 1956! I also like the 'by popular demand' statement on the sleeve. Who demanded it? RCA?

It's always been one of my favorites, and could have been a hit single in 1960.

::rocks


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Troubleman wrote:I agree with you Doc regarding the 45 sleeve. They had plenty of studio pictures of Elvis in 1964, so why use one from 'Love me tender' which had actually been use on that 45 single in 1956! I also like the 'by popular demand' statement on the sleeve. Who demanded it? RCA?

It's always been one of my favorites, and could have been a hit single in 1960.

::rocks
You mean a bigger hit single in 1960. ;-)

I forgot the image was first seen on the million-selling release of "Love Me Tender." It appears RCA decided to alter the background in the 1956 version. It was all very weird, but the "British Invasion" turned the industry upside down, and Elvis was not immune.

560929_RCA Victor 6643.jpg
Image
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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by JimmyCool »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
Troubleman wrote:I agree with you Doc regarding the 45 sleeve. They had plenty of studio pictures of Elvis in 1964, so why use one from 'Love me tender' which had actually been use on that 45 single in 1956! I also like the 'by popular demand' statement on the sleeve. Who demanded it? RCA?

It's always been one of my favorites, and could have been a hit single in 1960.

::rocks
You mean a bigger hit single in 1960. ;-)

I forgot the image was first seen on the million-selling release of "Love Me Tender." It appears RCA decided to alter the background in the 1964 version. It was all very weird, but the "British Invasion" turned the industry upside down, and Elvis was not immune.

Image

Image
It looks to me like the 1964 has the original background, the other one was blackened.
Last edited by JimmyCool on Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Juan Luis »

drjohncarpenter wrote:Although there are actually no known German home demos of Elvis doing "Such A Night," somewhere there's a lascivious Studio B rehearsal of "Such A Night" that reveals completely Elvis' mindset while recording this classic number. Let's hope it gets issued someday.

Another thing not mentioned on this topic is the fact that RCA issued this April 1960 recording as a single in the summer of 1964. For whatever reason, Presley had only cut one new studio song since May 1963, and the label was desperate for something of studio quality as the "British Invasion" stormed the pop charts. A very nice cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee," Elvis' second attempt in seven months, might have been their A-side choice, but an unexpected and dismaying entry into the market by Johnny Rivers killed that idea for all concerned.

Besides being a four year-old recording, RCA also oddly chose an vintage portrait from 1956's "Love Me Tender" on the 45 sleeve, rather than a contemporary photo. This could not have come across well to retail in 1964. Ultimately, it scraped into the top 20 for a few weeks. One imagines a 1960 single would have scored much higher.


640711_RCA Victor 8400.jpg
Elvis Presley "Such A Night" (RCA Victor 8400, July 11, 1964)
Billboard "Hot 100" #16, August 22, 1964, Cash Box "Top 100" #13, August 29, 1964
Yes on both counts. Mentioned in OP about single release 4 years later with chart placing in the UK as well as the US. And Ernst Jorgensen mentions distorted tapes heard by him. Obviously not released. But definitely "known".



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

JimmyCool wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote:
Troubleman wrote:I agree with you Doc regarding the 45 sleeve. They had plenty of studio pictures of Elvis in 1964, so why use one from 'Love me tender' which had actually been use on that 45 single in 1956! I also like the 'by popular demand' statement on the sleeve. Who demanded it? RCA?

It's always been one of my favorites, and could have been a hit single in 1960.

::rocks
You mean a bigger hit single in 1960. ;-)

I forgot the image was first seen on the million-selling release of "Love Me Tender." It appears RCA decided to alter the background in the 1956 version. It was all very weird, but the "British Invasion" turned the industry upside down, and Elvis was not immune.

Image


Image
It looks to me like the 1964 has the original background, the other one was blackened.
It would have been nice if you had another image to share with us to confirm one way or another. I went and found another that seems to show the 1956 shot was touched up.

560800_Love Me Tender PR shot.jpg

Back to the topic:

It's funny that "Such A Night" had a second life in 1964. It would not be the only one from Elvis Is Back! to be revived that year.
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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Davelee »

Davelee wrote:Always thought this was originally done first by Dinah Washington - you learn something new everyday.

Oh, Elvis' version is stunning the best version of the song, Clydes being the second.
Can someone confirm who originally did the song first - Clyde or Dinah Washington?

I've looked on Wikipedia and a couple of other sites and it's a bit confusing - one site states Clydes version was released in 1956, another Feb 1954. Washington's released in Jan 1954 or March 1955.... :smt102
Well....



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by norrie »

Love Elvis' version of this song.Great singing and playing.Love Elvis and the Jordanaires on the loud parts and the ooh ahs at the end with the guitar and drums.It all sounds fantastic.


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Juan Luis wrote:Yes ... Ernst Jorgensen mentions distorted tapes heard by him. Obviously not released. But definitely "known".
No, you have your facts wrong, which is why I added my observation. Again, there are no known German home demos of Elvis doing "Such A Night." Period. The two 1959 reels mentioned, which Jørgensen called "two distorted tapes," derive from April (guitar) and November (piano). The full content is available to fans, and neither contains the song. In fact, even in Ernst's 1998 book he does not list "Such A Night" when detailing these reels, although we do see "There's No Tomorrow." Using common sense, and all available information, is how we understand better.


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Davelee wrote:
Davelee wrote:Always thought this was originally done first by Dinah Washington - you learn something new everyday.

Oh, Elvis' version is stunning the best version of the song, Clydes being the second.
Can someone confirm who originally did the song first - Clyde or Dinah Washington?

I've looked on Wikipedia and a couple of other sites and it's a bit confusing - one site states Clydes version was released in 1956, another Feb 1954. Washington's released in Jan 1954 or March 1955.... :smt102
Well....
Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters "Such A Night" (Atlantic 1019) was the first release, and a big hit on the r&b charts in 1954, going to #2. Johnnie Ray's pop cover (Columbia 40200) did well, making #19. I'm not familiar with Dinah Washington's recording (Mercury 70336), but it appears to have come out around the same time as Ray's, and did not chart.


Image


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Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, "Such A Night" (Atlantic 1019, January 30, 1954)


Image

Billboard - February 6, 1954


Image

Billboard - April 17, 1954
Note at least three songs on this chart were later done by Elvis!
Last edited by drjohncarpenter on Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.


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Juan Luis

Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Juan Luis »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
Juan Luis wrote:Yes ... Ernst Jorgensen mentions distorted tapes heard by him. Obviously not released. But definitely "known".
No, you have your facts wrong, which is why I added my observation. Again, there are no known German home demos of Elvis doing "Such A Night." Period. The two 1959 reels mentioned, which Jørgensen called "two distorted tapes," derive from April (guitar) and November (piano). The full content is available to fans, and neither contains the song. In fact, even in Ernst's 1998 book he does not list "Such A Night" when detailing these reels, although we do see "There's No Tomorrow." Using common sense, and all available information, is how we understand better.
A little condescending perhaps? You failed to mention being incorrect about the 1964 single not being mentioned when in fact, it was right there on the OP. On page 115 "Such A Night" is mentioned. And it seems to me it was heard by Ernst Jorgensen from the tape(s). How would he mention it otherwise? Also clearly Jorgensen states "they show Elvis fooling around with old material and new, trying out songs he's clearly considering for the future---the Drifters' "Such A Night"...." page 115. "A Life In Music".

Image




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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by r&b »

In my Elvis top 10, maybe even top 5. The vocal, the band, the production, and the fabulous ending. Can an Elvis fan not really care much for this song? Its hard to believe, but whatever, there is always 70's bombast. Totally mishandled as a single in 1964, down to the ridiculous pic sleeve. But in 1960? Pure magic. One of the last inklings of the 50's Elvis.



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by drjohncarpenter »

Juan Luis wrote:A little condescending perhaps? You failed ...
My comments are clear, and facts correct.

I've owned Elvis Presley: A Life In Music since its publication in 1998. I know what Ernst wrote in the text, I quoted from the book in my previous reply to you. You always seem to miss such details. Again, when he details the songs demoed in Germany, it is not there. When we look at the entire contents of each tape, which is now common information, it is not there.

Let me be very plain: Ernst miswrote the text reference, and it did not get caught before publication. All the evidence, and common sense, support this conclusion, and it is why I make note of it in my first reply. I imagine you appreciate the time and effort made here, so you're welcome.


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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by Juan Luis »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
Juan Luis wrote:A little condescending perhaps? You failed ...
My comments are clear, and facts correct.

I've owned Elvis Presley: A Life In Music since its publication in 1998. I know what Ernst wrote in the text, I quoted from the book in my previous reply to you. You always seem to miss such details. Again, when he details the songs demoed in Germany, it is not there. When we look at the entire contents of each tape, which is now common information, it is not there.

Let me be very plain: Ernst miswrote the text reference, and it did not get caught before publication. All the evidence, and common sense, support this conclusion, and it is why I make note of it in my first reply. I imagine you appreciate the time and effort made here, so you're welcome.
The OP stands. As for appreciating the time and effort provided by myself to post this thread of interest. You're welcome!
Last edited by Juan Luis on Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.



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Re: "Such A Night"- The song!

Post by When In Rome »

Love this song. We had the UK EP 'Such A Night!'. Played it over and over, had to hear the 'woo' at the end before I started the track again. All in glorious mono! Then I got the LP in 'Living Stereo'. 'Woo' indeed!! :shock: Fantastic..
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