Danny Boy

Post by **Retrokid** » Fri May 20, 2016 12:14 am

In this video Elvis does a great version of Danny Boy.

A proof that Elvis wasn't all bad in 76.

....and I really liked the video. Kudos to whoever made it.

poormadpeter2 · Post by **poormadpeter2** » Fri May 20, 2016 12:25 am

It's a lovely, sincere moment in a generally mediocre concert, showing that Elvis could still deliver when something interested him enough. The mystery here is why he didn't keep the song in his act after this off-the-cuff performance. He knew the words, a basic arrangement wasn't difficult to work out, and it was a song he clearly loved.

Hard Rocker · Post by **Hard Rocker** » Fri May 20, 2016 2:12 am

Nice to see and hear this. Thanks for sharing.

Post by **Hobbes** » Fri May 20, 2016 2:16 am

I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.

Hard Rocker · Post by **Hard Rocker** » Fri May 20, 2016 2:47 am

Hobbes wrote:I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.

Ha! A few expensive axes in there for sure.

Post by **Retrokid** » Fri May 20, 2016 8:18 am

Hobbes wrote:I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.

I was wondering about that too...

Deleted User 1099 · Post by **Deleted User 1099** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:23 am

Retrokid wrote:
Hobbes wrote:I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.
I was wondering about that too...

Charlie drops the guitar in the documentary Elvis: That's they Way It Is. Happens right before "Love Me Tender" ...

The live version of "Danny Boy" is a bit shaky. Are you guys sure you don't overrate it because it's such a rarity? It may be the highlight of a poor show, but it's no match for the studio version.

Post by **Scarre** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:38 am

I like the song...but not the performance. Shaky, to say the least...

Post by **jurasic1968** » Fri May 20, 2016 1:48 pm

Right.

Post by **Robert** » Fri May 20, 2016 2:03 pm

Hobbes wrote:I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.

Charlie dropped it in '75.
It's on 8mm footage.. If I remember Memphis

Post by **janti** » Fri May 20, 2016 2:11 pm

Retrokid wrote:In this video Elvis does a great version of Danny Boy.

A proof that Elvis wasn't all bad in 76.

....and I really liked the video. Kudos to whoever made it.

Good version!

The original is "Londonderry Air":

And another recent "copy" or version is "You Raise Me Up":

Jan

Post by **Domino** » Fri May 20, 2016 8:31 pm

I think no matter what kind of performance he did with the rest of the show ,he seemed to pull out all the stops for Danny Boy.Yeah he might be a little shaky but that makes all the more endearing .Thanks for the topic.

..

Post by **Hobbes** » Sat May 21, 2016 12:10 am

I have no illusions about this song. It shows Elvis far from his peak. But in those later years, when he sang a song live with commitment, I find myself rooting for him because it shows he still cared at some level.

poormadpeter2 · Post by **poormadpeter2** » Sat May 21, 2016 2:04 am

If you put that live, off-the-cuff performance into the context of that point in Elvis's career, it's better than almost anything else he was doing in his shows at that time.

I say that not because of its rarity value, although that gives added interest, but because of the way he tackles it. It's not rushed, the words aren't mumbled and no lines are thrown away, it is sung in such a way that he does not rely on volume in order to make an effect, and there is total commitment from beginning to end - something which is demonstrated in him seemingly having more control over his tone and vibrato than usual during a slow song (such as And I Love You So).

I can't think of a single live performance of a song from 1976 in which all four of those things apply. Most ballads (Hurt, Mountain, America) rely on volume, while others (And I Love You So, Love Letters) generally find Elvis's voice much more frail than it is here. All of this doesn't mean that Danny Boy is a great performance or a moment of genius - but it is a genuine moment of inspiration; a genuine moment of Elvis, for once, not being distracted or going for the easy option and of being completely caught up in the act of making music with a song he cared about.

It is four minutes of a concert that actually proves that there could still be hope with regards to Elvis musically but, alas, he might have cared during those four minutes but seemingly was unable or unwilling to carry that forward or to draw on that except on very few occasions during his final two years. Ultimately, he didn't care enough about caring.

Arvis Paisley · Post by **Arvis Paisley** » Sat May 21, 2016 5:11 am

Danny Boy is one of my all-time favorite Elvis songs. I love the way he sings it. I often think of having his performance of it played at my funeral.

Elvis believed that the melody of Londonderry Air/Danny Boy was written by angels. It was originally called O’Cahan’s Lament. The story goes that Rory O'Cahan passed out from drinking, and when he awoke he found faeries playing the melody on his harp. That's how it was "written."

Hard Rocker · Post by **Hard Rocker** » Sat May 21, 2016 5:31 am

Arvis Paisley wrote:Danny Boy is one of my all-time favorite Elvis songs. I love the way he sings it. I often think of having his performance of it played at my funeral.

My choice is C'mon Everybody. Participation by the congregation will be mandatory.

Arvis Paisley · Post by **Arvis Paisley** » Sat May 21, 2016 5:33 am

Hard Rocker wrote:
Arvis Paisley wrote:Danny Boy is one of my all-time favorite Elvis songs. I love the way he sings it. I often think of having his performance of it played at my funeral.

My choice is C'mon Everybody. Participation by the congregation will be mandatory.

Post by **jeanno** » Sat May 21, 2016 10:55 am

The 1976 live rendition of DB is surprisingly focused and pretty well performed.

Post by **MikeFromHolland** » Sat May 21, 2016 12:15 pm

.

If anyone wonders. This is Danny Boy:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-About-Time-DANNY-BOY/dp/B0039208HG

.

Post by **LSP-4445** » Sat May 21, 2016 3:19 pm

Never cared for Danny Boy...Elvis may do a great job on the vocals but to me this song is so booooring,all 4 minutes of it

Post by **Lover Doll** » Sat May 21, 2016 6:25 pm

Ken Jensen wrote:
Retrokid wrote:
Hobbes wrote:I've always liked that performance.

I like the footage that went along with that. Makes me wonder if Charlie ever didn't catch the guitar when Elvis threw it to him. If I were him I would have screwed it up completely.
I was wondering about that too...
Charlie drops the guitar in the documentary Elvis: That's they Way It Is. Happens right before "Love Me Tender" ...

The live version of "Danny Boy" is a bit shaky. Are you guys sure you don't overrate it because it's such a rarity? It may be the highlight of a poor show, but it's no match for the studio version.

The guitar that Charlie drops in That's The Way It Is is a little toy one that Elvis had been fooling around with.

Post by **Lover Doll** » Sat May 21, 2016 6:30 pm

I love the song Danny Boy and the way Elvis sings it. I was so disappointed when Sherrill Nielsen performed the song in Huntsville, Alabama Sept. 1976 as heard on the FTD Elvis In Alabama. I can't stand that guy's voice.

The Pirate · Post by **The Pirate** » Sun May 22, 2016 10:07 am

MikeFromHolland wrote:.

If anyone wonders. This is Danny Boy:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-About-Time-DANNY-BOY/dp/B0039208HG

.

No, this is Danny Bhoy.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Sun May 22, 2016 10:11 am

Sorry, fellas, but this is the ONLY Danny, boy:

..

The Pirate · Post by **The Pirate** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:38 am

I'M Spartacus!

For Elvis CD Collectors

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