"Gonna Get Back Home Somehow"!

[Juan Luis]

Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman penned pop rocker. Recorded at RCA Studio B Nashville on March 18, 1962, with Steve Sholes credited producer and Bill Porter behind the console.

I like the feeling of angst portrayed when Elvis sings (seconded by the electric guitar) "I'm leaving now".. leaving now...repeating it with the ascending musical scale reminiscent to me of years later recorded "Way Down".
Floyd Cramer and The Jordanaires are standouts, as well as the double drumming of Buddy Harman and D.J. Fontana. From the album "Pot Luck". That was one those Elvis Presley albums that I discovered many years later. It was such a great feeling discovering "new " Elvis music!
In my opinion, this is a song that could be covered well even today. I love it!

Hear that old train whistle
Howling in the night
If that flyer's southbound
Everything will be all right


I'm leaving now, leaving now, leaving now,
I'm gonna get back home somehow


Don't nobody tell me
Baby's been untrue
If she's been unfaithful
I don't know what I'll do


I'm leaving now, leaving now, leaving now
I'm gonna get back home somehow


Never thought that I could miss her so
I never thought I could , now I know


The sound of the old train whistle
Makes me want to cry
Reminds me of that lonely feeling
When I said goodbye


I'm leaving now, leaving now, leaving now
I'm gonna get back home somehow


..

[Stvimpe]

A 'yes' for me. Thanks, Juan, for digging it up.

[r&b]

I like it more now than I did back then and I have no idea why. It just didnt click with me much back then. Maybe expecting too much after the previous 2 LPs, but I do like it now. I just wish Elvis would have put a little more oomph into his vocals on uptempo stuff like this and Night Rider. He was starting to sing the rockers in a crooning ballad voice, something he never did in the 50's or even 1960.

[Stvimpe]

I like it more now than I did back then and I have no idea why. It just didnt click with me much back then. Maybe expecting too much after the previous 2 LPs, but I do like it now. I just wish Elvis would have put a little more oomph into his vocals on uptempo stuff like this and Night Rider. He was starting to sing the rockers in a crooning ballad voice, something he never did in the 50's or even 1960.

Yes, I'd prefer it a bit edgier, rougher. Still, one of the better cuts from Pot Luck, imo. It has a nice groove and Elvis sings it seemingly effortlessly.

[brian]

The song was a good album track.

[brian]

Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman penned pop rocker. Recorded at RCA Studio B Nashville on March 18, 1962, with Steve Sholes credited producer and Bill Porter behind the console.

I don't think that was right for Elvis to produce this session and others but then RCA would keep crediting Steve Sholes. Jerry Schilling has talked about how Elvis was an underrated producer and well no wonder he was underrated because Steve Sholes took the credit.

[Eggrert]

He was starting to sing the rockers in a crooning ballad voice, something he never did in the 50's or even 1960.

Well put. I really didn't like this song when I first heard it on the 60s box, but now, that somewhat strange style is actually what appeals to me about the song and others similar to it.

[drjohncarpenter]

"Gonna Get Back Home Somehow" is a Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman contribution, and an amazing production, a huge sound with every singer and musician involved from the very first moment. Apparently this "wall of sound" emulates the demo made by fledgling producer Phil Spector. I wish we could hear that one. Elvis' recording also betrays more than a hint of Del Shannon's "Runaway," perhaps the most amazing single of 1961. It's almost an "answer" song to "Runaway."

It's also one of the few Elvis songs where you can hear a Duane Eddy influence, and that's not too shabby. Again, I love how it just kicks in, every musician, all at once in a huge wave of sound. "Night Rider" also utilizes RCA's Studio B in the same manner.

The album title and cover were a painfully typical example of the genius of its designer, Tom Parker.




Billboard - June 23, 1962


Looking back, it's clear the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties were Pomus and Shuman:

A Mess Of Blues (1960)
Doin' The Best I Can (1960)
Surrender (1960)
Kiss Me Quick (1961)
His Latest Flame (1961)
Little Sister (1961)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (1962)
Night Rider (1962)
I Feel That I've Known You Forever (1962)
Suspicion (1962)
She's Not You (1962)
Long Lonely Highway (1963)
Viva Las Vegas (1963)
I Need Somebody To Lean On (1963)

Not too many clunkers in that bunch.

This earlier topic made by bajo had some interesting comments:

Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37573

[ale]

A really cool song...I always liked it
Maybe some didn't like at first because is one of the first rockers he does in a flat tone, so maybe for some sounded strange....but is just my though

[sweetangeline]

Looking back, it's clear the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties were Pomus and Shuman:

A Mess Of Blues (1960)
Doin' The Best I Can (1960)
Surrender (1960)
Kiss Me Quick (1961)
His Latest Flame (1961)
Little Sister (1961)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (1962)
Night Rider (1962)
I Feel That I've Known You Forever (1962)
Suspicion (1962)
She's Not You (1962)
Long Lonely Highway (1963)
Viva Las Vegas (1963)
I Need Somebody To Lean On (1963)

Not too many clunkers in that bunch.

...lets dont forget these babies ;

WHAT EVERY WOMAN LIVES FOR
NEVER SAY YES
DOUBLE TROUBLE

...and one I truly do love...however it came much later...YOU'LL THINK OF ME!!

[Chucky99]

What a song.Uptempo ,cool, sublime.It rocks.

[drjohncarpenter]

Looking back, it's clear the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties were Pomus and Shuman:

A Mess Of Blues (1960)
Doin' The Best I Can (1960)
Surrender (1960)
Kiss Me Quick (1961)
His Latest Flame (1961)
Little Sister (1961)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (1962)
Night Rider (1962)
I Feel That I've Known You Forever (1962)
Suspicion (1962)
She's Not You (1962)
Long Lonely Highway (1963)
Viva Las Vegas (1963)
I Need Somebody To Lean On (1963)

Not too many clunkers in that bunch.

...lets dont forget these babies ;

WHAT EVERY WOMAN LIVES FOR
NEVER SAY YES
DOUBLE TROUBLE

...and one I truly do love...however it came much later...YOU'LL THINK OF ME!!

They were not forgotten, they were omitted. As I wrote, that list sums up "the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties." By that I meant the era in which "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow" appeared. After 1963, things changed.

[sweetangeline]

Looking back, it's clear the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties were Pomus and Shuman:

A Mess Of Blues (1960)
Doin' The Best I Can (1960)
Surrender (1960)
Kiss Me Quick (1961)
His Latest Flame (1961)
Little Sister (1961)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (1962)
Night Rider (1962)
I Feel That I've Known You Forever (1962)
Suspicion (1962)
She's Not You (1962)
Long Lonely Highway (1963)
Viva Las Vegas (1963)
I Need Somebody To Lean On (1963)

Not too many clunkers in that bunch.

...lets dont forget these babies ;

WHAT EVERY WOMAN LIVES FOR
NEVER SAY YES
DOUBLE TROUBLE

...and one I truly do love...however it came much later...YOU'LL THINK OF ME!!

They were not forgotten, they were omitted. As I wrote, that list sums up "the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties." By that I meant the era in which "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow" appeared. After 1963, things changed.

...they changed all right...I knew what you meant...hence the wink...some awesome tracks there for sure!!

[drjohncarpenter]

They were not forgotten, they were omitted. As I wrote, that list sums up "the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties." By that I meant the era in which "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow" appeared. After 1963, things changed.

...they changed all right...I knew what you meant...hence the wink...some awesome tracks there for sure!!

Cool. BTW, the wonderful "You'll Think Of Me" was written by Mort Shuman on his own.

[Scarre]

I like it. It´s different compared to most of his songs, in a positive way...

[sweetangeline]

They were not forgotten, they were omitted. As I wrote, that list sums up "the most important contributors to the Elvis canon in the pre-comeback sixties." By that I meant the era in which "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow" appeared. After 1963, things changed.

...they changed all right...I knew what you meant...hence the wink...some awesome tracks there for sure!!

Cool. BTW, the wonderful "You'll Think Of Me" was written by Mort Shuman on his own.

...correct...my mistake!!

[jurasic1968]

Great topic. Great song. Thanks all for contributing here.

[jetblack]

Darrel Higham does an excellent rendering of this song on his 'A Monochrome Dream' CD which also contains 'Patch It Up' and 'E.P. Express'.

..

Andy

[Juan Luis]

..

[jetblack]

I never heard of Erwin Nyhoff so have just watched a few on Youtube.

'Anyway You Want Me' is very good.

Cheers Juan.

Andy

[Juan Luis]

I never heard of Erwin Nyhoff so have just watched a few on Youtube.

'Anyway You Want Me' is very good.

Cheers Juan.

Andy

Thank you!

[Pete Dube]

One of the best uptempo performances of the 60-64 period.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Excellent song with the great "Boots Randolph" on saxophone, which was also prominently used on Night Rider too! . Would have been a great double "A" side single . Elvis nailed it almost in just take 1 but he insisted in completing 7 takes....Bye for now .

..

Source: http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/620318.html#02

[Juan Luis]

Hi there!! .

Excellent song with the great "Boots Randolph" on saxophone, which was also prominently used on Night Rider too! . Would have been a great double "A" side single . Elvis nailed it almost in just take 1 but he insisted in completing 7 takes....Bye for now .

..

Source: http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/620318.html#02

Thanks amigo!

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Excellent song with the great "Boots Randolph" on saxophone, which was also prominently used on Night Rider too! . Would have been a great double "A" side single . Elvis nailed it almost in just take 1 but he insisted in completing 7 takes....Bye for now .

..

Source: http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/620318.html#02

Thanks amigo!

Felices fiestas! . Un saludo desde España . Bye for now .