Goin' Home?

[murph1031]

What do you guys think of this song? I for one love it, and I actually thought it was a great song. lately however I've seen a lot of negative talk on the song. I'm currently reading "Careless Love", and I saw a mention that Elvis hated this song. This week I received the new "Speedway" FTD vinyl, and during one the of the takes on this song, I heard a confirmation of Elvis's dislike for the song. Was Elvis just done with the movie songs during this session, or did he dislike the song that much. He comments, " I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home".
In saying all that I really enjoy this song, in fact enough that I use it as my ring tone on my phone. Am I missing something? or is this song really that bad? Five years ago I took the family on a road trip from Phoenix AZ, to Las Vegas and back. While planning the trip I would play this video to show the kids what to expect during the trip.

[colonel snow]

There are a few x-rated takes (like complete take 5) that will never be officially released.


colonel snow

[drjohncarpenter]

What do you guys think of this song? I for one love it, and I actually thought it was a great song. lately however I've seen a lot of negative talk on the song. I'm currently reading "Careless Love", and I saw a mention that Elvis hated this song. This week I received the new "Speedway" FTD vinyl, and during one the of the takes on this song, I heard a confirmation of Elvis's dislike for the song. Was Elvis just done with the movie songs during this session, or did he dislike the song that much. He comments, " I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home".
In saying all that I really enjoy this song, in fact enough that I use it as my ring tone on my phone. Am I missing something? or is this song really that bad? Five years ago I took the family on a road trip from Phoenix AZ, to Las Vegas and back. While planning the trip I would play this video to show the kids what to expect during the trip.

It's an average piece of material, but Elvis does the best he can on it.

The session was a little weird, for a number of reasons:
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=94905&p=1527508#p1527508

[Steve Morse]

Whatever strange goings-on characterized this session, Elvis nailed the master of Goin' Home. The atmospheric backing is just right for the lyrics and Elvis is in perfect voice to convey that atmosphere. The song has always been a huge favourite of mine.

The feel of the song is very similar to Follow That Dream and Wonderful World (LALLAL), with a wonderful 'out-doorsy', good-to-be-alive vibe all the way through. Elvis's voice soars upward to that endless blue sky on all three of these songs.

As regards Elvis's comment, "I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home", this to me is just his usual sense of humour in that he enjoyed making a play on words - in this case the title of the song.

[drjohncarpenter]

Whatever strange goings-on characterized this session, Elvis nailed the master of Goin' Home. The atmospheric backing is just right for the lyrics and Elvis is in perfect voice to convey that atmosphere. The song has always been a huge favourite of mine.

The feel of the song is very similar to Follow That Dream and Wonderful World (LALLAL), with a wonderful 'out-doorsy', good-to-be-alive vibe all the way through. Elvis's voice soars upward to that endless blue sky on all three of these songs.

As regards Elvis's comment, "I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home", this to me is just his usual sense of humour in that he enjoyed making a play on words - in this case the title of the song.

A listen to the available session tapes makes very clear this is a derisive joke, all the way. Elvis was bored, and he thought the song was pretty worthless. Just seven takes earlier you hear him say "... worst fu'cking song I ever heard."

http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/680115.html

[midnightx]

It's an average piece of material, but Elvis does the best he can on it.

A common theme throughout Elvis' post-1960 recording career.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

I like the song and Elvis laughing is contagious during the recording session of it . The almost complete session is available on the great Elvis: The American Way Volume 5 cd, released under the Southern Comfort label back in 2007! . Bye for now .



..

[drjohncarpenter]

I like the song and Elvis laughing is contagious during the recording session of it. The almost complete session is available on the great Elvis: The American Way Volume 5 cd, released under the Southern Comfort label back in 2007!

Hmm. You well know the "laughing" is because he is under the influence, as the first link I posted above details in a previous discussion that you were a part of. Why act like it was all "fun and games"? That's not the truth of this session.

It should also be noted that half of the January 1968 material on that CD is taken from a very poor acetate dub.

http://www.elvisinnorway.no/theamericanway5.html

[Steve Morse]

Whatever strange goings-on characterized this session, Elvis nailed the master of Goin' Home. The atmospheric backing is just right for the lyrics and Elvis is in perfect voice to convey that atmosphere. The song has always been a huge favourite of mine.

The feel of the song is very similar to Follow That Dream and Wonderful World (LALLAL), with a wonderful 'out-doorsy', good-to-be-alive vibe all the way through. Elvis's voice soars upward to that endless blue sky on all three of these songs.

As regards Elvis's comment, "I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home", this to me is just his usual sense of humour in that he enjoyed making a play on words - in this case the title of the song.

A listen to the available session tapes makes very clear this is a derisive joke, all the way. Elvis was bored, and he thought the song was pretty worthless. Just seven takes earlier you hear him say "... worst fu'cking song I ever heard."

http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/680115.html

That does not devalue the final product for me. I enjoy what I hear.

Besides, Elvis was prone to show off in this way, to his little sycophantic audience.

[bajo]

It's strange. Songs that one thought was a ok listen when at first hearing, like this one, is somehow being over analyzed some 40 years after, as if history somehow should change one's opinion on the song. I've always liked Going Home, and regardless of what I'm reading here about the artist's intention, influence of whatever went on in the rock world, I still like the original master as first heard on the Speedway LP.

[r&b]

Its certainly better than the average movie junk, but its not a song that if you play it for someone, it will make them buy another Elvis record. Just OK but mostly forgettable

[skatterbrane]

It's strange. Songs that one thought was a ok listen when at first hearing, like this one, is somehow being over analyzed some 40 years after, as if history somehow should change one's opinion on the song. I've always liked Going Home, and regardless of what I'm reading here about the artist's intention, influence of whatever went on in the rock world, I still like the original master as first heard on the Speedway LP.

Yep, one cannot retroactively change how one felt about something with newly found information.

I have always liked this song since the day I bought the Speedway album new the summer of 1968, well before I ever knew Elvis ever took drugs. And, amazingly enough, I like this song/performance even after being well informed of the background information of the recording session and other superfluous information surrounding this song.

[jerrynodak]

It's not a great song by any stretch. But I don't have a problem listening to it. It's enjoyable. I'm thinking that it probably was a candidate to be heard over the opening credits of "Stay Away. Joe." Glad "Stay Away" was chosen instead.

[drjohncarpenter]

Its certainly better than the average movie junk, but its not a song that if you play it for someone, it will make them buy another Elvis record. Just OK but mostly forgettable

Yup. And no one is being asked to "change their mind" about "Goin' Home." The OP simply asked what others thought of the song's quality and what Elvis' comments at the actual session meant. My answers are pretty straightforward on both.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

I like the song and Elvis laughing is contagious during the recording session of it. The almost complete session is available on the great Elvis: The American Way Volume 5 cd, released under the Southern Comfort label back in 2007!

Hmm. You well know the "laughing" is because he is under the influence, as the first link I posted above details in a previous discussion that you were a part of. Why act like it was all "fun and games"? That's not the truth of this session.

It should also be noted that half of the January 1968 material on that CD is taken from a very poor acetate dub.

http://www.elvisinnorway.no/theamericanway5.html

I just enjoy the song and I love Elvis sense of humour during the recording of the song . He swears a lot, FTD won´t release the remaining takes but I´m thankful to the bootleggers for giving me the chance to be a fly on the wall. And you? . Bye for now .

..

[drjohncarpenter]

I like the song and Elvis laughing is contagious during the recording session of it. The almost complete session is available on the great Elvis: The American Way Volume 5 cd, released under the Southern Comfort label back in 2007!

Hmm. You well know the "laughing" is because he is under the influence, as the first link I posted above details in a previous discussion that you were a part of. Why act like it was all "fun and games"? That's not the truth of this session.

It should also be noted that half of the January 1968 material on that CD is taken from a very poor acetate dub.

http://www.elvisinnorway.no/theamericanway5.html

I just enjoy the song and I love Elvis sense of humour during the recording of the song . He swears a lot, FTD won´t release the remaining takes but I´m thankful to the bootleggers for giving me the chance to be a fly on the wall. And you?

As I said, the truth of this session is far from "Elvis sense of humour." The profanity and fooling around is so excessive it becomes clear it's not about being "funny." He is almost manic, and probably because of the pills he admits on mic that he is taking. It's about as funny as the August 1965 soundtrack session outtakes for "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," where both his singing voice and constant laughter become painful and disturbing.

In both sessions we hear the sound of someone who is unhappy, and unsure how to get past whatever is bothering him. The essential truth of these recording dates is very hard to ignore, if you care about the man and his music.

[Juan Luis]

Let's not play shrink now. Things freezed in time by recording technology cannot be or should not be judged as absolute..the same as a single frame captured on film. He could have been happy the day before and or after....My take.

[mike edwards66]

Let's not play shrink now. Things freezed in time by recording technology cannot be or should not be judged as absolute..the same as a single frame captured on film. He could have been happy the day before and or after....My take.

Funny how on all those unhappy recording sessions, Elvis is always laughing.

[fn2drive]

It's strange. Songs that one thought was a ok listen when at first hearing, like this one, is somehow being over analyzed some 40 years after, as if history somehow should change one's opinion on the song. I've always liked Going Home, and regardless of what I'm reading here about the artist's intention, influence of whatever went on in the rock world, I still like the original master as first heard on the Speedway LP.

Yep, one cannot retroactively change how one felt about something with newly found information.

I have always liked this song since the day I bought the Speedway album new the summer of 1968, well before I ever knew Elvis ever took drugs. And, amazingly enough, I like this song/performance even after being well informed of the background information of the recording session and other superfluous information surrounding this song.

The information is hardly superfluous. Doc lays out the reality of the artist's view of the track which is highly relevant. That doesnt mean you cant like it. But it serves as a reminder that Elvis knew he was being fed substandard material and did nothing about it. Good Ol' Felton.

[Mister Mike]

The information is hardly superfluous. Doc lays out the reality of the artist's view of the track which is highly relevant. That doesnt mean you cant like it. But it serves as a reminder that Elvis knew he was being fed substandard material and did nothing about it. Good Ol' Felton.

For chrissakes, man, give it a rest, will ya?

[drjohncarpenter]

The information is hardly superfluous. Doc lays out the reality of the artist's view of the track which is highly relevant. That doesnt mean you cant like it. But it serves as a reminder that Elvis knew he was being fed substandard material and did nothing about it. Good Ol' Felton.

For chrissakes, man, give it a rest, will ya?

Well, he can't get mad at Jerry Reed, now can he?

[Scarre]

Whatever strange goings-on characterized this session, Elvis nailed the master of Goin' Home. The atmospheric backing is just right for the lyrics and Elvis is in perfect voice to convey that atmosphere. The song has always been a huge favourite of mine.

The feel of the song is very similar to Follow That Dream and Wonderful World (LALLAL), with a wonderful 'out-doorsy', good-to-be-alive vibe all the way through. Elvis's voice soars upward to that endless blue sky on all three of these songs.

As regards Elvis's comment, "I don't know what I can do to improve it except just go home", this to me is just his usual sense of humour in that he enjoyed making a play on words - in this case the title of the song.

A listen to the available session tapes makes very clear this is a derisive joke, all the way. Elvis was bored, and he thought the song was pretty worthless. Just seven takes earlier you hear him say "... worst fu'cking song I ever heard."

http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/680115.html

That does not devalue the final product for me. I enjoy what I hear.

Besides, Elvis was prone to show off in this way, to his little sycophantic audience.

I like the song. I agree with your comment. His job was to sing. If he didn´t like a song...well, doesn´t bother me.

[skatterbrane]

I could not blame Felton for song selection, it was the publishing arrangement. The A&R man nor the producer would get far with the Colonel circumventing the publishing arrangement. Besides this was primarily a soundtrack session and Goin' Home was one of two songs vying for the track to be played over the opening titles. I think it could have worked for the closing titles just fine.

[drjohncarpenter]

I could not blame Felton for song selection, it was the publishing arrangement. The A&R man nor the producer would get far with the Colonel circumventing the publishing arrangement. Besides this was primarily a soundtrack session and Goin' Home was one of two songs vying for the track to be played over the opening titles. I think it could have worked for the closing titles just fine.

The session was a 50/50 split of soundtrack and studio recordings. And a good producer would do their best to provide their artist with the finest possible material to record. It should also be noted that Elvis apparently destroyed many of the demos he was given to audition during this session, so much did he hate them. It's a big reason "Too Much Monkey Business" and "U.S. Male" got recorded. They were chosen after Elvis and guest guitarist Jerry Reed spent time trying to come up with some material that would be worth taping.

[brian]

In addition to Guitar man and U.S. Male I wish Jerry Reed had written something for Elvis. I believe these sessions were a great example of Freddie Bienstock being out of touch with the music business. If he was ever in touch with it at any point. You hear these stories of Freddie Bienstock coming to every one of Elvis Presley's sessions with horrible uncommerical material and Elvis getting mad about it but he never would move on from him or his management. If Elvis did something good or recorded something good they would try to stop him from doing so.