Little Darlin'

[eligain]

I got MB the day it came out. I already had the 2 singles. At the time I loved Way Down and liked Pledging My Love. I sort of liked MB and hated She Thinks I still Care. When I saw the track listing of the album, I wasn't very encouraged. Unchained Melody? (Yawn). But I was kind of excited about Little Darlin' and If You Love Me. both live. LD by the Diamonds was one of my favorite 50's songs but on MB, it was a halfhearted attempt that he clowned through and was worthless. I liked Olivia Newton-John and had her records but his version of If You Love Me wasn't near as good as hers so that was disappointing as well. And the most disappointing was the rehash of Let Me Be There. Why re release the song on a new album? So from day one, I felt that MB was a cobbled together album of 3 potential "A" material songs coupled with "C" level songs, a re release that we didn't need and 3 poor live tracks with applause that sounded like nails hitting a tin roof.

[jeanno]

Got the "Moody Blue" when I was 16. It was a huge disappointment. I only enjoyed Way Down, Pledging My Love and... Little Darling!! I found the rest depressing, uneven (disco Elvis? Come on!...) and terribly sequenced (Let me be there AGAIN!!!)

Not as awful as "from ep boulevard" but still a very mediocre release.

[Rockin_John]

...but again, Jarvis never went to management or RCA to get Elvis to recommit, he quietly recorded parts of concerts during the spring of 1977 desperately hoping that Elvis might perform something unique that he could use

Is this fact? Do we know for sure that Jarvis did not complain to RCA or anyone else in management?
Or was he an employee of Elvis?

... he did not even have the competence to go to Elvis as a collaborator and explain the need for a few new songs to fill out the album he was helping Elvis make as Elvis' staff producer.

Is this fact? Elvis once stated at a concert that "Unchained Melody" will be out soon on an album called "Unchained Melody".
Did Felton not discuss with Elvis that he was recording?

... The guy clearly did not deliver and was in way over his head with a challenging, uninspired artist.

Agree. He, and many others, should have walked away from Elvis to send a clear signal that this is unacceptable.

Anyone?

[Rockin_John]

...I liked Olivia Newton-John and had her records but his version of If You Love Me wasn't near as good as hers so that was disappointing as well.

Agree, by 1977 (or 1975 for that matter) Elvis lost the song.
Just listen to the second verse from 1974, so soft so delicate - so much better than the later versions.
Although I cant stand the cha cha chaa at 01:40, it ruins it completely for me...

http://www97.zippyshare.com/v/rlyTVNSw/file.html

[eligain]

...I liked Olivia Newton-John and had her records but his version of If You Love Me wasn't near as good as hers so that was disappointing as well.

Agree, by 1977 (or 1975 for that matter) Elvis lost the song.
Just listen to the second verse from 1974, so soft so delicate - so much better than the later versions.
Although I cant stand the cha cha chaa at 01:40, it ruins it completely for me...

http://www97.zippyshare.com/v/rlyTVNSw/file.html

Yes, the 74 versions are so much better.

[Ciscoking]

...I liked Olivia Newton-John and had her records but his version of If You Love Me wasn't near as good as hers so that was disappointing as well.

Agree, by 1977 (or 1975 for that matter) Elvis lost the song.
Just listen to the second verse from 1974, so soft so delicate - so much better than the later versions.
Although I cant stand the cha cha chaa at 01:40, it ruins it completely for me...

http://www97.zippyshare.com/v/rlyTVNSw/file.html

Yes, the 74 versions are so much better.

Brilliant...love it...

[Rockin_John]

...I liked Olivia Newton-John and had her records but his version of If You Love Me wasn't near as good as hers so that was disappointing as well.

Agree, by 1977 (or 1975 for that matter) Elvis lost the song.
Just listen to the second verse from 1974, so soft so delicate - so much better than the later versions.
Although I cant stand the cha cha chaa at 01:40, it ruins it completely for me...

http://www97.zippyshare.com/v/rlyTVNSw/file.html

Yes, the 74 versions are so much better.

Brilliant...love it...

Everything but the cha cha chaa at 01:40, that was the only thing better on the released master on Moody Blue

[Ciscoking]

Thats correct..it doesnt belong to there..

[Rockin_John]

I actually enjoy Shaun Nielsens harmony too