Cover version of My Happiness

[timothy_sideburns]

I went to see John Prine recently, he's one of my favourite songwriters and he and his wife sang a version of My Happiness.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone else sing it apart from Elvis on that legendary acetate. Thought it might be of interest to some of you here.

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[Steve Morse]

Connie Francis got to No.4 in the UK charts with her version, in 1959.

[Mister Moon]

Fats Domino recorded a version for Imperial in January 1957, but it was not issued as a single. It came out originally on the "Here Comes Fats" EP, and then on the "This Is Fats" LP, both from 1957.

[poormadpeter2]

My Happiness was recorded by many people - the Connie Francis version is probably the most famous, but versions ranged from Red Foley to Ella Fitzgerald, with the latter reaching the top ten in 1948. IIRC three versions in all charted in that year. Elvis said his version was based on one by The Ink Spots, but they are not known to have recorded the song.

[timothy_sideburns]

Elvis said his version was based on one by The Ink Spots, but they are not known to have recorded the song.

That's interesting. I was under the impression Elvis had a reliable memory! Obviously not always the case.

Just found this thread - where it is discussed further - Who recorded My Happiness before Elvis

[MysteryTrain]

Elvis said his version was based on one by The Ink Spots, but they are not known to have recorded the song.

I think Elvis was referring to "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," which was released by The Ink Spots in 1941:

MT

[MysteryTrain]

Interesting in Elvis' version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" recorded at SUN, after the narrative, he sings "that's the end." Listen to The Ink Spots version, after the narrative you hear the same "that's the end." I always thought Marion was running out of tape and had signaled Elvis to wind it up. Or, there wasn't much time left on the acetate that was being cut.

MT

[MikeFromHolland]

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First release by Jon and Sondra Steele (1948)
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Ella Fitzgerald & Song Spinners - June 1948
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Pied Pipers (1948)
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Jimmy Beasley 1957 Modern 1009
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Fats Domino, 1957
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Jim Reeves, October 1957
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MORE:


Jon and Sondra Steele 1948 First release
Alan Dale with The Moonlighters - Alan Schackner, Harmonica Solo May 1948
Ella Fitzgerald with The Song Spinners June 1948
John Laurenz 1948
Pied Pipers 1948
The Marlin Sisters 1948
he Mulcays and Their Electric Harmonicas 1953
Gale Storm May 1956
Jimmy Beasley December 1956
Vera Lynn with The Roland Shaw Orchestra 1956
Fats Domino March 1957
Jim Reeves October 1957
Connie Francis November 1958
Tommy Sands February 1959
Jean Scott February 1959
Andy Williams May 1959
Kitty Wells March 1960
Teresa Brewer February 1961
Jimmy Newman June 1962
Claude Gray & The Graymen 1962
Paul and Paula 1963
Skeeter Davis October 1964 Not verified - Submitted by Phoenix712
Hank Locklin June 1966
The Bachelors 1967
Kitty Wells and Red Foley 1967
Slim Whitman 1969
Johnny & Jonie Mosby August 1970
Javier Bátiz 1972
Frank Ifield 1973
Lena Zavaroni 1974
Albert West 1975
Tammy Jones 1975
Freddy Fender 1976
Margo Smith 1976
Marty Robbins February 1977
The Country Rockers March 1989
Carol Fran & Clarence Hollimon 1992
Fairlane Rockets 1995
Lisa del Bo May 5, 2000
The Skip Rats June 12, 2001
Al Holden 2001
Ricky Norton and The Hot Rocks 2002
Joey Figgiani 2005
Rockin' Rebels 2006
aniel O'Donnell & Mary Duff 2007
Chris Isaak October 18, 2011
Amanda Lear March 17, 2014
John Prine with Fiona Prine September 30, 2016

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[timothy_sideburns]

Thanks Mike - that list has made me laugh! When Prine played it, I was really surprised and I said to myself "Oh -NO ONE ever covers this song". It just shows how little I know! Thanks for the contributions!

[MikeFromHolland]

Thanks Mike - that list has made me laugh! When Prine played it, I was really surprised and I said to myself "Oh -NO ONE ever covers this song". It just shows how little I know! Thanks for the contributions!

Well, you seldom hear them lately.

.

[Juan Luis]

Interesting in Elvis' version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" recorded at SUN, after the narrative, he sings "that's the end." Listen to The Ink Spots version, after the narrative you hear the same "that's the end." I always thought Marion was running out of tape and had signaled Elvis to wind it up. Or, there wasn't much time left on the acetate that was being cut.

MT

I thought the same.

[drjohncarpenter]

I went to see John Prine recently, he's one of my favourite songwriters and he and his wife sang a version of My Happiness.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone else sing it apart from Elvis on that legendary acetate. Thought it might be of interest to some of you here.

..

Very nice! Too bad John Prine didn't do "Please Don't Bury Me."

Or did he? Do you remember?



"My Happiness" was a #2 hit for Connie Francis in 1959, and probably the one Prine remembers from his childhood, as he was 13 when it was peaking on the charts. It previously made #2 by Jon and Sondra Steele in 1948. Later that year, it reached #3 for the Pied Pipers.

Elvis said his version was based on one by The Ink Spots, but they are not known to have recorded the song.

I think Elvis was referring to "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," which was released by The Ink Spots in 1941:

MT

Indeed, he was. Elvis never stated that "My Happiness" was by the Ink Spots:

What was it going to be of? What record were you going to make for her?

Oh, I made the record, in fact, we still got the record at home. It's so thin, it's so thin you can't play it. But, uh, the record I made was "My Happiness," and then one of the Ink Spots numbers.


Elvis Presley Interview...Warwick Hotel...New York, NY...1956
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhYOdfSbPoU&t=00m13s

Interesting in Elvis' version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" recorded at SUN, after the narrative, he sings "that's the end." Listen to The Ink Spots version, after the narrative you hear the same "that's the end." I always thought Marion was running out of tape and had signaled Elvis to wind it up. Or, there wasn't much time left on the acetate that was being cut.

MT

Good spot, and further confirmation of the influences at work here.

[poormadpeter2]

Interesting in Elvis' version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" recorded at SUN, after the narrative, he sings "that's the end." Listen to The Ink Spots version, after the narrative you hear the same "that's the end." I always thought Marion was running out of tape and had signaled Elvis to wind it up. Or, there wasn't much time left on the acetate that was being cut.

MT

Yes, but in the Ink Spots version, that isn't the end - the song continues for another thirty seconds!

..

"Ah sang That's When Your Heartaches Begin and My Happiness. A couple of things the Ink Spots were doing just then. Mistuh Phillips sat with his head buried in his hands - like this - for forty-five minutes. When Ah finished, he said 'You have a very interesting voice there.'" (Jock Carroll, I Like Elvis Presley, Weekend Magazine, September 8, 1956).

It's interesting to note that, just like the article I posted a week or two back, Elvis says it was Sam who recorded him on that first visit.

[drjohncarpenter]

One unfortunate aspect to the Jock Carroll interview in New York on 6-29-1956 (Fri) at the Warwick Hotel, is the dishonest manner in how he frames all of Elvis' replies with an exaggerated Southern drawl. It betrays the same kind of condescension seen in Albert Goldman's hate-filled 1981 biography. The recorded evidence shows that Presley didn't speak that way to reporters in 1956.

It also calls into question the accuracy of the chat, for which there is no known tape.

Interestingly, when Carroll's son, Angus, posted a blog on this interview in 2010, he revised his dad's Presley quotes so they no longer betrayed the prejudice towards Elvis Southern roots.

https://anguscarroll.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/on-the-brink-of-fame/





At the Warwick Hotel, New York - Friday, June 29, 1956



The entire Ottawa Citizen "Weekend Magazine" for Saturday, September 8, 1956 may be seen here:

Jock Carroll Admits ... "I LIKE Elvis Presley" --> July '56!
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90607

[poormadpeter2]

One unfortunate aspect to the Jock Carroll interview in New York on 6-29-1956 (Fri) at the Warwick Hotel, is the dishonest manner in how he frames all of Elvis' replies with an exaggerated Southern drawl. It betrays the same kind of condescension seen in Albert Goldman's hate-filled 1981 biography. The recorded evidence shows that Presley didn't speak that way to reporters in 1956.

It also calls into question the accuracy of the chat, for which there is no known tape.

Interestingly, when Carroll's son, Angus, posted a blog on this interview in 2010, he revised his dad's Presley quotes so they no longer betrayed the prejudice towards Elvis Southern roots.

https://anguscarroll.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/on-the-brink-of-fame/





At the Warwick Hotel, New York - Friday, June 29, 1956



The entire Ottawa Citizen "Weekend Magazine" for Saturday, September 8, 1956 may be seen here:

Jock Carroll Admits ... "I LIKE Elvis Presley" --> July '56!
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90607

A significant amount of articles from the period also try to give a phonetic interpretation of Elvis's speech - and, oddly, was even more prevalent in the UK newspapers, which seems a little odd. But this wasn't an unusual practice for magazines and newspaper interviews of people with what was perceived as a strong accent. The Garbo interviews in my edited collection of pieces from fan mags does exactly the same thing - and it's a pain up the rump to transcribe!

[mjsantafe]

A bit more about the John Prine version:

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[dannyboy1]

"That's interesting. I was under the impression Elvis had a reliable memory! Obviously not always the case."

[George Smith]

Interesting in Elvis' version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" recorded at SUN, after the narrative, he sings "that's the end." Listen to The Ink Spots version, after the narrative you hear the same "that's the end." I always thought Marion was running out of tape and had signaled Elvis to wind it up. Or, there wasn't much time left on the acetate that was being cut.

MT

From the first time I heard Elvis' version I assumed he was making a musical joke: it's a play on words.

Near the end of the song, the lyrics simply say "that's the end", and Elvis thought he would bring the song to a halt at that point: it was probably something he'd worked out before recording the disk.

Is it hilarious? No. Is it clever? Not really. But it is an early example of the playfulness and creativity he displayed during many of his sessions at 706.

[promiseland]

I went to see John Prine recently, he's one of my favourite songwriters and he and his wife sang a version of My Happiness.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone else sing it apart from Elvis on that legendary acetate. Thought it might be of interest to some of you here.

..

After watching this Youtube video I can honestly say It makes Elvis' acetate finally for the first time sound professional.
(It's a shame I can't get my time back)

[timothy_sideburns]

After watching this Youtube video I can honestly say It makes Elvis' acetate finally for the first time sound professional.
(It's a shame I can't get my time back)

You just spent a few minutes in the company of one of our finest living songwriters. Consider it schooling.

[drjohncarpenter]

After watching this Youtube video I can honestly say It makes Elvis' acetate finally for the first time sound professional.
(It's a shame I can't get my time back)

You just spent a few minutes in the company of one of our finest living songwriters. Consider it schooling.

A John Prine song was played at the last Elvis show of 1974, too.





Duke Bardwell "Please Don't Bury Me" (Sahara Tahoe, Monday, October 14, 1974)
Thanks to Tom Wilson for the photo.

What’s the story behind that one time where you sang and performed on stage during his show?

Of course, all the musicians knew that I play and sang, because I always was playing and singing at all of our parties, after the shows in the dressing room, at the hotels… They knew some of my songs. Elvis was obviously hesitating and thinking of something else to do, and Ronnie said: "Let Bardwell sing". He just went, "Yeah, right….". And Guercio said, "No, really. You wanna do something else, let him sing, because he can sing". So Elvis went, "Ladies and gentlemen, my bassplayer is going to sing now". So Charlie gave me his guitar and I got Charlie's mike. Charlie was holding another mike on the guitar, for me to play it. And I didn't know what to do. I mean, how am I going to follow Kathy Westmoreland doing 'My Heavenly Father'? And Donnie Sumner said, "Do the Hurricane song". You know, 'Please Don't Bury Me' by John Prine. It's one that they all thought was funny, and they all knew how it went.

I started that song, and by the time I got to the first chorus, the whole band got in it. By the time I got to that chorus, the singers that knew the song were doing the harmony parts to it. He looked a bit unsettled, you know, "Hey, wait a minute… You all know this. How come I don't know anything about it?". It got to the last verse of the song that's a bit off colour, and he really enjoyed that part. We were going from 'My Heavenly Father' to 'Kiss My Ass Goodbye', and it just took everybody by surprise. Elvis really got off on it. He really didn't know it – they didn't know who John Prine was. That was a really good moment, because I had shown him a part of me that he didn't know of. He knew that what we had just done was show business, and it was good show business, because it was entertaining.

http://www.elvisnews.dk/interviews/duke-bardwell/duke-bardwell.htm

[timothy_sideburns]

A John Prine song was played at the last Elvis show of 1974, too.

That's fantastic! I had no idea. I love that song (and no he didn't play it at the gig) and I can imagine the hilarity it would have caused. What a great bit of Elvis history - thank you!

PS - I've always thought that Prine's song Paradise would've been a great track for Elvis to perform. It came out in 71 and would've fitted well on Elvis Country. Although it was probably too political.