"Saved"

[MikeFromHolland]

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SAVED
Written by: Leiber; Stoller
Originally recorded by: LaVern Baker in 1960

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LaVern Baker was born Dolores Williams in 1929. At the end of the 1940s she won her first recording contract with Okeh Records and later moved to Atlantic. There she scored high with Tweedle Dee in 1955. Saved was both written and produced by Leiber and Stoller and her recording was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording of 1960. Further success was limited, however, and Baker's last chart entry was in 1966 in a duet with Jackie Wilson, Think Twice. LaVern Baker died in 1997.

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Source: http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list7.html#S1436


INTRO
Both Jackie Wilson as well as LaVern Baker were very big sources of inspiration for Elvis. Among others we all know Elvis sang her "Tweedle Dee" a lot of times live in the early years. A song which was written by Winfield Scott, who also came to write songs for Elvis later on (see: http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93535#p1500657 ). And let's not forget the Leiber & Stoller connection of course.

It's also nice to know that LaVern was inspired by Elvis as well. In 1956 she had a song out called "Jim Dandy", followed in 1957 by "Jim Dandy Got Married". You can hear them here:

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We all know that Jim Dandy was also a name that was used by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman in Elvis' 1961 hit single "Little Sister". That same year LaVern Baker performed an answer song to that one:

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One can only imagine who she meant with "Memphis"....


SAVED
LaVern Baker recorded Saved on December 6, 1960. It was released in March 1961 and it reached #37 on the US Hot100.

Billy Fury and the Gamblers released it in November 1965 on their album:



And it sounded like this:
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A very interesting version was performed in 1965 as well, by Darlene Love.

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It's an interesting version, for Darlene (born on July 26, 1941) was invited in 1959 to join a little-known girl group called The Blossoms, who in 1962 began working with producer Phil Spector and in June 1968 we're the backing vocals to Elvis' version of Saved. (Darlene and The Blossoms also sang back-up vocals on the Shelley Fabares hit "Johnny Angel" in 1962.


Darlene is the girl to the far right (with the tambourine):

Darlene Love and Saved 01.png

Darlene Love and Saved 02.png

She also had a small part in Change Of Habit, here you see her happy clapping during "Rubber Neckin'":

Darlene Love in COH.png

Elvis' version, with Darlene and The Blossoms:

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For those interested: Darlene (and others) will be in Bad Nauheim on the coming European Elvis Festival on August 19, 2017. More info: http://www.epg-ev.de/Event_Leser/events/16-European-Elvis-Festival_2017.html



OTHER VERSIONS

Some other versions of Saved through the years:

Judy Henske 1966
Lulu July 1970
The Band 1973

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Mama Lion 1973
Brenda Lee October 28, 1976
Elkie Brooks 1977

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Powerhouse 1988
Andrew Strong 1992
Shirley Johnson May 28, 2002



BONUS - The Composers

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Other sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVern_Baker
https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/115325/originals#nav-entity
YouTube

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[goldbelt]

Really great performance as part of the Gospel medley, 'Saved' was originally considered for Elvis as part of 1967's 'Easy Come, Easy Go' soundtrack.

All of The Blossoms appear in that scene from 'Change Of Habit', not only Darlene.

[drjohncarpenter]

Wonderful topic, thank you. The only regret in watching the special is that Elvis did not do a live vocal during the production taping of "Saved." He did so for some of the other production numbers and it was far more effective.

His performance was so spectacular, though, that it changed the life of one of the musicians who worked on the special, guitarist Mike Deasy:

Elvis' passion on the gospel material was evidently so mighty it changed session musician Mike Deasy's life. "Something just clicked inside of me that he [Elvis] really meant what he was saying. It wasn't too long after that that I got into problems with taking too many drugs, and I never forgot the moment when he was singing that song ["Saved"]. I think it was one of the things that helped me seek out a relationship with God."

http://www.elvis-collectors.com/review_ftdletyourselfgo.html

[r&b]

Its a great performance but I thought his lip-synching was a bit off in parts. I never really though he was good at it generally. Yes, I am surprised it wasnt done live. Bit of a let-down.

[MikeFromHolland]

Wonderful topic, thank you. The only regret in watching the special is that Elvis did not do a live vocal during the production taping of "Saved." He did so for some of the other production numbers and it was far more effective.

His performance was so spectacular, though, that it changed the life of one of the musicians who worked on the special, guitarist Mike Deasy:

Elvis' passion on the gospel material was evidently so mighty it changed session musician Mike Deasy's life. "Something just clicked inside of me that he [Elvis] really meant what he was saying. It wasn't too long after that that I got into problems with taking too many drugs, and I never forgot the moment when he was singing that song ["Saved"]. I think it was one of the things that helped me seek out a relationship with God."

http://www.elvis-collectors.com/review_ftdletyourselfgo.html

Thanks for that info on Mike Deasy!

Mike Deasy (right).jpg

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[ale]

Damn...why he didn't sing vocals live on this one as he did with If I can dream...that would have been increadible!

[Deleted User 1099]

I never cared for that song at all, but first class post, Mike. Really stellar work.

[jetblack]

Great stuff Mike.

Any post with Elvis and Billy Fury in it just has to be good.

Andy

[jeanno]

There is also a fantastic version by SAM BROWN from 2001, IIRC. It was part of a tribute to Leiber & Stoller. What a rousing performance!

[TJ]

I think that the logistics of the routine made them decide that a live vocal was unwise or just an added complication that they didn't need.

[elvisalisellers]

Oddly, there were enough video outtakes of "Saved" to piece together a superior lip-sync performance.

[MikeFromHolland]

There is also a fantastic version by SAM BROWN from 2001, IIRC. It was part of a tribute to Leiber & Stoller. What a rousing performance!

Thanks! Here it is:

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[timothy_sideburns]

There is also a fantastic version by SAM BROWN from 2001, IIRC. It was part of a tribute to Leiber & Stoller. What a rousing performance!

Thanks! Here it is:

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Looks like Sam has chosen her outfit inspired by Elvis's If I can Dream suit!

[Hobbes]

As weird as it sounds, this is one of the first Elvis songs I ever got into. Had the soundtrack long before I saw the special, and the gospel melody was one of the parts I used to listen to repeatedly.