Don't You Know I Love You

[MikeFromHolland]

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One of the most unique recordings of Elvis - to me - are the recordings made in Waco, Texas when visiting Eddie Fadal in 1958. The first time they were released, was on the LP Forever Young, Forever Beautiful ( Memphis Flash JL-92447) in August 1978. I got myself a copy via one of the fanclubs back in the day, and somehow couldn't get enough of it. It was so seldom that we could get so incredibly close to the real Elvis. And it still is the only time we can hear how Elvis "listened" to music. Humming along.

Forever Young Forever Beautiful - front.jpg

Forever Young Forever Beautiful - back.jpg

Forever Young Forever Beautiful - text.png

One of the songs he hummed along with was the B-side of this Fats Domino single:



It was released that same year, 1958. And sounded like this:

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However, it seemed that Elvis preferred the other side:



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For that is the site we can hear him humming with on the Fadal recording:

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I still love it...

And in the mean time we learn how the horse walking sound on Elvis' Blue Moon was made, and by whom: Elvis himself, making mouth sounds, clicking his tongue.


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[G-Hubb]

With the 8mm footage we've had of Elvis round Eddie Fadal's does any synch up with the audio we have?

Can'r recall now, but the 8mm film was silent although I've always seen / heard it with sound overdubbed albeit just instrumental music I think.
Or has someone synch'ed them up and I've just plain forgotten?

[drjohncarpenter]

And in the mean time we learn how the horse walking sound on Elvis' Blue Moon was made, and by whom: Elvis himself, making mouth sounds, clicking his tongue.

It would be impossible to simultaneously sing and do the rhythmic "clippity-clop" percussion with this mouth.

As to what is heard on "Blue Moon" there are two possibilities:

- Bill is slapping the fretboard of his acoustic bass
- someone was keeping that rhythm along with Scotty and Bill

[Stvimpe]

I love you too, Mike.

[Juan Luis]

Another possibility is Elvis having already pre-recorded his mouth noises and it was played live while Elvis and band were performing his takes. Otherwise Elvis is misremembering as early as that? LOL.

[MikeFromHolland]

Another possibility is Elvis having already pre-recorded his mouth noises and it was played live while Elvis and band were performing his takes. Otherwise Elvis is misremembering as early as that? LOL.

Indeed . In the recording as posted in the OP we hear Elvis making the same mouth sounds, clicking his tongue, telling "I did that on one of my first records. You know? Blue Moon?" Giving another demonstration (less audible) just before Don't You Know I Love You begins. We also now that Sam had two Amplex 350 recorders in 1954, one of which he also used for his slapback/echo recordings. And we know from the restoration work done for Sunrise and ABFT that Blue Moon had the loudest hiss. Sam liked to experiment with sound. Put this all together and what have we got?

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[drjohncarpenter]

Another possibility is Elvis having already pre-recorded his mouth noises and it was played live while Elvis and band were performing his takes. Otherwise Elvis is misremembering as early as that? LOL.

Not a chance of that. Or did Presley overdub the sound on every single alternate take as well? Revisit the second audio disc included with FTD's A Boy From Tupelo, and the two logical possibilities are exactly as I write in my previous post.


16 Blue Moon (takes 1-3) 0:38
17 Blue Moon (take 4) 2:59
18 Blue Moon (take 5) 3:25
19 Blue Moon (takes 6-7) 0:53
20 Blue Moon [take 8] 3:01
21 Blue Moon (take 9/master) 2:44

Thanks.

[Juan Luis]

Another possibility is Elvis having already pre-recorded his mouth noises and it was played live while Elvis and band were performing his takes. Otherwise Elvis is misremembering as early as that? LOL.

Not a chance of that. Or did Presley overdub the sound on every single alternate take as well? Revisit the second audio disc included with FTD's A Boy From Tupelo, and the two logical possibilities are exactly as I write in my previous post.


16 Blue Moon (takes 1-3) 0:38
17 Blue Moon (take 4) 2:59
18 Blue Moon (take 5) 3:25
19 Blue Moon (takes 6-7) 0:53
20 Blue Moon [take 8] 3:01
21 Blue Moon (take 9/master) 2:44

Thanks.

You don't understand. It was always being played "live" for every take, for it was a recording. Other than that, Elvis was misremembering.

[Domino]

I'm not sure what we are discussing here.Are we saying that Elvis is clicking his tongue in the Sun recording of Blue Moon?

I don't believe that for a second.I would say that's Scotty doing the clicking on his guitar.

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[Domino]

Thanks for the topic and the reminder of this great home recording.
It inspired my topic today.I found this bootleg at a used record store in Toronto.I knew the minute I seen it I had something totally new to my ears.
With Anita Wood singing and a couple new songs by Elvis and these hum along songs too.
What other singer could be interesting hearing them humming and doo-wopping to a song ?
I'd say none other.Elvis could sneeze through a song and people would listen.

[TJ]

It's Scotty tapping his guitar strings.

[MarkyMark77]

It's Scotty. That's what strings sound like when they hit a pickup.

[TJ]

Yes, which means that it's most likely Elvis playing acoustic.

[drjohncarpenter]

I'm not sure what we are discussing here.Are we saying that Elvis is clicking his tongue in the Sun recording of Blue Moon?

I don't believe that for a second.I would say that's Scotty doing the clicking on his guitar.

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That would also be a possibility. But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous. There is not one example of Phillips doing such a thing at Sun, and the idea is beyond absurd. Listen to the existing reel, it's available on the FTD I cite in my previous post.

Common sense -- it's not just for breakfast anymore!

[MikeFromHolland]

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Conclusion: Elvis was lying to his friend, and that the produced mouthsound on this 1958 home recording sounded the same as the Blue Moon recordings is just a big coincidence.

It's easy to find reasons why it didn't happen, telling Elvis was lying or "misremembering' after four years already. Another possibility is to investigate reasons why Elvis was tellng the truth.

Some facts:
1. Elvis produced the same mouthsound on this 1958 recording
2. Elvis told to his close friend that he did the same on Blue Moon
3. Sam had two Amplex 350 recorders in 1954, one of which he also used for his slapback recordings
4. While doing restoration work for Sunrise and later ABFT the technician who did this work noticed that Blue Moon had the loudest hiss compared to the other recordings

Can someone show me how one can produce the exact same horse like sound with his guitar?

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[Domino]

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Conclusion: Elvis was lying to his friend, and that the produced mouthsound on this 1958 home recording sounded the same as the Blue Moon recordings is just a big coincidence.

It's easy to find reasons why it didn't happen, telling Elvis was lying or "misremembering' after four years already. Another possibility is to investigate reasons why Elvis was tellng the truth.

Some facts:
1. Elvis produced the same mouthsound on this 1958 recording
2. Elvis told to his close friend that he did the same on Blue Moon
3. Sam had two Amplex 350 recorders in 1954, one of which he also used for his slapback recordings
4. While doing restoration work for Sunrise and later ABFT the technician who did this work noticed that Blue Moon had the loudest hiss compared to the other recordings

Can someone show me how one can produce the exact same horse like sound with his guitar?

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It's like when Elvis would say he sang all the backup parts in on Don't ,I think he said during the rehearsal for TTWII.He's not misremembering,he's trying to be funny.I've lived around the sound of a guitar all my life.My Dad played and my older brother plays and my younger brother plays.It's a guitar on that recording.What Elvis should be doing is saying ....."just kidding" afterwards.Is there any interviews with Scotty where he's being asked about Blue Moon ?

[MikeFromHolland]

Is there any interviews with Scotty where he's being asked about Blue Moon ?

Would be nice to find out. I play guitar myself as well. But I can't make this sound. I can do it easily with my mouth though. So I like to leave this possibility open. Fact is: Elvis didn't say "Just kidding".

Are there any other guitar players who can reproduce this sound on their instrument?

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[Juan Luis]

I'm not sure what we are discussing here.Are we saying that Elvis is clicking his tongue in the Sun recording of Blue Moon?

I don't believe that for a second.I would say that's Scotty doing the clicking on his guitar.

..

That would also be a possibility. But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous. There is not one example of Phillips doing such a thing at Sun, and the idea is beyond absurd. Listen to the existing reel, it's available on the FTD I cite in my previous post.

Common sense -- it's not just for breakfast anymore!

Ludicrous and beyond absurd. How would that be if Elvis stated he did it, but cannot sing and do the noises at the same time? Has to be early overdubbing. Anyhow, it was just presented as a possibility by me. Elvis was lying or misremembering. Unless of course, its 1970.

[Domino]

Is there any interviews with Scotty where he's being asked about Blue Moon ?

Would be nice to find out. I play guitar myself as well. But I can't make this sound. I can do it easily with my mouth though. So I like to leave this possibility open. Fact is: Elvis didn't say "Just kidding".

Are there any other guitar players who can reproduce this sound on their instrument?

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Tell you what I think .I think maybe Elvis is beating his guitar like he'd do sometimes plus Scotty is plucking his strings.Maybe even Bill is making a sound on his bass but I can say without a doubt that Elvis isn't clicking his tongue .
But as you say,let's keep an open mind on this.We weren't there and the 4 people who were there aren't talking so maybe some more evidence will be found to prove what's making the clip clopping sound.

[mike edwards66]

But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous.

Elvis Recorded "Mouth Noises" At Sun --> Mystery Solved ?


This is feckin' hilarious. The sound on "Blue Moon" is clearly acoustic string based, with just a touch of 'slide'.

[MikeFromHolland]

But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous.

Elvis Recorded "Mouth Noises" At Sun --> Mystery Solved ?


This is feckin' hilarious. The sound on "Blue Moon" is clearly acoustic string based, with just a touch of 'slide'.

Yes, a lot of people say that. It's easy. Still I haven't seen one bit of proof that you can make this sound on a guitar. Just one YouTube clip would be enough. We have Elvis making mouthsounds in 1958 that sound very similar. We have him saying he did it on Blue Moon. We have Sam liking to experiment and owning two recorders at the time. We have a lot of hiss on the original tape. And I know it sounds weird and in your words 'hilarious', but what we don't have is someone showing and thus providing proof that this sound can be made on a guitar.

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[drjohncarpenter]

Tell you what I think .I think maybe Elvis is beating his guitar like he'd do sometimes plus Scotty is plucking his strings.Maybe even Bill is making a sound on his bass but I can say without a doubt that Elvis isn't clicking his tongue .
But as you say,let's keep an open mind on this.We weren't there and the 4 people who were there aren't talking so maybe some more evidence will be found to prove what's making the clip clopping sound.

Why no one cares to listen to all the takes of "Blue Moon" is a bit of a mystery. Your answer is there.

[Domino]

Tell you what I think .I think maybe Elvis is beating his guitar like he'd do sometimes plus Scotty is plucking his strings.Maybe even Bill is making a sound on his bass but I can say without a doubt that Elvis isn't clicking his tongue .
But as you say,let's keep an open mind on this.We weren't there and the 4 people who were there aren't talking so maybe some more evidence will be found to prove what's making the clip clopping sound.

Why no one cares to listen to all the takes of "Blue Moon" is a bit of a mystery. Your answer is there.

I should have done that already but didn't.I've got them playing now.
Very clearly not Elvis doing the clicking.So when I hear it I can hear Scotty's but it also sounds like maybe Elvis is drumming his guitar.Do you hear that or do you think that's also Scotty or maybe Bill on the bass ?

[mike edwards66]

But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous.

Elvis Recorded "Mouth Noises" At Sun --> Mystery Solved ?


This is feckin' hilarious. The sound on "Blue Moon" is clearly acoustic string based, with just a touch of 'slide'.

Yes, a lot of people say that. It's easy. Still I haven't seen one bit of proof that you can make this sound on a guitar. Just one YouTube clip would be enough. We have Elvis making mouthsounds in 1958 that sound very similar.

If there is one thing those sounds in '58 are not, it is very similar. But OK, I'll humor you. First, where did you get the notion that those sounds from '58 came from Elvis' mouth?

[Domino]

But the suggestion that Sam Phillips taped more than two and a half minutes of mouth noises from Elvis, then relied on that as a playback while the trio laid down a vocal and backing, is absolutely ludicrous.

Elvis Recorded "Mouth Noises" At Sun --> Mystery Solved ?


This is feckin' hilarious. The sound on "Blue Moon" is clearly acoustic string based, with just a touch of 'slide'.

Yes, a lot of people say that. It's easy. Still I haven't seen one bit of proof that you can make this sound on a guitar. Just one YouTube clip would be enough. We have Elvis making mouthsounds in 1958 that sound very similar.

If there is one thing those sounds in '58 are not, it is very similar. But OK, I'll humor you. First, where did you get the notion that those sounds from '58 came from Elvis' mouth?

On the tape they start singing a bit of Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Elvis does a clip clop sound.

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Then he says he did it on one of his first songs,Blue Moon so they are saying Elvis is saying he clip clopped like that on Blue Moon.He's not saying he personally clip clopped,he's saying the song had a clip clop sound in it.Never does Elvis say he's making the clip clops himself.
So anyway all one needs to do is listen to the recordings of the Sun record & the 58 tape and it's obvious to my ears that it's a musical instrument ,not Elvis's voice.
Actually I wouldn't even say the 2 sounds are similar but what do I know .