Elvis covers songs I don't like

[jurasic1968]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

[jurasic1968]

The versions I prefer are from Mickey Newbury, The Beatles, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Simon and Garfunkel, Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Timi Yuro, The Righteous Brothers.

[JimmyCool]

What do you think?

I disagree.

[jurasic1968]

We can go further in the past, comparing Elvis's version of Hound Dog with the Big Mama Thornton's version, or the version of Carl Perkins of Blue Suede Shoes or the original versions of Little Richard of Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally. And the What'd I Say version of Ray Charles.

[colonel snow]

Comparing original versions with Elvis’ covers is a wrong way. Elvis recorded the song because he liked it.
It’s no competition which version is the best.



colonel snow

[drjohncarpenter]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

Two songs Elvis kind of made his own as the years have passed:

Hurt
An American Trilogy

They're seldom associated with the original artist these days.

But attempting to beat "signature" songs is a tough gambit. Presley was far less successful at it in his third professional decade.

[brian]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

Usually whoever records the most popular version of a song that's the version that's considered definitive. Most of those songs except American Trilogy were hugely popular songs by the time Elvis covered them. They were widely associated with other artists and there was no way Elvis was going to better them. Elvis was just recording them for live albums or recording them to fill one of his studio albums. He wasn't trying to better them. I think he did a good job on all of them except Yesterday and Unchained Melody.

[drjohncarpenter]

We can go further in the past, comparing Elvis's version of Hound Dog with the Big Mama Thornton's version, or the version of Carl Perkins of Blue Suede Shoes or the original versions of Little Richard of Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally. And the What'd I Say version of Ray Charles.

Draw
Big Mama Thornton
Carl Perkins

Lose
Little Richard
Ray Charles

But the 1956 tracks where he finished second are still quite good. He wasn't Pat Boone.

[lucio]

Personally I will always prefer Elvis' versions because I like his voice best. Also the nice thing is that often Elvis' version is quite different from the original singer so I can appreciate both versions

Little Richard in the 50s is fun to watch but his voice is too rough for my taste compared to Elvis.

If I had to choose one song that I feel Elvis could have put more effort into would be the studio version of Spanish Eyes.

[jurasic1968]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

[LSP-4445]

Personally I will always prefer Elvis' versions because I like his voice best. Also the nice thing is that often Elvis' version is quite different from the original singer so I can appreciate both versions

Little Richard in the 50s is fun to watch but his voice is too rough for my taste compared to Elvis.

If I had to choose one song that I feel Elvis could have put more effort into would be the studio version of Spanish Eyes.

Same here.

[drjohncarpenter]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

It was only okay. Should have been a barn-buster, but didn't come within a mile of the Ray Charles game-changer from 1959.

It doesn't matter if his voice is on it, if the magic isn't there it'll always be second-best.

The all-out rock 'n' roll assault on the tune which Elvis delivers on stage in 1969 is pretty fu'cking good, though.

[Jokerlola]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

I agree and disagree. I agree that he largely did not better the originals but I generally like Elvis’ versions. For instance, I think George Harrison’s Something is a masterpiece and will never be touched by anyone. But I enjoy Elvis’ version as well. I don’t really like Elvis’s versions of Yesterday and Hey Jude and those are usually a skip from me at this point.

[Jokerlola]

We can go further in the past, comparing Elvis's version of Hound Dog with the Big Mama Thornton's version, or the version of Carl Perkins of Blue Suede Shoes or the original versions of Little Richard of Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally. And the What'd I Say version of Ray Charles.

Draw
Big Mama Thornton
Carl Perkins

Lose
Little Richard
Ray Charles

But the 1956 tracks where he finished second are still quite good. He wasn't Pat Boone.

I generally agree with this but with Charles’ I Got A Woman, I think Elvis’ 1956 version is somewhat of a draw even though I think Charles’ version is still the standard. I think Elvis was able to make the song his own with his own style. I saw Leon Russell a few times in his last years and he always opened with what he called “Elvis’ version of I Got A Women”. He would then talk about how Elvis transformed the song and how he liked Elvis’ version better.

[pmp]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

Several of those songs stand out: American Trilogy, Bridge, Unchained Melody and Hurt. They stand out because Elvis manages to do something with them that the original artists didn't. That doesn't mean Elvis's version is superior just because it's different, I might add, but they stand out for that reason.

The arrangement of Trilogy is remarkable - one of the best Elvis employed during the 1970s - and has very little relation to the more contemplative and stripped back nature of Newbury's single.

Bridge, like Trilogy, moves away from the original recording and turns it into a powerhouse, theatrical performance.

Unchained Melody. If we want to compare that to the original artist, we need to go back to 1955. Presumably we're going to compare to Roy Hamilton, but they are, in actuality, completely different renditions. Yes, Elvis borrows some of the phrasing from Hamilton, but Hamilton's version is in time with a regular rhythm and Elvis's is loose and free, and his falsetto, almost operatic, ending is far more impressive than Hamilton's relatively low key finish (in Elvis's April version, at least).

Hurt is a song I don't like, but it's difficult not to admit that Elvis takes it and makes something new from it. Timi Yuro's version is the model for Elvis's, but, again, he launches into it and turned it into one of the few songs he could rely on in 1976/77.

The others you mention are just basic covers, although some are still good. Something during 1970 was good, Yesterday was a bland, almost pointless, addition to the setlist. My Way has a nice arrangement in 1972/3, but there's nothing all that new among the dozens of other covers of it from the period. GGGOH is a nice, contemplative country version, but not much more than that. Sweet Caroline is just a standard cover, although I think the August 1970 arrangement is better than the February.

[Jaime1234]

I dont see anyone EVER doing a better version of this song, LIVE Moreover, I can visualize the three tenors standing, even Caruso himself, next to Elvis never knowing what he was going to attempt on the reprise. Just imagine them, standing there as he starts to go down at 2,37 into the clip. And how elegantl\y he dispenses of the scarf...Otherwordly

[Walter Hale 4]

Now I was thinking about the cover songs Elvis did after 1969 from other artists. I don't think he bettered any of them. American Trilogy, And I Love You So, Something, Yesterday, My Way, Green Green Grass of Home, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Caroline, Unchained Melody and Hurt are 10 songs that Elvis recorded but in my opinion his versions of these songs are inferior comparing to the original versions. What do you think?

Green Green Grass of Home - Yes, for sure. Sounds Pedestrian and Dull !
Something - Agreed, but only the two Aloha versions, NOT Vegas 1970 concert..
Unchained Melody - All of them, too over the top! It's one live 70's songs, i ignore or skip!
My Way - Agreed, but NOT Rapid City, 1977 concert.

... and a few more i like to add:

Proud Mary ... none of Elvis versions comes within a bulls roar on Creedence or even Tina Turner cover.

I'll Never Fall in Love Again - It's marred by Elvis excluding a verse, unfortunately.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes - Same reason as above.

Fairytales - 1975 studio...but NOT the Omaha, 1977 concert.

[xmascarrol]

Bridge over troubled water to me is a completely different song and even Paul Simon is suppose to of said how can we compete with that , I don't know if thats true as for American Trilogy i only had heard the Elvis song so when i first heard it , it sounded like a Elvis song so when i heard the original i thought thank god Elvis sang it , he knocks the original out of the water, and Hurt. I already knew Timi Yuro had sang the original and tbh i love both versions, as for the beatles songs i skip ,he just sings them to cause he could be different but never made them better. Green Green grass of home its Tom's song and yes Elvis does a good version but still Tom's songs, Unchained Melody maybe in the late 60s or earlier 70s Elvis could of done it justice but unfortunately it was a train wreck imo but i still never skip it from Elvis, but Bobby Hatfield song all day long . YLTLF, great song by the righteous brothers but i still love Elvis singing it

[Dan_T]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

It was only okay. Should have been a barn-buster, but didn't come within a mile of the Ray Charles game-changer from 1959.

It doesn't matter if his voice is on it, if the magic isn't there it'll always be second-best.

The all-out rock 'n' roll assault on the tune which Elvis delivers on stage in 1969 is pretty fu'cking good, though.

Nicely put !

I think this version tops the '69 versions !

[Jaime1234]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

It was only okay. Should have been a barn-buster, but didn't come within a mile of the Ray Charles game-changer from 1959.

It doesn't matter if his voice is on it, if the magic isn't there it'll always be second-best.

The all-out rock 'n' roll assault on the tune which Elvis delivers on stage in 1969 is pretty fu'cking good, though.

Nicely put !

I think this version tops the '69 versions !

You bet!

[drjohncarpenter]

We can go further in the past, comparing Elvis's version of Hound Dog with the Big Mama Thornton's version, or the version of Carl Perkins of Blue Suede Shoes or the original versions of Little Richard of Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally. And the What'd I Say version of Ray Charles.

Draw
Big Mama Thornton
Carl Perkins

Lose
Little Richard
Ray Charles

But the 1956 tracks where he finished second are still quite good. He wasn't Pat Boone.

I generally agree with this but with Charles’ I Got A Woman, I think Elvis’ 1956 version is somewhat of a draw even though I think Charles’ version is still the standard. I think Elvis was able to make the song his own with his own style. I saw Leon Russell a few times in his last years and he always opened with what he called “Elvis’ version of I Got A Women”. He would then talk about how Elvis transformed the song and how he liked Elvis’ version better.

"Generally" . . . heh, okay.

The OP didn't mention I've Got A Woman," the 1954 ground-breaker from Brother Ray, but comparisons between it and the 1956 Presley master are really just apples and oranges. Charles himself apparently thought very little of Presley's new arrangement, although I'm sure he loved the royalty checks.

In 2003, brilliant critic Greil Marcus wrote this about the Presley rendition:

Ray Charles’s “I Got a Woman” was always a cataclysm when Elvis took it up on stage. In 1956, at the Mississippi–Alabama State Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis’s birthplace, the song almost caused a riot—Elvis actually had to tell the crowd to calm down. “This is a song that says you can do anything,” he said to introduce the next song, “Blue Suede Shoes.” “But don’t. Just don’t.”

In Little Rock, Elvis hammered “I Got a Woman” to the edge of dissolution, then reeled it in as if the music was a spell he could cast or break at will.

https://www.threepennyreview.com/elvis-again/

So cool.

A while back I shared the most in-depth comparison of Charles and Presley on that tune anywhere on the internet:


"I Got A Woman" --> Ray or Elvis? It's No Mystery!
https://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71355


It's worth a look.

[drjohncarpenter]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

It was only okay. Should have been a barn-buster, but didn't come within a mile of the Ray Charles game-changer from 1959.

It doesn't matter if his voice is on it, if the magic isn't there it'll always be second-best.

The all-out rock 'n' roll assault on the tune which Elvis delivers on stage in 1969 is pretty fu'cking good, though.

Nicely put !

I think this version tops the '69 versions !

Not for me. No audience, completely different arrangement, done a LOT closer to the 1959 Charles original.

Still a cool listen, though. He never did it like this on stage in the 1970s.

[drjohncarpenter]

Bridge over troubled water to me is a completely different song and even Paul Simon is suppose to of said how can we compete with that ,

Simon never said that.

Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was the song of the year in 1970, a #1 hit and a Grammy Award winner in 1971.

Any serious discussion today will primarily reference their single, not the live or studio covers done by Elvis.

[MikeTCB]

Right, Doc. By the way I like Elvis version of What'd I Say from Viva Las Vegas.

It was only okay. Should have been a barn-buster, but didn't come within a mile of the Ray Charles game-changer from 1959.

It doesn't matter if his voice is on it, if the magic isn't there it'll always be second-best.

The all-out rock 'n' roll assault on the tune which Elvis delivers on stage in 1969 is pretty fu'cking good, though.

Nicely put !

I think this version tops the '69 versions !

The rehearsal version is my personal favorite of all of them.

[Walter Hale 4]

I'll Hold You in My Heart ('Till I Can Hold You in My Arms) is another oft covered song since 1949 original by Eddy Arnold. Elvis' 1969 version was too long and too bland.

Probably the worst track on the From Elvis in Memphis record.