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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Nov 18, 2004 14:09:30 GMT -5
It's been awhile since we had one of these, and this is a short one.
I was reading an older issue of Goldmine that was dedicated to Elvis. There was an interview with his drummer from the 70's, Ronnie Tutt.
Ronnie says Elvis was disappointed with most of his material he was given in the 70's (see, it wasn't his fault) and one day he pulled Ronnie upstairs and played him a record. Ronnie says it was either Three Dog Night or Led Zeppelin and Elvis said, "Why can't my songs sound like that?"
WOW!!!!
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Nov 18, 2004 15:16:44 GMT -5
Great story, Adam! It would seem that it wasn't his fault. Elvis had been the pop/rock music standard by which all others were measured for about 8 years (56-64). Then the invasion, and Elvis kinda slipped nearly out of sight. When he came back in the late 60s, his audience was defined (likely by his managers) as the middle aged set. He therefore became a lounge act, basically. Lounge acts don't do Three Dog Night or Led Zep. So Elvis actually had to develop a different image and a different style. How different it might have been if Elvis had instead been given the material that allowed him to compete as a rocker. He may have failed miserably, or he may have been wildly successful. We'll never know.
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Nov 18, 2004 15:21:34 GMT -5
Great story, Adam! It would seem that it wasn't his fault. Elvis had been the pop/rock music standard by which all others were measured for about 8 years (56-64). Then the invasion, and Elvis kinda slipped nearly out of sight. When he came back in the late 60s, his audience was defined (likely by his managers) as the middle aged set. He therefore became a lounge act, basically. Lounge acts don't do Three Dog Night or Led Zep. So Elvis actually had to develop a different image and a different style. How different it might have been if Elvis had instead been given the material that allowed him to compete as a rocker. He may have failed miserably, or he may have been wildly successful. We'll never know. The same article also said that a few weeks before his death, he said he sortof had a "wake up call" and wanted to get back into shape.  |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Nov 18, 2004 17:15:31 GMT -5
The same article also said that a few weeks before his death, he said he sortof had a "wake up call" and wanted to get back into shape. I remember reading that when he was young, Elvis was in really good shape. I remember back in the day there was a story about the boyfriend of an avid Elvis fan getting pissed off at "losing" his girlfriend to Elvis, and attacking him. Elvis apparently beat the crap out of the guy. |
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Nov 18, 2004 17:22:56 GMT -5
I remember reading that when he was young, Elvis was in really good shape. I remember back in the day there was a story about the boyfriend of an avid Elvis fan getting pissed off at "losing" his girlfriend to Elvis, and attacking him. Elvis apparently beat the crap out of the guy. I think even before he learned karate, he knew how to handle himself. Look at the fight scene in Loving You. I know he was acting, but he did it pretty well! I wonder, even if he did "hip" music, if he would be accepted since his look was so out of touch (the slicked back hair, etc). |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Nov 18, 2004 17:41:18 GMT -5
I wonder, even if he did "hip" music, if he would be accepted since his look was so out of touch (the slicked back hair, etc). You make a good point. I don't think I could picture Elvis with hair down to his shoulders.  |
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Post by Ken on Nov 18, 2004 19:27:22 GMT -5
It's been awhile since we had one of these, and this is a short one. I was reading an older issue of Goldmine that was dedicated to Elvis. There was an interview with his drummer from the 70's, Ronnie Tutt. Ronnie says Elvis was disappointed with most of his material he was given in the 70's (see, it wasn't his fault) and one day he pulled Ronnie upstairs and played him a record. Ronnie says it was either Three Dog Night or Led Zeppelin and Elvis said, "Why can't my songs sound like that?" WOW!!!! Wow is right! I read what you wrote to Ed about Elvis being more hip and would he have been accepted. I don't know - maybe some of his fan base would have went along. But remember when Rick Nelson tried to change and got into country /rock and he had longer hair? it seemed from what I've read alot of his fan base were not happy. |
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Post by Dawn on Nov 21, 2004 10:14:33 GMT -5
Great story!
I really like most of Elvis' '70s material, but as Ed pointed out, it does seem as though he was kind of caught between genres in his comeback era and had to develop a new style. Vocally, I think he could have been a great success as a rocker, but like you all, I can't quite picture it image-wise.
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Nov 22, 2004 18:20:24 GMT -5
Wow is right! I read what you wrote to Ed about Elvis being more hip and would he have been accepted. I don't know - maybe some of his fan base would have went along. But remember when Rick Nelson tried to change and got into country /rock and he had longer hair? it seemed from what I've read alot of his fan base were not happy. Excellent analogy about Rick, Ken. I think you hit it right on.  |
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Post by Ken on Nov 22, 2004 19:16:16 GMT -5
Excellent analogy about Rick, Ken. I think you hit it right on. Thanks Ed |
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