I know I keep saying this, but THIS batch of Elvis Presley Outtakes is probably my favorite of the series.
The reason THIS batch is my favorite is that it includes the famous 1969 “laughing” performance of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” I’ve posted this song before, but it’s always worth revisiting because it’s one of the funniest moments in Rock n’ Roll. I never fail to laugh along when I hear this performance… and I always seem to find something new to laugh at.
Tonight the “new thing to laugh at” is the female background singer who just keeps singing her falsetto part as Elvis loses it. When Elvis says, “Sing it, baby,” I can’t help but wonder what the look on her face was at that moment.
Legend says that the reason Elvis burst into laughter was that he saw a bald man right after he sang, “Do you gaze at your body and wish you had hair?” I guess the only people who know that are Elvis and anyone else he related the story to. Whatever the reason, it’s a priceless moment that was luckily recorded.
The last two tracks in this batch are also quite funny. “Poem” is just Elvis reciting one of his favorite poems, and “U.S. Mail” ends with some hilarious studio chatter. I’d love to see a collection of these “Bloopers” as an official release sometime.
I will say that Elvis‘ version of “Fever” wasn’t quite doing it for me. It’s probably the first (and only) song that he didn’t really sound that great on. Your thoughts?
Anyhow, it looks like we’ll hit the magic number “ten” for the amount of installments in this series, so be sure to be on the lookout for the last post!
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Your Dig-It Downloads:
Download: Your Cheatin’ Heart (alternate take)
Download: Working On the Building (takes 1-2)
Download: Working On the Building (take 5)
Download: Are You Lonesome Tonight? (live in Vegas)
Download: Fever
Download: Suspicious Minds
Download: Poem
Download: U.S. Mail (funny ending)
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Thank you… can’t wait for last post on these outtakes… (my trip to sin city) on february 15 will be awsome listening to the complete set of these tunes… once again “mil gracias camarada”…. =:)
That version of “Are you Lonesome Tonight” is my favorite. Wonder just how many times he sang that song? Can’t blame him for starting to act “goofy”. I tried to find it on YouTube, but didn’t, there’s a version were he sings “Do You Want Some Tonight?” :) I love how the players and background singers just keep going all while Elvis is losing it. I guess they figure he’ll catch up to them eventually or he won’t, one way or another the song will end….
The US Male ending is funny too. When Jerry Reed (who wrote the song) passed away last year, I was watching some tribute with interviews and stuff. He told about recording that song and Guitar Man with Elvis. They ended up getting Reed to come in and play guitar, cause Elvis’ pickers hadn’t mastered the finger picking style of Reed. If he was in the room for the recording, no wonder Elvis was cracking up, he was a funny man.
There is no zip file anymore.