1993

Review: BACK IN MEMPHIS CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this review back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Back In Memphis (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis and Chips Moman. Recorded January 13-23 and February 17-21, 1969, American Sound Studios (Memphis). Released: November 1970. Re-released: 1992 (CD).

Back In Memphis was the second album released from Elvis’ early 1969 Memphis sessions that produced some of his best studio work. The contents of Back In Memphis had been previously released in November 1969 as Record Two of the double album From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis.

As was typical of his entire career, Elvis performs a variety of musical styles on this album, and as usual, pulls it off with perfection. His best performances on Back In Memphis are “Inherit The Wind,” “Stranger In My Own Home Town,” and “You’ll Think Of Me.”

However, Elvis’ best recordings from the Memphis sessions had already been released either as singles or on the first album, From Elvis In Memphis, and when compared to those works, Back In Memphis is a slight disappointment.

Songs:

  1. “Inherit The Wind”
  2. “This Is The Story”
  3. “Stranger In My Own Home Town”
  4. “A Little Bit Of Green”
  5. “And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind”
  6. “Do You Know Who I Am”
  7. “From A Jack To A King”
  8. “The Fair’s Moving On”
  9. “You’ll Think Of Me”
  10. “Without Love”

Rating: 7 out of 10

[The Elvis Beat newsletter] Coming Soon. . .

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Coming Soon. . .

Elvis In Hollywood: A documentary to be released on television and home video later this year. It will examine Elvis’ first four films and highlight his underrated acting talent. “With rare photographs, truly never-before-seen private film footage, and interviews with surviving crew members and co-stars, Elvis In Hollywood will take you on a wonderful, insightful journey behind the scenes of Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, and King Creole,” states Graceland Express. The documentary, produced by Jerry Schilling, will also include some previously unreleased Jailhouse Rock outtakes.

ELVIS: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – The 60s Sessions: A new CD boxed set to be released in August. This is the follow-up to last year’s ELVIS: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Complete 50s Masters, which went platinum and received three Grammy nominations.

America Comes To Graceland: A syndicated documentary to be aired on television August 15. Although it will be hosted live from Graceland, the broadcast will primarily consist of footage shot during Elvis Week ’92.

The Life And Times Of Elvis Presley: A companion piece to America Comes To Graceland that is to air in syndication the same week. This is an updated version of a 1987 BBC documentary which aired in two parts as Cut Me And I Bleed and I Don’t Sing Like Nobody.

 

Elvis and the Colonel: Clark takes jabs at Parker [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Dick Clark, executive producer of the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, launched an attack against Colonel Tom Parker during a January press tour promoting the American Music Awards.

“I’ve held that story for 20 years,” he said. “I wanted it told so badly because it’s the classic example of horrendous mismanagement. Elvis was a great talent, a national treasure.”

He went on to state some facts about Colonel Parker’s mismanagement of Elvis’ career. The comments were out of character for Clark, who almost never comments negatively on anyone. He has been inside the music industry for over 40 years, launching the careers of countless performers, and his influence is a contributing factor in the continued popularity of rock music.

Clark is a genuine rock ‘n’ roll legend and must have many more horror stories to tell, yet this is the first time he has truly opened up.

“It’s my contention that had Elvis been handled properly and had loved ones around him who really cared, who weren’t just sucking his blood dry, he might be alive today,” he said.

These comments lead one to wonder how Clark could have possibly been satisfied by Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, a poorly-made movie which did little to bring down the Colonel and instead made Elvis a villain. [Perhaps] this movie somehow got away from Clark, and, before he knew it, his original idea had been transformed into the fiasco which aired on NBC in January.

“(Parker) kept (Elvis) in a cage like an animal. He trotted him out like a trained bear,” Clark said. “Oopsy daisy. Stop. Time. I can’t say these things. You draw your own conclusions.”

See Elvis and the Colonel review on page 10.

Elvis and the Colonel: Buried In His Part [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter. I have edited out segments where I was overly harsh against this actor, as I now realize he was just trying to do a job even if I disliked the results.

Robb Youngblood gave an awful performance as “Elvis” in the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story. Judging from recent interviews, Youngblood seems to feel that his portrayal of Elvis will jumpstart his [. . .] career.

“I’ve been struggling as an actor,” Youngblood said. [. . . .] “Until two years ago, I waited tables and tended bar. But hopefully I won’t have to do that anymore,” he said. [. . . .]

Youngblood was chosen from over 1,000 actors who auditioned for the role of “Elvis.” He insists that he did not get the part just because of his resemblance to Elvis. [. . . .]

Youngblood holds the “distinction” of being the first actor in a major US production to portray Elvis in his coffin, a fact which he is proud of. Although he was at his acting best during that scene, Youngblood could not even keep his eyelids from moving slightly.

Not only does Youngblood hope Elvis and the Colonel will help his acting career, he also hopes the movie will help start his singing career, for he also sang about half of the songs in the movie, while lip-synching the rest. He refuses to identify which of the songs he sang. They are easy to identify when one remembers that the rest of the songs were recorded by Ronnie McDowell, who has musical talent. [. . . .]

Youngblood has apparently recorded a country music album and said, “I hope to have that out in the spring, soon enough after this movie so it gives me some bounce.” [. . . .]

Elvis and the Colonel: The Way It Was [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

One mistake after another occurred in the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, which aired in January. On the rare occasions when the movie’s makers did decide to check their sources, it appears the only reference they bothered to use was the 1979 TV movie Elvis starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter.

Below is a listing of some of the many factual errors which appeared in Elvis and the Colonel:

  • “Elvis” is shown giving his mother a pink cadillac after they were already living at Graceland. In reality, Elvis gave her the car in 1956, while they did not move into Graceland until May 1957.
  • “Elvis” is shown in Elvis and the Colonel filming the movie Change of Habit in the 1950s. In actuality, Change of Habit was filmed in 1969 and was his last acting role.
  • “Colonel Parker” mentions that “Elvis”‘ gold cadillac could be toured while he was in the Army. The real Elvis did not even purchase the gold car until after his service in the Army.
  • Preparations for the taping of the 1968 ELVIS television special (now known as ELVIS: ’68 Comeback Special) are shown occurring in November of 1968. In reality, the special was taped in June of 1968.
  • The ELVIS special is a live broadcast in the movie. In actuality, ELVIS, as mentioned above, was taped in June 1968 and did not air until December of that year. It was the 1973 television special Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii that was broadcast live to some locations around the world.
  • “Elvis” is shown singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” in a white, double-breasted suit during the ELVIS television special. In reality, “If I Can Dream” was the only song Elvis performed in the special wearing that suit.
  • “Heartbreak Hotel” in the movie concludes the ELVIS special. In actuality, “If I Can Dream” was the final song sung by Elvis in the special.
  • “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) opens “Elvis”‘ opening night performance in July 1969 at the Las Vegas International Hotel in the movie. The fact is, the real Elvis did not begin using “Also Sprach Zarathustra” until 1971.
  • “Elvis” wears a white jumpsuit for the July 1969 opening performance in the movie. In reality, Elvis wore a simple black outfit for his first concert in years. The jumpsuit worn by the actor is a distorted version of one worn by Elvis in the film Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, which was from an August 1970 performance.
  • “Elvis” sings “The Wonder Of You” at the 1969 concert in the movie, while the song was not really performed by Elvis until 1970.
  • “Elvis” is shown extremely overweight by September of 1971 in the movie, which escalates until a 1973 performance in which he appears obese. In reality, Elvis was at or near his ideal weight during these years, as proven by video and photographs.
  • “Elvis” is shown in the movie complaining to “Colonel Parker” about turning down A Star Is Born in August 1973. In actuality, Elvis had not yet been offered a role in this 1976 movie.
  • “Elvis” and “Priscilla” never divorce in the film! Despite the fact that the real couple divorced in October 1973, the movie “Elvis” tells of a nightmare in July 1976 in which he dreamed that “Priscilla” had left him. In a 1981 courtroom scene, the judge refers to “Elvis” as “Priscilla”‘s late “husband,” instead of “ex-husband.”

Return to Sender [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this piece back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

After the release of the Elvis stamp in January, it appears that many Elvis fans spontaneously came up with the same idea. The US Postal Service noticed a significant increase in the number of letters which could not be delivered, and thus had to be marked “Return To Sender.” Elvis fans have been affixing the stamp to envelopes made out to phony addresses in order to receive a special, one-of-a-kind collectible when the letter was returned. “Return To Sender” was a number two hit for Elvis in 1962 and was written by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott.

Here is a sample, fake address fans may want to use:

Elvis Presley
Heartbreak Hotel
1835 Lonely Street
Nothingville, Kingrock 81677

Although not quite true to the lyrics of the song, my letter came back marked: “Returned to Sender. No such street. No such number. No such office.”

New Elvis movie CDs released [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this piece back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

A new Elvis compact disc series from RCA has begun. Each disc in the “Elvis Double Features” series contains two complete movie soundtracks.

The first four to be released are:

  • Kid Galahad/Girls, Girls, Girls
  • Viva Las Vegas/Roustabout
  • It Happened At The World’s Fair/Fun In Acapulco
  • Harum Scarum/Girl Happy