Elvis Day

All Those Lonely Times: Elvis Presley’s 20 Best Country Songs

/ TY / 8 Comments

“You see, country music was always a part of the influence on my type of music, anyway. It’s a combination of country music and gospel and rhythm & blues. All combined, that’s what it really was. As a child, I was influenced by all of that. […] Of course, the Grand Ole Opry was the first thing I ever heard, probably, but I liked the blues, and I liked the gospel music – gospel quartets and all that.” –Elvis Presley, 1970

Elvis at the Houston Astrodome, 1970

Elvis discussing country music at the Houston Astrodome, 1970

Elvis would have turned 79 today. In honor of the anniversary of his birth, here is a ranking of what I consider his 20 best country music recordings.

#1 Always On My Mind [Rehearsal] (1972)
This Is Elvis
Other notable version: 1972 Master (Separate Ways)

#2 Tryin’ To Get To You (1955)
Elvis Presley
Other notable performance: 1968 Live [rock ‘n’ roll version] (A Life In Music)

#3 I Really Don’t Want To Know (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable versions: 1970 Undubbed Master (I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country [2008 FTD Edition]), 1977 Live (Elvis In Concert)

#4 Kentucky Rain (1969)
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1
Other notable version: 1970 Live (Elvis Aron Presley)

#5 Tomorrow Never Comes (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable version: 1970 Take 2 (The Nashville Marathon)

#6 Funny How Time Slips Away (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1972 Rehearsal (Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals)

#7 Don’t Cry Daddy (1969)
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1
Other notable versions: 1970 Live (Greatest Hits, Volume One), 1970 Live (Polk Salad Annie)

#8 Guitar Man (1967)
Clambake
Other notable performances: 1967 Undubbed/Unedited Master (Elvis Sings Guitar Man), 1968 Re-recording [rock ‘n’ roll version] (ELVIS-TV Special [Track 1]), 1968 Live [rock ‘n’ roll version] (Burbank 68), 1967 Take 5 (Elvis Sings Guitar Man)

#9 Early Morning Rain (1971)
Elvis Now
Other notable version: 1973 Re-recording (Mahalo From Elvis)

#10 Bringing It Back (1975)
Today

#11 Separate Ways (1972)
Separate Ways
Other notable version: 1972 Rehearsal (Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals)

#12 It’s Midnight (1973)
Promised Land

#13 Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues (1973)
Good Times
Other notable versions: 1973 Undubbed/Unedited Master (Good Times [2009 FTD Edition]), 1973 Take 7 (Good Times [2009 FTD Edition])

#14 You Don’t Know Me (1967)
Clambake

#15 Long Black Limousine (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis

#16 Pieces Of My Life (1975)
Today
Other notable version: 1975 Rough Session Mix (Today [2005 FTD Edition])

#17 Make The World Go Away (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable versions: 1970 Take 3 (Welcome To My World), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition])

#18 For Ol’ Times Sake (1973)
Raised On Rock

#19 Clean Up Your Own Backyard [Undubbed Master] (1968)
Double Features: Live A Little, Love A Little/Charro/The Trouble With Girls/Change Of Habit
Other notable versions: 1980 Remix (Guitar Man), 1968 Master (Almost In Love)

#20 You Asked Me To [Take 2B] (1973)
Rhythm & Country
Other notable version: 1973 Master (Promised Land)

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While it is fun to make themed lists, a performance does not always fit within a definitive genre, particularly when it comes to Elvis music. Some of these selections, therefore, may not be considered “strictly country.” When in doubt, refer to the Elvis quote at the top of this post.

Happy Elvis Day 2014, everyone! May the Music be with you, always.

Happy Elvis Day 2012

/ TY / 16 Comments

Elvis rehearsing in 1970

Today is the 77th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley. Celebrate it well!

* * *

Time sure does fly. It was back to work last week, and now it will be back to school this week. If all goes well, this should be my last semester. Though I have enjoyed the experience, it will be nice to have the time back to do other things – such as write.

I did manage to find some time to read during my winter break, including one book about Elvis that I hope to review soon.

I have also started the process of cleaning out a spare bedroom, and I found something fun in there yesterday – an archive of newsletters that I created for an official Elvis fan club that I ran from 1992-1997. I was 16-years-old when I started that fan club on January 8, 1992.

As I’ve said before, the “club” was really just an excuse to create a newsletter about Elvis. That means I’ve now been writing about him for twenty years, unbelievable.

I released the first issue of that newsletter in March 1992, so I’m planning to share some of that content with you beginning in March of this year. It is funny to see how my writing and opinions have changed (or not) since that time.

* * *

Have a fantastic Elvis Day, everyone!

Elvis – thanks for the music.

Happy Elvis Day 2011

/ TY / 8 Comments

As you probably know, today would have been Elvis Presley’s 76th birthday. Do you do anything special to celebrate Elvis Day? When I was in high school, I made it a point to watch That’s The Way It Is and the ’68 Comeback Special on VHS. Sometimes, I threw in One Night With You and Aloha From Hawaii if I had enough time.

Though I will sometimes pull out a DVD or two, these days I usually just try to fit in as much Elvis listening as possible. For instance, I’ve had my iPod set to play all Elvis all the time since Thursday. [Now playing is “Love Me” from the August 12, 1970, Midnight Show, on That’s The Way It Is (2000 Special Edition).]

Twenty-four years from now, it will be the 100th anniversary of Elvis’ birth. If I am fortunate enough to still be on this Earth and relatively healthy by then, I plan to spend January 8, 2035, in Tupelo, Mississippi. I can’t think of a better place to be on that day. By then, I will be approaching 60 years old, while The Mystery Train Elvis Blog will be approaching post #3,000. I’m not sure which of those numbers scares me more.

Wherever you happen to be this year, and however you choose to celebrate, I hope you enjoy Elvis Day 2011.