RECONSIDER BABY WAS ELVIS AT HIS PELVIC THRUSTING BLUES BEST
I would need a lot more than one blog to review some of the obscure Elvis recordings which never made it out of the vault and onto popular vinyl thanks to his corrupted
self interested manager Colonel Parker, who held an artistic gun to Elvis`s head from beginning to end.
He was the one who disallowed so many of the more experimental Elvis recordings from being released due to his sheer narrowmindedness and giving into the record company moral crusaders who were unfairly targeting all rock 'n' roll as being `devil music`.
Elvis of course had a swag of hits in 1956 and 1957, pure pelvic thrusting and no nonsense rock`n`roll which made the girls scream until they passed out. But even as early as 1958, the whole genre of rock`n`roll had been stigmatised and made out to be a parents worst nightmare, because of a few controversies which didn`t even implicate the two biggest stars of rock`n`roll anyway, Elvis and Buddy Holly.
Jerry Lee Lewis might have run off with his fourteen year old cousin, and Little Richards decadent lifestyle might have been exposed, but unfortunately the ultra conservatives and the Ed Sullivan`s of america made sure that the glow of rock`n`roll didn`t make it over the horizon to the next decade, the 1960`s.
Elvis`s best mainstream rock song remains `Jailhouse Rock`, the closest he got to having a hit that captured his rock`n`roll showmanship with the real gritty blues that Elvis loved but rarely got onto the reel in the studio.
In early 1960, Elvis recorded what is one of the great blues songs, `Reconsider Baby` but legend has it that Colonel Parker wouldn`t let Elvis have his way when he and his small studio backing band recorded what Elvis knew was the ultimate take of this
old blues standard.
Not positive, but apparently the only version which people heard of `Reconsider Baby` up until the release of some rarities collections just over ten years ago was a very watered down version which Colonel Parker had made sure replaced the full blooded version which Elvis himself wanted to be released - instead of the "sanitised for moral sanctity version".
All i know is that what you hear here is Elvis backed by one of the best rock`n`roll blues band in the land, it`s simple no frills blues rock, which is characterised by some
enthusiastic drumming, smokey saxophone and of course Elvis`s deep and rich southern Baritone. It is a blues masterpiece from the king of rock`n`roll.
'Platinum'indeed! Yes, Mr E.A. Presley had a hell of of career, life and reputation. Some fact, some fiction. Timmy, I read this article and to my knowledge you're pretty much spot on man. The facts are: PARKER was or became a self absorbed prick with little regard to the real overall welfare of his 'fall in ya lap' money tree,'Elvis', this was back at 'Sunshine' records in the early 50's. Parker remained an overweight cockbiter for the rest of his life and due to self absorbed interests left Presley hanging, confused and pissed off, a toxic mix of emotions. His game fell yes, (elvis) drugs, booze, women.....yada yada. Bottom line, this guy embraced and broke down the racial musical barriers that were a sickening blight on the Americans in his perfect and prolific reign of the artistic, musical and sheer abilility he had and a humble profile that began as innocent, pure, just a boy. I judge not. As you said SULLIVAN and other racists cockbiters of the time seized, for their own 'controversy' or 'ratings' personally censored the likes of Presley, Holly, Berry, all the pioneers who adored the tunes, ballads, the feel of the true Negro blues, a masterpiece already there and beefed it some, hey, rock and roll. Ray Charles come close Man!. 'Reconsider Baby' Elvis style is superb, full stop. The full on version is a production masterpiece, pure untainted Presley, the performer, the artist. Sax, Sex and raw talent from all players. Long live 'Platinum' Buddy. I still have one in shrinkwrap. Jamie :)
ReplyDeleteJust one name, Alannah Myles
ReplyDeleteThe song Black Velvet is in my opinion the best Elvis tribute, be it song or anything else, to a man who was internally tormented by the repression of his artistic ability and press ganged into a stereotypical one genre pop factory. The Phenomenon that was Elvis really cannot be compared to anyone since even though some have had some taste of what Elvis had world wide in their own country. That one song by Alannah Myles for me sums up the feeling of Elvis' music on the listener pretty well.
Actually Alannah is a good singer and she really rocks the house with what is a country style rock act, great back up band, tight and LOUD.