Obviously, I can’t say everything I want to say about Elvis’ music in one post, so there will most definitely be more, so stay tuned. 🙂
In twenty-three years, Elvis recorded almost a thousand songs, although the number that was actually released during his lifetime was just over seven-hundred. Thanks to Elvis radio, I have the opportunity to hear a lot of those rare recordings and outtakes where Elvis was himself, and he was human, and having fun with the guys. I love the ones where he is laughing–his adorable, sexy, infectious laugh. The people who worked with him said he had a talent for arrangements and was a perfectionist, who would keep at it until he had the recording just the way he wanted. They also say he could memorize lyrics more quickly than anyone they’d ever known. It’s funny that, even with Elvis’ unparalleled fame and popularity, the only music he ever won awards for was his gospel. I’ve never been able to figure that out.
One thing I love about Elvis music is that it spanned so many genres. With blues, country, rock, pop, soul, and gospel, there’s something for everyone. I have three children, who all ‘like’ Elvis, but my twenty-one-year-old son, Presley, LOVES Elvis. I didn’t force it on him, even with the name, I promise. 🙂 He actually could have grown up resenting me for the name, but he is proud of it, and truly loves Elvis. He’s on a cruise right now, and he called me last night to ask me about the lyrics to Jailhouse Rock. He wasn’t sure he could remember them all. I remembered them, but not exactly in order. (I know, it’s shameless, but we only had a few minutes to talk, and I was under pressure to hurry, and that song has a lot of short verses. It’s hard to remember the correct order.) Presley was a finalist in a Karaoke contest (in which he’d earlier sung Suspicious Minds) and was going to be singing Jailhouse Rock in the finals. After we hung up, a memory came to me of when he was around fifteen months old, and he was slapping his little hand on the stereo saying ‘Wock, wock,’ wanting me to play Jailhouse Rock. I did, and he started dancing and bobbing his head and snapping his fingers. SO freakin’ cute! (I have it on home video. It’s precious!)
Oddly, some of my favorite Elvis songs are the lesser known ones; many of them only a true Elvis fan would have heard. I re-discovered this one recently, and was struck once again by just how beautiful his voice really was. It gave me chills.
This is one of my favorites of Elvis’ early recordings, Love Me. There’s something about the way he starts the song, that first line, that makes me weak all over. 🙂 Enjoy this adorable video of him singing the song on the Ed Sullivan show.
Over the years, Elvis’ music had brought me a great deal of joy. It sounds odd, but if I’m stressed or upset, I can listen to his music, and it makes me feel better.
I have a confession to make, though. I don’t ‘love’ every song Elvis ever did. Even some of his most popular ones were not my favorites; such as Love Me Tender, Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes. I know, I know, I should be ashamed. 🙂 However, there were plenty of his songs that I DO love, obviously. I could list them, but we don’t have all day, right?
What about you? What are some of your favorite Elvis songs?
Author Alicia Dean 
Well, I have to admit “Love Me Tender” IS one of my fav Elvis songs. In fact, as a young teen, I played it so many times (45–small record single with the big hole for phonograph) that I wore another hole in it! Love the one he sings here. I think he’s at his best with the slow, sad songs. Thanks for the post –and the memories!
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A lot of people loved Love Me Tender, and I definitely don’t dislike it, it’s just not my fave. Yeah, I love his slow, sad ballads, and his sexy, growly bluesy stuff. 🙂
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Favorites out of 700? Yikes! Would have to be Love Me Tender and Blue Hawaii. Enjoyed the post!
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I know, it’s impossible to really pick my favorite. But, I have ones that are at the top of my list. 🙂
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Like you, I’m a huge Elvis fan, always have been. There are a few songs from his early days that I will listen to, but are not considered as my favorites. I know, for shame! My favorites though are:
Polk Salad Annie
Stranger In My Own Home Town
Three Corn Patches
See See Rider
For The Good Times
Gentle on My Mind
Never Been to Spain
I Just Can’t Help Believing
American Trilogy
Inherit the Wind
A Little Bit of Green
And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
You’ll Never Walk Alone
And that’s just to name a few. 😉 I could go on, but this is your blog, not mine! Lol!! I enjoy reading your ramblings about Elvis. It’s nice to know there’s another person who gets it!
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Ha! You are a true fan to know those songs!!! Yes, You’ll Never Walk Alone brings tears to my eyes. Gorgeous. Love Stranger In My Own Home Town, Inherit the Wind, great one. All of these are excellent. 🙂 I definitely ‘get it.’ And, you’re free to go on as much as you would like. I also love How the Web Was Woven, and True Love Travels on a Gravel Road, there’s a really awesome outtake of True Love, where it sounds like he’s almost making sex noises, LOL. LOVE IT! 🙂 Some of the older songs that I loved were the bluesy kind of sexy ones like Lawdy Miss Clawdy, One Night, Reconsider Baby, Don’t Leave Me Now, When It Rains It Really Pours…etc, etc. Thanks for stopping by…so nice to visit with Elvis fans.
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I like In The Ghetto. Something about that song has always gotten to me.
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Ah, yes, me too. Beautiful, sad song. It’s one of my son’s favorites. Did you know Mac Davis wrote it? He wrote a lot of awesome songs, many recorded by Elvis. Have you heard the version where Elvis’ daughter sings with him? Of course, her voice was dubbed in later, since she was 9 when he died. It’s gorgeous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWg2vLEyRZc
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I didn’t know Mac Davis wrote it. I agree, he wrote a lot of great songs. Thanks for including the YouTube link. That was beautiful. There was a song Elvis sang that had something to do with a country road (not Country Roads, the John Denver song). It’s slow and almost mournful. I’ll bet you know the name. 🙂
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Hmmm, Diane. Nothing is coming to me right now. Unless it’s True Love Travels on a Gravel Road. Yes, Mac Davis actually wrote a few of Elvis’ songs, Don’t Cry Daddy and A Little Less Conversation are a few more.
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Thanks for sharing this, Alicia! I liked the clip from the Ed Sullivan Show. There is just something about him. I think it’s the humbleness. You feel like it would just be fun to hang out with him sometime.
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You’re welcome, M.J. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I agree. Many people who knew him personally said he was very down to earth and make everyone feel comfortable.
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Great post, Alicia! Like Diana, one of my favorites has always been “In the Ghetto,” also “Suspicious Minds.” My husband (another huge Elvis fan) was always puzzled by the lack of national awards, too. I think they have a big element of politics, not to mention vote-buying. The fans voted with their record purchases, that’s for sure.
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Thanks, Leah. Yes, indeed, the fans spoke loudly and clearly. 🙂
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