Essential Elvis Vol.5: Rhythm and Country
Essential Elvis Vol.5: Rhythm and Country
Not so much an essential Elvis disc, as the series name suggests, but one for the completists or the curious. These alternate takes, recorded at Memphis’ Stax Studios in 1973, saw Presley attempt to fuse southern soul with hard-edged country in a way that would appeal commercially. With many Stax musicians on board there is certainly rhythm, but Elvis’s lounge-style crooning disguises much of the country element–even though Tony Joe White supplied two tunes in “I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby” and “For Ol’ Times Sake”. He turns on the romantic charm on a good version of “She Wears My Ring” and lets the band rip out on Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land”. The compilers have also thoughtfully included lots of inter-song chat, which generally serves as a warning about what eating too many cheeseburgers does to the brain. –Tim Perry
Customer Review: Funky Blues & Cool Country!
There are several things that make this cd special.
1.Sound is simply amazing, I would rate it higher then ‘30 No1 Hits’, when it comes down to 70’s material.
Just like it’s recorded yesterday. You can hear clearly every single instrument in studio. It Rocks!
2.Atmosfere from the studio.
Elvis is giving ‘hard time’ to everyone present, with his choice of Hillbilly & Opera favourites in between takes and his humour.
Elvis is obviously in good mood and his voice is great.
3.Songs are recorded in famous Stax studio.
Only James Burton participated in recordings from standard band, with musicians from Stax & American Studios present.
No overdubs here.
New production makes great funky numbers like
‘ I Got A Feelin’ In My Body ‘, ‘Find Out What’s Happening ‘, ‘If You Don’t Come Back ‘ and ‘Promised Land ‘
sound enormously better then on original releases.
Slower numbers like ‘I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby’, ‘Girl Of Mine ‘ are more pleasant to hear in such a superb sound.
Acoustic spanish guitar on ‘Spanish Eyes’ sounds tremendous!
3 Design and booklet are done by ‘Peacock, London’ and are great, with very cool photos.
This is rare moment when it comes down to Elvis cd’s.
You can even read how Elvis brought in large TV sets to watch footbal, then ordered for 300 hamburgers to be put in empty boxes
and finaly give leftovers to the kids hanging around the studio.
I would also recomend all cd’s in Essential Elvis series, with great alternate performances & lovely designe,
but this is one of the best produced Elvis cd’s ever.
Customer Review: Rhythm, Country, Funk & Soul
Before reviewing this CD I must first say that this is the very best sounding Elvis CD on the market. I own over 200 Elvis CD, and yes this sounds amazingly full and beefy with every part of the band heard crystal clear.
Ok, the music. Stax studios, Memphis 1973; and Elvis was recording some stunnning new material. The first Stax session, a few months previous were a disaster. Elvis, unwell and uninterested, technical problems and about 75% rubbish songs.
No matter, as this glimpse of the King in the studio finds him back at his very best.
Definately some of these alternate takes are rough around the edges and not as good as the originals; but thats the whole point of the CD. It’s a look at a specific session and showing off the alternate takes and what evolved into being the master takes.
This is a fabulous release, and although they are alternate there will be some takes that are preferable to the master takes e.g. in this case; “She Wears My Ring” and “If You Don’t Come Back.” The latter, is stunning, funky soul and sounding 100% better than the original, simply because of the afforementioned superior sound.
Also listen out for the between take banter, including Elvis with an operatic “la la la” version of “Surrender” plus singing parts of other songs that he has never recorded….hopefully takes of these will be found.
Elvis also cut a few takes of Waylon Jenning’s excellent “We Had It All”, and it’s a pity that this has never surfaced.
The Stax sessions produced some of the very very best music of his career. Check out the “Promised Land” album for further proof of this.
The Essential Elvis series has been a treasure trove for fans, especially this plus volumes 4 & 6.
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