JSngry

A worrthy compilation indeed. Since it's Andorran, can somebody let me know when it's been blogged as FLACs?

The legitimate sociological impact of Elvis has already been stipulated to, so this particular bluster is being totally wasted. Care to try again?

Reggie Bars were actually pretty tasty!

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Another blind spot! http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Kd_MxVi7eBk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v81LM7HNVWE

Playing along to an Elvis Sun track on a C-Melody is a form of bliss I'd never dare to as much as dream of experiencing for myself, so go along, go well, and enjoy to the fullest But do so knowing that my true blind spot (well, one of many, actually) is George Younce singing Bill Gaither: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KYRexJata8

Ok, let me say it again - the bands on Elvis's Sun & early RCA records sucked. They had no groove. Period. Find a pocket, a mutual agreement as to where the beat is. I dare you. And Elvis himself...no faults with his voice per se, but...all of his "influences" did what they did far better than he did. The Sun Sessions are some of the most overrated "landmark" recordings of the 20th century. Aimless meandering by the band, narcissistic directionless ramblings by the singer. "Different"? sure. But "musically significant" (as opposed to sociologically important)? I bought the 197? RCA issue of them desperately hoping to find some Deep Secret Meaning Of Elvis that had evaded me since...1962 or so and...nope. Not there. Not even slightly. Then again, everybody likes something, and a lot of people like this. But so what? They liked Reagan and Freddie Martin too.

Same here, including this one. FWIW, Willie The Lion was very complimentary towards Brubeck in a DB BFT. Don't remember exactly what or why, but I think it was something about the strong left hand and the conviction with which he played. But maybe not.

Ok, so who was the Harry Kemp of jazz? Or are there too may to mention?

Revisited the Ray Mantilla Inner City album a few days ago (for get the name, was it Space Station?) and was very pleasantly surprised by the overall content, and by Steig's contributions in particular. Worth checking out, imo. (add - Space Station was just the name of the group. The album was called Mantilla. Now available a finer Bastids everywhere: http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=g5frbcsvpj&ref=browse.php&refQ=kwfilter%3Dray%2Bmantilla%26amp%3Bincl_oos%3D1%26amp%3Bincl_cs%3D1

The lady had skills and was much respected here. RIP.

It doesn't matter if Elvis really "invented" rock n' roll (my money's on Chuck Berry, personally). The point is that he was LISTENING to blues and R&B recordings. He listened to them, he incorporated them into his style to the point that they were no longer JUST blues or R&B, and he made them into something that was a unique expression. You don't have to like it. But obviously a lot of people do... The fact that you choose not to believe in a god due to lack of evidence is a rational enough choice. The fact that anybody believes in Elvis, even, no, especially, with the evidence, calls into question their basic ability to claim rationality in any aspect of life, especially the important ones. And that, Dear Friends, is the White Mentality towards Black Music in a nutshell. 50,000,000 Elvis fans can't be wrong, but a damn good many of them can be. And are.

Is his Ellington biography still in print?

Elvis needs you far more than you need him, whatever you may have convinced yourself to the contrary. Then again, maybe not. But I shudder to think that there is that much tragedy in the world, real or imagined.

There's also a world of aromas in every defecation, but I've got better things to do that cruise the world's sewer systems...

Poor Elvis!

To the extent that this is the reality (and historically it is), it is as much an industry-fed reality as it is is anything. And there were better outcomes to be had, musically, socially, every way, not the least being the shit actually swinging, which none of the "legendary" sun sides come even remotely close to doing in any way - black, hillbilly, Dean Martin, any way. That shit is disjointed, disconnected and without the Sun slapback would be damn near incoherent time-wise.

Actually...a case could have been made for Captain Beefheart, at least visually...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterbeans_and_Susie

What did Elvis do to "invent" rock-and-roll? Let's see... Be a white guy who "sang like a black guy"? No he didn't. Not even close. Any why was/is this such an urgent "need" for white people anyway? Sing country with a "bluesy" touch? Again, no, he didn't. And that touch was already in there, and had been for a loooong time (relative to the recording industry, anyway). Incorporate a Dean Martin influence into redneck music? Sorry, there was only one Dean Martin, and I'm not sure that his influence needed incorporating anywhere. It was fine as/where it was. Give Southern Rednecks a sense of empowerment on the "national stage"? Yeah, absolutely. but that's sociology, not music. Besides, I "love" it how so many people who have absolutely no use for Southern Rednecks - or the result of their empowerment - fall all over themselves to praise Elvis. Y'all stupid, or what? As far as Southern Gospel goes - please. I had the hellacious blessing/curse of hearing this stuff regularly for too many years, all of them formative. Those who did it well did it significantly better than Elvis, and those most of those who who did it worse still convey a greater sense of meaning it. Elvis was a pawn, a narcissistic pussy, a not full nor real man. A mamma's boy who took the easy road the first time it came to him in every way. Put it this way - my life is on the line, and I have the choice between a drunk George Jones with a .22 & Elvis driving a tank. 101%, I'm heading towards Possum. Elvis is The Chump's Choice.

Oh please...that's a lie and a crock of shit.

Or not. Have you actually listened to that crap stuff rather than being "awed" by it retroactively? There is no time, no pocket, no groove, and Elvis, for all his flaunted multiplicity of "influences" sounds like nothing more than a redneck momma's boy with an above-average gift for barely average mimicing. Don't believe the hype. Elvis as "sociology", ok, legit. See the beginnings of the "Southern Strategy" unfold before your very eyes, ears, heaving stomach, etc. Elvis as actual "music of significance"? Only in a world where people need "something like that" to be significant. Not my world, now, then, and hopefully never.

I always liked "The Straw That Stirs The Drink" myself. Vaguely Sinatra-esque.

Elvis was a hero to most, etc. Elvis + Elton John = Why Certain White People Playing Rock Music should all be killed before they are born. The key word there being Certain. A freak talent (of sorts) who became a "star" for all the wrong reasons, and who became a legend so all the wrong reasons could continue to exist. Granted, rock would not be the same without Elvis, but I do feel confident in saying that it would have been better. That people "of a certain age" are genuinely affected by this guy is understandable enough, but to expose one's child to it crosses the line into blatant child abuse and emotional cruelty. CPS should be notified immediately.