It's Elvis, For ****'s Sake!

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 16 Aug 2007 5:23 pm

I can't believe that the 30th anniversary of the death of the most iconic artist in popular music of the 20th century has been virtually ignored here.

I am depressed.

Arch.

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 16 Aug 2007 7:42 pm

Arch, it's about time they let the man Rest In Peace, they've been reserrecting him now for 30 years.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 16 Aug 2007 8:55 pm

I was never an Elvis fan, although my kids like him. I wonder how that happened?

Joe Harwell · Post by **Joe Harwell** » 16 Aug 2007 10:14 pm

He shouldn't have let his steel player go, Arch.

What was that ol' boy's name???? hmm?

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 17 Aug 2007 7:20 am

Fox News reported this morning that as of 6 AM eastern time, Elvis was still dead.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 17 Aug 2007 8:10 am

Joe Harwell wrote:He shouldn't have let his steel player go, Arch.

What was that ol' boy's name???? hmm?

That would be Jimmy Day.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Aug 2007 8:15 am

Joe Harwell · Post by **Joe Harwell** » 17 Aug 2007 9:52 am

b0b wrote:
Joe Harwell wrote:He shouldn't have let his steel player go, Arch.

What was that ol' boy's name???? hmm?
That would be Jimmy Day.

Yes indeed. That would be him.

After he took his guitar down to the local body shop for a pink and black paint job,
he was let go because Elvis was going to pursue a new style of music that would not be needing steel.

My teacher bought that guitar before Jimmy left for Nashville
and as soon as he picked up his new guitar from some new upstart builders with a company by the name of Sho-Bud,
he shipped it back by bus to my teacher.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 17 Aug 2007 5:34 pm

I didn't know Elvis was a dumb a@@!
I was never an Elvis fan, he was not an originator like Bill Haley or Fat's or Little Richard he just happened to be there at the right time.

Joe Harwell · Post by **Joe Harwell** » 17 Aug 2007 6:24 pm

It was probably a corporate decision....
...downsizing and all that stuff.

But that event led him to Nashville.

That's a great picture of Jimmy.

And Elvis.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 18 Aug 2007 11:21 am

Doug, and Bo, if you need even more proof after all these decades of the obvious, check out the Big/gest E's version of Old McDonald Had A Farm, included in an NPR article containing some other outstanding singers doing thier own E thing.

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12712157

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 18 Aug 2007 10:23 pm

I dunno, guys. I think Elvis defined the genre of early rock and roll and rockabilly, and did it better than anybody, IMO. I think most everybody was heavily emulating Elvis back in those days. The only possible contender would be Chuck Berry, who really had his own thing going pretty much concurrently.

Of course, there were people like Louis Jordan, Joe Liggins, and Joe Turner who really set the stage for rock and roll. Carl Perkins and Bill Haley were great, but never really put the whole mixed-form blues + R&B + country = rockabilly package together like Elvis did. Most everybody else came later.

As far as anniversary remembrances go - that whole thing has turned into such a circus-freak sideshow that I want nothing to do with it. My guess is lots of other people feel the same way. It's been 30 years, let's give it a rest.

All my opinions, of course.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 19 Aug 2007 1:37 am

Joe Harwell wrote:He shouldn't have let his steel player go, Arch.

What was that ol' boy's name???? hmm?

Well on Blue Hawaii and other Hawaiian numbers it was Freddie Tavares and Alvino Rey.
See :- http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/003629.html

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 19 Aug 2007 11:50 am

Bingo, Dave! And, then he re-invented himself in the late 60's and with the Vegas TV show, which set the stage for his sequined era, which was every bit as good as the classic 50's stuff, just different.

Nobody touches the King!

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 19 Aug 2007 12:52 pm

I think Elvis had a GREAT voice,was a GREAT showman,was also a generous,kind hearted man,But PLEASE,PLEASE, don't call him the king of rock and roll,There is only ONE that crown fits.JERRY LEE.That is a fact and is not debatable.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 19 Aug 2007 5:43 pm

PLEASE,PLEASE, don't call him the king of rock and roll,There is only ONE that crown fits.JERRY LEE.That is a fact and is not debatable.

Sorry, Charlie - it's debatable.

A king requires a following to command that power, and Elvis has it hands down. But he also has it by right of being there firstest with the mostest, having the strongest influence, and having the most persistent image. Ask practically anybody "Who is the king of rock and roll?", and you know what their answer will be. I do not believe this will change in our lifetimes. Elvis Presley defines the image of rock and roll.

You can feel differently, and you can debate this till doomsday - but a hardheaded pronouncement that your view isn't debatable isn't gonna change reality.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 19 Aug 2007 6:22 pm

Elvis was the King.

Jerry Lee Lewis was the Killer.

I've always liked Jerry Lee better. Tho older that dirt, He's still singing.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 19 Aug 2007 9:49 pm

I no longer resent Elvis because of all the hubbub surrounding him then and now, but at the same time, "Return to Sender" (I was 10, alright?!?) and "The Shrimp Song" (thanks to Townes Van Zandt's joyous revival of it) are the only works of his I've ever sought out.

December 8, 2010 (John Lennon +30) will be a lot more meaningful to me. Likewise, George Harrison +30. Even more important in my life will be September 20, 2014 (Steve Goodman, co-writer, "Elvis Imitators") and October 23, 2015 (Merle Watson). And oh yes, January 1, 2027--Townes Van Zandt.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 19 Aug 2007 10:38 pm

Archie Nicol wrote:I can't believe that the 30th anniversary of the death of the most iconic artist in popular music of the 20th century has been virtually ignored here.

I am depressed.

Arch.

I think your math is a little off, It's been 54 years 8 months and 18 days since he(the most iconic artist in popular music of the 20th century) died.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 20 Aug 2007 1:31 am

I liked him, too. But I don't think he achieved the world-wide acclaim he deserved.

Arch.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 20 Aug 2007 2:06 am

"Hank" wouldn't have said it that way !

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Aug 2007 9:17 am

The downside of the legacy.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Aug 2007 11:02 am

Thanx a lot, Doug! Good Gravy! Way too much good gravy!

Elvis was the King. Not of just RnR, but of performing period. Nobody had 'the package' like he did.
Even withstanding this guy above!

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 20 Aug 2007 11:04 am

[quote="Doug Beaumier"]The downside of the legacy.

[Quote]

I'm shocked at THAT picture!

Elvis had some good songs and he sang them well. But then, so did a hundred others of the day.

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 20 Aug 2007 5:36 pm

Elvis Presley defines the image of rock and roll.

Perhaps, but who defines the music itself better than Chuck Berry? His "Johnny B. Goode" and its guitar style were and still are seminal, long described, imitated, and recognized as quintessential.

Witness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3sec4CjXiQ

Look and see who agrees. He can't take his eyes off the man.

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It's Elvis, For ****'s Sake!

It's Elvis, For ****'s Sake!

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