Elvis & Bobbie Gentry

[henryneill]

Oops. Sorry Jeremy, I didn't realize before, that you conducted the interview with Mr. Batt. So a big thanks for that too! A lot of good questions!

Henry, I concur with your positive assessment regarding Bobbie's Warner Bros. singles and assorted tracks from the late '70s cut with "Ode to Billie Joe" arranger Jimmie Haskell. "He Did Me Wrong but He Did It Right" and "Slow Cookin'" just ooze sultry funk.

Yes. I like these very much and it would be great if someday the whole proposed Warner album would get a release too.

@a mess of polk salad
Yeah, especially the duet with Bobby Darin is beautiful.

[goldbelt]

If you check out the below Medium link, Universal archivist and producer Andrew Batt chats about "The Girl from Chickasaw County — The Complete Capitol Masters," a chronologically sequenced 8-CD box set due out October 12. It contains all seven original Bobbie Gentry studio LP’s enhanced by over 75 unreleased recordings including a lost jazz album...


https://medium.com/@jeremylr/bobbie-gentrys-archivist-explores-colossal-girl-from-chickasaw-county-box-set-d54d316856fb
Bobbie Gentry’s Archivist Explores Colossal ‘Girl from Chickasaw County’ Box Set

Thanks for the link, plenty of interesting info from what I have read so far and some great photo content - and it seems like it's going to be a great set.

For anyone who may not know, there is a 4 track EP from the set currently on Spotify which includes a demo and an alt take.

[a mess of polk salad]

I wonder if anyone can dig up more on Elvis & Bobbie Gentry - she took part in his late night jams after shows in Las Vegas and he also watched her Elvis tribute in her stage show incognito... Fascinating --->
https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/bobbie-gentry-exit-stage-left
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[goldbelt]

A fascinating period of Las Vegas history.

In the book 'Bobbie Gentry's Ode To Billie Joe', the author Tara Murtha states that during her research she located and purchased super 8 footage of Bobbie performing in Las Vegas.

She then goes on to describe in some detail the tribute to Elvis segment of Bobbie's show which, in short, includes Bobbie performing a series of Karate style kicks, posing in an Elvis style stance, windmilling her arms, leg slide (seemingly Suspicious Minds style), leaping in the air (seemingly Polk Salad Annie style) and throwing her scarf out into the audience.

Whilst a sample of the Vegas footage has been made available online (included below) unfortunately it does not feature the tribute to Elvis footage.

It seems Bobbie's stage costumes also outshone the King's during her 'Diamonds By Tiffany, Jeans By Levi Strauss' shows where she reportedly performed her signature hit wearing jeans and denim jacket decorated in a million dollars worth of Tiffany diamonds - which had to be delivered backstage by security before each nights performance.

Bobbie reportedly also performed a tribute to Elvis on her American tv series The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour (1974).

Interestingly, the book also states that Bobbie Gentry was offered but turned down the Marlyn Mason role of Charlene in 'The Trouble With Girls'.



Bobbie performing her tribute to Elvis, Las Vegas 1974




Bobbie performing at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas 1974

Photographs Source --> http://bobbiegentry.org.uk/gallery/albums/live



..
Bobbie performing in Las Vegas footage

[a mess of polk salad]

A fascinating period of Las Vegas history.

In the book 'Bobbie Gentry's Ode To Billie Joe', the author Tara Murtha states that during her research she located and purchased super 8 footage of Bobbie performing in Las Vegas.

She then goes on to describe in some detail the tribute to Elvis segment of Bobbie's show which, in short, includes Bobbie performing a series of Karate style kicks, posing in an Elvis style stance, windmilling her arms, leg slide (seemingly Suspicious Minds style), leaping in the air (seemingly Polk Salad Annie style) and throwing her scarf out into the audience.

Whilst a sample of the Vegas footage has been made available online (included below) unfortunately it does not feature the tribute to Elvis footage.

It seems Bobbie's stage costumes also outshone the King's during her 'Diamonds By Tiffany, Jeans By Levi Strauss' shows where she reportedly performed her signature hit wearing jeans and denim jacket decorated in a million dollars worth of Tiffany diamonds - which had to be delivered backstage by security before each nights performance.

Bobbie reportedly also performed a tribute to Elvis on her American tv series The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour (1974).

Interestingly, the book also states that Bobbie Gentry was offered but turned down the Marlyn Mason role of Charlene in 'The Trouble With Girls'.



Bobbie performing her tribute to Elvis, Las Vegas 1974




Bobbie performing at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas 1974

Photographs Source --> http://bobbiegentry.org.uk/gallery/albums/live



..
Bobbie performing in Las Vegas footage

That's incredible!

Big Thanks

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[drjohncarpenter]

Elvis fiddles with Gentry's signature song during his September 1967 RCA Nashville session for "Hi-Heel Sneakers," just prior to take 5.

I think you'll find it was prior to Take 7.

If all you got out of my extensive post from 2015 was pointing out a typo three years after the fact, I feel sorry for you. You're missing the forest for the trees.

[drjohncarpenter]

If all you got out of my extensive post from 2015 was pointing out a typo three years after the fact, I feel sorry for you. You're missing the forest for the trees.

You're welcome. I know you are a stickler for accuracy.

Stay classy.

And keep reading my posts, you'll always learn something.

[drjohncarpenter]

Stay classy.

And keep reading my posts, you'll always learn something.

I am and I will...

Always happy to help those less equipped.

I suggest you read more and post less, that will be pleasing to everyone here.

[timothy_sideburns]

If you check out the below Medium link, Universal archivist and producer Andrew Batt chats about "The Girl from Chickasaw County — The Complete Capitol Masters," a chronologically sequenced 8-CD box set due out October 12. It contains all seven original Bobbie Gentry studio LP’s enhanced by over 75 unreleased recordings including a lost jazz album...
https://medium.com/@jeremylr/bobbie-gentrys-archivist-explores-colossal-girl-from-chickasaw-county-box-set-d54d316856fb
Bobbie Gentry’s Archivist Explores Colossal ‘Girl from Chickasaw County’ Box Set

That's the best thing I've read for ages, so much amazing info and spent the early part of this morning reading with great pleasure about everything Bobbie Gentry... the photos are great too. I was amazed to see a photo from 2000 of Bobbie and think her step-brother... Just FANTASTIC stuff!
Thanks.

I couldn;t find that photo you mentioned at that article link, but in fact it appears on a different story about her on the same website


Interestingly it says it was taken in a Los Angeles home that Gentry purchased from Lisa Marie Presley!

Here's the photo

In perhaps her most recent image taken in 2000, Bobbie Gentry is seen with half-brother Robert Streeter, who also served as the artist’s touring guitarist and production manager at the Las Vegas Desert Inn from 1972 thru 1974. Gentry purchased the Los Angeles home from Elvis’s only child Lisa Marie Presley but has since sold it. Image Credit: Courtesy of Robert Streeter / Boyd Gaming

[goldbelt]

A fascinating period of Las Vegas history.

In the book 'Bobbie Gentry's Ode To Billie Joe', the author Tara Murtha states that during her research she located and purchased super 8 footage of Bobbie performing in Las Vegas.

She then goes on to describe in some detail the tribute to Elvis segment of Bobbie's show which, in short, includes Bobbie performing a series of Karate style kicks, posing in an Elvis style stance, windmilling her arms, leg slide (seemingly Suspicious Minds style), leaping in the air (seemingly Polk Salad Annie style) and throwing her scarf out into the audience.

Whilst a sample of the Vegas footage has been made available online (included below) unfortunately it does not feature the tribute to Elvis footage.

It seems Bobbie's stage costumes also outshone the King's during her 'Diamonds By Tiffany, Jeans By Levi Strauss' shows where she reportedly performed her signature hit wearing jeans and denim jacket decorated in a million dollars worth of Tiffany diamonds - which had to be delivered backstage by security before each nights performance.

Bobbie reportedly also performed a tribute to Elvis on her American tv series The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour (1974).

Interestingly, the book also states that Bobbie Gentry was offered but turned down the Marlyn Mason role of Charlene in 'The Trouble With Girls'.



Bobbie performing her tribute to Elvis, Las Vegas 1974




Bobbie performing at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas 1974

Photographs Source --> http://bobbiegentry.org.uk/gallery/albums/live



..
Bobbie performing in Las Vegas footage

That's incredible!

Big Thanks

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

Thanks.

Her Vegas shows would have been great to check out - wonder if any live footage, soundboards or audience recordings exist of her Las Vegas performances, other than the 8mm footage mentioned in my previous post.

There is some interesting TV show performance clips on youtube including this great clip from her 1968 BBC TV series.

The clip notes that while she filmed eighteen shows for the BBC, only five shows survive. Surely the remaining shows would make for great inclusion among BBC4's excellent range of musical programming - be good if they'd repeat them.

Why not have a Bobbie Gentry evening BBC4?


..

[a mess of polk salad]

Box set review -->

[fn2drive]

Elvis was a fan and vice versa --Bobbie's 'Ode To Billy Joe' was an Elvis favourite. Having gotten word of her Elvis tribute during her Las Vegas shows in the early 1970s , Elvis and gang attended her shows > with possible many a late night singing session after hours backstage...

There's great footage on YouTube of Bobbie & Bobby Darin singing a medley including 'Polk Salad Annie' -- interestingly Bobbie version of 'Nikki Hoeky' has 'Polk' elements during the intro...

Great artist.

Yes, and no one has yet mentioned the fact that Bobbie Gentry was super-sexy, too. Elvis fiddles with Gentry's signature song during his September 1967 RCA Nashville session for "Hi-Heel Sneakers," just prior to the master take. I've very sure that they jammed in his Hilton suite in the summer of 1972, among other times:






Fabulous Las Vegas - August 19, 1972


Finally, can you imagine if she and Elvis had waxed this incredible rocker as a duet and released it?




Bobbie Gentry and Jody Reynolds, "Requiem For Love" (Titan 1736, circa 1964) --> CLICK HERE
Details: Jody Reynolds: vocal, guitar; Bobbie Gentry: vocal; Bob Craig: piano; Ron Coppola: drums; Frank Seely: bass.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA


The released version with Jody Reynolds was not a hit, issued before Gentry's breakthrough in 1967 (and possibly reissued after that).

I remember a press report( perhaps The Rolling Stone or a fan rag) in the late 60s or early 70s that Elvis had recorded Ode to Billie Jo only to learn a lifetime later all it was the fragment you mention in your post. Someone feeding bull to the press.

[a mess of polk salad]

Elvis was a fan and vice versa --Bobbie's 'Ode To Billy Joe' was an Elvis favourite. Having gotten word of her Elvis tribute during her Las Vegas shows in the early 1970s , Elvis and gang attended her shows > with possible many a late night singing session after hours backstage...

There's great footage on YouTube of Bobbie & Bobby Darin singing a medley including 'Polk Salad Annie' -- interestingly Bobbie version of 'Nikki Hoeky' has 'Polk' elements during the intro...

Great artist.

Yes, and no one has yet mentioned the fact that Bobbie Gentry was super-sexy, too. Elvis fiddles with Gentry's signature song during his September 1967 RCA Nashville session for "Hi-Heel Sneakers," just prior to the master take. I've very sure that they jammed in his Hilton suite in the summer of 1972, among other times:






Fabulous Las Vegas - August 19, 1972


Finally, can you imagine if she and Elvis had waxed this incredible rocker as a duet and released it?




Bobbie Gentry and Jody Reynolds, "Requiem For Love" (Titan 1736, circa 1964) --> CLICK HERE
Details: Jody Reynolds: vocal, guitar; Bobbie Gentry: vocal; Bob Craig: piano; Ron Coppola: drums; Frank Seely: bass.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA


The released version with Jody Reynolds was not a hit, issued before Gentry's breakthrough in 1967 (and possibly reissued after that).

I remember a press report( perhaps The Rolling Stone or a fan rag) in the late 60s or early 70s that Elvis had recorded Ode to Billie Jo only to learn a lifetime later all it was the fragment you mention in your post. Someone feeding bull to the press.

Bobbie was super-sexy for sure. The thought of Bobbie and Elvis possibly jamming in '72 after one of their shows is just incredible.

They should have made an album of duets...The' Requiem For Love' fit them as did many of Bobbie's songs I'm sure.

The 'Ode To Billy Joe' connection is also interesting. Bobbie was on Elvis' radar in 1967 and obviously they met in Vegas... Listening to Elvis' 1973 CLOSING NIGHT FTD CD he introduces Bobbie with interest : "She opens at the Frontier tomorrow night, go see her — she's a wild one" - - think he was quite smitten and we know he attended her shows too...I would love to hear more about their friendship. Also I wonder if they also met in Lake Tahoe? Bobbie played many shows there too I believe.

Thanks for your great post.

P.S. Looks like her legendary Elvis tribute in Las Vegas will finally be seen —>>
https://patch.com/new-york/parkslope/calendar/event/20181030/419646/ode-to-bobbie-gentry-celebrating-a-living-legend

https://www.ticketfly.com/event/1765339-ode-bobbie-gentry-brooklyn/


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[goldbelt]

Box set review -->

Thanks for the review.

Been listening to some of this collection too - it's got some great stuff on it - what a wonderful set.

Although it's somewhat a shame that they couldn't have found a way to compile an all encompassing set to include the known Warner recordings too, as some of those are also excellent.

But great that so many of the BBC live recordings made it onto CD at last, with her previous 'Live At The BBC' album being vinyl only.

[a mess of polk salad]

Box set review -->

Thanks for the review.

Been listening to some of this collection too - it's got some great stuff on it - what a wonderful set.

Although it's somewhat a shame that they couldn't have found a way to compile an all encompassing set to include the known Warner recordings too, as some of those are also excellent.

But great that so many of the BBC live recordings made it onto CD at last, with her previous 'Live At The BBC' album being vinyl only.

So much great music on the set. Hard to pick favourites but the FANCY & TOUCH 'EM WITH LOVE album and there extras get my vote.

Just wondering who the musicians were who played on 'Touch 'em with Love' - - great guitar and organ plus Bobbie's superb lively vocal...

Her debut and 'Delta Sweete' just fantastic... SO much to enjoy here....

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