Guitar Man
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Guitar Man
Guys ,yesterday I was driving a couple of hours and felt the need to listen to Elvis song Guitar man on repeat .
What a fabulous song.
Everything in here is perfect: from elvis vocals, intonation and southern accent to the music rythm and that gorgeous acoustic guitar.
I was intrigued to find out it did not make the top 10 and was placed on a very low # spot
Now the questions:
1.Do you enjoy the song? Do you think it deserved to reach the top 10?
2.How do you describe it as a song? Can I say it is a country rock?
Many thanks, chucky
What a fabulous song.
Everything in here is perfect: from elvis vocals, intonation and southern accent to the music rythm and that gorgeous acoustic guitar.
I was intrigued to find out it did not make the top 10 and was placed on a very low # spot
Now the questions:
1.Do you enjoy the song? Do you think it deserved to reach the top 10?
2.How do you describe it as a song? Can I say it is a country rock?
Many thanks, chucky
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Re: Guitar Man
Oh boy.
Yes, very intriguing.
1. Sure, both Elvis' cover and Jerry Reed's original. Deserved? No.
2. It's Elvis covering a Jerry Reed tune. You can call it whatever you want.
.
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
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Re: Guitar Man
I enjoy the song, but I cant listen to any song by anyone on repeat for a couple of hours, especially driving. it would drive me nuts. Im in a different musical world than some of the fans on this forum for sure.
Re: Guitar Man
The '68 Special versions are better than the record version IMO. I prefer the more aggressive vocal.
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Re: Guitar Man
Elvis's version of Guitar Man is a genuinely terrific recording, in my opinion, and it's elevated considerably by the involvement of Jerry Reed on guitar. It's in a different league to practically everything Elvis had otherwise been recording for years. It doesn't stray far from Reed's own recording, but it's bristling with personality due to the combination of Elvis's voice and Reed's guitar.
With regards to charts, the single would surely have performed better on Billboard with more promotion from RCA and from Elvis, himself, although the likelihood of this being much of a consideration seems slim. It did chart higher in the U.K., but it was surely wasted as a bonus track on the Clambake soundtrack album, which arguably featured Elvis at a career low. Even the association with another Elvis Presley soundtrack album probably turned some people away in spite of how good this recording is.
As jurasic1968 has also mentioned, Guitar Man was a highlight of Elvis's NBC special in 1968, and surely this would have propelled a single release at that time much higher on the charts. Although it was time for something new, with If I Can Dream. It would have been great to hear a live rendition of Guitar Man from 1969 or 1970, though.
With regards to charts, the single would surely have performed better on Billboard with more promotion from RCA and from Elvis, himself, although the likelihood of this being much of a consideration seems slim. It did chart higher in the U.K., but it was surely wasted as a bonus track on the Clambake soundtrack album, which arguably featured Elvis at a career low. Even the association with another Elvis Presley soundtrack album probably turned some people away in spite of how good this recording is.
As jurasic1968 has also mentioned, Guitar Man was a highlight of Elvis's NBC special in 1968, and surely this would have propelled a single release at that time much higher on the charts. Although it was time for something new, with If I Can Dream. It would have been great to hear a live rendition of Guitar Man from 1969 or 1970, though.
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- GodFather of FECC
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Re: Guitar Man
I can definitely understand listening to something like, "He's Your Uncle, Not Your Dad" on repeat.
Never "Guitar Man," though.
Never "Guitar Man," though.
The United States of America have had
forty-six Presidents, but only ONE King!
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.
You're a beautiful audience.
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Re: Guitar Man
Has always been a favourite. Elvis sounds almost liberated to be recording top drawer material. The sparks between him and Jerry Reed are audible.
I remember playing this song a lot when I started getting into Elvis, although I can't say I've ever had a solid two hour binge like our swinging little guitar man of an OP.
I remember playing this song a lot when I started getting into Elvis, although I can't say I've ever had a solid two hour binge like our swinging little guitar man of an OP.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
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Re: Guitar Man
The trouble with the 'Guitar Man' single is that it was included on the 'Clambake' album first and then released as a single three months later in January 1968. It did ok, peaking at position #43 on Billboard with sales of around 300,000. It probably would have sold better if released prior to the 'Clambake' album.
'Guitar Man' did chart better here in the UK, staying on the chart for nine weeks with a peak position of #19.
Andy
'Guitar Man' did chart better here in the UK, staying on the chart for nine weeks with a peak position of #19.
Andy
Elvis - King of the UK charts
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Re: Guitar Man
I always loved the song . For me its classic Elvis. The TV Special renditions are just stunning. WOW
for that.
.
for that.
.
Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !
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Re: Guitar Man
I'm here! Can you see me?
Hey......
Someone send him a PM and tell him to stop blocking me!
The United States of America have had
forty-six Presidents, but only ONE King!
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.
You're a beautiful audience.
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Re: Guitar Man
@Greystoke
Your thanks mean a lot to me.
For me you are the best member
on this forum. You have a good
character..you are friendly..and
you have style..and what you write
is always well researched.
Your thanks mean a lot to me.
For me you are the best member
on this forum. You have a good
character..you are friendly..and
you have style..and what you write
is always well researched.
Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !
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Re: Guitar Man
The only way I can listen to a song on repeat in my car is if it's on a FTD CD....
Elvis fan. From Sun to Sundial.
Re: Guitar Man
The story goes that Elvis had trouble capturing it. Mary Lynch (assistant Chet Atkins) managed to track down Reed who was casually fishing. Elvis' guitarists could not achieve ''that sound'' that Reed had mastered. It is indeed country/rock, even with some folk.
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Re: Guitar Man
I see you're using a duplicate account. You're going to be more blocked than my toilet if you keep this up.
Not that my toilet is blocked. I unblocked it.
Dammit!
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Re: Guitar Man
It is honest and any time again.
Keep on rockin'..mate.
Keep on rockin'..mate.
Thanks to Ernst Joergensen, Roger Semon and Erik Rasmussen for the great work. Keep the spirit alive !
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Re: Guitar Man
Yes it is spectacular, wished it wasnt lip-synched tho. Funny, the next day at work (Dec. 4th 1968) no one had ever heard the song before. As people knew I was a fan, they asked me about. A good single from 1968 went unnoticed by the general public. You had to be a fan to really know it. Sad