Best track on "Elvis sings Flaming star" LP 1968

Post by **dreambear** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:49 pm

....or "SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS SINGING FLAMING STAR AND OTHERS" as it orginally called at it´s release in november 1968, but the title was to long to use in this forum.

It´s been a long time since the last poll. Funny how time slips away...

But here we have the first budget album which was orginally sold in the Singer stores, then re-released in 1969 for the main market. I have a soft spot for those budget albums, as it was the ones that I could afford as a child. I spite of the very short running time, this album is more than ok. The title track is quite nice. Wonderful world is a good performance of a just average song. Night life is one of my cult favourites. Nasty fuzz guitar! All I needed was the rain is an outstanding recording that feels like a brother to those accoustic songs recorded 1966-1968. It doesn´t feel like the movie song it is. Too much monkey business is almost in the same class. Now the quality gets a bit lower with the "Texas medley", She´s a machine (but I don´t dislike this one) and Do the Vega. But what a final on the album. Tiger man is one of the most wild, crazy and hot recordings ever done by our man. It will get my vote!!

Please vote on!

//Björn

Post by **Suspicious Minds** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:34 pm

I voted for Wonderful World. This LP was the first in my Elvis collection. Wonderful World is my favourite track on this album. A track you can whistle after playing. Ballad with a catchy tune.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:53 am

"Tiger Man," by about 100 miles. Can you imagine hearing this AMAZING track at home in November 1968? And then feeling the disappointment when it was not in the December broadcast? Of course, it got in there during the repeat showing in August.

Post by **DarrylMac** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:03 am

Has to be Tiger Man, with Too Much Monkey Business a distant 2nd.

Post by **Little Darlin** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:23 am

Too much Monkey Business.

Post by **jetblack** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:31 am

Even though I like every song on this album apart from 'Eyes Of Texas' (I love his voice on 'Yellow Rose') - 'All I needed Was The Rain' is my selection. It has a lovely, bluesy feel that is performed perfectly. It's only criticism is that it is too short.

Andy

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:35 am

jetblack wrote:... 'All I needed Was The Rain' is my selection. It has a lovely, bluesy feel that is performed perfectly. It's only criticism is that it is too short.

Another problem -- it's a rip-off of "Ode To Billie Joe," Bobbie Gentry's massive 1967 pop/country hit.

Post by **Mike Eder** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:39 am

It has a sound similer to "Ode" but it's a lot less plot oriented and lacks the strings etc. Too Much Monkey is very good especally the guitar sound. It and Tiger Man are both faves.

Post by **Narek** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:08 pm

Too much monkey business aha-ha

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:22 pm

Wonderful World has always been a fave of mine.

Post by **dreambear** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:24 pm

But where is Shanebrown??? I´m a bit worried. Are you ok?

//Björn

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:28 pm

Stood to reason Tiger Man wasn't going to be in the original broadcast of the Comeback Special when it was released on Flaming Star. I wasn't surprised or disappointed.

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:35 pm

Shane: I concur with your views on Tiger Man. You do realize those views amount to slewing a sacred cow. Someone's sure to acuse us of not being real Elvis fans.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:56 pm

shanebrown wrote:I never thought of it as a rip off of Ode To Billy Joe! That is probably pushing it a little bit.

No, it's just the reality of the genesis of the recording.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:04 am

shanebrown wrote:Can you back up what you're saying, Doc?

All you need are ears and a lesson in popular culture, circa fall 1967.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:21 am

shanebrown wrote:With all due respect, Doc, if I can have the decency to back up my opinion, you should at least have the decency to back up yours which, yet again, you have failed to do. Although I bow to your knowledge of facts and figures with regards to presley and his career it wouldn't be a bad thing to admit that your opinions are sometimes incorrect or be willing to back them up occasionally with more than what basically says "it's correct, because it is." It is extremely annoying and does you no favours.

Your curt tone and erroneous assumptions are not appreciated.

I answered your query, and not at all in the manner you describe.

Your comments make it clear you are unaware Gentry's song was a massive hit, felt deeply by listeners all around the world. Both single and album (pictured above) crossed over from the country charts to pop, R&B and even adult contemporary. THAT is a very rare event, then or now.

Presley's recording of "All I Needed Was The Rain" is delightful, but directly evokes the sound and feeling of Bobbie's classic recording -- it is unmistakable.

As a matter of fact, less than a month prior to cutting the song, Presley himself quotes her lyrics during his session for "Hi-Heel Sneakers." The song's influence was THAT remarkable, even Elvis knew it.

In the future, some kind of civility on your part would be appreciated.

Post by **ekenee** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:19 am

Forget the songs, I thought Bobbie Gentry was quite the looker back in those days.

Post by **scottngeorgia** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:01 am

ekenee wrote:Forget the songs, I thought Bobbie Gentry was quite the looker back in those days.

I was gonna say I disagree but hell on that i can't lol
Scott

Post by **kuenzer** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:13 pm

All I Needed Was The Rain

Ode To Billy Joe

If it helps. There are similarities. I like the harp in All I Needed Was The Rain better than the strings in Ode To Billy Joe.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:50 pm

shanebrown wrote:... you came back with the comment that all was needed was a pair of ears, as if the link is obvious.

For some, it is almost painfully obvious, while for others it is clearly much more elusive. I am content to sit firmly in the former group.

My comment also suggested "a lesson in popular culture, circa fall 1967." Food for thought.

Post by **Steve Morse** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:16 am

Shane, I'm with you.

I used to watch the Bobbie Gentry TV shows back in the late 1960s and have about 4 or 5 of her albums on vinyl, bought at that time.

Yet it has never occurred to me that AINWTR has anything to do with Ode To Billy Joe or is in any way reminiscent of the latter. My opinion is as valid as the Doc's - the only difference is that I know the meaning of the word 'opinion' - he doesn't.

Too Much Monkey Business is my favourite track on "Singer Presents . . " and yes, I have the original album, imported at the time. It is one of the slickest-sounding tracks that Elvis ever recorded and is sheer perfection in terms of presentation.

Steve Morse

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:29 am

Well! Most messages since "Kissin´cousins". Didn´t expect that!

//Björn

Post by **minkahed** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:28 am

TIGER MAN

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:06 pm

Steve Morse wrote:My opinion is as valid as the Doc's - the only difference is that I know the meaning of the word 'opinion' - he doesn't.

Again with the rude tone, out of nowhere -- thanks, Steve. I have been very civil with you, and such comments make me wonder why I bothered.

As for the definition, it is implicit in any of our postings.

What you fail to respect here is that mine is a VERY GOOD opinion, and the one you share with Shane is not.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:06 am

Shane, my observations are very clear.

I'll give it one last try. Here goes.

If Bobbie Gentry never recorded and released her haunting, massive hit single, there would be no "All I Needed Was The Rain" as we know it today.