Best track on "Good times" LP 1974

Post by **dreambear** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:41 pm

What do we have here? Almost an forgotten album, especially since most of the tracks are included on the expanded CD version of Promised land. It reached 94 or something in the charts and is Elvis´ worst charting pop album with new music of all time (I think that "Speedway" comes close). But is it the worst? No way! It´s in fact an ok album.

"Take good care of her" was recorded in the summer of 1973 and Elvis´ voice is weak and the song is really overproduced. I can´t really understand why this one was chosen as a single ("I´ve got a thing about you baby" is brilliant, even if I think that Elvis could have done a better job with it in december). I don´t know which of those sides that got most airplay, but if it was "TGCOH", there might be an explaination of the extremely bad charting.

As an Elvis fan in 1974, it must have been a relief to hear track two: "Loving arms"! I almost sounds like a different singer and the arrangement is sparse. Elvis hadn´t sounded this good since 1972 in my opinion. The brilliance keeps going on "I´ve got a feeling in my body". As a Swede, I´m really proud of Pete Hallin´s keyboard solo on this one (according to himself, he did this solo). "I gotta, I gotta, I gotta" is the sound of an inspired genious.

Elvis also sounds strong on "If that isn´t love". "She wears my ring" is one of the songs that I really don´t like on this album, but it´s not Elvis´ fault (This is also my opinion on "Spanish eyes").

"My boy" has been discussed a lot on this forum. Whatever opinion you have, Elvis performance is splendid, and Ronnie Tutt does some perfect fills at the ending (well, it´s looped, but anyway).

The last two tracks are marvellous. Am I the only one who thinks that "Talk about the good times" could have been a single? Perhaps it was too well known already. But the joy of the recording is obvious.

"Good time Charlie´s got the blues" ends the album, which makes you wanna hear more. Elvis shines and so does James Burton.

The album was Elvis´ strongest Pop album since "Elvis country" and I´m sure that lot of fans felt happy with this album. My stand out tracks on this album is "Loving arms", IGAFIMB, IGATAYB, TATGT & "GTCGTB (long titles here!). The weaker vocals on IGATAYB makes it one less choice. Well, today I feel upbeat, so I go for "Talk about the good times".

Vote and have fun!

Kind regards!

Björn

Post by **kuenzer** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:47 pm

dreambear wrote: "I gotta, I gotta, I gotta" is the sound of an inspired genious.

It's bad English, first of all, and should be avoided. Good English would be "I have, I have, I have".

Hard to decide, several brilliant tracks there: Loving Arms, My Boy, If That Isn't Love, I've Got A Feelin In My Body. But I've chosen my personal favourite, the song in which Elvis skipped the line concerning pills that ease the pain.

dreambear wrote: "She wears my ring" is one of the songs that I really don´t like on this album, but it´s not Elvis´ fault (This is also my opinion on "Spanish eyes").

These two are pretty songs as well, imo. I'm quite certain that they were picked by Elvis himself.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:32 pm

Option number two -- without hesitation.

Post by **familyjules** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:33 pm

Good Time Charlie everytime.

Jules

Post by **dreambear** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:51 pm

kuenzer wrote:
dreambear wrote: "I gotta, I gotta, I gotta" is the sound of an inspired genious.
It's bad English, first of all, and should be avoided. Good English would be "I have, I have, I have".

Hard to decide, several brilliant tracks there: Loving Arms, My Boy, If That Isn't Love, I've Got A Feelin In My Body. But I've chosen my personal favourite, the song in which Elvis skipped the line concerning pills that ease the pain.

dreambear wrote: "She wears my ring" is one of the songs that I really don´t like on this album, but it´s not Elvis´ fault (This is also my opinion on "Spanish eyes").
These two are pretty songs as well, imo. I'm quite certain that they were picked by Elvis himself.

"I have, I have, I have..." shouldn´t have sounded as good rythmical. Bad english is not a big problem for a Swede!

Regards Björn

Post by **Pete Dube** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:59 pm

Lovin' Arms.

Post by **sylvain** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:35 pm

My boy
(b-side loving arms) was a top hit 10 here in Belgium

Post by **midnightx** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:14 am

Rob wrote:Option number two -- without hesitation.

Really, not "My Boy"?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:39 am

Quit it.

Quit it right now.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:41 am

midnightx wrote:
Rob wrote:Option number two -- without hesitation.
Really, not "My Boy"?

Can there be anything better?

Post by **keninlincs** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:46 am

good time charlie is my favorite on this album

Post by **Joe Car** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:07 am

drjohncarpenter wrote:
midnightx wrote:
Rob wrote:Option number two -- without hesitation.
Really, not "My Boy"?
Can there be anything better?

I love My Boy!

Post by **dreambear** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:54 pm

Lonely summer: "Longtime fans feeling burned after the last two albums".

I would dare to say that some fans were quite burned after the last 4 pop albums.

Lonely Summer: "RCA put more effort into this compilation than the new stuff"

RCA did more money on albums like "A legendary performer" because of the deal made in 1973, so that´s probably why they promoted it better than "Good times".

//Björn

Post by **ColinB** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:34 pm

kuenzer wrote:
dreambear wrote: "I gotta, I gotta, I gotta" is the sound of an inspired genious.
It's bad English, first of all, and should be avoided.
Good English would be "I have, I have, I have".

Well, strictly speaking "I have a, I have a, I have a"

But it doesn't 'scan' as well as 'I got a', does it ?

Post by **kuenzer** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:59 pm

ColinB wrote:But it doesn't 'scan' as well as 'I got a', does it ?

We need to talk.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:16 am

I picked "Loving Arms". It has nostalgic merit for me as one of my earlier experiences of Elvis' music from my father's collection of albums. The version I became accustomed to at the time was the Guitar Man 're-make' version. It was a couple of years before I came across Good Times and the original arrangement.

Post by **dreambear** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:10 am

kuenzer wrote:
ColinB wrote:But it doesn't 'scan' as well as 'I got a', does it ?
We need to talk.

To end this discussion: The one to blame is Dennis Linde, isn´t it?

//björn

Post by **ColinB** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:48 pm

kuenzer wrote:
ColinB wrote:But it doesn't 'scan' as well as 'I got a', does it ?
We need to talk.

Maybe 'scan' was the wrong word.

It doesn't 'fit' as well as..................

Post by **jeanno** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:47 pm

I GOT A FEELIN´ IN MY BODY got it all: Gospel, R&B, and Presley in real fine voice. Take 1 from "Rhythm & Country" is almost as good. I´VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY is a close second.

JerryNodak · Post by **JerryNodak** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:42 pm

I like 'em all. Yes, all. But I've got to go with "Loving Arms."

Post by **kuenzer** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:53 pm

All? Also My Boy? How can you like My Boy? This has so very very lyrics! My Boy! It's horrible! Just compare to lyrics of Bruce! If you want to get good songs, you should listen to more Bruce and to less My Boy!

Post by **Pete Dube** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:58 pm

I'm flabbergasted that I've Got a Thing About You Baby hasn't received any votes!

Post by **Suspicious Minds** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:05 pm

I voted for She Wears My Ring.

Post by **midnightx** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:51 am

One or two Roger Whittaker songs would have made this album a milestone.

poormadpeter · Post by **poormadpeter** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:35 am

midnightx wrote:One or two Roger Whittaker songs would have made this album a milestone.

Yawn!

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