Claude Demetruis wrote/co-wrote some fantastic songs for Elvis including I Was The One, Santa Bring My Baby Back and Hard Headed Woman. Dixieland Rock is erroneously listed as a Demetruis song in varying places.
I would like to focus on 'Mean Woman Blues' as featured in Elvis first Paramount movie 'Loving You' in 1957.
Charles O'Curran was the choreographer for 'Loving You' and one of Elvis most iconic movie perfomances. They would work together on a further five movies.
Elvis and Charles O'Curran on the set of 'Loving You'.
Recorded by Elvis in January 1957 it would be released as a single in Canada backed with 'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You'. It would peak at position #13 in August 1957.
The UK finally got a single release of 'Mean Woman Blues' in 1989 where it would spend three weeks in the top 100 peaking at position #83:-
One of my favourites. The song was also covered by a number of notable fifties rockers, but for me nobody tops Elvis' version.
I remember seeing Loving You on the BBC shortly after Elvis died, and being blown away by the film, and the 1977 UK re-issue of the soundtrack was one of the first albums I bought.
The performance footage was also used to great effect in the This Is Elvis movie, which also brings back great memories of being a young fan.
I remember seeing Loving You on the BBC shortly after Elvis died, and being blown away by the film, and the 1977 UK re-issue of the soundtrack was one of the first albums I bought.
Mean woman blues
It seems the movie version was recorded on 17 january 1957 at Paramount Sound Stage.
At the time the movie was still titled “Stranger in town” Production # 10212.
Scan from record version added.
The working titles of this movie were The Lonesome Cowboy, Running Wild, Stranger in Town and Something for the Girls.
colonel snow
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I remember seeing Loving You on the BBC shortly after Elvis died, and being blown away by the film, and the 1977 UK re-issue of the soundtrack was one of the first albums I bought.
The 1977 UK LP re-issue (PL42358) also charted for three weeks in October peaking at position #24.
Andy
Thanks Andy - yes it most probably was, and that UK re-issue was my introduction to the album. I remember getting Aloha From Hawaii on the same day. I was with my father in the record department in Boots, and they were either birthday or Christmas presents.
Rather like the different musical styles on the Separate Ways album, which was another early purchase, the contrast between Loving You and Aloha, which really showcased Elvis' versatility was instrumental in getting me hooked.
Nice topic, Andy. Mean Woman Blues is a terrific song that was well-chosen for inclusion in Loving You. And it was used to good effect in the type of scene that rings true for Deke Rivers as a character, and for Elvis in playing into a sequence that must have stirred the fantasies of young fans who undoubtedly spent hours in diners across the country listening to his music on jukeboxes. Maybe hoping they would see him at a booth one day. Unless your name is Wayne . . . Thanks for all the beatings you took, Ken Becker!
Mean Woman Blues also had the hallmarks of being a popular single in its own right, although Elvis's singles were an embarrassment of riches at the time, and much like his albums and EPs, success was going hand-in-hand with every new project in 1956 and 1957. Loving You was no different in every respect. And it also hinted at growing potential in Elvis as a young actor who was popular enough to headline his own film. And ambitious enough for a producer like Hal Wallis to take under his wing. Future endeavours appreciated.
There's a genuine blues quality to Mean Woman Blues that sets it apart from some of Elvis's recordings at the time; certainly songs like Teddy Bear and the title track from Loving You, although this only highlights the kind of diversity Elvis boasted as an artist. And his singing on this track is simply invigorating, as is the entire arrangement -- from handclaps and charismatic backing vocals from the Jordanaires, to Scotty Moore's guitar licks and a walking bass line.
There's even a touch of doo-wop from the Jordanaires and nicely positioned piano lines, along with encouragement and cajoling from the gallery, which never sounds corny. Even that old chestnut, "yeah man!" Whilst there's enough space between verses in the recording to imagine exactly what we see in Loving You, as Deke shakes his leg, shimmies and side-winds, before stirring himself and his young fans into a minor frenzy. Further irritating the obnoxious Wayne in the process.
It's quite a self-contained scene, and although the direction and choreography are very straightforward, it's Charles Lang's subtle, but effective cinematography that brings it to life. From the moment an ethereal glow comes over Deke as he drops a dime in the jukebox, to a slightly ominous use of light and shadow as he sings "a black cat up and died of fright . . . ," and that great slow pan backwards as Elvis walks forward along the diner floor and takes centre stage among those adoring fans.
It's one of the best musical sequences in any Elvis Presley film, punctuated by a crowd-pleasing moment where Deke takes out his frustrations on good old Wayne. A scene emulated over thirty years later in the deplorable 1988 film, Heartbreak Hotel. Although the scene may detract from how effective the end of Elvis's recording is, with that wonderful fade as he repeats "sometimes I think she's almost mean as me . . . " which resonates like a foreboding echo.
Mean Woman Blues peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Most Played R&B by Jockeys.
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The Loving You soundtrack at the top of Billboard's Best Selling Pop Albums chart. Billboard would subsequently rank Loving You as the 11th best-selling album of 1957. The wildly successful Loving You EP would rank as the 10th best-selling EP of 1958. Whilst Elvis singles were smattered all over the best-seller lists for 1957.
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Paramount gave Loving a major push with a marketing campaign aimed squarely at Elvis's teenage fanbase, but with an eye on a potential family audience, including an unsuccessful pairing with the Buster Keaton Story in the Chicago market.
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Loving You debuted at No. 8 on Variety's weekly box office survey for the week ending July 31st, 1957. It rose to No. 7 the following week, ultimately earning $3.7 million domestic and ranking 19th for the year, which was four places below Jailhouse Rock's $4 million take.
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Also released in 1957 was Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, another Hal Wallis production, which starred Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. This taut western was given some cross-promotion in Elvis's first picture for Wallis, with a marquee for this film being visible in Loving You and in the background when some eager young fans were photographed at a preview screening.
Can you imagine what was going through Elvis's mind when he was looking up at this poster as a young actor in his first leading role, starring in a film for Hal Wallis that was being distributed by Paramount. His young career at its zenith with a world of possibilities ahead. Maybe he was hoping to act alongside Burt Lancaster or Kirk Douglas some day. Perhaps he was thinking back to films he saw starring Douglas and Lancaster, even Lizabeth Scott, before his dreams of becoming an actor himself came true.
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Hey you! Sideburns!
Elvis and Ken Becker in a publicity still for the movie.
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David Keith as Elvis in 1988's Heartbreak Hotel, which was written and directed by Chris Columbus. Tuesday Weld, who appeared with Elvis in Wild in the Country, also appears in this film. Tuesday will turn 80 years-old this August.
Nice topic, Andy. Mean Woman Blues is a terrific song that was well-chosen for inclusion in Loving You. And it was used to good effect in the type of scene that rings true for Deke Rivers as a character, and for Elvis in playing into a sequence that must have stirred the fantasies of young fans who undoubtedly spent hours in diners across the country listening to his music on jukeboxes. Maybe hoping they would see him at a booth one day. Unless your name is Wayne . . . Thanks for all the beatings you took, Ken Becker!
Mean Woman Blues also had the hallmarks of being a popular single in its own right, although Elvis's singles were an embarrassment of riches at the time, and much like his albums and EPs, success was going hand-in-hand with every new project in 1956 and 1957. Loving You was no different in every respect. And it also hinted at growing potential in Elvis as a young actor who was popular enough to headline his own film. And ambitious enough for a producer like Hal Wallis to take under his wing. Future endeavours appreciated.
There's a genuine blues quality to Mean Woman Blues that sets it apart from some of Elvis's recordings at the time; certainly songs like Teddy Bear and the title track from Loving You, although this only highlights the kind of diversity Elvis boasted as an artist. And his singing on this track is simply invigorating, as is the entire arrangement -- from handclaps and charismatic backing vocals from the Jordanaires, to Scotty Moore's guitar licks and a walking bass line.
There's even a touch of doo-wop from the Jordanaires and nicely positioned piano lines, along with encouragement and cajoling from the gallery, which never sounds corny. Even that old chestnut, "yeah man!" Whilst there's enough space between verses in the recording to imagine exactly what we see in Loving You, as Deke shakes his leg, shimmies and side-winds, before stirring himself and his young fans into a minor frenzy. Further irritating the obnoxious Wayne in the process.
It's quite a self-contained scene, and although the direction and choreography are very straightforward, it's Charles Lang's subtle, but effective cinematography that brings it to life. From the moment an ethereal glow comes over Deke as he drops a dime in the jukebox, to a slightly ominous use of light and shadow as he sings "a black cat up and died of fright . . . ," and that great slow pan backwards as Elvis walks forward along the diner floor and takes centre stage among those adoring fans.
It's one of the best musical sequences in any Elvis Presley film, punctuated by a crowd-pleasing moment where Deke takes out his frustrations on good old Wayne. A scene emulated over thirty years later in the deplorable 1988 film, Heartbreak Hotel. Although the scene may detract from how effective the end of Elvis's recording is, with that wonderful fade as he repeats "sometimes I think she's almost mean as me . . . " which resonates like a foreboding echo.
Mean Woman Blues peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Most Played R&B by Jockeys.
The Loving You soundtrack at the top of Billboard's Best Selling Pop Albums chart. Billboard would subsequently rank Loving You as the 11th best-selling album of 1957. The wildly successful Loving You EP would rank as the 10th best-selling EP of 1958. Whilst Elvis singles were smattered all over the best-seller lists for 1957.
Paramount gave Loving a major push with a marketing campaign aimed squarely at Elvis's teenage fanbase, but with an eye on a potential family audience, including an unsuccessful pairing with the Buster Keaton Story in the Chicago market.
Loving You debuted at No. 8 on Variety's weekly box office survey for the week ending July 31st, 1957. It rose to No. 7 the following week, ultimately earning $3.7 million domestic and ranking 19th for the year, which was four places below Jailhouse Rock's $4 million take.
Also released in 1957 was Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, another Hal Wallis production, which starred Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. This taut western was given some cross-promotion in Elvis's first picture for Wallis, with a marquee for this film being visible in Loving You and in the background when some eager young fans were photographed at a preview screening.
Can you imagine what was going through Elvis's mind when he was looking up at this poster as a young actor in his first leading role, starring in a film for Hal Wallis that was being distributed by Paramount. His young career at its zenith with a world of possibilities ahead. Maybe he was hoping to act alongside Burt Lancaster or Kirk Douglas some day. Perhaps he was thinking back to films he saw starring Douglas and Lancaster, even Lizabeth Scott, before his dreams of becoming an actor himself came true.
Hey you! Sideburns!
Elvis and Ken Becker in a publicity still for the movie.
Keith David as Elvis in 1988's Heartbreak Hotel, which was written and directed by Chris Columbus. Tuesday Weld, who appeared with Elvis in Wild in the Country, also appears in this film. Tuesday will turn 80 years-old this August.
..
Great Post Hugh. It sure is good to have you back.
Elvis was on top of the world throughout 1957, probably even more so than in 1956, except for his appearances on national television - 1 instead of 11- and his singing in shows, - 28 instead of 236, although 5 of them were outside the US, his first and last. He made one more movie, 2 instead of 1, and was paid more, for each, and probably sold as many singles, if not slightly more than he had in 1956. He definitively sold more EP's and LP albums than he did in 1956 and played in bigger venues and in more stadiums.
He topped the BB singles chart almost half of the year, as he had in 1956. And he topped the singles charts outside the US, which he had not in 1956. The business about his sponsoring guitars, lipstick, whatever, was equally successful, as had been in 1956. So, I would venture to say that 1957, not 1956, was his most rewarding pre Army year, worldwide. It was also the year he entered what Forbes magazine's Senior Editor Kelly Phillips Erb called, on their Aug 16, 2013 issue, the period in his life (most likely a lustrum, or a decade) when "he was allegedly the top taxpayer in the country".
Classic recording, classic choreography, classic movie! 'nuff said!
Just a question though: what's composer's last name: is it DeMetrUIs or DeMetrIUs? 'cause I've seen all possible variations...
When your heart gets restless - time to move along,
When your heart gets weary - time to sing a song,
But when a dream is calling you
There's just one thing that you can do...
Classic recording, classic choreography, classic movie! 'nuff said!
Just a question though: what's composer's last name: is it DeMetrUIs or DeMetrIUs? 'cause I've seen all possible variations...
Classic recording, classic choreography, classic movie! 'nuff said!
Just a question though: what's composer's last name: is it DeMetrUIs or DeMetrIUs? 'cause I've seen all possible variations...
It’s Claude DemetrUIs bot both names are registered at BMI.
colonel snow
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Classic recording, classic choreography, classic movie! 'nuff said!
Just a question though: what's composer's last name: is it DeMetrUIs or DeMetrIUs? 'cause I've seen all possible variations...
It’s Claude DemetrUIs bot both names are registered at BMI.
colonel snow
I think you're right:
The name of this Afro-American songwriter is usually written as Claude Demetrius. However, his daughter Pamela has assured me that the correct spelling is Demetruis.
Keith David as Elvis in 1988's Heartbreak Hotel, which was written and directed by Chris Columbus. Tuesday Weld, who appeared with Elvis in Wild in the Country, also appears in this film. Tuesday will turn 80 years-old this August.
Confused! Don't you mean first pic person and not second pic person?
picpic.jpg
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Shakin' Stevens aka Michael Barratt March 4th 1948 - 36 Marcross Rd, Cardiff suburb of Ely, South Wales
Keith David as Elvis in 1988's Heartbreak Hotel, which was written and directed by Chris Columbus. Tuesday Weld, who appeared with Elvis in Wild in the Country, also appears in this film. Tuesday will turn 80 years-old this August.
Confused! Don't you mean first pic person and not second pic person?
