Remembering Elvis Presley Vol. 2 CD
Code: GRR04PWCD004
1 Dark Moon (1966) Ned Miller
(Dedicated to Dell Richardson, Radio Caroline)
2 Little Sister (1961) Doc Pomus / Mort Shuman
(Dedicated to Diana)
3 I Just Can't Help Believing (1971) Barrie Mann / Cynthia Well
4 How Do You Think I Feel (1956) Wayne Walker
5 From A Jack To A King (1969) Ned Miller
6 (You're) The Devil In Disguise (1963) Bill Giant / Bernie Baum / Florence Kaye
7 I Got Lucky (1962) Fred Wise / Dolores Fuller / Ben Wiseman
(Dedicated to Chris & Linda)
8 I'll Remember You (1966) Kuiokalani Lee
(By special request)
9 And I Love You So (1975) Don McLean
10 What Now My Love (1973) Gilbert Becaud / Pierre Delanoë / Carl Sigman
11 I Gotta Know (1960) Paul Evans / Matt Williams
12 For The Good Times (1972) Kris Kristofferson
13 Anything That's Part Of You (1962) Don Robertson
14 Don't 'Live' (1958) Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
15 Doin' The Best I Can (1960) Mort Shuman / Doc Pomus
16 Loving Arms (1974) Tom Jans
17 Pocketful Of Rainbows (1960) Fred Wise / Ben Weisman
18 Slowly But Surely (1963) Sid Wayne / Ben Wiseman
Album dedicated to Will Hutchins (SUGARFOOT) & his wife Babs
Remembering Elvis
Vol 2-Dark Moon
This second tribute album to Elvis Presley, arguably the greatest musical icon of the 20th Century, has been produced with much dedication and affection for the subject matter. The song selection covers hits and lesser known but no less valid recordings from the period when Elvis bestrode the musical world. Nothing can of course equal the quite amazing vocals on the original recordings, whether the raw and natural voice of the young buck, the exceptionally beautiful ‘trained’ baritone from 1960 onwards, or the truly majestic sound from the 1970s; but the unique and lovely sound emanating from Peter’s Fender guitar adds another highly enjoyable dimension to these songs. For many instrumental devotees this collection stands on its own merit, but for Elvis fans it also serves to help promote the ‘Elvis Legacy.’ The eighteen tracks on this album begin with Dark Moon. Written and recorded by Ned Miller (issued on a Capitol 45 in 1961) it was a US Top 10 hit for Bonnie Guitar and Gale Storm in 1957. Tony Brent took it to No 17 in the UK that year and although several others recorded the song it’s the 1966 Bel Air Home Recording by Elvis that has been Peter’s inspiration.
A hard driving all-time fan favourite Little Sister provided Elvis with a two-sided 1961 UK and US Top 10. Effectively segued with Get Back it was performed by Elvis during the 70s. Excellent versions have been recorded by Marty Wilde (the backing has a T-Rex feel) and Dwight Yoakam (Country Rock), whilst Peter cuts loose with his unique take on here. BJ Thomas was possessed of a striking, soulful voice but his original version of I Just Can’t Help Believing/Believin’ (a US No. 9 for him in 1970) was eclipsed by Elvis’ superb performance, which made No.6 in the UK singles chart in 1971.Next up is the 1956 Elvis recording, How Do You Think I Feel,written by Wayne Walker and Webb Pierce, with 1954 country recordings by Red Sovine and Jimmy Rogers Snow. Very ‘busy’, this ‘hillbilly calypso’ posed a challenge which Peter has risen to. A number known by everyone of a certain age is the Ned Miller classic, From A Jack To A King, also recorded by Jim Reeves. Recorded by Ned in 1957 it became a hit when given a different backing in 1962, making the UK Top 10 and becoming a hit also in the USA and parts of Europe. It’s of course the more up-tempo,powerhouse version by Elvis from the rightly fabled 1969 Memphis Sessions that Peter has covered here. (You’re The) Devil In Disguise with its catchy intro has always been a fan favourite, and suits the ‘Peter treatment’ really well. A deserved UK No.1 in 1963,(No. 3 in the US);despite the excellence of Bossa Nova Baby and Viva Las Vegas, it would be 1965 before another chart topping UK 45 came along. The EP soundtrack from Kid Galahad,despite not emulating the UK or US singles chart success of the preceding Follow That Dream EP(No.34 and No.15 respectively) was a cracking collection of very catchy numbers (with two lovely ballads) loved by those of us who were around at the time to buy it. The superb King Of The Whole Wide World placed the EP at No. 30 in the USA singles chart (not so the UK),but for many of us the track had potential world-wide Top 10 single written all over it, even as a later reissue. It is regrettably not included here but equally tuneful and more lyrically romantic is another drive-along number from the six- track collection, I Got Lucky. Peter has covered this joyful feel-good song in a way that I am sure Elvis fans all over the world will be singing along to as they play this track. The delightful extended intro stereo version featured on several CDs since the 90s has been eschewed by our guitar hero in favour of the original EP release. The truly beautiful I’ll Remember You, first released on the California Holiday/Spinout) LP in 1966, has to be one of the finest recordings that Elvis ever laid down;made even more poignant when soulfully performed in Hawaii in 1973 at the cancer benefit to its writer, singer Kui Lee,who had passed away in 1966. No-one could possibly equal those Elvis performances, but Peter has managed to retain the beauty of the song in a way that surely any of the writer’s descendants would appreciate. A lot of Elvis music lovers like, indeed often prefer, his cover versions. This is mostly because, as was the case with the late great Billy Fury, those recordings invariably equalled and often eclipsed the originals. With And I Love You So, known primarily for the UK No.3 hit by class-act Perry Como, Elvis’s performance from the excellent 1975 UK Top 50 album, Elvis Today, provides us with something very special indeed; as does Peter in his own inimitable way. The 1973 Aloha From Hawaii Concert was arguably Elvis’s career high point, and although perhaps a little subdued, his performance was immaculate,his voice superb, including on What Now My Love. Of French origin and recorded by several artists, this dramatic offering had been a major hit for Shirley Bassey in 1962, with Ben E King also recording a classy version. Elvis did the number full justice, as does Peter; no mean feat.
Back in the day (early 60s) when Peter played guitar in several band incarnations in Wales, a dance hall favourite was the B-side of Are You Lonesome Tonight. I Gotta Know was also recorded by Cliff Richard and The Shadows(two versions)and featured on the 1962 classic album, Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets. The man whose voice is his guitar has provided us with a suitably catchy version here. Elvis had always recorded country songs, his early tracks melded black music with country, but by the early 70s, in addition to the Elvis Country album, each LP and live show usually contained some country style recordings. For The Good Times written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson, a Country No.1 and Billboard No.11 for Ray Price in 1970, UK No.7 for Perry Como in 1973,with a lovely version by Lynn Anderson, was a natural choice for the ultra-soulful Elvis treatment. In a nod to the pivotal 1972 Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden afternoon and evening performances, the latter featured on the superb live (UK Top 3) album, Peter has captured the feel of this haunting, bitter-sweet number. Once criticised by Jack Good, Elvis’s ‘strange(post-rock ‘n’ roll) baritone’ was never more beautiful than when employed on recordings such as Anything That’s Part Of You, the B-side of Good Luck Charm, a UK No.1 in May ’62. The instrumental version here is also lovely. G.I. Blues was a good film with an engaging and enjoyable soundtrack,and Elvis, having astounded the world with his new sound and the musical diversity on his superb Elvis Is Back LP, continued to put his golden baritone to good use on two more of his most vocally perfect non-religious ballads of the early 60s; Doin' The Best I Can and Pocketful Of Rainbows were from the above soundtrack and are charmingly recorded here by Peter. Reputedly heavily distracted by the leggy charms of Juliet Prowse, Elvis obviously still managed to put his pipes to great use on a highly enjoyable soundtrack! Inserted between the two film tracks the sublime country style ballad, Loving Arms, written and recorded by Tom Jans (nice version), also by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge (a duet), with fine versions by Dobie Gray and Brenda Lee, was the outstanding track on the Elvis 1974 album, Good Times (UK No.49) and also a UK Top 50 single during 1981. The Felton Jarvis produced 1980 remake of this memorable Elvis vocal performance, found on the interesting Guitar Man album, (UK No. 33 in 1981),suffers from a far too prominent, irritatingly jangly guitar, and, unlike the excellent reworking of the Guitar Man track, (also a UK Top 50 single, US Top 30), is best avoided. On either version of this beautiful ballad of course Elvis’s emotive and powerful vocal lifts this recording in a way so as to make it his own, as he did with Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues from the same album. This is also a moving performance by Peter with his unique ‘Guitar Vocals’. Don’t, a US and UK Top 10 in 1958, is the only other 1950’s Elvis release featured on here and has been publicly and rightly lauded (the Royal Philharmonic backed version in particular) by ace UK rocker, Marty Wilde. The raw young vocal is simply riveting, outstanding even among the fabulous 50s output, and Peter has chosen to stay with the original style backing for his interpretation here. He decided to record this classic UK No. 2/ US No. 1, ‘live’ (direct onto ‘tape’), and it works wonderfully. Slowly But Surely was one of several song demos made by James Marcus Smith (P J Proby), for submission to Elvis. It was and is, outstanding, with solid backing and a display of vocal magnificence by one of the all-time popular music greats. Elvis went on to record it during his May 1963 Memphis sessions and it seems to have been added, with Love Me Tonight, as a bonus track to the soundtrack albums from Fun In Acapulco (but not included on the 1993 Elvis-Double Features film collection CD release). It was the final on-screen number during Tickle Me in 1965, appearing on the then much sought after US EP, but not the UK version. The antithesis of some of the weaker 60’s film songs, (those in this film cannot be faulted), this quite punchy recording (very much akin in style to Put The Blame On Me from the same soundtrack), is a lively and fitting choice with which to close this diverse and stylish tribute to Elvis. Chris Eley-The Sound of Fury. Acknowledgments: Guinness British Hit Singles and Albums, Billboard USA Top 40 Hits, the late music writer Trevor Simpson and music legend Stuart Colman.
Tribute to the late Will Hutchins. Peter Williams has dedicated this album to actor and true gentleman Will Hutchins (1930-2025), and to his lovely wife Babs who continues to promote the legacy of a special person who became most well-known for his portrayal of cowboy Tom Brewster, during 69 episodes of the ABC TV hit show, Sugarfoot. The Elvis connection with Will comes from his appearance in two 1960s Elvis films,Spinout and Clambake, with the sadly unfulfilled promise of appearing in one more. Will and Babs connection with Peter has been due to their enjoyment of his music, and their appreciation of Peter’s enduring love, from childhood, for the western genre. Adios Pardner, and wherever you are we know you’ll still be catching the bad guys!
Peter.