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Friday, February 6, 2009

Guest blog: Here, there and everywhere

For a while my brother has pestered me about making a guest appearance on his blog. So if you don't like it, blame Thomas! No, actually I'm very proud to participate like this. Thank you, bro!

There are some Elvis fans who have other interests than Elvis, believe it or not. I have several. But it doesn't matter what it is – you can't get away from the king!

One of my heroes in music besides Elvis is Hank Williams. And of course Elvis recorded some of Hanks songs: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (fantastic Elvis version) and "Your Cheatin' Heart"(not so fantastic).

November last year saw the release of a new Hank Williams three CD set, with previously unreleased radio material in excellent sound quality, all dated 1951. And guess what? There are some Elvis songs on it! (A song Elvis recorded = an Elvis song, right?)

The set kicks off with a splendid version of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." This was written, not by Willie Nelson, but by Fred Rose who was Hanks producer and mentor. Other Elvis songs on the CD set is "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" and "When The Saints Go Marchin' In."

And even "On Top Of Old Smokey," sung by Elvis in Follow That Dream for about ten seconds! (Funnily, known Elvis CD set writer Colin Escott claims in this set that Elvis recorded a song called "Softly And Tenderly." (If he did, I never heard it!) And yes, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is included, as well as "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)."

Another interest of mine is collecting (and when I get the time, watching) old movies from the 30's. And wouldn't you know: there almost always turns up an Elvis co-star in them! For example: the yoga teacher in Easy Come, Easy Go was played by Elsa Lanchester. She was the female monster (as well as Mary Shelley) in Bride of Frankenstein from 1935.

Glenda Farrell, Joan Blondell and Barbara Stanwyck seem to be in every other Warner Brothers film of the 1930's. Of course, they all appeared in Elvis movies. (Farrell in Kissin' Cousins, Blondell in Stay Away, Joe and Stanwyck in Roustabout.)

Elvis is truly everywhere! I even married a gal whose two first names are – yes, you guessed it – Swedish versions of names in Elvis song titles! And two good songs they are too: "Susan When She Tried" and "Marguerita!"

Yes, Elvis is everywhere, but I'm off. Thomas will soon be with you again...

/MĂ„rtenbrother

6 comments:

Thomas said...

Thank you very much, bro, for a great post! I'm proud, too!

Anonymous said...

A truly inspiring guest column!

Anonymous said...

Nice post!

I guess you know the song "Softly and Tenderly" but didn't remember while posting.
Maybe it's because Elvis not really recorded it for release. It's part of the "Million Dollar Quartet"-session.

Anonymous said...

OMG, the Million Dollar sessions! I listen to those like once every ten years (but usually have a good time doing that), but now I got to hear them again! My biggest apologies to Colin and a big thank you to both Rocker and Anonymous for the nice words.

Anonymous said...

...please where can I buy a unicorn?

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