Elvis and Mary

  After the recent death of Mary Tyler Moore (MTM Meow ) . I thought i would do a post on Elvis''s music and the connections it had to Mary. Whether it be a riverboat, Virgin Mary or Mary T herself. I could of gone a bit deeper and gone into the close association between Marie and Mary but that would have got a bit messy so I might leave that to another day !
   Our first destination is down to the river where the people are happy to give. The song Proud Mary was written in the 60's by a worker on the Mary Elizabeth or once known as the Queen Mother of Memphis Tugboats and the song then found its way into the hands of John Fogerty, who published and performed it and the rest is rock history. Built in 1905 the tug once transported prisoners up the Hudson River to Sing Sing State Prison. Then in 1915, the boat was used to transport mail up the Mississippi from Greenville to Luna Landing. Thirteen years later it was purchased by a Memphis Tennessee businessman and given the name Mary Elizabeth to be used as a tugboat. Im afraid Proud Mary is no more it was towed away in 1986 from the Memphis riverbank for scrap metal.
   Elvis performed this song many times in concert in the early 1970's my memory as a child was on the Madison Square Garden record.Where it was played often, in our household .We also had the Tina Turner version.Which was very popular at that time during the mid seventies, Rollin on the River . 
I thought i would post some rare footage of his Boston show 1971, here he is wearing his black conquistador suit, with cape and the recording of Proud Mary is from this show.
 

 Mary Tyler Moore and a Change of Habit 

        Doctor John Carpenter and Sister Michele in the movie Change of Habit. This was one of my favorite Elvis movies growing up being made around the time of the 1968 TV Special and the birth of Lisa Marie This was when Elvis was on a high, and enthused about performing again. In the movie Mary was trying to make the decision, whether to throw away her habit and faith to join Doctor John. This movie also starred Mary Tyler Moore show co star Edward Asner. Ed had appeared with Elvis in an earlier movie Kid Galahad. The soundtrack had some good recordings without being outstanding. The title track Change of Habit, Have A Happy,Let Us Pray and Rubberneckin , The later being a hit for Elvis after the milenium, in 2003. It was also the B side of Dont Cry Daddy which reached number 6 on the billboard charts in 1970. Let's Be Friends was also recorded for the movie at the Change of Habit sessions . These sessions started a couple of days after Elvis had done his marathon  American Sound Studios cuts of  In The Ghetto, Suspicious Minds and others. Darlene Love and the Blossoms were the backup singers for these sessions.  Lets Be Friends still remains one of my favorite Elvis recordings.
      Barbara Mcnair co star spoke about the visit of Mahalia Jackson on the set one day and how Elvis just loved her and how him and Mahalia discussed the charity show she was organizing. Barbara said Mary was a little stand offish but Elvis had been so friendly . This clip of Elvis and Mary ! Property of Notre Dame (our Mother) Sister Michele lead us into Mother Mary ! Miracle of Your Rosary Hail Mary full of grace ! 

   Miracle of Your Rosary 

This song is often referred to as the Hail Mary or Ave Maria (latin).

Written by Lee Denison and recorded by Elvis in May 1971 first released on the Elvis Now album in the 70's.  Some Elvis trivia ! In early 1955 Elvis performed at a Catholic club in Arkansas and the Priest Father Keller was not impressed and later witnessing Elvis signing a young girls leg, had said to Elvis "you are a disgrace to manhood, dont come back here". 

   Yet another connection to the Catholic church was Sister Dolores Hart, who was Mario Lanza's niece co starred with Elvis in Loving You and went on to become a Catholic Nun.  This clip of her talking about her relationship with Elvis and God !

Miss Hart talking about being on set with Elvis. I was mesmerized by his charisma and voice. That voice is for the people of GOD. 

   

     The last clip i am going to share is Mary in the Morning, a song written in 1967 and first recorded, by Al Martino. Elvis incorporated this into his live performances in the early 1970's. Always thought this song had a mystical feel about it ! I've always wondered who was Mary the woman with golden hair and chasing rainbows in her dreams.

More Trivia
In the middle ages mary or mare was was often referred to the sea ! Stella Maris or star of the sea a name given to the Virgin Mary !
The Vatican also known as the Holy See !
See of Rome or Central Government of the Catholic Church
Lateran Treaty of 1929
  Name Marie --- French cognate of Mary, which is derived from the Hebrew Miryām. Many believe it to mean "sea of bitterness" or "sea of sorrow." However, some sources cite the alternative definitions of "rebellion," "wished-for child," and "mistress or lady of the sea

Elvis and Mac Davis

    Mac Davis born 21st January 1942.His biggest hit was Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me and he first saw Elvis perform way back in 1956 on the back of a truck in Lubbock Texas . Lubbock being the home of Buddy Holly and as Mac said Buddy and Elvis were his two inspirations to write music. Another of Macs biggest hits Hooked on Music has in the first verse a reference to the first time he saw Elvis. Mac started writing for Elvis in 1967 in partnership with Billy Strange who worked with Elvis on the movie songs in the sixties. Billy and Mac wrote songs like Charro , A Little Less Conversation, Clean Up Your Own Backyard , Nothingville ,Dont Cry Daddy , Memories and his most famous In The Ghetto. I loved hearing Mac's story about the success of A Little Less Conversation going to number one in 2002. He said I was in shock i could'nt believe it. A friend of mine called me and said , hey Mac one of your songs has gone to number one in the UK. I knew nothing about the Nike promotion. Then later, my wife and I were watching Oceans Eleven and didnt realize they had used this version in the movie. It sounds so good. I thought the revamp they did was amazing. It was originally written for the 68 special but not used.
    Interested to hear Mac say that the lyrics were changed in A Little Less Conversation by Elvis or by those in Hollywood to fit the scene in Live A Little Love A Little and he said at the time he was a bit annoyed that they had changed his favorite verse in the song. Its a groovy night and i can show you how to use it. .Here is the original movie version with Elvis and the beautiful Celeste Yarnall . This computer will prove to you that the planets are wrong.

         
                 “Elvis’ records were always lesser than what he was vocally,”Billy Strange

   Charro a western had Elvis as Jess Wade a role originally offered to Clint Eastwood. The title song written by Mac , was the only song Elvis performed in the movie. Mac told a story about hearing a guy whistling this tune in a bathroom one time and was amazed, because it had always been a dream of his, to hear some person, unknown to him whistling a song he had written and I couldnt believe the song would be Charro as i dont remember much about that song myself. I had to ask him the name of the song because i couldnt remember the name.

    Clean Up Your Own Backard was a song performed in Trouble with Girls . Interesting to note alot of the songs recorded for this movie stayed unreleased for a considerable amount of time bar this one. Songs like Signs of the Zodiac and Swing Down Sweet Chariot, Almost and Violet.

   Nothingville or as I think it was referring to Hollywoodville. They treat me like a country clown. Its a Rats race at a snails pace ! Mac said he always thought that was one of his favorite lines in any song he had written. It was specificly written for the TV Special with Memories.

Poor Mans Gold another written by Mac but Elvis only ever sung one line from it in the studio. I loved how Pete Storm completed it and thought i would add it here for a novelty song .

Sweet Inspiration 1970

Sweet Inspiration was the only top 40 hit for the Sweet Inspirations although they appeared on many 60's and 70's hits as a backing group. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison Burning of the Midnight Lamp by Jimi Hendrix and Just One Look by Doris Troy. They also did backing vocals for Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield in the sixties. This version by Elvis was a one off performance from the midnight show 20th August 1970 . Interviews with Whitney Houstons mum Cissy, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown precede his performance.

I'm Leavin 1974

Michael Jarrett/Sonny James ballad. Michael said he wrote the song after he had given up performing to concentrate on song writing and its written about his girlfriends lack of faith in his songwriting and his decision to leave her and move on. She had said to him what if your songs arnt good enough. Michael said the unusual structure of the song belongs to Sonny James. In the Nashville recording studios in 1971 Elvis is heard saying phew this song is tough but its worth working on. Elvis performed it on various occassions at live shows but none compared to the haunting studio recording due to the difficulties in getting the pace of the song just right. In this live recording from 1974 Elvis is heard chatting to fans and singing one line of the song Stop the World and Let Me Off. 

Little Mama 1955

This was recorded live at the Lousianna Hayride March 1955. Many mistakenly think this is Thats Alright Little Mama but this is a completely different song Co written by the music producer Jerry Wexler . Wexler wrote for Billboard magazine and is said to have coined the term Rhythm and Blues. He produced Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin and was the man who connected Elvis with the Sweet Inspirations.  Originally sung by The Clovers in 1953. Elvis often performed Clovers songs in his early live performances songs like Fool Fool Fool, Love Bug. Love Potion Number 9 is their most known hit written by the great Leiber and Stoller who of course were prolific writers for the early Elvis recordings. 

Reconsider Baby 1977

A song written by Lowell Fulson in 1954 its registered in the top 500 songs that shaped rock'n'roll. Elvis first recorded it for his Elvis is Back album in 1960 and featured the great Boots Randolph sax break. Its a song Elvis would perform in his concerts every now and again and was first perfomed live in 1970 in front of Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin. I only just recently found out that Elvis had performed this on numerous ocassions in late 76 early 77. This recording is from february 1977 .

Love Bug Clovers 

This song is often said to have been performed by Elvis at some of his 55/56 shows but no recording has ever surfaced.

Recordings at Home and Backstage

• Twelfth of Never was an adaption of an old English folk song The Riddle Song first released by Johnny Mathis in 1957 . Cliff Richard and Donny Osmond also had hits with this. Elvis version comes from his rehearsals done in Vegas in 1970.

• Turn Around Look At Me was one of Glen Campbells early hits from 1961. Glen played on a What d I Say on Elvis Viva Las Vegas sessions in 1963 and remained a good friend of Elvis. Glen appears in one of the most iconic photos of Elvis at George Kleins wedding . That day Elvis was photographed walking around with a flashlight in a long black coat.This rare audience recording made at an Asheville concert 1975 .

•  Young Love A song which was a hit for a many artists in the 50's with the most famous being by Tab Hunter and Sonny James. Sonny version spent nine weeks at number one on the country charts in 1957. Sonny died earlier this year 2016 at the age of 87. The original was done by Ric Cartey and the Jiva Tones in 1956. Elvis on the spot version is from the 1968 rehearsal show. Its followed by a small snippet of Patsy Clines Shes Got You.

• Fool Fool Fool This is a song originally done by the Clovers in 1951 and written by Atlantic Records boss Ahmet Ertegun who put in an offer of 25000 dollars for Presleys contract in 1955. This was recorded by Elvis probably in January1955 at a radio station in Lubbock Texas.

•  Photos of Glen Campbell and Elvis together. The Famous flashlight pics. December 5th 1970

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Fairytale and Fire

     Fairytale, written by Anita and Bonnie Pointer it was the second single release from their 1974 album Thats A Plenty . Elvis recorded a version for his 1975 album TODAY . He loved the song so much, he called it "the story of my life". After recording it, he included it in all of his live shows. 

      Due to the success of the song, The Pointer Sisters won their first Grammy award for Best Duo or Group in 1975. Anita and Bonnie were also nominated for songwriters of the year.

The group was also invited to perform the song at the Grande Ole Opry, making The Pointer Sisters the first black female group to ever perform at the Opry.

Fairytale Pointer Sisters

Fairytale Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley Live Memphis Colliseum 1975

Fire written by Bruce Springsteen . This was the song he tried to get to Elvis in 1976 by jumping the fence at Graceland. After Elvis died in 1977 he passed the song onto the Pointer Sisters who had a big hit with it in 1978. 

Pointer Sisters live at the Attic 1981 Fire

  Bruce Springsteen tribute to Elvis Johnny Bye Bye

 

Elvis and Glen Campbell

Summer Kisses Winter Tears

      Written by Ben Weisman for Elvis. Ben wrote 57 songs for Elvis . His song First in Line was one of the initial songs chosen by Elvis for his lead Album with RCA. That first meeting of the two happened on the set of Loving You  regarding the song Got A Lot of Living To Do . Ben said my song writing for Elvis was completely different from my other song writing. I specifically wrote songs just for him and what i thought he would like. The Mad Professor as Elvis nicknamed him, remained friends until the end. In later years many of Weismans songs have had remixes and become hits. His latest hit with an Elvis connection has been the remix of Rubberneckin.
   Ben talking about the last time he saw Elvis . Elvis invited me to come to one of those wild parties, you know, the last evening of the season in crazy Vegas. I went upstairs and Elvis grabbed me, stood me up in front of the crowd and announced, "I want you all to meet Ben Weisman. The man who has written more songs for me than any other writer - 57 ! I want to hear it for this man".
 There was a big applause, then he took me over to the piano. It was just me and him. Elvis wasn't looking too good. His eyes were puffy and he'd gotten very, very heavy. He said to me, 'Ben, there's a song I love called "Softly as I Leave You" Indeed, I knew it well, one of those ballads that just about everyone had a crack at in the sixties."
"After he sang his heart out Elvis said, 'This is not a song about a man who's leaving his girlfriend. It's a song about a man who is going to die.'
I didn't know what to say, but I knew there was trouble coming. As Elvis held my arm, I could feel his hand shaking. It made me feel as though mine was shaking, too. And that was the last time I saw him.    
    Summer Kisses Winter Tears was a ballad written to be sung by Elvis to his leading lady during a love scene. Unfortunately, the powers of  Hollywood had him sing it to a group of Indians sitting around a campfire smoking a peace pipe! At the preview, the audience broke into laughter when the scene occurred. As a result, the song was cut from the film. Over twenty years later in 1992, as fate would have it again, Elvis' recording was released in a Wim Wenders' film entitled 'Until The End Of The World', directed by David Lynch'. David Lynch is a life long Elvis fan

          David Lynch quote Elvis swims in our minds, and in the emotions all through time. One of my favourite Lynch films is the 1990 black comedy Wild at Heart which starred a young Nicholas Cage doing an Elvis impersonation. Cage would also star in other Elvis connected movies like Honeymoon in Vegas. Nick married Lisa Marie Presley in 2002. Nicholas was a life long Elvis fan as well being born on January 7th 1964 of course the king was born on January 8.

 Julee Cruise version of Summer Kisses Winter Tears from Until the End of The World 

Instrumental version with Elvis home movies

   Nick Cave I'll Love You Until the End of the World 

another song from the soundtrack. One of Nick's signature songs is of course 

Tupelo his tribute to the KING 

I've loved music always, and my music fire was lit by Elvis Presley, really, and all that was happening back then.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/david_lynch_4.html

I've loved music always, and my music fire was lit by Elvis Presley, really, and all that was happening
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/david_lynch_4.html

I've loved music always, and my music fire was lit by Elvis Presley, really, and all that was happening
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/david_lynch_4.html