Great video mate. Have been a Elvis fan since I can remember, my Mum (82) grew up with him. Now we have my son of 18 a massive fan. It carries on, what a guy.
Im like you Seán, the 'Jungle Room sessions' have grown on me as i got older (52 next month😊) Beautiful performances by our man, 'Danny Boy, Solitaire etc. Awesome vocals❤
Hi Sean, I also bought from EP Blvd in 76. At 16 I thought the songs were melancholy but I knew most of them especially Blue eyes crying in the Rain. I enjoy the new FTD albums that represent these sessions. That 76 Pittsburgh package is beautiful. I don't have it yet. I enjoyed this video again and look forward to your view of 77. Take care. Juan
Hi Sean fine Elvis voice was more powerful the songs Jungle Room sessions feel Elvis have good time all the songs when listening feel the power in he voice just love listen to that album feel that you are in the same room with him Beautiful performances that what thing keep up cool video my friend take care what you do hope what ever you do have fun sse next time
His voice was so powerful in 76 ,it never let him down . EPB is a very powerful album and I agree I think he was releasing a lot of emotions with the choice of songs . I think it would have being amazing to see what he would have recorded in say 78/79 . We all agree that he should have taken time of but I don't think that was in his makeup to be honest,he didn't want to let his fans down and we couldn't tell him that that was what we wanted him to do which was a shame . Great video my friend, looking forward to 77
Cheers Paul, oh for sure you're right, from everything we know, it wasn't in Elvis’s nature to kick back and take time off to get better, and it doesn't seem as though he was particularly open to well-intentioned advice. He really was his own worst enemy, unfortunately, which is what makes the eventual decline even more tragic
Hi Sean, I really liked your deep dive into Elvis 1976 and The Final Sessions. When I bought the cassette in 1977 I was a bit disappointed with it. I didn't actually realise it was Recorded Live until I read the cover then listening to the songs there was nothing live about! I thought maybe RCA would have kept some Elvis chatter towards the end of the tracks so that the fans get that live in the studio feel. Saying all that I found the tracks were over produced with layers and layers of instruments which buried Elvis' voice and gave me the impression of swimming through treacle!! I definitely prefer these sessions produced years later when the instruments have been stripped back. The best songs for me are Danny Boy, Hurt and The Last Farewell .
Thanks Dinshaw, I appreciate you taking the time to watch and glad you enjoyed it. The 'recorded live' tag line was very odd indeed, not sure what they were thinking there. Undubbed is definitely the best way to enjoy those sessions for sure
Great Video Sean .... I love the 76 recording at Graceland....some of my favourite recording! I'm hoping one day FTD release a sessions box set ....how amazing would that be 😃!? I have all the releases you have documented here ....not the books alas .... See you Wednesday.. Cheers 🎙🎶🥂
Cheers Paul, a full session set would be fantastic, although there is quite a lot available in various forms, but it would be great to have it all gathered together in one place
@sincerelyelvispresley Ya ..I have most or all of it so far .... PS ...I was never a huge admirer of Felton Jarvis as a producer for some reason.....I know he went full time for Elvis in 67 ! He was really a yes man to Parler 🤡 and RCA Cheers 🎙🎶🥂
@paulmogg8036 I always thought 'producer' wasn't really the right title for Felton. Elvis was the producer and Felton's role was effectively to tinker around with the recordings after they'd been committed to tape
@sincerelyelvispresley Yes I would go along with that .... But he definitely over tinkered with the material recorded ! Just so sad....as ever ....that we never got any more new studio recording after 76 😕 Imagine what could have been ... Felton died in the early 80s I believe 🎙🎶🥂
Beautiful chap How many times you've been to graceland for me i have been there 9 times. When i live in america but i am trying to get my stuff back from my ex girlfriend everyday i miss my stuff of Elvis. So i am missing you a blue christmas and a happy new year a happy new year to you and your family chap ☺☺
Thank you 🙂 only been to Graceland just the one time, unfortunately. It's the high cost of travel that's the main blocker really. Hope you manage to get your Elvis stuff back and wish you all the best too 👍🏻
I 💜 these year by year vids you are doing! On a side note to nowhere. I was just looking at a few items on Ebay. Someone has the complete set of Elvis Files books that you have. $10,000.00 USD No kidding. Yikes!!!!
Thanks so much, 💜 that 💜 them, last one tonight though (until I decide whether or not to do a '60s series anyway) $10k? That's insane! You'd have to be loopy to pay that much
Great show brother , 76 was also the last year Elvis performed in his hometown Memphis 🥲 I know a guy who has every live show of '76 on cd in his collection 😮 thank's for the shoutout my brother ,wishing you and Sarah a great week💜
I think the RCA Legacy release 'Way Down in The Jungle Room' really highlighted just how good the Graceland recordings actually were, particularly on CD two, featuring the undubbed versions, (as you alluded to re. Felton Jarvis, Sean). Songs such as 'Love Coming Down' were lifted to another level and the 1976 recordings now possibly rate along side the phenomenal American Sound sessions. A few years ago, I had the opportunity correspond with Larry Gatlin to say how much I loved 'Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall' but instead of acknowledging how poignant the recording was, (like so many tracks on the album) he instead, very quickly reminded me of three other songs he had written, which Elvis had also recorded! LOL. Thanks Sean, Steve
Completely agree, Steve. Songwriters eh? It's just me, me ,me 🤣 I shall be taking a look at some of the undubbed releases in the final episode on Wednesday 🙂
That resonance that you refer to, was also there for Bobby Darin. I won’t go into his story, except suffice it to say that he lived on borrowed time since childhood and he knew that he had already outlived his life expectancy. I can hear it and see it in his performances during the final years that he is coming to peace with himself as an artist and performer. Interestingly Enough Elvis supported Darin’s shows from start to finish. Regarding Elvis, even listening to He’ll Have to Go, which I believe to be the last song that he recorded, that drawn out darkness is evident. It works for me anyway.
@ ….thank you for indulging me yapping about another of my favourite artists. It’s true though …there is an old video of Elvis, Donald O’Conner and many others attending one of Darin’s shows available on RUclips. It shows Elvis and Bobby talking prior to El talking his seat in the audience. Would be great to be able to hear what they were discussing.
Always wondered why there was no Vegas engagement in ‘77. He was sick of Vegas but can’t believe that would’ve stopped Parker from booking him in again
Apparently he was due back there again at the end of the year. He must have dreaded the prospect of stepping back onto the treadmill it had become for him
After TTWII, Elvis should have left Vegas and never come back. I'm not saying that every Vegas stint after that was bad, but that was the last stint where there was anything left for him to achieve creatively. We got TTWII. Not having that footage doesn't bear thinking about...and he had really honed and worked on his show, using his two previous Vegas stints which were also great as a solid base but also introducing new material and some of the best live singing he ever did. In all the footage and recordings from the film, Elvis is still going on that stage with a point to prove. Each show they filmed, he went at it harder than the last, constantly improving. In my opinion, at that moment in time he was probably the best singer and performer in the world. The idea that this man, this incredible performer, then continued on singing there, competing with the sounds of knives and forks in the hands of well off people cutting their steaks up is just crazy. On top of that, they worked him like a mule. I know it all comes down to money etc but it is just so frustrating and ridiculous. This was not the only way in the world for him to make money, or should I say make the colonel money. There were many factors in Elvis's demise but I really think Vegas was a big one. (Realising I've just rambled on about 70 when it's a 76 video.) For me one of the most jarring things that demonstrates the rapid decline in the last year or two of his life is this... Not in the music, but take rags to riches from pittsburgh 76 and then take unchained melody from the cbs thing in 77. It's the pre song stuff. Listen to the way he announces he's going to play piano in both of these clips. The way he's speaking and what he's saying etc. The contrast is seriously shocking.
Some good points well made for sure. I agree that Vegas 70 is the absolute benchmark, he never topped that year for me. But he could have said no, he could have put his foot down and taken control of the direction he wanted his career to travel, but sadly he never did
@sincerelyelvispresley I totally agree on both points. A quick story that comes to mind on August 1970 love...my brother hasn't let me forget this yet. I was watching Elvis do you've lost that loving feeling (11/08/70 MS to be exact haha). My brother came through annoyed and asked me why I kept pausing the video, as I'd paused it at least four or five times. I replied "Basically, I know this is really weird and sounds unhinged, but I'll be honest. I keep pausing it because I can't watch it all at once. I love it so much that it makes me feel sick. I can't handle it all at once. It's too good."
@mrsongman excellent story, and I totally get it, in fact Elvis himself clearly felt the same about performing that particular song, he's enjoying it so much during the August 12th midnight show that he pretty much starts it all over again. Pure genius!
@@sincerelyelvispresley this is just a theory of mine but I'm convinced the reason he does that is because he knows he did it better the night before. He does the song and that section isn't particularly inspired. Song ends. He then sings that part again like you say and what comes out is very, very similar to the previous night in multiple ways all the way up to "don't take it awaaaaay, listen..." while leaning back ninety degrees. It's very similar but the previous night wins it for me as he doesn't pause for breath on that line and it sounds so damn good like that.
Hi Chris, it's an audience recording, but the sound is pretty good, in fact I think the mastering on this particular release is better than on the FTD New Year's Eve release of the same show
In my opinion the jungle rooms was far from elvis best i have allways loved his vocals but for me the deep vocals on this album is not the elvis i enjoyed i know he was older and vocals change and he was influenced by tenor singers but i missed the softer vocals of how he sung before
Sean, in your description above, why do you refer to Elvis' jungle room recordings sessions as "infamous"? The meaning of infamous is -- Well known for some bad quality or deed; wicked; abominable. ~ Maybe "unusual" or "unordinary" would've been a better word to use.
Great video mate.
Have been a Elvis fan since I can remember, my Mum (82) grew up with him. Now we have my son of 18 a massive fan.
It carries on, what a guy.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. It's fantastic how the legacy carries on through generations, isn't it?
Im like you Seán, the 'Jungle Room sessions' have grown on me as i got older (52 next month😊) Beautiful performances by our man, 'Danny Boy, Solitaire etc. Awesome vocals❤
Absolutely Brn, but definitely best heard in the raw without the overdubs
Hi Sean, I also bought from EP Blvd in 76. At 16 I thought the songs were melancholy but I knew most of them especially Blue eyes crying in the Rain. I enjoy the new FTD albums that represent these sessions.
That 76 Pittsburgh package is beautiful. I don't have it yet.
I enjoyed this video again and look forward to your view of 77.
Take care. Juan
Cheers Juan, thanks for watching, always appreciated! 😊
As always, a very informative and interesting video!! Fantastic!
Thank you my friend!
“The Final Countdown to Midnight “ is indeed a special package. I need to pull it out and and give it another look.⚡️
Definitely worth a revisit. It's always nice to pull something out of the collection that you haven't heard or looked at for a while 🙂
Hi Sean fine Elvis voice was more powerful the songs Jungle Room sessions feel Elvis have good time all the songs when listening feel the power in he voice just love listen to that album feel that you are in the same room with him Beautiful performances that what thing keep up cool video my friend take care what you do hope what ever you do have fun sse next time
Thanks Nigel, the 76 are often underrated I think
keep up cool video Sean my friend
look forward more great video my friend
Wednesday this week Nigel for the final 70s episode 👍🏻
look forward to that Sean my friend
His voice was so powerful in 76 ,it never let him down . EPB is a very powerful album and I agree I think he was releasing a lot of emotions with the choice of songs . I think it would have being amazing to see what he would have recorded in say 78/79 . We all agree that he should have taken time of but I don't think that was in his makeup to be honest,he didn't want to let his fans down and we couldn't tell him that that was what we wanted him to do which was a shame .
Great video my friend, looking forward to 77
Cheers Paul, oh for sure you're right, from everything we know, it wasn't in Elvis’s nature to kick back and take time off to get better, and it doesn't seem as though he was particularly open to well-intentioned advice. He really was his own worst enemy, unfortunately, which is what makes the eventual decline even more tragic
Hi Sean, I really liked your deep dive into Elvis 1976 and The Final Sessions. When I bought the cassette in 1977 I was a bit disappointed with it. I didn't actually realise it was Recorded Live until I read the cover then listening to the songs there was nothing live about! I thought maybe RCA would have kept some Elvis chatter towards the end of the tracks so that the fans get that live in the studio feel. Saying all that I found the tracks were over produced with layers and layers of instruments which buried Elvis' voice and gave me the impression of swimming through treacle!! I definitely prefer these sessions produced years later when the instruments have been stripped back. The best songs for me are Danny Boy, Hurt and The Last Farewell .
Thanks Dinshaw, I appreciate you taking the time to watch and glad you enjoyed it. The 'recorded live' tag line was very odd indeed, not sure what they were thinking there. Undubbed is definitely the best way to enjoy those sessions for sure
Great Video love watching your Video
Thanks so much, I really appreciate that 👍🏻
Great Video Sean ....
I love the 76 recording at Graceland....some of my favourite recording!
I'm hoping one day FTD release a sessions box set ....how amazing would that be 😃!?
I have all the releases you have documented here ....not the books alas ....
See you Wednesday..
Cheers 🎙🎶🥂
Cheers Paul, a full session set would be fantastic, although there is quite a lot available in various forms, but it would be great to have it all gathered together in one place
@sincerelyelvispresley Ya ..I have most or all of it so far ....
PS ...I was never a huge admirer of Felton Jarvis as a producer for some reason.....I know he went full time for Elvis in 67 !
He was really a yes man to Parler 🤡 and RCA
Cheers 🎙🎶🥂
@paulmogg8036 I always thought 'producer' wasn't really the right title for Felton. Elvis was the producer and Felton's role was effectively to tinker around with the recordings after they'd been committed to tape
@sincerelyelvispresley Yes I would go along with that ....
But he definitely over tinkered with the material recorded !
Just so sad....as ever ....that we never got any more new studio recording after 76 😕
Imagine what could have been ...
Felton died in the early 80s I believe
🎙🎶🥂
Beautiful chap
How many times you've been to graceland for me i have been there 9 times. When i live in america but i am trying to get my stuff back from my ex girlfriend everyday i miss my stuff of Elvis. So i am missing you a blue christmas and a happy new year a happy new year to you and your family chap ☺☺
Thank you 🙂 only been to Graceland just the one time, unfortunately. It's the high cost of travel that's the main blocker really. Hope you manage to get your Elvis stuff back and wish you all the best too 👍🏻
Nice video covering the 76 material Sean
Thanks Adam, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
I 💜 these year by year vids you are doing!
On a side note to nowhere. I was just looking at a few items on Ebay. Someone has the complete set of Elvis Files books that you have. $10,000.00 USD No kidding. Yikes!!!!
Thanks so much, 💜 that 💜 them, last one tonight though (until I decide whether or not to do a '60s series anyway) $10k? That's insane! You'd have to be loopy to pay that much
I really enjoy these series of videos. Will you be doing a series on the 60s?
Thanks Anthony, much appreciated. I may do the 60s, but I'm going to take a break from the series format for a little while at least
Great show brother , 76 was also the last year Elvis performed in his hometown Memphis 🥲 I know a guy who has every live show of '76 on cd in his collection 😮 thank's for the shoutout my brother ,wishing you and Sarah a great week💜
Thanks brother, I'd give you a shout-out in every episode if I could think of a way to work it in somehow 🙂 have a great week too!
@sincerelyelvispresley you are fantastic brother 💜
I think the RCA Legacy release 'Way Down in The Jungle Room' really highlighted just how good the Graceland recordings actually were, particularly on CD two, featuring the undubbed versions, (as you alluded to re. Felton Jarvis, Sean). Songs such as 'Love Coming Down' were lifted to another level and the 1976 recordings now possibly rate along side the phenomenal American Sound sessions. A few years ago, I had the opportunity correspond with Larry Gatlin to say how much I loved 'Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall' but instead of acknowledging how poignant the recording was, (like so many tracks on the album) he instead, very quickly reminded me of three other songs he had written, which Elvis had also recorded! LOL. Thanks Sean, Steve
Completely agree, Steve. Songwriters eh? It's just me, me ,me 🤣 I shall be taking a look at some of the undubbed releases in the final episode on Wednesday 🙂
Elvis was scheduled to perform at the Las Vegas Hilton in December of 1977.
Good point, he was probably not exactly relishing the prospect though
That resonance that you refer to, was also there for Bobby Darin. I won’t go into his story, except suffice it to say that he lived on borrowed time since childhood and he knew that he had already outlived his life expectancy. I can hear it and see it in his performances during the final years that he is coming to peace with himself as an artist and performer. Interestingly Enough Elvis supported Darin’s shows from start to finish.
Regarding Elvis, even listening to He’ll Have to Go, which I believe to be the last song that he recorded, that drawn out darkness is evident. It works for me anyway.
Thanks for sharing, I wasn't aware of that, much appreciated 👍🏻
@ ….thank you for indulging me yapping about another of my favourite artists. It’s true though …there is an old video of Elvis, Donald O’Conner and many others attending one of Darin’s shows available on RUclips. It shows Elvis and Bobby talking prior to El talking his seat in the audience. Would be great to be able to hear what they were discussing.
@lyallg7925 not at all! 🙂 I've certainly seen a few photos of Elvis with Bobby
@ ♥️
Always wondered why there was no Vegas engagement in ‘77. He was sick of Vegas but can’t believe that would’ve stopped Parker from booking him in again
Apparently he was due back there again at the end of the year. He must have dreaded the prospect of stepping back onto the treadmill it had become for him
After TTWII, Elvis should have left Vegas and never come back. I'm not saying that every Vegas stint after that was bad, but that was the last stint where there was anything left for him to achieve creatively. We got TTWII. Not having that footage doesn't bear thinking about...and he had really honed and worked on his show, using his two previous Vegas stints which were also great as a solid base but also introducing new material and some of the best live singing he ever did. In all the footage and recordings from the film, Elvis is still going on that stage with a point to prove. Each show they filmed, he went at it harder than the last, constantly improving. In my opinion, at that moment in time he was probably the best singer and performer in the world. The idea that this man, this incredible performer, then continued on singing there, competing with the sounds of knives and forks in the hands of well off people cutting their steaks up is just crazy. On top of that, they worked him like a mule. I know it all comes down to money etc but it is just so frustrating and ridiculous. This was not the only way in the world for him to make money, or should I say make the colonel money. There were many factors in Elvis's demise but I really think Vegas was a big one.
(Realising I've just rambled on about 70 when it's a 76 video.) For me one of the most jarring things that demonstrates the rapid decline in the last year or two of his life is this... Not in the music, but take rags to riches from pittsburgh 76 and then take unchained melody from the cbs thing in 77. It's the pre song stuff. Listen to the way he announces he's going to play piano in both of these clips. The way he's speaking and what he's saying etc. The contrast is seriously shocking.
Some good points well made for sure. I agree that Vegas 70 is the absolute benchmark, he never topped that year for me. But he could have said no, he could have put his foot down and taken control of the direction he wanted his career to travel, but sadly he never did
@sincerelyelvispresley I totally agree on both points. A quick story that comes to mind on August 1970 love...my brother hasn't let me forget this yet. I was watching Elvis do you've lost that loving feeling (11/08/70 MS to be exact haha). My brother came through annoyed and asked me why I kept pausing the video, as I'd paused it at least four or five times. I replied "Basically, I know this is really weird and sounds unhinged, but I'll be honest. I keep pausing it because I can't watch it all at once. I love it so much that it makes me feel sick. I can't handle it all at once. It's too good."
@mrsongman excellent story, and I totally get it, in fact Elvis himself clearly felt the same about performing that particular song, he's enjoying it so much during the August 12th midnight show that he pretty much starts it all over again. Pure genius!
@@sincerelyelvispresley this is just a theory of mine but I'm convinced the reason he does that is because he knows he did it better the night before. He does the song and that section isn't particularly inspired. Song ends. He then sings that part again like you say and what comes out is very, very similar to the previous night in multiple ways all the way up to "don't take it awaaaaay, listen..." while leaning back ninety degrees. It's very similar but the previous night wins it for me as he doesn't pause for breath on that line and it sounds so damn good like that.
@mrsongman brilliant, I hadn't even considered that, thank you 👍🏻
The from Elvis Presley Boulevard album is the ultimate drown your sorrows album.
Absolutely 👍🏻
Is the sound of Final countdown a audience recording if so how does it sound
Hi Chris, it's an audience recording, but the sound is pretty good, in fact I think the mastering on this particular release is better than on the FTD New Year's Eve release of the same show
@sincerelyelvispresley thank you for that Sean, but the copy you have is very expensive
@BarneyChapman you're welcome, yes you're right the Backdraft book set is quite expensive to pick up now
In my opinion the jungle rooms was far from elvis best i have allways loved his vocals but for me the deep vocals on this album is not the elvis i enjoyed i know he was older and vocals change and he was influenced by tenor singers but i missed the softer vocals of how he sung before
They're definitely the sessions which tend to divide opinion among fans the most
Sean, in your description above, why do you refer to Elvis' jungle room recordings sessions as "infamous"? The meaning of infamous is -- Well known for some bad quality or deed; wicked; abominable. ~ Maybe "unusual" or "unordinary" would've been a better word to use.
@@Allen-vl7zq Hi Allen, fair point, well made. Consider it changed! 😊