Tag Archives: The King

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2022: Day 21

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music, Christmas by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 21 2022

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Original source unknown.)

Today’s song is from Elvis’ Christmas Album, released 65 years ago in 1957.

In 2022 it remains the world’s best-selling holiday record with sales of 20 million dollars.

All hail The King.

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” (1957, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

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Let’s Take A Moment Day 477

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Tom Petty music quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

On July 5, 1954 a 19 year old Elvis Presley entered Sun Records Studio in Memphis, TN for his very first professional session to record today’s song. Three days later a DJ at the city’s WHBQ radio station played the track for the first time leading to a flood of calls to its switchboard. The King had entered the building.

Three years later, after a move to RCA Records & several #1 hits under his belt, he hit the top spot in the country again with “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” where it stayed for seven weeks. He also appeared in his second movie, “Loving You”. Elvis then owned the building.

“I’m leaving town baby
I’m leaving town for sure
Well, then you won’t be bothered with
Me hanging around your door“.

Elvis

The 45′ sleeve for Elvis Presley’s 1954 debut single. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “That’s All Right” (1954, written by Arthur Crudup).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 419

Posted in Holidays, Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

mothers day

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

My mother loved Elvis Presley. And my paternal grandmother who was the strongest woman I ever knew, was brought to her knees every time she heard “In The Ghetto”. It was written by Mac Davis, another singer my mother enjoyed. So on this second Sunday of May, I offer this song for the two women who raised me. And because there is never a bad time to listen to The King as the other mother figure in my life-my dad-used to say.

Happy Mothers Day to all.

“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground“.

Elvis

The King circa 1957. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Memories” (1968, written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 298

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Shakespeare music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Today is the 86th birth anniversary for the man crowned “The King”. But this month two other key events took place in history that helped Elvis Presley earn that title. January 5, 1923 is the day Sun Records founder Sam Phillips was born in Alabama. And January 2, 1950 is the day he opened the Memphis Recording Service in TN which became Sun Studio two years later. Not only did Elvis start there, but so did Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, amongst others. Is it any wonder why Memphis is the country music capital?

If you want to pinpoint the moment rock & roll changed American culture forever, look no further than “The Milton Berle Show” broadcast on June 5, 1956. Elvis sang today’s song that night which he would not record until a month later. It was during this appearance that he stood behind a microphone for the first time without his guitar (supposedly at Berle’s suggestion) leaving The King’s gyrating hips and pelvic thrusts in full view. This caused a nationwide swoon of nearly every young girl who was watching him. But their parents were watching, too, and many of them were not happy about what they saw. The complaints flooded in which is why when Elvis went on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in September & October that year and for his third and final time on January 6, 1957, he was censored. But anyone who saw Berle’s show knew why the girls in Sullivan’s audience were screaming. Life & music as the country & the world knew it was over. Elvis was now in the building.

So in honor of the day The King was born, let’s go back to where his reign began, on Berle’s show in 1956. Part of this clip is the one Mrs. Gump & Forrest watched from a store window in the film. She may have thought he was “not for children’s eyes” but anyone who understands music knows Elvis could do no wrong. All hail The King! And thank you, Sam Phillips, for showing him the door to the throne.

“Yeah, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, you ain’t never caught a rabbit
And you ain’t no friend of mine“.

Sam and Elvis

Sam Phillips (L) with Elvis Presley at Sun Records circa 1954. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Hound Dog” (Live performance on “The Milton Berle Show” broadcast on June 5, 1956. Song recorded July 1956. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 197

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Today’s song was released nearly 64 years ago on October 6, 1956. By this date that same year the record label, RCA Victor, reported that it had received over 856,327 advanced orders for the single. By its premier date that number exceeded the one million mark, making it a gold record before it even came out. A movie by the same name would come out later that year in November and would mark the film debut of The King himself, Elvis Presley. The original title of the movie was “The Reno Brothers”, but due to the vast success of the record the name of the film was changed to match it. Presley’s career on the big screen would make him an even bigger star than he already was.

When I was trying to choose from the dozens of clips from “The Ed Sullivan Show” for yesterday’s post (Day 196), I came across Presley’s performance of today’s tune (interspersed with scenes from the movie) and absolutely swooned. Yes, I was already aware of how handsome he was and how magnetic his stage presence was. But in this clip those things are magnified 1000 percent. Take a moment to bask in all the beauty this man had to offer, from his absolutely gorgeous face, to his radiant smile to his sublime voice. He was perfection in every sense of the word. And he was only 21 years old at the time this was filmed. All hail The King.

And since today marks the official 81st birth anniversary of my sweet mother who adored this man, I dedicate this song to her with all of my love.

“Love me tender, love me long
Take me to your heart
For it’s there that I belong
And will never part“.

Elvis

Elvis Presley on the set of the 1956 film, “Love Me Tender”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Love Me Tender” ( Performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on October 28, 1956. Written by George R. Poulton, Vera Matson, Elvis Presley & (uncredited) Ken Darby).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 153

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Charlie Brown No Music No Life

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Forty three years ago today we lost Elvis.  I do not normally like to acknowledge when we lose an artist, but the death of The King knocked the world off its axis and it has never recovered.  He did it all:  sang, played guitar, danced, acted, wrote songs, served his country and gave his fans everything he had.  There was no one like him before or since and undoubtedly there never will be.  Anyone who likes music of any kind owes this man a great debt for completely changing the game from the sound of his very first record.  He covered so many different types of music throughout his career:  rock & roll, pop, country, gospel, americana/roots music, standards and blues/jazz numbers.  He was simply the best in any genre of music.  This is my absolute favorite song of his and one of the most beautiful love songs I ever heard.  Thank you, Elvis Aron Presley.  You are missed.  Every.  Single.  Day.

“Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you”.  

Elvis
Elvis Presley circa 1958.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley:  “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1961, written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George David Weiss).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 21

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

It is not Christmas without little angels, is it?

day 21

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

If you are a fan of “I Love Lucy“, then you know Lucy and Desi went hand in hand with neighbors Fred and Ethel.  But did you know that the actor who played Fred, William Frawley, sang today’s song in the 1951 movie, “The Lemon Drop Kid“?  Well, sang is probably an overstatement.  He basically growled it and changed the words a bit, too.  In the scene he is dressed as a sidewalk Santa but has a disposition closer to that of Scrooge or the Grinch.  The look on Bob Hope’s face when he comes across Frawley singing it is hilarious and one of my favorite scenes in the movie.  But then Marilyn Maxwell shows Frawley how the song should be sung (with an assist from Hope and eventually others on the city street) and you have the best scene of the movie, in my opinion.

Frawley

  William Frawley, Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell in “The Lemon Drop Kid” (courtesy Paramount Pictures).

My favorite version of this song is by an iconic singer who is bigger than life itself.  I adore all his music but his take on Christmas classics like this one are just illustrious.  What else would we expect from The King himself?

Elvis

Elvis Presley:  “Silver Bells” (1971, written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans circa 1950).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!