Down in the dumps with ForrestGump...

[ForrestGump]

I recorded some more Elvis songs. The subject line refers to the fact that most of them -- not all of them, but most of them -- happen to be big downers. I hope to record some more within the next few days, including a fair few happier ones. I promise -- happy songs, even happy, groovy, swingin' movie songs like "Kissin' Cousins" and "Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On)."

One song, "It's Still Here," is truncated (faded) because the backing track went weird on me. Elvis did that song in 1971, alone in the studio (after a session) -- he sat down and played three songs, including "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," a song that oneighty had a thread about a couple of days ago. I love all three songs, but only have a backing track for "It's Still Here" -- you're not missing too much different because of the edit, given that Elvis just basically repeated the same verses over and over and over again, as he was wont to do. This song was written by Ivory Joe Hunter, one of Elvis' influences, the dude who also wrote the great "Since I Met You, Baby" (about the happier flipside of love) that Elvis is rumored to have recorded once or more (unfortunately, it remains a rumor...the song was perfect for him).

I also tried out "Hurt," the power ballad that rock critic Greil Marcus labeled "apocalyptic," but by the time I got to it I couldn't nail the ending, which is a real toughie, because my voice was thrashed from not being used too much lately. I almost made it, but not quite, and those sure aren't notes that "not quite" is good enough for. As it was, the ending of "What Now, My Love" just about killed me.

I hope there's something here you like.

If you listen to stuff like "Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall," stay away from windows, bridges, the third rail of subway lines, and sharp objects...

As before, please just click on the link to get to a page from which you can download any you want to hear (they're MP3s).

Patch It Up (1970)


It's Still Here (1971)


It's Over (live, 1971-1973)


Always On My Mind (1972)


For The Good Times (1972)


What Now, My Love (live, 1972-1973)


For Ol' Times Sake (1973)


Raised On Rock (1973)


It's Midnight (1973)


Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues (1973)


If You Love Me (live, 1974-1977)


Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall (1976)


It's Easy For You (1976)