The second portion of Elvis’ recording sessions at Stax studio in Memphis during December 1973 and it is from this portion that the majority of the excellent material was recorded. The December recordings took place over a full week between 10 and 16 December 1973, averaging output of around three songs per evening.
However, on 13 December, only one song was recorded, Talk About The Good Times written by the legendary Jerry Reed. Elvis achieved the master in four takes, with the third the only other complete take, and is sufficiently different from the master to make it a very interesting listen. Additional backing vocals were recorded and subsequently added on 2 January 1974 by Mary and Jeannie Holliday along with Marie Caine at RCA’s studio A in Nashville. The song was then edited, reducing the master by thirty second before being released as part of the album “Good Times” which entered shops during March 1974.
The song suited Elvis like a glove and would have fitted perfectly on a live album which had been discussed and summarily dismissed by Elvis back in July of the year. The song’s lyrics resonate even today and unfortunately, given the subject matter, means that along with songs like Clean Up Your Own Backyard, If I Can Dream or In The Ghetto remain timeless.
David Briggs had brought Elvis the second song that was supposed to be recorded that evening, the Waylon Jennings written break up song We Had It All. Despite their best efforts the correct mood could not be created and unfortunately for Briggs, as he had the publishing rights to the song, Elvis stated that “they would pick it up the next evening”. This meant, in almost every case that Elvis had lost interest in recording the song in question and it would never be recorded. As it had not quite got to the point where Elvis was ready to record, the tapes had not yet been turned on.
As with all of these videos, to get the most out of the re-edited audio, I highly recommend you use ear /headphones and turn the volume up as much as you dare!
However, on 13 December, only one song was recorded, Talk About The Good Times written by the legendary Jerry Reed. Elvis achieved the master in four takes, with the third the only other complete take, and is sufficiently different from the master to make it a very interesting listen. Additional backing vocals were recorded and subsequently added on 2 January 1974 by Mary and Jeannie Holliday along with Marie Caine at RCA’s studio A in Nashville. The song was then edited, reducing the master by thirty second before being released as part of the album “Good Times” which entered shops during March 1974.
The song suited Elvis like a glove and would have fitted perfectly on a live album which had been discussed and summarily dismissed by Elvis back in July of the year. The song’s lyrics resonate even today and unfortunately, given the subject matter, means that along with songs like Clean Up Your Own Backyard, If I Can Dream or In The Ghetto remain timeless.
David Briggs had brought Elvis the second song that was supposed to be recorded that evening, the Waylon Jennings written break up song We Had It All. Despite their best efforts the correct mood could not be created and unfortunately for Briggs, as he had the publishing rights to the song, Elvis stated that “they would pick it up the next evening”. This meant, in almost every case that Elvis had lost interest in recording the song in question and it would never be recorded. As it had not quite got to the point where Elvis was ready to record, the tapes had not yet been turned on.
As with all of these videos, to get the most out of the re-edited audio, I highly recommend you use ear /headphones and turn the volume up as much as you dare!
- Category
- Waylon Jennings
- Tags
- Elvis, Elvis Presley, Elvis Review
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