Elvis - Back in Memphis

[WalterHaleJnr]

Thanks again for your input. OK this time it will be a poll just on the 10 tracker 'Back in Memphis" sequel album that first came out in 1969 as a double LP and then on it's own merit as a single album the following year.

You can vote up to 5 tracks (ie 50 percent of the album).
As for me am voting on, "You'll Think of Me", "Without Love (There is Nothing", "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind", "Do You Know Who I am" and of course the sublime "Stranger in my own Hometown".

[Suspicious Minds]

Thanks, Walter, for a new fun poll!

My votes go to:

Inherit The Wind
Stranger In My Home Town (best track imo)
Do You Know Who I Am
You'll Think of Me

Cheers!

[Rickeap]

Stranger is a classic and the obvious standout. You'll think of Me and Without Love were my other choices. Suspicious Minds and Rubberneckin' should have been on this album.

[John]

There is only one I wouldn't vote for, so, this is a difficult poll for me.

[elvislady]

Inherit the Wind
Stranger in my Own Hometown
And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind ( sentimental song for me)

[WalterHaleJnr]

There is only one I wouldn't vote for, so, this is a difficult poll for me.

Would that be 'From a Jack to a King' ?

[colonel snow]

My favorite is Inherit the wind - with first backup vocal overdub recorded on 24 january 1969. It's not released by RCA - FTD. This version originates from an acetate and is available in collector's circles; unfortuneately the sound is not great.

colonel snow

[Jukebox]

My personal favorites from first to worst ...
Stranger In My Own Hometown
Without Love (There is Nothing)
From a Jack to a King
Do You Know Who I Am?
You'll Think of Me
The Fair's Moving On
A Little Bit of Green
This Is The Story
And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind
Inherit The Wind

[John]

There is only one I wouldn't vote for, so, this is a difficult poll for me.

Would that be 'From a Jack to a King' ?

No, I love From A Jack To a King. I voted for it, didn't I? The one I least like is Without Love. I like it, just not as much as the others.

[Mister Moon]

I like the whole album, but I've voted for the two opening songs, and the two closing songs.

A few random thoughts.

I enjoy "Inherit The Wind" and "This Is The Story" because of their haunting quality. They may not be powerful stuff like, say, "Wearin' That Loved On Look", but they really suck you into the album, so to speak. Significantly or not, there are live versions of both songs by Elvis done in August 1969.

"You'll Think Of Me" is one of the best tracks, not only of the album but of the whole American Sound sessions. Elvis' vocal sounds a bit strained in places, but his dialog with Reggie Young's sitar is just delicious.

"Without Love (There Is Nothing)" has always sounded like a religious song to me, because of his soulful intensity. Clyde McPhatter's 1956 original is probably unbeatable, but Clyde-fan Elvis gives his all. A fantastic recording.

I know that Elvis' version of Percy Mayfield's "Stranger In My Own Home Town" is highly regarded by almost everybody in the Elvis world, but I have never been able to dig it. I think it's an overkill, soul-less, excessive recording, even in its undubbed format.

Of course, that must have been the sign of the times, where almost everything surrounding so-called "rock music" seemed to be excessive. The live versions Elvis did of "What'd I Say" in 1969 also come to mind.

Somebody like Elvis, whose first recordings done just fifteen years earlier featured just three instruments (only one of them being electrified) should have known better, I guess.

[Mojo Filter]

My votes are;

Inherit The Wind
Stranger In My Own Hometown
And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind
You'll Think Of Me
Without Love

[WalterHaleJnr]

It's going pretty much as i imagined it would with 'Stranger in my own hometown' and "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind' leading the votes. Surprised that 'Do You Know Who I Am' is not doing nearly as well as...

[John]

It's going pretty much as i imagined it would with 'Stranger in my own hometown' and "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind' leading the votes. Surprised that 'Do You Know Who I Am' is not doing nearly as well as...

DYKWIA is a class song, great lyrics and superbly delivered. They've got the lyrics a bit wrong on the old www. I've corrected them. That harmony at the end is lovely.

Do you know who I am, Have you have any idea who I am
Yes it's been quite a while, And it's so good to see you again
It's so dark in this place, That I can't see your face, May we leave, Oh I see
Does he know who I am, And what once was between you and me

Do you know how I tried, Have you any idea how I tried
Not to keep you inside, Do you know darling how much I cried
I remember you said, That you had to forget about me, and be free
Do you know who I am or have you forgot about me

Do you think there's a chance, You and I could start over a-new
Is there a prayer you still care, Or has it just been too long and we're through
Well, what about you and him, Oh he's only a friend, Well I see there's still a chance for me
Maybe some other time, in some other place, With our love in your heart and a smile on your face
You will know who I am, When that time comes you'll know who I am
You will know who I am, When that time comes you'll know who I am
You will know who I am, When that time comes you'll know who I am

[shanebrown]

With the exception of Stranger In My Own Home Town, this is really Elvis's first foray into making an MOR album, and certainly the tracks here can be seen as a forerunner to the sound of the TTWII album, for example. My choices are Stranger, This is the Story, A Little Bit of Green, Without Love, and Do You Know Who I Am.

[WalterHaleJnr]

The winner is "Stranger in My Own Hometown" (surprise, surprise) !