MUSIC OR DIE #24–Elvis Presley, "Elvis Is Back!" (1960)

Oh hi there!

Part 24 of my 1000+ part series.
(For info on that, clickety-click-click)

In which I explore the return of Elvis post-army, and see how he changed. 

TL;DR

More after The Cut >>>


Happy 2020!

Now let's DO this thing.

1.) Make Me Know It - "Doo wop, doo wop!" A super energetic opening to signal the return of an Adult Elvis, fresh off his Army stint. He may be an adult now, but he wants you to know that the party train hasn't stopped just yet. The mixing (at least of the version I heard) was interesting: quite echo-y and expansive. Sure enough, according to the good people of Wikipedia, they recorded this album using state-of-the-art recording technology, including omnidirectional condenser microphones. I don't know what that means, but I support this! The 1960s, man. What a CrAzY time.

2.) Fever - I NEVER knew that Elvis had done a version of this song. It's super subdued and pared down to its bones - pretty much just fingers snapping and a bassline, with a tiny bit of drum later on for accent. As a result, the song rests on his delivery – and does he ever deliver. He whispers, growls, and seduces. What a lovely way to burn indeed.

3.) The Girl of My Best Friend - Essentially this:

He wished he could have Jesse's Girl...before she was even born. Too soon?

So yeah, I guess this is the song that launched Rick Springfield's long and storied career or something. It's...fine, I guess. His singing is lovely, the background singers are good, but...I dunno. Underwhelmed.

4.) I Will Be Home Again - Got them harmonies going! Apparently it was Elvis with his army buddy. Did you know that Elvis Was In The Army? Because Elvis Was In The Army. He really, really wants you to know he was in the Army. That being said, it's a pretty song, albeit something of an Everly Brothers ripoff: the same tight harmonies, similar lyricism, etc., etc. I can dig it.

5.) Dirty, Dirty Feeling - Oh myyyyyy, he's got a dirty feeling that you've been cooking on the other side of town...if you catch my drift. But don't worry, he's got a plan - as he helpfully states, "[he's] gonna chain you to the wall." Super effective. He is doing his best to channel Little Richard here with his yelpy delivery and naughty lyrics. It's a brief minute and a half or so, and definitely doesn't overstay its welcome. Come for the Elvis vocals, stay for that INCREDIBLE bass vocal in the background. You'll know the one. Oh yes. You'll know the one.

6.) Thrill of Your Love - Makes me think of a Fats Domino song! Piano-driven, mid-tempo ballad with the vocals way forward in the mix. The song boils down to money doesn't mean anything...without you.

THUS ENDS SIDE ONE

7.) Soldier Boy - In keeping with the theme – ELVIS WAS IN THE ARMY, Y'ALL – don't worry, Soldier Boy: she'll be waiting for you like a good girl since she's meant only for yoouuu. Compared to the full-on stampede that was "Make Me Know It," this is a far mellower kick-off to Side Two, with Elvis .

8.) Such a Night - Oh what a night! This is a cover of a song by The Drifters, and I actually somewhat prefer the Elvis version (though both are fun).

He really is singing the hum-diggity out of this one. A lot went down last night, clearly. It's a bit more "Oh, What a Night" than "Last Friday Night," and probably the worse better for it. In my opinion, this should have been the Side Two opener, but WHAT DO I KNOW, I just write a silly blog.

9.) It Feels So Right - How can it be wrong when it feels so right? This is definitely for the rest of our lives, not just tonight...cough. Very aggressive, almost militaristic drumline and fairly aggressive thumping of a guitar line. Almost primal, filtered through a blues lens. I find it oddly compelling.

10.) Girl Next Door Went A-Walking - Girl loves love. Cool. I mean, it's a solid example of a solid uptempo song from the period, but not a real gamechanger by any stretch of the imagination.

11.) Like a Baby - Love that bass line opening and sax interjections. I depended on you like a baby, and was a fool like a baby, maybe because you look like a baby and then guess what, I'll forget you like a baby ...baby.

Yeah, he says the word "baby" a lot.

The cheapest of cheap jokes, and I remain ashamed.

The harmonies at around the 1:40 mark are pretty cool.

12.) Reconsider Baby - So you know all that 'baby' stuff I said earlier? My bad. Reconsider? Please? A cover of a song written and first recorded by Lowell Fulson:

I absolutely love this song - both the original and the Elvis cover. Elvis really is singing his heart out in what is ultimately a much more "pop" cover compared to the bluesier, grittier original.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I mean, it's Elvis. One of the things about Elvis (at least at this point in his career) is that you kinda know what you were going to get: slightly sanitized, but incredibly catchy covers (primarily) of popular rhythm and blues, folk/country, and rock (well, proto-rock, I suppose) songs of the time. This album is no different. Compared to the other Elvis album I've reviewed thus far – ahem – this one is somewhat more mature and sonically a bit heavier, I'd say, without the massive hits of the level of "Blue Suede Shoes" or "Blue Moon." Still, it's prime Elvis.

Personal standout tracks:
"Make Me Know It," "Fever," "Dirty, Dirty Feeling," "Reconsider Baby"