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Tag Archive for 'suspicious minds'

In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley

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Elvis Fan
on September 24, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
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Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, continues as a legendary icon still today. His fans continue to love his songs and marvel at the fabulous contributions made in the music industry. He will be primarily remembered for his heightened performances. Yet, it pays to get to know the other side of Elvis Presley, especially the side that gave life to the song In the Ghetto.

Elvis Presley and His Fame

It was in the 1950s that Elvis Presley successfully introduced the whole world to his kind of Rock and Roll. Teenagers and adults alike came to love his music. He then became the king of Rock and Roll. It is worth noting at the same time that he didn’t excel in rock and roll music alone. He also made it to the charts and hall of fame of other music genres like R&B, gospel, blues and pop.

These feats and achievements evidenced the talent and craft of Elvis Presley. These took place in the peak of his career, the time when he was the talk of the town and everybody are going crazy over Elvis and his music.

The Elvis Presley Comeback

After achieving a certain peak in his career, Elvis Presley had a hiatus. He had to attend to some personal matters. Since he had been gone, people feared that he might not be able to make a comeback. It was 1968 when he next released an album known as ‘68 Comeback. However, it was the subsequent album that would make the difference.

In the Ghetto Album

The In the Ghetto album was released in 1969. In this album, Elvis Presley was able to make a turn in his choice of songs. He is still the King of Rock and Roll but in this medium, he chose to give life to songs that he really believed in. The album included the songs Kentucky Rain, Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto.

The song In the Ghetto was the one initially released as a 45 rpm single. It tells the story of a young boy that lived in the ghetto, grew up stealing and fighting and ended up getting killed. It depicted poverty and despair. With Elvis Presley interpreting the song, the story was given a different perspective. Some were quite apprehensive of the album because of it’s political leanings. Yet, this song was a hit for four years.

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Elvis Lives On Through His Albums

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Elvis Fan
on July 23, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
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Throughout his career, Elvis Presley recorded three self-titled albums.

1. Elvis Presley
This is the self-titled debut album from RCA records which was released in March 1956. It was recorded at the Sun Studio in Memphis. It was # 1 for ten weeks on the Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart in the mentioned year.

Presley made three appearances on the Dorsey Brothers show for publicity. RCA also wanted a copy of the album in the stores in order to capitalize on his exposure. The success of his first-ever hit single Heartbreak Hotel swiftly climbed the charts.

The tracks on the album are mostly country but there are selections that are rhythm and blues.

2. Elvis
This is the second album by Elvis Presley from RCA records which was released in October 1956. This time, it was recorded at Radito Recorders in Hollywood. It spent four weeks on top of the Billboard Top Pop Album Chart in the mentioned year.

Compared to when they were recording the first album, Presley and his band (Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Black on Bass and DJ Fontana on Drums) had a looser time with this one. They had more freedom to mix their country and western influence as well as rhythm and blues on this album.

3. Elvis
This is the third and last album from the king. This is called The Fool album based from one of the songs on it. It was released in 1973 and the album has sold over a million copies all over the world.

For the avid Elvis Presley fans, here is a list of his singles that have reached # 1 on the Top 20 Pop Billboard Singles

Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (1956)
Don’t Be Cruel (1956)
Hound Dog (1956)
Love Me Tender (1956)
Too Much (1957)
All Shook Up (1957)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Don’t (1957)
Hard Headed Woman (1958)
A Big Hunk Of Love (1959)
Stuck On You (1960)
Are You Lonesome Tonight (1960)
Surrender (1961)
Good Luck Charm (1962)
Suspicious Minds (1969)

Here is a list of his singles that have reached # 2 on the Top 20 Billboard Singles
Love Me (1957)
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (1958)
Can’t Help Falling In Love (1961)
Return to Sender (1962)
Burning Love (1972)

Here is a list of his singles that have reached # 3 on the Top 20 Billboard Singles
You’re the Devil in Disguise (1963)
Crying in the Chapel (1965)
In the Ghetto (1969)

Elvis And Suspicious Minds

Published
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Elvis Fan
on May 9, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
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Suspicious Minds was a career launching song for the King, Elvis Presley.

If there’s one song that has been conspicuously performed by the rock ‘n’ roll king himself, that would be the song Suspicious Minds. According to the accounts of his avid fans, this is the single which jumped-off the triumphant pursuit of Elvis Presley during his 1968 Comeback Special. For the record, this is the 18th single of Elvis Presley that hit the number one spot in the United States. On the Rolling Stone magazine’s tally of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds ranked at the 91st spot.

The song
Mark James was the composer of the song, who also happens to be the composer of the song Always on my Mind which later was sung by the King himself. This song was simultaneously recorded with two other sellout singles which are Kentucky Rain and In the Ghetto at one of their so called Memphis Sessions one day in January 1969.

The song was first performed in the public by the King in July 1969 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The album where it was included was first exposed in the US the first week of November. Officially it was Elvis’ last number one single just before he died, but some of his songs managed to top the charts after his death which included his 1970 song The wonder of You, the 1977 single Way Down and the most recent is the remixed version of A little Less Conversation in 2002. All of these singles topped the British hit charts, which was ensued by remakes of his prior number one hits.

What really made the song famous is the dramatic fade out during the 3:22 of the song, wherein an interval of 15 seconds occurred just before the song faded back in. The basic intent of this interval was to depict a meaning of relationship to the song itself.

Cover adaptations
The moment when the King’s Suspicious Minds was storming its way to the top, Dee Dee Warwick, who happens to be the sister of the equally famous singer Dionne Warwick. This version has been launching on the charts since the 1970s.

In 1986, the song was again recreated but with a version including some back-up vocals led by Jimmy Sommerville, this particular song reached the 8th spot on the UK singles chart. The most recent adaptation of the song was made in 2002 by Gareth Gates in his coming out album What My Heart Wants to Say.