In July 1973, Elvis returned to Memphis, this time to the source of Southern soul, Stax Studios. Apparently, the very idea of working with Elvis was intimidating and the Stax musicians couldn't overcome their awe, so Elvis had to leave the building. In his absence, the rhythm tracks were laid down. He then returned to add his vocals, a practice only used during the last few years of the soundtracks, when he was too bored to show up and work. From all of this, five songs were attempted, one completed, and they're instantly forgettable. Elvis returned in December to Stax with a mix of his band and some Nashville cats, recording eighteen tracks in a week. In between, he had tried a session at his Palm Springs home that didn't work, although three almost ponderously sincere ballads were completed. All in all, RCA had thirty new Elvis songs, enough quality material for two strong albums of 12 tracks each. Unfortunately, the material was issued as three cheesily packaged albums of a mere ten tracks each. Raised on Rock, Good Times and Promised Land all have something to offer, but the lesser material dilutes the impact of the strong and the sound ranges from O.K. to atrocious, thus producing more evidence of Presley's growing mediocrity.
ELVIS PRESLEY
RAISED ON ROCK
RCA Victor APL1-0388October/1973
Produced by Felton Jarvis
Reggie Young, James Burton, Charlie Hodge - guitarTommy Cogbill, Tom Hensley, Duck Dunn - bass
Jerry Carrigan, Al Jackson, Ron Tutt - drums
Bobby Wood - piano
Bobby Emmons - organ
Vocals:
Mary Holliday, Kathy Westmoreland, J.D. Sumner & the Stamps
Arrangements by Glen Spreen
Recorded:
Jun 21-23/1973, Stax Recording Studio, Memphis (1,3,5,6,7,8,10)
Sep 22-23/1973, Elvis Home, Palm Springs (2,4,9)
1.
RAISED ON ROCK
(Mark James) « © '73 Screen Gems Music, BMI »I remember as a child I used to hear
Music that they played Lord with a feel
Some call it folk some call it soul
People let me tell you it was rock and roll
I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul
Every day when I got home I turned on my radio
Listening to the music that my idols made
I knew every single record the DJ's played
A honky tonk a Hound Dog a Johnny B Goode
Chain Gang Love Is Strange Knock On Wood
I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul
I was born to love the beat I was made for rock and roll
I thought it was a fad thought that it would pass
But the younger generation knew it would last
Time's gone by the beat goes on
But every time I hear it Lord it takes me home
I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul
Every day when I got home I turned on my radio
Mother played recordings of Beethoven's Fifth
Mozart's sonatas down the classical Liszt
My papa loved to listen to his country songs
While I was in the back room rockin' on
I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul
I was born to love the beat I was made for rock and roll
I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul
I was born to love the beat I was made for rock and roll
(I was raised on rock I got rhythm in my soul)
**********
2.
ARE YOU SINCERE
(Wayne P. Walker) « © '57 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI / Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »Are you sincere when you say I love you
Are you sincere when you say you love me too
Oh and are you really mine every day all the time
I've got to know which way to go will our love grow are you sincere
Are you sincere when you say I love you
Honey are you sincere when you say you love me too
And are you really mine every day all the time
I've got to know which way to go will our love grow are you sincere
(Are you sincere)
**********
3.
FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
(Jerry Crutchfield) « © '64 Glitterfish Music, BMI / Songs Of Universal, BMI »Baby you know me well you know I mean what I say
Before I say farewell I'll give you just another day
You'd better find out what's happening
Find out what's happening before long oh yeah
If you don't find out what's happening
You're gonna find out that I've gone now oh yeah
Tell me what you're gonna do you'd better make up your mind
It all depends on you I'm leaving you behind
You'd better find out what's happening...
[ guitar ] Baby you know it's true we've been through thick and thin
But if you don't come through you won't ever see me again
You'd better find out what's happening...
You'd better find find better find out better find out
Better find better find out better find better find out
**********
4.
I MISS YOU
(Donnie H. Sumner) « © '73 Elvis Music, BMI »Still I recall all the good times together
The love we shared the fun and the laughter
How I wish you could feel what my heart says tonight dear
I miss you and I wish you were here
Dreams that I had they lay broken in sorrow
The plans I made the hopes for tomorrow
If I could I would tell you I'm lonesome tonight dear
Oh I miss you and I wish you were here
All through the night I will see mem'ries passing
The way you looked the sound of your laughing
How I long for the touch of your hand holding mine dear
Oh I miss you and I wish you were here
Lord I miss you and I wish you were here
**********
5.
GIRL OF MINE
(Les Reed - Barry Mason) « © '73 Leoscore Music, ASCAP »When your asleep beside me I watch you lying there
Your hand upon the pillow and moonlight in your hair
I get the warmest feeling so good I almost cry
I kiss your sleeping lips and say I'll love you till I die
Oh girl of mine you make my day
One sunny smile and all the clouds just roll away
Eyes deep as the sea seem to say to me our love will always be
So girl of mine turn out the lights
And in my arms together we'll make sweet love tonight
Down life's golden road and you'll always know I love you girl of mine
Sometimes I know I hurt you when things ain't goin' right
I walk away and leave you to face the lonely night
I wouldn't blame you darling if you walked out on me
But I return to find you there still waiting patiently
Oh girl of mine you make my day...
So girl of mine turn out the lights...
(Girl of mine)
**********
6.
FOR OL' TIMES SAKE
(Tony Joe White) « © '73 Tennessee Swamp Fox, ASCAP / White Haven Music, ASCAP »Before you go walk out on me
Take a look around tell me what you see
Here I stand like an open book
Is there something here you might have overlooked
It would be a shame if you should leave
Find that freedom ain't what you thought it would be
The years we had were not all bad
In fact I know the good outweighed the bad
Now you say that you've grown tired
You want to be by yourself a while
It would be a shame if you should go
And find that freedom was a long time ago
I know that you can't stand the chains that bind you
They just keep on drivin' us apart
You could go where I could never find you
But could you go far enough to get away from your heart
[ ac.guitar ] So one more time for ol' times sake
Come and lay your head upon my chest
Please don't throw this moment away
We can forget the bad and take the best
If you don't have nothing left to say
Let me hold you one more time for ol' times sake
[ ac.guitar ] If you don't have nothing left to say
Let me hold you one more time for ol' times sake
**********
7.
IF YOU DON'T COME BACK
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '73 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »(Woke up early in the morning what did the poor boy find)
Well the car was gone and you were gone and I almost lost my mind
If you don't come back (if you don't come back)
Yeah if you don't come back today (if you don't come back today)
You can call up the people at the crazy house and take this crazy man away
(He threw himself off a gas stone wall he tore his clothes out the door)
I ran out on the street in my stockinged feet tell the police I've been robbed
If you don't come back...
Mrs Brown's been talkin' about me to the people across the street
She said (I cooked that boy a bucket of stew but the bear came just for me)
If you don't come back...
**********
8.
JUST A LITTLE BIT
(John Thornton - Piney Brown - Ralph Bass - Earl Washington) « © '73 Fort Knox Music, BMI / Trio Music, BMI »I do't want much just want a little bit don't want it all just a little bit
Give me an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
Turn your lamps down low slip me a kiss
Turn your lights down low I won't let you resist
I want an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
Early in the mornin' well just a little bit around midnight just a little bit
I want an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
Walk with me just a little bit I said talk to me just a little bit
I want an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
[ guitar ] I want you to remember to say that you'll be mine
Say you'll never leave me till the end of time
I want an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
I want an eeny weeny bit a teeny weeny bit of your love
**********
9.
SWEET ANGELINE
(Christian Arnold - Geoffrey Morrow - David Martin) « © '73 Cherry River Music, BMI / Chrysalis Songs, BMI »Sweet Angeline I loved you much more than poets say in rhyme
Just for one short time
Sweet Angeline remember though we've not seen the summer through
I lived only for you
I'm only human and I realize it's no use trying to disguise my love for you
Angeline has ended so let's be thankful now not sad
For the little love we've had
Sweet Angeline remember...
I'm only human and I realize...
(Sweet Angeline I love you)
**********
10.
THREE CORN PATCHES
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '73 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »I said three corn patches about four cotton fields away
I said three corn patches about four cotton fields away
Lives the prettiest girl in the whole darn USA I said a
She's got big brown eyes and long black wavy hair mhm
She's got big brown eyes and long black wavy hair
She's so beautiful people it don't seem fair
Well I've been to Chicago been to New Orleans
Yes I've been to Chicago been to New Orleans
But I'd rather see my baby workin' in her old blue jeans
I said three corn patches...
[ piano ] She keeps a big bulldog out in the yard all night
She keeps a big bulldog out in the yard all night
And it barks like a bear oh but he don't bite
Yeah I said three corn patches...
Gimme three gimme four I said three well four
**********
