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1956 + HOUND DOG ~Song in the Spotlight..Record~Sessions/Wertheimer-EyeWitness Memories/TV/+1st time Live!, 1957 Live! concert H.D. end of shows.... |
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#21
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![]() Platinum Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 21,960 Joined: 8-December 08 Posts: 10,055 From: N.W. ENGLAND ![]() |
Great topic Rex!! Congrats on the details!! Sidenote: The parodysong "Bearcat"by Rufus Thomas is also an excellent blues classic!! BEAR CAT (Sam Phillips) Rufus Thomas - 1953 You know what you said about me, don't you woman... Well, you ain't nothin' but a bear cat Been scratchin' at my door ... You ain't nothin' but a bear cat .......... Been scratchin' at my door You can purr pretty kitty But I ain't gonna rub you no more.......Meow, meow........Meoooww, meoooowwwww! Thanks JOHAN.. I remember playing this around 1968-69.. its a fun tongue in cheek Number, if anyone hasn't heard it (try SPOTIFY etc.,) I had forgotten it was written by SAM PHILLIPS..... "Trust a Cat to get into this ~topic....." ALFRED WERTHEIMER – Remembers the HOUND DOG Rehearsals Continued.... (IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1288204371/gallery_21960_97_57100.jpg) For the show ~ ELVIS still looks surprised, even though he did a run through at Rehearsal Elvis was instructed to sing to the dog. Without the mike, he crouched down nose-to-nose with the dog and let her know, "you ain't nothing but a hound dog." She heard that and ignored him for the rest of the song. Now they had a problem. Steve wanted the hound to listen to Elvis, so he suggested that they get to know each other. -------------------- |
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#22
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ALFRED WERTHEIMER – Remembers the HOUND DOG Rehearsals Continued....
(IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1288204371/gallery_21960_97_33255.jpg) Remembering the Rehearsal - Elvis brushes his Head down close to the H O U N D - D O G The top hat and bow tie were removed. Elvis leaned over, caressed her neck and whispered in her ear. She turned away. Elvis became intimate, speaking softly, touching her forehead with his hand to let her know she was the only one in his life. She didn't believe him. The director tried his technique, scratching her chin and speaking his own special dog language. He convinced her to put aside her feelings and be the trooper he knew she was. -------------------- |
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#23
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![]() Administrator ![]() Group: Administrator Member No.: 1 Joined: 27-May 05 Posts: 17,945 From: Worcestershire, England ![]() |
An excellent and enjoyable thread as always Rex (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif)
Hound Dog is one of - if not the best rock 'n' roll tracks of all time.....it's a true CLASSIC never to be equalled let alone bettered. Love the original recording. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dance.gif) -------------------- |
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#24
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An excellent and enjoyable thread as always Rex (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif) Hound Dog is one of - if not the best rock 'n' roll tracks of all time.....it's a true CLASSIC never to be equalled let alone bettered. Love the original recording. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dance.gif) 1950s HOUND DOG really is a huge Ahead of its time Hit... It didn't need DON'T BE CRUEL on the other side (equally big!) the other pop entertainers of the time.. must have wondered how they could match such a DOUBLE SIDED MONSTER HIT.. Thankyou CHRIS.. ------ ALFRED WERTHEIMER – Remembers the HOUND DOG Rehearsals Continued.... The director gave the cue. Elvis extended his hand and she leaned forward and rested her chin in his palm. He told her again she was nothing but a hound dog, and when he had her where he wanted her, his hand holding her face close to his, he told her she "ain't never caught a rabbit." -------------------- |
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#25
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ALFRED WERTHEIMER – Remembers the HOUND DOG Rehearsals Continued....
Elvis tried to keep a straight face when she turned away. Scotty, D. J. and Bill rocked through the refrain. Elvis coiled like a runner at the starting blocks, shot his finger straight out at her and told her again. She looked right back at him and took it, and when he finished telling her, "you ain't no friend of mine," he patched it all up, hugging and caressing her, laughing as she licked his face. -------------------- |
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#26
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ALFRED WERTHEIMER – Remembers the HOUND DOG Rehearsals Continued....
The audience applauded, the stagehands nodded, and Steve approved. The Memphis Flash was okay. Even with a positive reception from the assembly of journeymen, his slow Southern style of speaking — halting at times — made him appear unsure of himself. He was working with established stars and still remained a little in awe of them, never addressing them by their first names. The sketch they were to perform would be Elvis's first opportunity to act on live television, and though his part was small, it was still a part that he would have to portray with the same ease and spontaneity as his veteran partners had exhibited. The rehearsal of the skit began immediately after the hound dog act. Steve, Andy and Imogene kept it light hearted and easy going, and with their support, Elvis relaxed into the natural fellow I had come to know. -------------------- |
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#27
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![]() Platinum Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 21,960 Joined: 8-December 08 Posts: 10,055 From: N.W. ENGLAND ![]() |
(IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1289514643/gallery_21960_97_58282.jpg) (IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1289514643/gallery_21960_97_45692.jpg) HOUNDED OUT: Given the unusual circumstances, Elvis is undoubtedly feeling a little awkward, even in his rehearsal. "Away you Go" Steve Allen muttered, like an executioner. But Elvis gamely sang HOUND DOG to the Bewildered Basset Hound. Elvis courageously did his best, even Kissed the dog a couple of times - an act surely beyond the call of duty. The Audience approved of his willingness. -------------------- |
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#28
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![]() Down in the Jungle Room ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 363 Joined: 3-February 06 Posts: 2,072 From: Finland ![]() |
Great topic. ..... 'Hound Dog' is indeed a pretty iconic rock 'n' roll song, athough it apparently wasn't meant as such originally. Elvis' version on the Milton Berle show is pretty spectacular to watch even today. The audience reactions are rather interesting too, as it almost seems like they quite don't know how to react to EP's "vulgar" bumps and grinds... ...the audience on the second Ed Sullivan show some five months later gives a very different reaction to Elvis' wild moves...
I also like Thornton's original, so it's cool to hear on the '68 comback special when Elvis does a slight lyric alteration to his version, and adds the "snoopin' 'round my door" line in there... ..... As an 'end' note, as great as the song is, at the same time it's easy to see why Elvis wasn't too motivated to sing it properly after '70... he must've done it a million times in the 50s already, and let's face it, the lyrics aren't all that great... but on the other hand, maybe that's where some of the magic of Elvis' original version lies... |
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#29
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![]() Platinum Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 21,960 Joined: 8-December 08 Posts: 10,055 From: N.W. ENGLAND ![]() |
Great topic. ..... 'Hound Dog' is indeed a pretty iconic rock 'n' roll song, athough it apparently wasn't meant as such originally. Elvis' version on the Milton Berle show is pretty spectacular to watch even today. The audience reactions are rather interesting too, as it almost seems like they quite don't know how to react to EP's "vulgar" bumps and grinds... ...the audience on the second Ed Sullivan show some five months later gives a very different reaction to Elvis' wild moves... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and let's face it, the lyrics aren't all that great... but on the other hand, maybe that's where some of the magic of Elvis' original version lies... Many thanks JOUNI... HOUND DOG on film was the backbone of many of my film shows in the 1970s, with the Ed Sullivan Shows and Steve Allen. ----- ELVIS leaving the stage and HOUND DOG, at the end of his number, heading to change into a HILLBILLY outfit and GUN ! ! ! (IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1288387687/gallery_21960_97_1008515.jpg) Photo Above © Alfred Wertheimer -------------------- |
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#30
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#31
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On September 9, with the song topping the US charts Presley performed an abbreviated version of "Hound Dog" on the Ed Sullivan Show hosted by Charles Laughton. After performing "Ready Teddy," he introduced the song with the following statement, "Friends, as a great philosopher once said"…” Elvis's first time on the Sullivan show was an event that drew some 60 million TV viewers. During his second Sullivan show appearance, October 28, he introduced the song thusly (although unable to keep a straight face). "Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention please. Ah, I'd like to tell you we're going to do a sad song for you. This song here is one of the saddest songs we've ever heard. It really tells a story friends. Beautiful lyrics. It goes something like this"” He then launched into a full version of the song. Elvis was shown in full during this performance. Again, Presley drew more than 60 million viewers. -------------------- |
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#32
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(IMG:http://www.elvis-tkc.com/forums/uploads/1288204371/gallery_21960_29_565829.jpg) RCA Italiana 1956 45rpm E.P. Release - strange they didn't put HOUND DOG on it ! ELVIS' "Hound Dog" sold over 4 million copies in the United States on its first release. It was his best selling single and starting in July 1956, it spent a record eleven weeks at #1. It stayed in the #1 spot until it was replaced by "Love Me Tender," (3rd Nov: 56) also recorded by Elvis. In March, 2005, Q magazine placed Presley's version at number 55 in its list of the Q Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #19 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time—the highest ranked of Presley's eleven entries. -------------------- |
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#33
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STUDIO SESSIONS ~ 2nd July 1956 (2pm to 9pm) - RCA STUDIOS, NEW YORK Shorty Long had been hired to play piano on the session, but he was running late that morning. Fortunately, in addition to being a solid vocalist, Stoker could also play the keyboard. Not wanting to wait for Long to arrive, Sholes asked Stoker to sit down at the ivories on the first day of the recording session. Then Sholes sat back and gave control of the recording session to Elvis. Elvis may not have wanted to record "Hound Dog," but he had a definite idea about how he wanted the finished product to sound. -------------------- |
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#34
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STUDIO SESSIONS ~ 2nd July 1956 (2pm to 9pm) - RCA STUDIOS, NEW YORK Pan Pacific Auditorium ~ 28th October 1957 - Los Angeles, California Though he usually slowed it down and treated it like a blues number in concert, in the studio Elvis wanted the song to come off as fast and dynamic. As he sang his up-tempo version for the studio musicians and backup vocalists, he began to beat his hands, in a machine-gun manner, against the body of his guitar—and anything else he could find. Then, to emphasize to drummer Fontana what he wanted, he had the Jordanaires clap out the rhythm with him. -------------------- |
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#35
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![]() Elvis Presley Blvd ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 22,643 Joined: 30-May 10 Posts: 808 From: Schettens (netherlands) ![]() |
Again great pictures, this is still a great topic Rex!!!!!!
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#36
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Again great pictures, this is still a great topic Rex!!!!!! Yes... thankyou "ANTJE" just 2 more Decades to go.. Have the 60s sort of sorted out in my Mind.. just need to fashion it all together.. STUDIO SESSIONS ~ 2nd July 1956 (2pm to 9pm) - RCA STUDIOS, NEW YORK Pan Pacific Auditorium ~ 28th October 1957 - Los Angeles, California It would take the percussionist thirty-one takes to get it just like Elvis wanted, and even on the final version, the quartet's clapping can still be heard setting the pace. Steve Sholes loved the final result of the session. But what impressed him more than the perfect final take was the focus and determination that Elvis had exhibited as he toiled to get the number just right. -------------------- |
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#37
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STUDIO SESSIONS ~ 2nd July 1956 (2pm to 9pm) - RCA STUDIOS, NEW YORK Pan Pacific Auditorium ~ 28th October 1957 - Los Angeles, California The producer usually worked with artists who simply recorded a song a time or two and said, "That will do" When Elvis took over this session, it was obvious that the singer would settle for nothing less than perfection. With its rapid beat and dynamic pacing, the song was a real rocker. Because of this, "Hound Dog" probably had more to do with making Elvis the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" than anything he recorded before or after. -------------------- |
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#38
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R E L E A S E + CHART Pan Pacific Auditorium ~ 28th October 1957 - Los Angeles, California "Hound Dog" was shipped on July 13, 1956. It was one side of what would become a huge double-sided hit. The single remained on the pop charts for twenty-eight weeks. Eleven of them at # 1. It also held the top spot on the R&B chart for six weeks. Plus it ruled the country charts for ten weeks. Thus becoming one of the first records in history to earn the #1 spot on all the major play lists simultaneously. -------------------- |
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#39
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CHART SUCCESS Pan Pacific Auditorium ~ 28th October 1957 - Los Angeles, California With this accomplishment, the song easily eclipsed "Heartbreak Hotel” as the biggest Elvis release and seemed to assure the world that the singer was something more than a flash in the pan. What "Hound Dog" meant to Elvis is easy to ascertain, but what did this version of the song mean to its writers? After all, Leiber and Stoller were already well established in R &.B and pop music circles. -------------------- |
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#40
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![]() Aboard N880EP ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Special Members Member No.: 22,786 Joined: 5-October 10 Posts: 331 From: UK ![]() |
great stuff, much thanks
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 6th September 2024 - 07:09 PM |