It might surprise listeners to learn Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds” was a cover of a song by Mark James. The same producer worked on both James’ version and Elvis’ rendition. The producer revealed Elvis’ people almost didn’t compensate him properly for his work on the song. Fortunately, someone else resolved the situation.
Elvis Presley sang ‘Suspicious Minds’ late at night after playing ping-pong with a producer
Chips Moman produced both Mark James’ original version of “Suspicious Minds” and Elvis’ far more famous cover of it. During a 2017 interview with Elvis Australia, Moman said Elvis wanted to listen to “Suspicious Minds” repeatedly and he learned the track on the spot. “We finally got around to recording ‘Suspicious Minds’ after midnight,” he said. “I had a ping-pong table, and Elvis was pretty good at it.
“He used the same arrangement on Mark’s single and most of the same American Sound studio musicians,...
Elvis Presley sang ‘Suspicious Minds’ late at night after playing ping-pong with a producer
Chips Moman produced both Mark James’ original version of “Suspicious Minds” and Elvis’ far more famous cover of it. During a 2017 interview with Elvis Australia, Moman said Elvis wanted to listen to “Suspicious Minds” repeatedly and he learned the track on the spot. “We finally got around to recording ‘Suspicious Minds’ after midnight,” he said. “I had a ping-pong table, and Elvis was pretty good at it.
“He used the same arrangement on Mark’s single and most of the same American Sound studio musicians,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s “Burning Love” is such a famous and beloved song that it’s tough to imagine that Elvis wasn’t the biggest fan of it. That might have had more to do with Elvis’ personal life than anything about the song’s lyrics or composition. In 2015, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra released a version of “Burning Love” with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s vocals and a new instrumental arrangement.
Elvis Presley preferred ‘Separate Ways’ to ‘Burning Love’
According to a 2022 video uploaded to the Elvis Presley YouTube channel, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll wasn’t interested in recording “Burning Love.” His recent divorce from Priscilla Presley made him more interested in recording sad ballads, such as the forgotten classic “Separate Ways.”
However, producer Felton Jarvis wanted to help Elvis record a new big hit. After all, none of Elvis’ tunes had reached the top 30 in two years.
Elvis Presley preferred ‘Separate Ways’ to ‘Burning Love’
According to a 2022 video uploaded to the Elvis Presley YouTube channel, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll wasn’t interested in recording “Burning Love.” His recent divorce from Priscilla Presley made him more interested in recording sad ballads, such as the forgotten classic “Separate Ways.”
However, producer Felton Jarvis wanted to help Elvis record a new big hit. After all, none of Elvis’ tunes had reached the top 30 in two years.
- 9/20/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds” was a cover of an obscure song. The record label behind the original version of “Suspicious Minds” was certain the tune would become a hit. A legendary country music producer felt the same way. However, the track only became big once the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll recorded it.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ was 1st sung by the writer of ‘Always on My Mind’
Elvis tunes such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Blue Christmas, and “Blue Hawaii” were all covers. “Suspicious Minds” was no different. The track was originally recorded by its writer, Mark James, who also penned the Elvis classic “Always on My Mind.”
During a 2017 interview with Elvis Australia, James discussed his version of “Suspicious Minds.” “I recorded for Scepter Records,” he recalled. “Worked with [producer] Chips [Moman]. They loved it, up at Scepter Records. They said, ‘Smash!’
“Chips and I went up there and we had a big party,...
Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ was 1st sung by the writer of ‘Always on My Mind’
Elvis tunes such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Blue Christmas, and “Blue Hawaii” were all covers. “Suspicious Minds” was no different. The track was originally recorded by its writer, Mark James, who also penned the Elvis classic “Always on My Mind.”
During a 2017 interview with Elvis Australia, James discussed his version of “Suspicious Minds.” “I recorded for Scepter Records,” he recalled. “Worked with [producer] Chips [Moman]. They loved it, up at Scepter Records. They said, ‘Smash!’
“Chips and I went up there and we had a big party,...
- 9/19/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It has been 46 years since Elvis Presley‘s death on Aug. 16, 1977. Fans remember the king of rock and roll by visiting his beloved Memphis, Tn home, Graceland, listening to his music, and keeping his memory alive. However, upon news of his passing, grief-stricken fans swarmed Elvis’s home to get close to him one last time.
Elvis Presley photographed in September 1962 in Culver City, California at MGM Studios | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Grieving fans flocked to Graceland upon news of Elvis Presley’s death
Fans flocked to Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard in the Whitefern section of Memphis upon news of his death. They lined up in droves to mourn his passing. Fans’ shared grief turned the private home’s exterior into a memorial for their beloved entertainer.
Variety spoke to Pat Rainer, then a graduate student, who covered Elvis’ funeral procession for a video production company. She shared...
Elvis Presley photographed in September 1962 in Culver City, California at MGM Studios | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Grieving fans flocked to Graceland upon news of Elvis Presley’s death
Fans flocked to Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard in the Whitefern section of Memphis upon news of his death. They lined up in droves to mourn his passing. Fans’ shared grief turned the private home’s exterior into a memorial for their beloved entertainer.
Variety spoke to Pat Rainer, then a graduate student, who covered Elvis’ funeral procession for a video production company. She shared...
- 8/16/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Like most musicians, The Monkees Mike Nesmith felt the influence of Elvis Presley’s music as a young man. Presley made his mark on the sounds of the 1950s and early 60s and how musicians performed. However, Presley’s influence went way beyond his music for The Monkees guitarist. Nesmith and the king of rock and roll had a legendary history together without meeting.
Elvis Presley and Mike Nesmith shared a musical connection but never met | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Elvis Presley became a rock and roll superstar 12 years before The Monkees’ debut
Shortly after graduating from Humes High School in June 1953, Elvis Presley began to explore the idea of a music career. That July, he entered Sun Studios, where he cut a 45-rpm record, “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin.”
One year later, in 1954, Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black entered Sun Studios to record “That’s All Right Mama.
Elvis Presley and Mike Nesmith shared a musical connection but never met | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Elvis Presley became a rock and roll superstar 12 years before The Monkees’ debut
Shortly after graduating from Humes High School in June 1953, Elvis Presley began to explore the idea of a music career. That July, he entered Sun Studios, where he cut a 45-rpm record, “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin.”
One year later, in 1954, Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black entered Sun Studios to record “That’s All Right Mama.
- 4/15/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In Todd Snider’s mind, the most unusual aspect of Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires’ wedding in 2013 wasn’t that Snider was asked to marry them or that he wasn’t legally ordained to do so until that day. It was what Snider was asked to recite: “Prayer,” an obscure song by the late John Hartford. “Every morning I wake up,” it begins, “Saying in the back of my mind/’This could be my last day on Earth/This could be the last time/I’ll ever feel … the warmth...
- 6/16/2020
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
In mid-January 1969, Elvis Presley and his entourage arrived at American Sound Studios in Memphis for a scheduled 10-day recording session with studio producer Chips Moman and Presley’s longtime RCA producer Felton Jarvis. These would be the first sessions Presley had done outside of Nashville or Hollywood since his last Sun Records sessions in 1955 and would take place just weeks after Presley’s triumphant 1968 comeback special. Aired on NBC during the Christmas season, the special fueled a renewed interest in Presley to shift his focus in the studio from movie-soundtrack...
- 8/27/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
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