Without 'Elvis', there would be no 'Beatles'

[Mystic]

RT nails it. Pretty guitar, too. Real pretty.

For the record, I was in the midst of a happy hour(s) at that hotel with the ducks and a friend dragged me along for a Graceland tour. Some things in life just come together.

They do @ that.

 

[Mystic]

Would there be a Paul McCartney without Little Richard?

Excellent point.

 

[finnbow]

Would there be a Paul McCartney without Little Richard?

Would there be either of them without Ike Turner(/Jackie Brenston) recording Rocket 88?

 

[Spinning45s]

They also recorded for two different labels (both owned by the same company). The Crickets were on Brunswick, Holly was on Decca.
Happy trials,
Larry B.

I recall someone stating that there was also a third label, Coral.

 

[Spinning45s]

Yes. He would often cover "Something" and "Get Back" in his 70s concerts.

I'm a huge fan of Elvis from 1969 to 1974. "From Elvis in Memphis" (1969) is my favorite Elvis album. Some, but not all, of his live stuff in the 70s could be mesmerizing. When he was "on," nobody could touch him. Too often, we focus on the exhausted Elvis or the bloated Elvis from the last few months of his life and miss the bigger picture of a great performer w/ a great band (James Burton on guitar).

If you are looking for Elvis, original US RCA LPs sound swell. On CD, look for those mastered by Vin Anesini. The FTD label releases some amazing Elvis product.

BTW, I was only a casual fan, digging the early stuff but not appreciating his later legacy until I visited Graceland. I literally had a graveside conversion.

While the vast majority of Elvis' music was composed by others, he did write some himself, but more importantly, he took an interest in the arrangements in the recording studio. Hound Dog being an example, they made many takes until Presley was satisfied with it.

 

[1tumbleweed]

I recall someone stating that there was also a third label, Coral.

That's correct. I misidentified the solo Holly records. Coral, another Decca subsidiary, was his label, not Decca itself.

All three were absorbed into MCA, along with Kapp and Uni. These days the whole bunch are owned by UMG.

Happy trails,
Larry B.

 

[kaplang]

Do/did the Beatles/others have Elvis to thank for their fame/success? I think not. What do you guys/gals think?

With out Gladys Presley there would have been no Elvis.

 

[icenine]

I think McCartney, like Van Morrison and Elvis Costello, picked up a lot from his old man.

 

[Superampman]

With out Gladys Presley there would have been no Elvis.

Maybe.

 

[Superampman]

I think McCartney, like Van Morrison and Elvis Costello, picked up a lot from his old man.

No doubt.

 

[rnorton]

I invite you all to purchase the 4 CD set, "Ham Hocks and Corn Bread" and then get back to me about what the real beginnings of Rock 'n' Roll were. Most of the songs were performed from about 1945 to 1952 and they ROCK.

One of my very favorite compilations.

 

[Jack Lord]

The answer is Yes, without Elvis there would be no Beatles.

Elvis was probably not the first in anything. But he was the Prophet of rock & roll and began its ascent into the mainstream, thus inspiring art students like John Lennon as well as LSE students like Mick Jagger. He is not called The King for nothing.

Did he have influences? Of course. Every prodigy or innovator does. And for the Beatles and the rest, it was Elvis Presley, the King.

 

[KeninDC]

Jimmy Page was talking about his influences this morning on his XM radio "Town Hall." He said his initial influence was "hearing Elvis." After that, he looked into who Elvis was covering.