Elvis - 30 Years Ago Today, RIP

32 years ago now as of yesterday.

We did a jaunt to Memphis this year and visited Graceland as well as the Sun Studio, (and the Peabody Ducks).

It was a very enjoyable trip. Visiting Sun studio was the highlight for me, but I did enjoy Graceland as well.

One of the first records I ever bought with my own money was a set of the Johnny Cash Sun Recordings from an add run on TV back in the 60s, so Sun Studios holds a special place of honor in my musical world.

My 8 year old daughter has been obsessed with Michael Jackson since his death as a result of all the hype. My wife is an Elvis fan and my daughter and son both seemed to really enjoy our visit as well.

Both my kids like the Beatles. My daughter has been playing the "Say Say Say" video off Youtube repeatedly since she heard it on the McCartney "All The Best" CD that got some play time during our 900 mile jaunt to MEmphis.

Hi Chasmal.

My wife is the Elvis fan. She just likes him I think more so than his music. He was apparently a very charismatic person.

To me, his early recordings were good and I like acouple of his later 60's hits. He also did some very good gospel I suppose in that that was supposedly the music he related to most.

I understand why he is regarded as the "King of Rock" despite the fact that only his early groundbreaking stuff is truly "rock and roll". His sixties movie related output is generally regarded as fluff and my understanding is that he was not very happy with his movie career. HE had a lot of well documented personal issues apparently, as did Michael Jackson. Perhaps that is part of his and MJs appeal? Despite their tremendous successes, they still had demons that haunted them and people relate to that perhaps as much as anything?

After all, isn't much of rock, blues and R&B music typically about the various demons that haunt us? Isn't that a good bit of popular music's appeal in general?

BTW, my perspective in going to see Graceland was much as related by Paul Simon in his tune "Graceland":

"For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see
Graceland..."

I picked up the 3-CD Sun 50th anniversary box set at Sun Studio's shop while there.

Lots of eye opening nicely remastered performances there that register strongly with their rawness and energy.

"The Killer" is well represented, as are many lesser known Sun artists, and a hot version of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" by "The GEntrys", I think.

No Elvis in that particular collection though. Probably a recording rights issue.

It was simpler times back in those days indeed!

FWIW,

Being the audio kook that I am, at Graceland, I tried to identify the components in Elvis's audio systems.

I saw two systems, 1 in his "TV" room and one in the lounge in the racquetball building which I think is where he was found dead.

Not sure what brand they were from a distance. The rig in the racquetball/lounge building looked like Crown separates perhaps? Anybody know for sure?

Couldn't identify the speakers.

Elvis had some nice gear for the time, but nothing earth shattering compared to what a lot of us have these days.

He also had some nice vintage bookshelf speakers located throughout his jet.

Yes, I'd say Elvis qualified as an audiophile in his day, so we should probably give him some love here for that....