Tag: Elvis Presley

Original v. Cover — #38 in a Series

Steam Roller Pictures, Images and Photos

O.K.  I’ll admit it.  I’m a sucker for a witty, well-turned phrase.

Pickup lines could potentially fall within this category, most assuredly in the minds of those who speak them, an opinion not necessarily shared by those on the receiving end. But of all the pickup lines witnessed live or on the silver screen, I’m hard pressed to think of one that didn’t seem crude, cliched or trite.

Such solicitations assume many forms, some subtle, vague and indirect but in other cases, are exceedingly clear, to the point and unambiguous. Those adopting the latter approach seemingly prefer to skip past the means, focusing exclusively on the ends, avoiding time-consuming preliminaries and unpredictable outcomes.    

Just Because

I’m re-reading a two-volume biography of Elvis Presley by the famed rock & roll writer Peter Guralnick and in one part of the book Elvis’ father, Vernon, supposedly wanted Elvis to record “From a Jack to a King.”  I only knew the lead-in line and it started going round and round in my head, you know how that goes.

It’s a great bio, by the way.

Originally recorded by the author, Ned Miller.  I don’t believe Elvis ever did get around to recording it (correction – Elvis did indeed record it.).

Original v. Cover — #25 in a Series

I'm A Hound Dog Pictures, Images and Photos

This week’s selection, recorded in 1952, was remarkable for its association with many firsts. Released in March, 1953, it was the first song ever produced by composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was to be the biggest hit ever for blues singer Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. Her rendition would occupy the #1 slot on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues charts for seven weeks. Wasting no time, five country artists would record their own versions of this song during the following month.

Updated: The Return of Confederate Dollars in South Carolina

Crossposted at Daily Kos

Talk about love of retro money.

The Palmetto Scoop in South Carolina has this bizarre report

South Carolina will no longer recognize U.S. currency as legal tender, if State Rep. Mike Pitts has his way.

Pitts, a fourth-term Republican from Laurens, introduced legislation earlier this month that would ban what he calls “the unconstitutional substitution of Federal Reserve Notes for silver and gold coin” in South Carolina.

If the bill were to become law, South Carolina would no longer accept or use anything other than silver and gold coins as a form of payment for any debt, meaning paper money would be out in the Palmetto State.