TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS: The Elvis Forum

After reading the liner notes on the Promised Land FTD, there were obviously a lot of problems with Elvis' July sessions, not only from the material and performance perspective but technical issues as well (space, microphpones etc).
Considering the first experience, I wonder why the same studio was chosen again nust a few months later?
Luckily, the material was better, Elvis was singing better and the December sessions produced an all-round better output.

I think the proximity to Graceland would have been the key reason Stax was chosen, also if memory serves, Marty Lacker was involved with Stax at the time.

You took some of the words out of my mouth Kris. I suspect a bit of laziness and reluctance kicked in. Why travel to Nashville when you can just nip around the corner?

Marty Lacker says he set up the sessions there for two reasons.

one is Elvis told him that RCA was hounding him to record new music but he didn't want to leave town to do it and for him to pick a studio in town.

2. Marty says he ultimately picked STAX because of it's excellent security.

The December sessions were picked again for the same reasons Elvis wasn't doing any touring at the time and RCA wanted material.

I don't think it would have made any difference if the December Stax sessions were held in California or Nashville.

I wish he had followed more of the Stax soul feel.

Dunno Rick, I'm happy we got some of Elvis' Soul.
I think an attempt to replicate the Stax 'sound' may have been misguided......I mean I don't think it would have been a good fit for him at that time.

Fair point Kris, but there were too many weepy ballads recorded there for my liking.

I think Elvis certainly could have recorded R&B music at the sessions if he wanted.

He had a great voice and feel for that kind of music.

Particularly at the July sessions when doing more R&B would have been better than doing ''Girl of mine''.

I hear ya Rick, but I'm glad this is what he recorded, it's where his heart and mind were and inasmuch most of the material is performed with commitment, albeit a maudlin one.
I think many artists go through an introspective, sometimes bordering on depressive phase during their careers, I don't think we should diminish these times......it seems many somehow think that because so many of these performances are melancholic, than they must automatically be of a lesser significance - Sophocles would beg to differ.

One that gets slated from Stax, (not sure which session sorry) is "Three Corn Patches" - I love this song!! I can imagine Elvis doing it in Jam mode circa the TTWII Rehearsal sessions and blowing us away. As the recording stands, it isn't mind blowing, but I think it is, to me, one of the highlights as it's fun to listen to.