By the 80’s the war was over. Well not really, but things were totally in ruins. I felt like I was walking through the field outside Tara with bodies strewn everywhere.
My scene was gone. Everyone was so much older than me at the start of my punk rock days that they were all in their mid twenties and had either moved, grew up or died. At age 18 my entire perspective of the world was a jumble.
I was the age that most of my friends were when we met all those years ago. But everything was different.
This wasn’t a slow progression either. It’s as if the lights were turned on in the middle of a rave and the room was empty and I was busting a move all on my own.
I had by this point alienated my ‘normal friends’ and had a chip on my shoulder bigger than my hair.
At 2am I got a collect call (remember those?) and in the midst of one of the worlds worse connections heard the tear ravaged voice of one of my dearest friends. He was screaming and crying at the same time. I heard the New York City noise in the background and could almost picture his location. “X is dead. Blew his brains out. It was everywhere- we were there”. X of course is not his name but his name needn’t be mentioned in a record review. I hung up, got my keys and headed to the City.
I pulled up to a vacant space near to Astor Place, got out of the car not even shutting the door sat on the sidewalk and waited and cried.
The rest is pretty much a blur. But with the help of some friends I was ushered off to Memphis where a friend of a friend met me at the airport, took me to his house and began the process of reentering the real world. In that apartment (why did I sleep on the floor? For the life of me I have no idea why, but I did) we cooked Chinese food, drank wine, told war stories and I devoured 50’s culture. I was (after all) in the city of The King.
I met the Sun Boys, guys who worked in one way or another for the tourist trade of Elvis mania. I had always been an Elvis fan but I was in his town now. I spent a lot of time in Sun Studios and no there was no ‘eerie presence’ or ‘amazing vibe’ it was a tiny room non descript and cozy. I would sit on the steps near the sound board and watch my friends band rehearse. There was the revelation that the 50’s were where I wanted to be. Before the ‘1-2-3-4’ of the scene. Before all the death, foam, blood and vomit.
I wanted to live in black and white. Drink milk at breakfast, wear pretty dresses with hats and gloves.
I wanted simplicity.
Elvis Presley’s self titled album cleaned my brain and provided an upbeat path for me to start over with. And why not, this album cover was ripped off by none other than The Clash, it had to be good, right?
“Blue Suede Shoes”- the thumping of the bass on this .. it’s so killer. The quick snare start up was the perfect start changing 1-2-3-4 to One for the money, two for the show.. Don’t mess with this cats foot ware. For the record this song inspired the slang I would use for years to come..daddy-oh.
“I’m Counting On You” a hymn of love. The sound of singing into a coffee can. You can hear the veins in Elvis’ neck as he tries to sing sweetly. The light trill of piano mounting to the chorus is perfection of simplicity. “I’m counting on you dear” How can such a cool guy be so vulnerable? And in the world I had left behind there were no men who were like this, it was alien to me.
“I Got A Woman” ‘wellllll’ what a bad ass start to a tune. He loves this chick cuz she gives him money. Elvis was a playah! Meeting up with her in the morning? Say what King? All he needed was a cigar. “she knows a woman’s place is right there in the home’ yet she’s across town? C’mon y’all think about it. SICK ending too!!
“One-Sided Love Affair” Pretty cut and dry here ‘if you want to be loved you gotta love me too’. There you have it. Love 101 provided by Elvis Aaron Presley. “understanding solves all problems baby’. It’s a fabulous tutorial on how to have a successful relationship set to some of the most killer piano work this side of Jerry Lee.
“I Love You Because” Whistle! The intro is this song is pure corny but the lyrics and high pitched delivery are glorious. “ I love you for a million different reasons but I love you most of all because you’re you” will always have me reaching for a tissue. How lovely that Elvis is able to know and acknowledge he’s a heel and let his lady love know that he appreciates it in a man-speak sorta way.
“Just Because” YES ‘just because you think you’re pretty and just cuz your mama thinks you’re hot’, freakin this is the best brush off! I’m through with you ‘just because’ is the antidote to all the sappy love songs on this release. This is Elvis flippin a dame off, and it’s just what the track listing needs! The sticks on this thing make it virtually impossible to sit still. Why aren’t there more songs like this? Pure punk rock decades before it was a genre!
“Tutti Fruiti” What the hell is this? This song is nothing but fluffy dance music. I was thrown repeatedly as I attempted to learn to jitterbug to this song. Often hitting a table on my way down. But it was fun to try. For the record when a gent lifts you and swings you side to side you’re supposed to bend your knees. Poor guy took it in the package as many times as I fell. What a hilarious memory it’s a wonder I didn’t get a concussion. Wop Bop a Lula A Wop Bam Boom indeed.
“Tryin To Get To You” After all these years this is THE Elvis song of all time. A song of diligence and determination. This guy will not give up and its glorious. ‘when I read your loving letter, then my heart began to sing. There were many miles between us but it didn’t mean a thing’ The falsetto the yell, the fantastic guitar work, all equal the most powerful Presley tune of all time. For me at that time in the middle of Memphis I had no idea where I even wanted to go but it set the tone for me to get reconditioned to the world at large.
“I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You”, The King gets all vulnerable “gonna tell my mama and tell my papa too’, such a innocent statement. Figure this song was original emo. 50’s boys were tough and cool and here’s Elvis sobbing’ like a skirt..thus the contradiction of the era. Again can you dig that upright bass? Priceless.
“Blue Moon”- I have made fun of this song for as long as I can remember. First off the ‘moon’ is not a backside but the one in the sky. But the sarcastic silly in me just envisions a blue butt. The pony trot back beat and the near yodel made this classic my comedic relief on the album.
“Money Honey” I actually sang this with my friends band. What a mess! “ask me what to tell him what was on his mind’ The Stray Cats did a great version of this song keeping it real so to speak. This song has the coolest backing vocal it’s a deep almost growl and you need headphones to find it, sorta spooky. The drums cymbals are scream worthy and lyrically- crazy man.
Elvis helped me find my way out of a very dark time. I remember on the grounds of Graceland his aunt had a dog (she still lived on property yet tour groups are trudging through- really odd) that would scamper about. Despite all the trappings of the gilded gaudy of the King of Rock and Rolls home, there was always the underlying simplicity of a much gentler time.