In late 70's Elvis didn't prepare his recording sessions like he did before. He more or less listened briefly through demos, and started recording without much rehearsal.
1976, Elvis had lost interest in recording, hadn’t been in a studio in over a year despite his contractual obligations with RCA wishing to maintain 3 albums-per-year release schedule. RCA, had all used their existing material and needed for new tracks.
RCA had suggested installing a mobile recording studio at Graceland in the past hoping to capture Elvis’ creativity and finally went for this solution, installing the RCA $200,000 worth of recording equipment into “The Jungle Room”.
Elvis cut 2 sessions, in February and October of 1976 and that would be his last.
Two albums were produced from the sessions: From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and Moody Blue.
Despite the fact that Elvis’ longtime producer Felton Jarvis was there to supervise the session, the home setup didn’t encourage Elvis’ work ethic. Jarvis kept moving nervously back and forth between the den and the big RCA mobile truck parked outside.
“Elvis was there, but then he would disappear for hours at a time, he would go upstairs or wherever.” “I think there were clearly moments where he caught fire. Because I think the music continued to invigorate him,” says Peter Guralnick. “There’s genuine feeling at times.”
Everyone was waiting for Elvis to come downstairs and sing. So by Midnight, Feb 2nd 1976, Elvis walked down to the Jungle Room.
Elvis said, at the start of the first track 'Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall', … "You guys don't desert me!"
During take 5 of the song, Elvis laughs and shows himself in good humor when a dog barking and a phone ringing interrupted the recording.
On the first night, 3 songs were recorded, working until 9am. This included 17 takes of 'She Thinks I Still Care' . This was slow, ponderous work obviously with the added complication of not being in a recording studio.
Elvis spent the second night working on 'Solitaire' . Felton Jervis' orchestral overdubs, editing and the added echo of the original releases really spoilt something very special. "The jungle room sessions", is the proof that Felton Jarvis was a very bad producer.
'I'll Never Fall in Love Again' follows and then 3 classics- 'Moody Blue', 'For the Heart', and 'Hurt'.
Elvis fantastic voice is showed in the tune 'Hurt'. It shows how Elvis voice developed thru the years and how strong it was when he wanted to display it.
Elvis has a thin start when he sings the first line. He stops and cleans his throat and will nail the song perfectly in the master take.
'Danny Boy' is truly beautiful. It was the early hours of the morning and Elvis had been trying to record the song in a higher key.
This take starts with Elvis saying… "I'd like to do it in C, that's what I'd like to do better".- Full of emotion and almost a-capella - Brilliant.
Elvis wanted to sing sad songs at this time in his life and the last 2 songs from the February sessions, 'Love Coming Down' and 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain', are good examples. 'Love Coming Down' He sings: "...cant you see how everything I learned would be wasted if you leave me? If you just give me one more try I swear, I always be here, when you need me". It drips sincerity in every word and you can cut the feeling with a knife. It is an apology and a plea to a second chance.
Elvis' last recording session, again at Graceland, was in October 1976. This session produced 4 songs, classics!
Elvis' life was out of control. 'It's Easy for You' captured it perfectly.Written specifically for him, Elvis starts by saying…. "I get carried away very easily, emotional son of a bitch!" The released version on Moody Blue was completely ruined by an awful mix but this version is exquisite - "I had a wife, I had children, I threw them all away" he sings - Amazing poignant stuff.
The great 'Way Down' follows.
'Pledging My Love' - Elvis just can't get enough of the song. A beautiful, clear sound helps you hear how much passion and soul Elvis poured into the track. This is pure, capturing Elvis' passion for music.
Finally, the last song Elvis ever recorded, 'He'll Have To Go' is sad, emotional listening.
A malaise had set in. Elvis, one of the great instinctive producers of all time, shaping his songs through endless vocal performances seemed to have lost a bit of his sense of self-direction.
He was a perfectionist of feeling,” Peter Guralnick says. “He was looking for a specific feeling when he recorded. And at the end, there isn’t anything like that because he isn’t capable of that kind of sustained effort. I think he was just so down.” The accumulated personal problems of drugs, divorce and depression had begun to sap his energy and self-belief.
“The precondition for any artist, whatever field, whether it’s music, writing, dancing or acting, is self-belief,” says Peter Guralnick. “And, increasingly, at the end of his life, Elvis no longer believed in himself. He was disappointed in his failure to measure up to himself.”
The songs recorded in February and October of that year, represent Elvis final labor of love. His heart and mind are on those songs.This last document of a true artist at work assumes even more relevance, due to historical contexts and due to the fact that Elvis never revealed himself to the public in the way he did here. In this sense, The Jungle Room Sessions is just as historically important and revealing as Elvis performances. It proved that Elvis was a magic artist until the end.
Sources:
Piers Beagley - July 7, 2001
- Bob Mehr
- Peter Guralnick.
- Sergio Luiz Fiça Biston
Have you ever asked yourself "What would have happened if Elvis had survived on August 16th, 1977??"
