Great Elvis songs A – Z (part 1 of 4)

MOVING GIF 1969 Elvis with Priscilla JOe and GEE FEE Patsy Hawaii May 1968.gif

 

There are so many great Elvis songs.

Ballads. Rock. Showcasing his 4 1/2 octave range.

But after much thought here are my top, and I can only pick one great song and one that you may not have heard before, Elvis Presley songs in alphabetical order and man this was NOT easy.

A = Always on my mind. Any way you want me.

B = Blue Suede Shoes. Bridge over troubled water.

C = Can’t help falling in love. Crying in the chapel.

D = Do you know who I am? Don’t

E = Edge of reality. Early morning rain.

F = Fame and fortune. 500 miles.

If your aren’t familiar with these songs do yourself a favor and take the time.

Thanks for visiting. Take care and may God bless you

 

Billy & Joe Smith YouTube endeavors

I have the utmost respect for Billy and Jo Smith. I always have. I always will. Not because they are related to Elvis but for the quality of their character and convictions. I wish them and their family always the best.

From YouTube comes this channel authored by the Smith family and it contains worthwhile information and I HIGHLY recommend Elvis Presley fans around the world to check it out – leave comments – and spread the word. I will have more to say about this in the future.

The YouTube channel is Memphis Mafia Kid and I applaud their efforts. Here is one of the links:

 

Take care and may God bless you.

Thank you

THANK YOU graphic

 

I wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU to Elvis Presley fans worldwide, the friends/loved ones’ of Elvis who are still around, the family/friends of those who have (sadly) passed away but were an integral part of Elvis’ life story, Lisa Marie, Linda Thompson, Priscilla, Jack Soden, all of the hardworking staff at Graceland, and to those I have been blessed to know as a direct result of being an Elvis fan including but not limited to; BIlly Jo Smith and family, Alanna Nash, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Sandi Pichon, Kathy Westmoreland, etc. To anyone I failed to list please accept my apologies.

In less than a week will be the “anniversary” of the (sadly) passing of Elvis who passed away on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. I still can’t believe that I have lived on this earth not only as long as Elvis did but T H I R T E E N years…older. My heart and prayers go out to so many who on August 16, 1977 lost their father. Their friend. Their relative. Their co-worker. Their son. Their nephew. I know that time does not heal all wounds but please know how thankful I am to you and yours and may God grant you good health and success on this “anniversary” and the other 364 days of each year.

We are the last generation that lived during Elvis’ wondrous career and (sadly) far too many of us pass away each year and I encourage Elvis Presley fans everywhere to seek out these individuals. To say thank you. To support their professional endeavors Elvis related or not.

Take care and may God bless you always.

Jeff Schrembs

August 16th (1977) we lost a great man

 

To be a great man doesn’t mean you can sing. It does mean you have fame. Fortune. Or you have powerful connections. I do N O T use the word “great” loosely nor should it be randomly bestowed to someone because they can hit a baseball. Throw a football. Score points in a basketball game. You get my point In this instance, with the 41st “anniversary” of Elvis Presley dying soon upon on 8/16/1977, I am talking about the man named Elvis Presley who knew; wealth, success, bitter poverty, love, devotion, to be thrown out of housing with his beloved mother and father, moving away from friends/relatives/neighbors in Tupelo Mississippi to the big city…Memphis (Tennessee), being made fun of, friendship, the beauty in this world from the lowly blossom to the regal of the heavens, the power of the church/God/Jesus, working hard, being a father, losing the life of his greatest love at the peak of his career being Gladys Love (Smith) Presley on August 14, 1958, the adverse whispers of those who looked down upon with disdain to those whose only “crime” was the lack of monetary means, the power of prayers, and how hard it was to see his mother cry yet try to be brave while her husband (Elvis’ father Vernon Elvis Presley) was in prison *** note – Vernon took responsibility – he served his time – he apologized – he made monetary amends to the victim – he was forever sorry – he asked forgiveness many times void of words but with a look that a man gives his wife when he knows she seems him as…lesser, and most of all never was involved in any dishonorable behavior to the law or anyone else AND one last footnote is that Gladys was successful in getting Vernon released from prison early as she was able to garner enough signatures along with the fact that Vernon was married with a minor son and both desperately needed him home with his family and any income he could generate. ***

Elvis, even from childhood, loved to give. Give of his time, his efforts, and his possessions. When he was the most successful entertained in the world, and in my opinion always will be, he visited hospitals. Met with the patients. Prayed with the family. Gave money without being asked and was genuinely humble and asked if they would please accept this gesture. Elvis also was active in major charitable endeavors such as the March of Dimes, St. Judes, etc. Though he never did “commercials”, other than one that has been lost to time and it was for a local donuts shop if I remember correctly, he proudly entertained the sick and their family and took photographs with the sick holding large poster board with the words “please give, or support the March of Dimes, or lets eradicate polio, etc.”. To the injured/sick and the public Elvis bravely smiled and praised the caregivers while giving the sick words of love. Of support. Of them being unique and worthy. But there are countless times that after leaving the hospital(s), or families homes, etc. Elvis would opt not to drive, as he had when arriving, as the tears flowed and he cried. He cried from the heart. He mourned. He asked GodJesus to help them. He was inconsolable. Many times this reaction/emotion would be repeated for days after. Weeks after. Months after. Years after. And to those who were closest to Elvis knew not to say anything as Elvis tried to wrap his mind around the questions of life such as; why Lord are these innocents maimed/sick/disabled, why have you blessed me with success, will anyone remember me when I’m gone, have I done anything to warrant the kingdom of God/Jesus, is this a dream and I’ll wake up and be dirt poor again, etc. Elvis felt. Let me repeat this. Elvis felt. He was attuned to the helpless. The needy. Those needing a shoulder to lean on. Those who were going through life changing events. Elvis felt. Elvis felt. He felt for those in his view, in his house, in his city, in other towns, in the United States, in the world, etc. Elvis felt for men, women, and children regardless of their color. Their social standing. Elvis loved his fellow man unconditionally. Elvis knew of his faults. His failures. His temper. His insecurities. Elvis felt and he was not a great man because of his fame and fortune for he was a great man for he did all he could for others. He performed, while being very ill, for 8 years straight so as not to let a fan/audience member down. He was rock and roll but his love of Gospel music was his anchor. Elvis was a great man for he bravely and honorably used the talents God/Jesus gave him. He worked hard to improve on his talents. On August 16, 1977 the world lost a great man. His name was Elvis Aron (Aaron) Presley the son of Gladys Love (Smith) Presley and Vernon Elvis Presley and he was forty-two years old.

 

Take care and may God bless you and yours,

 

Jeff Schrembs

Elvis Presley sentimental side

You know Elvis?

You think you know Elvis?

You sure you know Elvis?

Well, all righty then

Today I get to share with you some of MY favorite Elvis tunes that have calmed me through my storms and believe me I’ve had some B  I   G    storms.

Now, PLEASE do yourself a favor and listen to each of these songs in their entirety and perhaps you will join my sentiments (bada bing – did you see what I did there? Circling to the title of this post?). Courtesy of YouTube, and I am not commenting on the video aspect just the audio, Let’s go:

Until next time I hope you enjoy this blessing we call…life.

Take care and may God bless you and yours.

 

Thoughts about Elvis’ legacy going forward

I have said it since I was much much younger that I am part (sadly) of the last generation who lived during Elvis’ lifetime. The future was unknown as Elvis was contractually obligated to do (approximately) 3 moves per year and he NEVER saw the scripts. Never had script approval. That’s right Elvis Presley the most successful actor in movie history, for the criteria being that every one of his movies made money for the movie studio NET which is almost impossible as movie studios accounting practices require a PHD, was bound to the script. The character. The locations. The songs. As Priscilla has stated, and so many of those close to Elvis watched, Elvis was absolutely 100% C R U S H E D by the increasing lack of quality movies. Man even me being a fan opted to go to the movies with a large frosty beverage and a heart attack large popcorn just to walk into the theater knowing Elvis had to be, at times, embarrassed. But give the man credit he did his best and if he used drugs then, and many say he did, this isn’t funny but I don’t know how else he got through SOME of these movies.

I miss Elvis.

I miss Elvis as a living breathing example of a man using his god given talents and worked hard to pursue his craft and against all odds being a great, and successful, entertainer for three DECADES. There will never be another Elvis because there will never be circumstances that Elvis leaned on to inflect in his songs. Yeah he had a photographic memory, perfect tune, 4 1/2 octave range, incredible voice, and to everyone who saw him said “he looks even better in person”. WHAT? Did I catch that? Looks better in person? Man I can barely get a respectable FB self photo to look anything like me and this man takes photographs that are almost unworldly.

You know I have spent a great deal of my time this past years further cataloging, indexing, enhancing what is there, etc. photos. It has been a positive distraction while battling the “C” word and all that goes with that and I got news for you jack it ain’t kids games.

*** Note – I type exactly as fast as I think and that is why I have so many typographical errors and I don’t want anyone puzzled to my meaning as I use words in my writing that I use in real life so relax man it ain’t so bad

I miss Elvis knowing he never allowed his music to be altered. Enhanced. Digitally auto tuned. Or any of the state of the art software they have now that can make a cricket sing America the Beautiful on par with, as an example, Whitney Houston. Elvis MOVED on stage. He had real musicians. He had real hand picked singers. He sounded as good, if not better, in person than in recordings. Amazing then. Amazing now.

Well, for now I gotta go. God willing I’ll see you soon

Take care and may God bless you

Jeff Schrembs

 

 

Did Elvis cry? Answered

At first glance I dismissed this question which I received along with countless others each day about Elvis but then I thought about it and with my goal to always present facts and context I decided to answer with the understanding that this question was issued to me in good faith being curious about Elvis.

YES Elvis cried.

Elvis was human, He had dreams. He had insecurities. He had a temper. He cared. He was sensitive to the 9th degree. He knew loss. He knew great success. He never took his fans for granted and spent countless hours signing autographs and/or posing for photos. He was wholly unique being the by product of wholly unique parents. Wholly unique time in American history. Wholly unique in circumstances. etc.

The most visible time in Elvis life when he cried endlessly, and there are many photographs taken during this time including Elvis with Vernon on the steps of his home Graceland crying through a broken heart and a world collapsed, was when his beloved mother died Gladys Love (Smith) Presley on August 14, 1958. This unbarring pain he carried throughout his life.

But, Elvis and Gladys cried together when Elvis was served in person at his home in Memphis Tennessee the 3rd week of December 1957 with his United States Army Draft Notice. This shattered Gladys’ world and she could not bear to think about being away from her son. Her health, like was the case with Elvis, took a very visible toll as they wore their emotions on their sleeve. When they were happy it radiated. When he was mad it was palpable. When he cried it was soulful. A primitive place of sorrows.

Elvis put on a brave face for his mother, and the cameras, but he was heard crying in his cot by other US Army draftees on the train. On the plane. etc. It was at this time that he met Charlie Hodge who would become his lifelong friend and part of Elvis’ concerts with his guitar playing and harmony. In several documentary’s Charlie Hodge stated that he never hear the type of hurt that Elvis conveyed being separated from Gladys and facing the…unknown. Since Charlie was naturally funny, in addition to being a musician with some measure of success, he made it his goal to cheer Elvis up. In later years Elvis stated that without Charlies support/humor he would not of known if he could have gotten through it.

… to be continued

 

Praise for all involved in “Elvis Presley the searcher” (this blog post is part 1)

People ask, and question, me all the time about why Elvis? Who gives you the right to say your an expert? How do you know? To the following extreme of “you are the greatest”. “How are you old enough to know all about Elvis when you photo looks different (note – I do have to say, SOLELY because my experiences with being photographed is that maybe 1 out of 80044444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 photos looks remotely like me), compliments are always appreciated and YES those are my recent photos and I make them and date them so my image is not used by anyone else which is coming more routine and I dislike that.

Even members of my own family mock, undermine, question, etc. my discussions about Elvis Presley. I could write a novel in response but to synthesize it and/or condense it I would say “I am part of an ever smaller generation who was the LAST to be alive during most if not all of Elvis’ career. Also, it was not always “cool” to like Elvis in the 60’s and 70’s and in the mid to later 70]s there was outright mockery. In fact there were so many social issues, hard core drug usage (to each their own but I’ve never), plethora of music/musicians, etc. to most teenagers Elvis had been a pioneer but his time had come and gone which I disagreed with”. Hence, when you combine being a lifelong fan, collecting Elvis records/etc. for decades, read so many different articles/newspapers/books about Elvis that span from fan hood to hatred. I always put an emphasis of context backed by facts.

There are many people of quality who are, whole and/or in part, experts concerning Elvis. Sadly, through the years so many have passed away and my hearts, prayers, and thoughts are always with the family/loved ones of those who have passed. Thus they are experts. Firsthand experts such as; Jerry Schilling, Billy Smith, Priscilla, Lisa Marie, Jack Soden, staff at Graceland/EPE, Linda Thompson, Ginger Alden etc. just to name a few (note I apologize if I have left anyone out). Secondly you have experts who have done extensive research about Elvis. These names come to mind; Alanna Nash, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Russ Howe, Steve Binder, Phil Arnold (we highly encourage you to check out his exceptional website of http://www.Elvisblog.net), and those we list on http://www.ElvisCollector.info on the “link” page.

I always knew, backed up by the music, that Elvis was wholly unique. That Elvis had been blessed. That Elvis was human. He knew great poverty. Great loss. He knew great success. Happiness. And he was a living breathing oxymoron as the contrast was vivid. That you could see in Elvis whatever you wanted. He was a mirror. You want to see a southern boy/man? Well Elvis is. You want to see passion? Yeah he had it? Talent? Check. A mean streak? Who doesn’t? He was the greatest entertainer who ever lived in every entertainment aspect but the fact that he is the greatest gospel singer, the most successful singer of Christmas music, and I could go on and on.

This post is part 1 about the exceptional HBO 2 part series entitled “Elvis Presley the searcher” and to everyone involved I say THANK YOU. GREAT JOB.

Take care and may God bless you always.

Jeff Schrembs

http://www.ElvisCollector.info

Ask ME Elvis (3/2018) edition

Hello.

Here were go.

Was Elvis a drinker?   Yes. He drank water, Pepsi, sweet tea, coke, mountain valley spring water, peach bourbon (rarely), and screwdriver (rarely).

Was Elvis mean?  Could be. Elvis had a bona fide temper courtesy of his beloved mother Gladys. If you look into Elvis’ eyes, especially during the early concerts – tv appearances = movies – etc., you can see he has the propensity of getting mean in a second. His nickname of “fire eyes” was justified. Also, back in 56 when Elvis was sucker punched while at a gas station, Elvis was sitting in driver’s seat, Elvis got out and fought the older taller man and gave the dude a black eye, bruised cheek, scuffed nose, and a memory not to mess with Elvis.

Was Elvis strange?  Aggh?  Whaa? I invoke my old man Elvis can and refrain, respectfully, from answering. Remember to brush your teeth kids.

to be continued.

Prayers for Lisa Marie Presley, her children, and her family/loved ones.

Recently it has been (sadly) reported on and on about the details of Lisa Marie’s divorce proceedings. Having young children, and some over 18, divorce/custody issues are NEVER “fun”. It takes tolls each minute of each hour of each day. Lisa Marie Presley has to be strong for her children as their mother and her decisions will affect each of them throughout their lives.

I hope others will pray for Lisa Marie Presley and her family as well as for our fellow man. This world needs more forgiving, love, empathy, etc. for each of us carries the weights of our decisions. Our actions. And our choices even when there is only one “choice”. We are so “busy” and inundated with bad news/evil far and away, we don’t convey our thanks/love to one another or to our maker which everything flows from.

 

*** this article was written by Jeff Schrembs 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ***

I added this, after thought and prayer, true story for context and the hope it will lead to more understanding. More support. More prayers. etc.

At nine years old, after staying with her father over summer break, on August 16, 1977, couldn’t sleep. Her father came into her bedroom, where Lisa was on her white oval shaped bed and consoled her – kissed her forehead – and said goodnight.

Hours later Lisa Marie learned of her father’s death through the wailing of her grandfather Vernon, the cooks, members of the Memphis Mafia, etc. it was chaos. Little 9-year-old Lisa Marie picked up the red phone in Gracelands kitchen by the 4 closed circuit cameras (black and white) and put her finger into the first hole (of the telephone number) and repeated this 9 times. Linda Thompson, who had been Elvis’ girlfriend from 1972 (approx) until 1976, answered and heard Lisa Marie say “my daddy’s dead…my daddy’s’ dead”. Linda asked to speak to an adult and confirmed this nightmare was real.

Grown men, with various black belts in the martial arts, wept and fell to their knees crying. Vernon was inconsolable and he was frail due to his age and deteriorating medical issues. Women were in a state of shock but still tried to comfort Lisa Marie.

At times Little Lisa Marie tried to comfort her grandfather but he was unable to respond as his heart was literally…broken.

Lisa Marie was surrounded by men and women she knew and scores of others she did not. She was told her mother, and Linda Thompson was flying into Memphis. Lisa asked if her father would be back from the ambulance ride.

Over the next (approximately) year she would see her grandfather Vernon (sadly) die. She attended his funeral a little more mature knowing the finality of death which she endured so many feelings/emotions/loss of her father’s death. Lisa Marie was traumatized x 10000.

Legally her mother, Priscilla, now became the executor of Elvis’ estate as Vernon had died and everything went to Lisa but she was a minor so until she was 18 Priscilla would oversee everything. When her 18th birthday came she wasn’t ready so she let her mother run things until Lisa was 21. At 21 she still wasn’t able so it was extended until Lisa was 25 years old.

Immediately upon her father’s death, there were stories written, tv shows about, newspapers full of, etc. the attacks (by so many through decades upon decades ) of hearing so many accused her father of being a drug addict. That he tried to kill himself. That he was really still alive.

Lisa Marie is a talented, smart, and loving mother to her children. She never asked for this. Does anyone know how much time it takes to get over your father’s death? Or how that affects one’s decisions? One’s life? The same questions about her grandfather Vernon’s death? Keep in mind this was a very close family who openly shed tears for the death of Elvis and then Vernon. These tears were not limited to August of 1977 as for many they continue through the typing of this post.

I wish Lisa Marie, and her family, happiness – success – good health – stability – long life, etc. and that this divorce, and the monetary aspects, gets resolved very soon. Lisa Marie, like all others, should garner our sympathy and support for life is so very…very short.

When one, as this has been my experiences, falls in love and then marries before men/witnesses/God it is a beautiful thing. To have children born out of this love is a blessing. Hence, it is horrendous to have to go through divorce proceedings not only for the “adults” but also for the minor children.

No amount of money will heal the (temporary and permanent) scars on ones’ emotional state, mental state, physical state, parental state, and even the monetary state regardless of one’s last name (which in this case is beloved but brings forth far too much scrutiny, chatter, gossip, etc.) so facts and context matters but always secondary to what is right including the respect and appreciation we each should have for all of our fellow men including Lisa Marie.

Lastly, I don’t ask (with all sincerity and humility) others to pray, support, show compassion about. not feed into hurtful statements, etc about Lisa Marie Presley because of her name but…in spite of it.

Take care and may God bless you and yours…always.

Jeff Self Photo 2018 BEST ONe

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