Elvis for Everyone!

Track Listing:

Your Cheatin’ Heart
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers
In My Way
Tomorrow Night
Memphis, Tennessee
For the Millionth and the Last Time
Forget Me Never
Sound Advice
Santa Lucia
I Met Her Today
When It Rains, It Really Pours

The puppy was the first thing I noticed on the cover of Elvis’ 8th studio album, Elvis for Everyone!. The dog’s name is Nipper, he is the RCA trademark for all of their advertising and he is a gem. He has an entire Wikipedia page devoted to him and seems like a very precious doggo who to this very day has a plaque devoted to him in a bank in London. How awesome is that??

Now onto the album. This album, released on August 10, 1965 was quite literally scrapped together from studio outtakes dating back 10 years. Intended by RCA to be an “anniversary album” of sorts, implied by the collage of his previous studio albums on the cover, these songs were all intended for other albums but removed for whatever reason. One of these songs (“Tomorrow Night”), even dated back to Elvis’ time at Sun Records in the early 1950s. Possibly due to the very setup of this album, it did not do well by Elvis’ standards, peaking at 10 on the pop albums chart, but not generating any hit singles.

Your Cheatin’ Heart

I knew this song because of Patsy Cline’s far superior rendition. The arrangement on Elvis’ version is very bouncy, and while it isn’t horrible, it removes the inherent heartbreak of the song. Tangent time: did you know that Elvis and Patsy Cline were supposed to do a duet?? They both shared The Jordanaires as backup singers and both had the Nashville sound starting in the early 1960s. It was in the works before Patsy’s untimely death in 1963. I just can’t even imagine the power that would have, with two such distinctive, emotive, silky voices on the same track??? It would have been epic.

2. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears

This song is a silky smooth delight. Recorded 5 years earlier, in 1960, Elvis sounds a bit like Johnny Mathis here, which would make sense as this was the beginning of his pivot to a more adult contemporary sound. Whatever the reasonings were, he sounds fabulous and the song is a perfect fit for him.

3. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

This novelty song, recorded in 1963 is just a fun little ditty.

4. In My Way

A beautiful little lullaby. The delicate arrangement really allows Elvis to stand center stage here, with his sincere, lovely vocals shining through.

5. Tomorrow Night

Easily the oldest song on the album, “Tomorrow Night” was recorded in 1954, back in the Sun Records days. It is definitely in its rough form here, but omg does the power of young Elvis’ voice almost knock you backwards. I had almost forgotten how raw he could sound, and, despite the arrangement being halfway finished and Elvis sometimes getting buried in the mix, it almost doesn’t matter because you are hearing that intensity again. Believe it or not, despite those details this song is, in fact, a ballad. While it is very pleasant and soothing, I can see why it was ultimately not picked for an album. However, it was a nice reminder of the Elvis of yore.

6. Memphis, Tennessee

A complete change of pace, this song revs it up real quick. Scotty Moore powers through this song.

7. For the Millionth and the Last Time

Recorded in 1961, this song unsurprisingly has a muzak sound to it, sounding a bit too saccharine for my personal tastes. However, Elvis sounds delightful. His voice is front and center which is unusual for song mixes of this period.

8. Forget Me Never

This song is a sound-a-like to the much better “Love Me Tender.” However, it’s simple, short, and very pretty.

9. Sound Advice

The ninth track, about not liking how someone is giving us advice and being stubborn during the whole ordeal is a very relatable feeling indeed. I have to say I agree with Elvis here: “They insist that they’re givin’ sound advice, But as sure as you’re livin’, It ain’t sound, it ain’t nice, It just doesn’t sound like sound advice.”

10. Santa Lucia

Very short song (1:14!) that sounds like it could be a wedding march? It’s very church-y but despite it’s length it shows off the versatility of Elvis’s vocal range.

11. I Met Her Today

The beautiful piano throughout this number is so soothing it could almost put you to sleep. I am not entirely sure that’s a good thing, but it is very nice to listen to.

12. When It Rains, It Really Pours

Bluesy number that made me go “oh hi!”. Much needed after some sleeper tracks. Another one recorded in the ’50s (1957 this time), the rough vocals are back and they are pure gritty, sexy Elvis. This song is absolutely half-finished but because of the raw power of his vocals it doesn’t matter too much.

Overall, you can tell this album is a collection of outtakes. It has its moments where it shines but ultimately, it is easy to see why these songs were left off of their respective albums.

Listen to Elvis for Everyone! here