Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This 'hareless' classic canine caper was written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller in 1952. It was first performed by Elvis on Uncle Miltie's television show in 1956 and became an instant hit. Then as the 'tail' goes, Elvis repeated his performance on Steve Allen's show with the real article! But no, her name wasn't Shirley! What song did he perform?
2. This next song was written by Carl Perkins about some very famous footwear and was skyrocketed to fame by Elvis. It was also the title of a modern ballet created in 1996 which included selections of the music popularized by Presley, choreographed by Dennis Nahat with costumes by the legendary Bob Mackie!
3. The King's beautiful pure version of this song comes from the traditional song 'Aura Lee' highly popular with the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War era. (Fosdick and Poulton) The song was a hit in 1956.
4. Elvis' version of this classic postal or reject letter theme was penned by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott. The sassy baritone saxophone plays a prominent role, with its characteristic dah dah dah dah dah, five note squawk.
5. Another mega-hit was written by Davenport (aka Otis)and Cooley and became Peggy Lee's signature tune from 1955 on. Elvis' haunting, whispering version of 1960 would never fail to send shivers and shakes to his legions of female fans, even Pocahontas!
6. Junior Parker's and Sam Phillip's song about a 16 coaches long railroad vehicle was another hit for Elvis along the lines of the Gospel tradition. Gospel songs are an integral part of life for many Americans and particularly in the South. This is a recurrent theme in American music anyway.
7. In 1957, the year the Russians launched the dog Laika into orbit in Sputnik, Elvis caused a bit of a commotion with this one that went off of the Richter scale for his buttercup! This is also an Otis Blackwell number.
8. The original song was also a 'mega-hit' for the most famous popular operatic singer from Naples earlier in the century. The original song in the dialect of Naples was penned while the author was on a trip to the Ukraine and a bit homesick for his own view of the sun from his window. What was the 1960 Elvis version? Please note the mandolin music on the intro.
9. Here's a blues tune penned by Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup and recorded by Elvis in Memphis in Sun Studios on Union Street in 1954 as a birthday present for Gladys. Later in life he'd often give cars for gifts. Who was Gladys?
10. Here's a Ray Charles tune from 1955 about a lady 'cross town' who 'knows a woman's place is around home at night.' It was very controversial for Ray as instead of using Gospel lyrics, it glorified a woman 'cross town'. Elvis' version in 1956 was a big hit in the USA and the UK at number one simultaneously.
Source: Author
Bruyere
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