John Michael Heath from @eapsociety.bsky.social joins the show this week to revisit the 2008 album "Christmas Duets," and try to figure out where the project, handled by clearly talented producers and musicians, may have gone awry.
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John's Song of the Week, "I Was Born About 10,000 Years Ago" has deep origins as a folk tune, but Elvis was clearly inspired by Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry's 1952 version, which Elvis had in his collection of records given to Scotty Moore for transfer in 1968. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMU0Hhaqv88
As John explains, the record provides immeasurable insight into how Elvis would return to his influences for ideas and inspiration over and over, as this recording influenced the drum-heavy intro of Elvis' cover of Chuck Berry's iconic "Memphis Tennessee" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3R_MzNb06E
Similarly, although songwriter Randy Starr's demo of "Adam and Evil" from 1966's "Spinout" offered no such guidance, Elvis used McGhee's intro on the earlier song as inspiration for the intro of the final studio master: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOaiMZvULkU
And, of course, Elvis would go on to feature the song as the thematic linking device of his 1970 concept album "Elvis Country," embracing its mythic qualities in his similar exploration of country music's wide historical net: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayUb7c5oDY
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