Mark James is dead…
By Mariusz Ogieglo
The author of Elvis Presley’s unforgettable hits has died
On June 8 this year, Mark James (actually Francis Rodney Zambon) died at the age of 83 – an American composer and lyricist whose hits were sung and recorded by the greatest artists of the 20th century – Brenda Lee (“Sunrise, Sunrise”), BJ Thomas (“Hocked On” A Feeling”) and of course… Elvis Presley.
The latter recorded as many as five of his songs, the biggest and most important of which was, of course, “Suspicious Minds“, recorded in 1969. The song quickly gained recognition among listeners and soon reached the top of the American charts. As history has shown, Mark James’ composition turned out to be the last Number One in Presley’s career.
Many years later, however, Rolling Stone magazine placed it 91st in its list of the 500 Most Important Songs of All Time.
Elvis’ close associates remembered that from then on, the singer, when coming to the studio for his recording sessions, often asked whether there were any new James compositions among the demo CDs and song proposals sent for recording.
Two years after the breakthrough session at American Sound Studio, in 1971, Presley again reached for the repertoire of Mark James. This time taking on his hit “It’s Only Love“.
In March 1972, he recorded the ballad “Always On My Mind”, which James co-wrote with Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson.
In later years, this song was successfully covered by, among others, the Pet Shop Boys and Willie Nelson, and in 1983 James received two Grammy Awards for it – in the Song of the Year and Best Country Song categories.
Presley recorded another song by Mark James in 1973, during a session at the famous Stax Studio in Memphis. The song “Raised On Rock” soon afterwards became the title track of the LP of the same name.
Elvis’s collaboration with the author ended in 1976. During a session in the Jungle Room at Graceland, Presley recorded his energetic composition “Moody Blue“. As it unfortunately soon turned out… his last great hit.
For almost the entire decade of the 1970s, Elvis not only successfully recorded Mark James’ compositions but also presented them on stage. Apart from single performances of “Raised On Rock” and “Moody Blue“, it is hard to imagine his concerts today, especially those from 1969 to 1973, without “Suspicious Minds“.
Info: BestClassicBand/Mariusz Ogieg?o/EP Promised Land (Poland) http://www.elvispromisedland.pl/
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