BSO. “Live a Little, Love a Little”
By Rosa García Mora
The year 1968 was a very turbulent year all over the world. A year that marked a process of radical change, marked by youth protests and political tension. What happened that year not only changed history, it also shaped an entire generation. Culture, cinema and music also changed. Great revolts and social and political movements and a change for society worldwide.
Elvis’ personal and artistic life was also going to change radically. Elvis finally wanted to get out of the spider web in which he found himself trapped in Hollywood, although the change had already been brewing for two years. The most glorious moment of this year would be his return through the NBC program “Elvis.” And although he still had some films to make, his attitude towards them was no longer the same, since he finally felt free.
The formula for Elvis movies had already changed, but it was still thought that they should have some musical themes included in them, so in the film “Live a Little, Love a Little”, four themes were introduced, which were also influenced by the changes.
The recording sessions took place on March 7 and 11, 1968, at Western Recorders in Hollywood. But they were very different from the usual recording sessions.
During these sessions Elvis worked very hard, which resulted in an excellent performance, as he was very focused on his work and had a very open attitude and was in a very good mood, and during the sessions there was a very pleasant atmosphere with the musicians.
There was a very novel approach to these four songs. The musical director for the sessions, Billy Strange, who was also the bandleader and arranger, was very much in tune with the trends in popular music at the time and so he brought in a group of musicians outside Elvis’ usual stable, offering arrangements on all four songs that deviated completely from Elvis’ usual sound.
So for the sessions, Billy Strange did not hire the musicians who usually played with Elvis in Nashville, and who always played in the movies. He would call in some studio musicians from Los Angeles, resulting in much more modern, well-crafted tracks with rich orchestral backing. For the first time Elvis would record with a full orchestra.
– The sessions began with the song “Wonderful World” by Guy Fletcher and Douglas Flett, who would be the first British composers Elvis would record a song with. They would continue to work for him in the future.
It is a beautiful song with a waltz rhythm, a song to life, to nature and to the joy of living. A song that makes you feel good and transmits an immense joy and sense of freedom. Happy, simple and without any pretensions. It would be the song that would be included in the credits of the film, impeccably performed by Elvis.
– “Edge of Reality” Written by Elvis regulars Bill Giant, Bernie Baum & Florence Kaye, who accompanied him in many of his films. A novel, slightly strange song, with music very adapted to its time, which sounded very current. And, as we can also see in the musical number in the film, it has a colorful and psychedelic feel, in the style of the time. A song with somewhat disconcerting, dreamlike lyrics, and also with a new style for Elvis, who gives it his personal style, as always.
– “A Little Less Conversation” composed by Mac Davis & Billy Strange.
A song that gave Elvis a new musical vision in his artistic career and that coincided with the type of R&B material that Elvis wanted to record.
Although Elvis obviously didn’t have anything to prove, he always put in the effort, especially when there was someone new working with him, and in this case he wanted to impress all those great musicians he had just met.
Hal Blaine’s drums are worth mentioning, with that imposing and brutal beginning that he gives to the song, which already gives you a good dose of adrenaline to continue listening to the rest.
In 2001, the other version of this song recorded by Elvis on June 24, 1968 for the NBC program was included in the soundtrack of the film Ocean’s Eleven. And in 2002 it was remixed by Junkie XL, also based on the instrumental version of the 1968 version, for a Nike advertising campaign for the Football World Cup, reaching number one in the charts of more than 20 countries.
A song that, over the years, once again elevated Elvis to the top.
– “Almost in Love” by
Luiz Bonfá & Randy Starr.
A beautiful ballad with a certain Bossa Nova feel. A simple song, with a beautiful and soft voice by Elvis and a very good interpretation. It has a very pleasant and relaxing rhythm to listen to.
Finally, it is worth noting that in 2015 the FTD label made a very interesting release that included the alternative takes from the March recording sessions, which were unreleased until that date, making it a truly surprising release after so many years.
So, a soundtrack without great pretensions, but in my opinion, impeccable, both on the part of Elvis, the musicians and the musical direction. Well crafted and very current for its time, from which came songs like “A Little Less Conversation”, which over time would bring Elvis’ name and music back to the top.
Information provided by Rosa García Mora https://www.facebook.com/rosa.garciamora.12
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