MY APOLOGIES, I AM LATE (STILL) with the promised set of articles on the Gold Standard Series of Elvis records. And a second, more controversial article offers a revealing look at a highly sought-after collectable with a dubious pedigree. I am still working on technical aspects of my blogs and still have obstacles in the path of having them up-to-date and running quickly and smoothly. So, here is a little piece just to fill the time up between major posts.
Once again, it’s my answer to a question on Quora. The question is “Why do many people think Elvis did Crazy Little Thing Called Love?” Although my answer has two parts, it’s rather brief and can be found between the two horizontal lines below:
1. I liked Crazy Little Thing Called Love the first time I heard it in 1979. It remains one of my favorite Queen records.
2. I can’t imagine anyone who is really familiar with Elvis Presley’s music thinking that Freddie Mercury sounds remotely like Elvis. He does capture some of the spirit of ol’ Swivel Hips, though.
That’s it—those two numbered lines constitute my entire answer.
I had the damndest time settling on a title for this piece. I wanted it to be humorous but everything I came up could have sounded condescending towards Freddie Mercury or his fans or even Elvis! (For example, “Don’t Freddie Do Ol’ Elvis Right Proud On Crazy Little Thing Called Love”?)
The title I settled on doesn’t have the pop or pizazz that I wanted.
But it’ll do.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love was included on Queen’s album THE GAME. The cover of that album featured a black and white photo of the group taken during the session for the video they made for MTV. The photo has an intentionally blurred look—an almost amateurish look.
Elvis left his jumpsuit at Freddie’s
Most of the answers to the question tend to be on the opposite side of the position I took (and I assume they are from younger people). More in line with my attitude but much more clever and entertaining was this answer left by Tim Boomsma:
“Elvis left his white sequined jumpsuit at Freddie Mercury’s house one night. Once Freddie put it on, his voice got deeper, making him sound a little more Elvis-like.”
To read Tim’s answer and those of others in their entirety, click here.
To see the Queen video of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, click here.
To see Dwight Yoakam also do the song as an Elvis tribute, click here.
To hear a good if uncredited Elvis soundalike singer do the song, click here. (And he is one of the better Elvis tribute artists that I have heard, sounding and even feeling natural while most soundalikes sound forced.)
There are also other Elvis impersonators doing Crazy Little Thing Called Love on YouTube, including a “duet” between Freddy and Elvis. There are also several videos of Queen performing the song live through the years.
Finally, Queen incorporated a three-song medley of Elvis’ (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care with Ricky Nelson’s Hello Mary Lou and Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti. This can be found on the LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM album. To hear it on YouTube, click here.
Mystically liberal Virgo enjoys long walks alone in the city at night in the rain with an umbrella and a flask of 10-year-old Laphroaig who strives to live by the maxim, “It ain’t what you know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you know that just ain’t so.
I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn, and a college dropout (twice!). Occupationally, I have been a bartender, jewelry engraver, bouncer, landscape artist, and FEMA crew chief following the Great Flood of ’72 (and that was a job that I should never, ever have left).
I am also the final author of the original O’Sullivan Woodside price guides for record collectors and the original author of the Goldmine price guides for record collectors. As such, I was often referred to as the Price Guide Guru, and—as everyone should know—it behooves one to heed the words of a guru. (Unless, of course, you’re the Beatles.)
I too have always liked this Queen song. The music itself does capture the “spirit” of the King’s musical sound from the ’50s without actually sounding anything like him but it is a great piece. I have to say here though that I am not Queen’s biggest fan: I hate “Bohemian Rhapsody” with a passion akin to my feelings for Lennon’s “Imagine” and Elvis’s “Old MacDonald.”
D
Thanks for the comment!
I have admired “Bohemian Rhapsody” from the first time I hear it 45 years ago. I tend to like most of Queen’s singles but am not as big a fan of their albums.
I have always thought “Imagine” overrated and overplayed but still a lovely recording. Mentioning it in the same breath as ...
... Elvis’s “Old Macdonald” seems harsh, indeed.
Oh, well, to own his each, right?
Keep on keepin’ on!
N
Hi Neal,
Hope you are well and staying healthy.
I also liked “CLTCL” the first time I heard.
Looking forward to reading your post about the Gold Standard Series.
Take Care,
Bob
B
Thanks for the comment.
My favorite use of a Queen song in a movie is A KNIGHT’S TALE with Heath Ledger. If you haven’t seen it, consider adding it to your must-see list.
The Gold Standard Series project at this time consists of 11 articles.
Keep on keepin’ on!
N
I am also a collector of gold standard series. I may be able to contribute to your study of this category.
MICHAEL
Thanks for the offer.
I have sent a message to your rmail address.
Hoping to hear rom you.
NAL
Why don’t you just cite Freddy doing You’re So Square, an Elvis song? Queen did that song often in concert and there are recordings of it.
VJ
Done.
N