TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Latest Episodes:

TCBCast 195: The Value of Elvis's Movie Career feat. Rabia Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

Justin is joined by special guest Rabia for a broad discussion and re-assessment of Elvis's time in Hollywood. They cover some of Elvis's best and most underwhelming performances, memorable costars, scenes and songs, insights on history and cultural changes be mined from the films and their crews, and how to contend with acknowledging the elephant in the room that is 1968's "Stay Away, Joe." (Spoilers: there's no easy or comfortable way.)

For Song of the Week, Rabia selects Elvis's lengthy 1971 covers of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" as well as discussing her experience of seeing Dylan himself perform it live. Justin follows up by trying to make a case for "Goin' Home," the song Elvis once described as "the worst f**king song I've ever heard in my life," recorded for but cut from "Stay Away Joe" then relegated to the "Speedway" soundtrack.

TCBCast 194: Elvis's Vocal Evolution (1953-1963) feat. Bec Wyles Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

For this month's Patreon-picked topic, Justin ropes Bec back in for a relaxed, loosely chronological listen to Elvis's progression as a vocal performer in his first decade of making recordings: from the thin-voiced teenager whose only real training consisted of timidly singing along with pop records, to the full-throated man who works himself up to the semi-operatic final notes of "Surrender," and everywhere in between. Also given a spotlight are the importance of technology, experience, diverse musical influences and (maybe most significantly) time off on Elvis's development as a singer.

Then, for Song of the Week, Bec's going up, going down, and going where the patrons want her to roll covering the history behind "Baby What You Want Me To Do," the Jimmy Reed blues number Elvis pulled out multiple times during the making of the 1968 TV special. Justin closes out taking a closer listen to the dramatic "It's Easy For You," from Elvis's last album, Moody Blue, which was written expressly for Elvis by famed theatre songwriters Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to leave a positive review or mention our show to another like-minded music history and movie enthusiast.

TCBCast 193: Nashville '71 feat. Bec Wyles Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

Justin is joined this week by special guest co-host Bec Wyles! They talk a little bit about her history and perspective as an international Elvis fan, then jump right into the deep end with a look back at the Nashville 1971 sessions, as featured in the recently released "Back in Nashville" set by Sony Legacy. (We STRONGLY recommend picking up or listening to this collection on your platform of choice!)

These sessions resulted in Elvis's Grammy-award winning "He Touched Me" album, the perennial holiday favorite "The Wonderful World of Christmas," a substantial portion of the 1973 album "Elvis," and a number of singles. In context, the sessions also reveal Elvis hard at work on a folk/country album concept that never quite materialized.

Then, for Song of the Week, Bec dips back in the previous Nashville sessions from 1970 with Dallas Frazier & Doodle Owens's sweeping country belter "Where Did They Go, Lord?" Justin, with some pep and a double step, goes all in on "Plantation Rock," the infamous song deleted from 1962's "Girls! Girls! Girls!" - but is there more nuance to be uncovered behind its history than expected at face value?

Let us know what you think of Bec on the show!

A MINOR CORRECTION: "Plantation Rock" was first officially released on A Legendary Performer, Volume 4 in 1983. Thanks to Gurdip and Tony Plews for this correction.

And of course, if you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to leave a positive review or mention our show to another like-minded music history and movie enthusiast.

Blue Hawaii: 60th Anniversary - Blue Suede Reviews Film Analysis & Essay Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

On November 22, 1961, 60 years ago to the day from the release of this podcast, "Blue Hawaii" released into theatres. Its soundtrack album had already come out one month earlier and both were destined to become among the most commercially successful and well-loved of all narrative films and soundtracks featuring Elvis Presley.

On this very special 60th anniversary bonus, TCBCast listeners get to hear an example of an episode from Justin's revived video essay series "Blue Suede Reviews." Taking Elvis's cinematic career seriously while presenting with heart and humor, "BSR" thoroughly examines how each of Elvis's films were made, the creative teams and performers behind them, themes and ideas contained within that have been overlooked or written off, how each fit into both Elvis's filmography and career overall as well as a wider cultural context, and ultimately re-assessing through a contemporary lens.

New episodes of Blue Suede Reviews and hours of early access and bonus podcast episodes are available exclusively every single month to supporters at Patreon.com/TCBCast. If you enjoyed this review, please consider supporting, if you can. If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to share this special review with another Elvis film enthusiast who might enjoy it.

TCBCast 192: The Life and Music of Chuck Willis Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

This week, Justin and Gurdip are digging into the tragically short-lived life and career of R&B songwriter and singer Chuck Willis, whose "I Feel So Bad" and "See See Rider" wove in and out of Elvis's career. Also, initial reactions to the new Back in Nashville set and answering a listener email about the Jethro-Tull-esque flute part that dominates the 1968 version of "Don't Be Cruel."

Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip curls up with "There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car" from Fun in Acapulco, while Justin goes back to the country well and pulls out Elvis's softer cover of Eddy Arnold's "It's A Sin."

TCBCast Bonus - "TCB" Teaser Reaction Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

Director Baz Luhrmann has revealed the first initial glimpses of the new biographical film, apparently titled "TCB," set to be released on his social media accounts as part of his Elvis Monday series of posts, so Justin & Gurdip immediately hopped on a call as soon as possible to record initial reactions and speculations.

TCBCast 191: Golden Songs of the Week, Volume 9 Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

Due to a family emergency, Justin is out this week, so this episode brings you a collection of previous Songs of the Week, comprising almost two hours of dedicated Elvis song history, including: I'll Remember You, Runaway, I Don't Want To Be Tied, Inherit the Wind, Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me, Promised Land, Let It Be Me and I Need You So.

The guys will be back next week as usual but don't forget - Sony Legacy's 1971 set Back in Nashville drops this Friday, November 12, at retail and on digital distribution services! Expect reactions from us next week on the show and over the weekend on social media.

TCBCast 190: Elvis's Worst Album? Having Fun With Elvis On Stage Album Review Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

This week, as voted by TCBCast Patreon supporters, Justin and Gurdip are diving into the 1974 spoken word release "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage"... is it as bad as everyone has said or has it been misunderstood all these decades? (Spoiler alert: yeah... yeah, it's bad.)

For Song of the Week, the winning patron-poll songs both happen to be from the same 1970 session and same album, Elvis Country, with Gurdip tackling the underrated "I Really Don't Want to Know," originally by Eddy Arnold. Meanwhile, Justin reflects on how it's "Funny How Time Slips Away," while touching on various iterations including songwriter Willie Nelson, Al Green, and original by Billy Walker.

If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. In the month of October, we produced over 12 hours of both early access & exclusive content for our supporters. If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to leave a positive review or mention our show to another like-minded music history and movie enthusiast.

TCBCast 189: Top 5 Favorite Elvis Songs feat. Jaime Kay (aka The Jaime Kay and Gurdip-palooza) Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

Justin's out this week due to a scheduling hiccup, so Gurdip and his guest of choice Jaime Kay are content to just sit back and celebrate the fact that, hey, Elvis's music is REALLY good! They reflect on some of their all-time favorites, as well as personal memories of becoming Elvis fans through their family members.

No featured Songs of the Week this week due to the last minute schedule change. Special thanks to Jaime Kay for coming on the show this week!

TCBCast 188: Elvis on The Steve Allen Show/A Farewell to Ronnie Tutt Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

First up this week is a farewell to the heartbeat of the TCB Band: the incomparable Ronnie Tutt, who passed away this week.

Then, inspired by TCBCast Patreon supporters' recent topic suggestion covering The Milton Berle Show, Justin & Gurdip head right into Elvis' next TV appearance on The Steve Allen Show on July 1, 1956 (as well as briefly touch on his appearance on Hy Gardner Calling later that night.) In suit and tails, singing to a basset hound and later as "Tumbleweed Presley," the guys mull over whether it was really as bad as people have made it out to be in the intervening decades, including Elvis himself.

Then, for Song of the Week, Justin spotlights the highly overlooked "There Is No God But God" which was sourced from Ink Spots lead singer Bill Kenny. Gurdip, beyond all sense and reason, tries to make a case for "Hey Little Girl" from Harum Scarum. Justin tries harder than the song deserves to give it a fair reading based on his knowledge of how Elvis's films were constructed but still comes up short, despite Gurdip's insistence on liking it.

Featured Songs of the Week:

Justin: There Is No God But God

Gurdip: Hey Little Girl

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