TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Latest Episodes:

TCBCast 139: Heartbreak Hotel Movie Review Pt. 1 feat. Hugh McKenna Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Justin & Gurdip are joined by movie buff and longtime listener of the show Hugh McKenna to review the 1988 film "Heartbreak Hotel." Written & Directed by Chris Columbus, who was right between two massive hits, Adventures in Babysitting and Home Alone, and with shades of John Hughes teen comedies and Back to the Future all over it, this flop of an Elvis flick should be right up our alley... yet over the years it still has a lot of fans for its fantastical yet oddly domestic spin on the Presley myth. Join us down at the cinema down at the end of lonely street to see if it's perhaps been misjudged - and check back in next week for Part 2 and Songs of the Week!

TCBCast 138: Our Least Favorite Elvis Songs (Again) Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

After nearly a year and a half, Gurdip & Justin return to an early TCBCast topic to discuss some of the Elvis tracks that don't quite inspire them. Gurdip gets Justin riled up picking one of Justin's country favorites, while Justin not only backpedals hard on his previously even-handed thoughts on a glacially slow 50s ballad off Elvis' second album, but also very nearly retracts his position on "Golden Coins" from the first time around! Then, for Song of the Week, Elvis teaches us how to "Do the Vega" in Justin's pick, while Gurdip distracts himself from colder weather by dreaming of having "Fun in Acapulco."

Feature Songs of the Week:

Gurdip: Fun in Acapulco Justin: Do The Vega

TCBCast 137: Elvis or Treat! Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

To celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, Gurdip & Justin meet up at a haunted mansion to explore novelty recordings from throughout Elvis' lifetime, including several with Elvis connections. Just before Song of the Week, something wicked this way comes... and gets Justin!

Gurdip reminds us to "Never Say Yes" to those who write off the Spinoff soundtrack, while Justin the Friendly Ghost comes back down to this plane to sing the praises of "Working on the Building," the classic gospel tune Elvis cut for his 1960 album "His Hand in Mine."

TCBCast 136: Isle of Paradise (Tickle Me Review Part 2) Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

Just ahead of Halloween, Gurdip, Ryan and Justin wrap their review of the spookiest film in Elvis' movie oeuvre: 1965's "Tickle Me." With the back half of the film set in a haunted hotel aesthetically ripped right out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon, the guys finally settle on where this slightly outdated movie rests in Elvis' filmography before diving into their Songs of the Week.

Apropos for the review of a movie about Elvis surrounded by women, Ryan selects the title track of "Girls! Girls! Girls." In a bizarre coincidence, Gurdip ALSO selects a song from that same 1962 film, "We're Coming in Loaded." Finally, Justin highlights the interesting backstory behind a rarely heard studio snippet of Elvis singing the Chips Moman-penned "This Time."

TCBCast 135: Cowboy Melodie (Tickle Me Review Part 1) Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

Ryan Droste is back this week to join Gurdip & Justin in reviewing the 1965 musical film "Tickle Me." Notable for its extremely low budget and reused Elvis recordings, the film still had some comedy pedigree, with a script penned by writers known for working with The Three Stooges.

Do the film's "far out" zany antics still hold up in 2020? What do the guys make of the recycled soundtrack? All this and more on this week's TCBCast - plus, trivia returns again for another week, all questions related to the making of this film! Song of the Week will return in next week's Part 2 of the Tickle Me review.

TCBCast 134: Mac Davis Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

Justin & Gurdip reflect this week on the life and songs of singer-songwriter Mac Davis. For Song of the Week, they decide to pay tribute to Mac by selecting two of the biggest songs he wrote for Elvis. Justin selects "In The Ghetto," the plea against indifference toward the cycle of poverty, crime and systemic racism that unfortunately remains potently relevant. Gurdip, on the other hand, selects the syrupy-sweet ballad "Memories," which conjures up poetic reflections on a life well lived. Rest in peace, Mac.

Featured Songs of the Week:

Justin: In the Ghetto

Gurdip: Memories

TCBCast 133: Elvis' Worst Album? Raised on Rock Review Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

TCBCast listeners know that Gurdip has few good words for Elvis' 1973 album "Raised on Rock" due to an inexplicable title track and the universally derided "Three Corn Patches," but can Justin make a case for the rest of the album?

And what were the implications of the album's commercial and creative disappointments for Elvis' career going forward? Was it genuinely a low point, or just a misfire? All that and more in this episode - plus, some excellent listener emails!

Gurdip selects Elvis' cover of The Spiders' R&B hit "Witchcraft" as his Song of the Week, and after all this, all Justin needs is the rain, selecting a bluesy country track from the 1968 film "Stay Away Joe"

TCBCast 132: The Most Goosebump Inducing Performances Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Justin & Gurdip spend the whole episode gushing over the very best of Elvis' performances - whether live, in the studio, or in the films - that have wowed them or evoked strong reactions from them. From fun rockers like "Ready Teddy" to inspirational and moving tracks like "If I Can Dream," sometimes it's just celebrate why we love listening to an artist's incredible music.

Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip highlights the elegant ballad "Anything That's Part of You." Justin, meanwhile, goes in a complete 180 and picks a comedy number that even Elvis' recording company has never acknowledged as an official track - but Justin's gonna make a case for it!

Featured Songs of the Week:

Justin: Range Round-Up

Gurdip: Anything That's Part of You

TCBCast 131: Devil in Disguise - Billboard R&B, August 24, 1963 Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Professor Ladhar's class returns after a long summer vacation for a look at the chart where Elvis' last Top 10 R&B hit peaked. The Beatles haven't quiet yet came to the US, Motown is beginning to take hold, and things are about the change... but for the moment, Elvis is in good company alongside all-time great female vocalists like Doris Troy and Martha & the Vandellas, as well as icons such as Brook Benton and Marvin Gaye.

Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip continues his R&B kick with the 1960 blues number "Like A Baby," while Justin highlights "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind", the only studio cut Elvis made written by the "Jewish Elvis" himself, Neil Diamond!

Featured Songs of the Week:

Gurdip: Like A Baby

Justin: And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind

TCBCast 130: Hunka Hunka Bill and Ted Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

EXCELLENT! Justin & Gurdip hop in their phone booth and travel back to 1992, the year that "Hunka Hunka Bill & Ted," an episode featuring Elvis from the short-lived Bill & Ted live action TV series aired. As the review goes on, Justin discovers to his surprise that his child-of-the-80s cohost has little love for Wyld Stallions! Bogus!!!

Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip takes us "Down in the Alley" for Elvis' down and dirty cover of The Clovers classic, while Justin could listen to Sam Cooke's earworm "Good Times" all night long... and all night. And all niiiiight. And all night. All night long.

Featured Songs of the Week:

Justin: Good Times (Sam Cooke)

Gurdip: Down in the Alley

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