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37 minutes of pure nostalgia-coated music. Great stuff. Probably the best Presley tribute I've ever heard. If you consider yourself a Presley fan, you owe it to yourself to get this one, released to mark the 30th anniversary of The King's death. Back-up by the Jordanaires. Plus some BBC Radio programmes marking the 30th anniversary.
Tracks:
01. A Mess of Blues
02. I Beg of You
03. Don't Leave Me Now
04. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
05. Peace In the Valley
06. Don't Be Cruel
07. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
08. My Baby Left Me
09. Too Much
10. Love Me
11. Trying To Get To You
12. (You re So Square) Baby I Don't Care
13. It's Now Or Never
14. It Feels So Right
15. Young and Beautiful




It's the black-leather Elvis--the one who breathed sex and fire into early rock & roll--that singer Robert Gordon and guitarist Chris Spedding memorialize in this 15-song tribute that marks the 30th anniversary of the King's death on August 16, 1977. Gordon is America's preeminent rockabilly singer. At age 60 he still has the flexible, swaggering baritone to negotiate Elvis's swooping style of phrasing as he romps through smashes like "Don't Be Cruel" or croons tender ballads like "Love Me." His knowledge of the Presley catalog runs deep, too, which means there's more obscurities like "Young and Beautiful," from the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack, than predictable hits. This set also reunites Gordon with British roots rock guitar maven Spedding after a 13-year break from their partnership. Although Gordon's production takes an almost Biblical approach, Spedding manages to deploy a cutting slap-back tone on the brisk blues "My Baby Left Me" and "Too Much" that give those tunes plenty of edge. And he lets his strings sing sweetly on opener "A Mess of Blues." The real sugar, though, comes from the Jordanaires--the very same vocal quartet that harmonized behind Presley starting with his first RCA sessions in 1956. More than a half-century later, they apply aural icing to these songs with unmistakable originality.
Ted Drozdowski


Robert Gordon was one of the few major rockabilly revivalists who came on the scene before Elvis Presley died, albeit by a slim margin -- Elvis passed only four months after Gordon's first album was released in April 1977 -- and while Gordon rarely seemed to be emulating Presley in his glory days, the King was clearly a major influence on him, both as the man who disseminated the hepcat ethos to the world at large, and as a gifted singer whose talent went beyond the strict confines of the rockabilly genre into pop, rhythm & blues and gospel. On It's Now or Never (once announced for release under the title "The King and I"), Gordon teams with one of his best instrumental sidekicks, guitarist Chris Spedding, and records 15 songs made famous by Elvis Presley with the Jordanaires, the vocal group that backed up Elvis on many of his RCA sessions, adding harmonies on several tunes. While Spedding follows the teachings of Scotty Moore in his guitar work and the rhythm section similarly aims for a sound that recalls what Presley did with these songs so many years ago, Gordon strives hard to give his recordings a personality of their own, and while Elvis casts a pretty long shadow over this disc, Gordon actually manages to sound like himself on It's Now or Never. It helps that he has a lower voice than Presley, and that his instrument doesn't seem capable of the same gymnastics as Elvis', which forces him to rethink the vocal lines a bit, but there's an undertow to this album that suggests Gordon respects this music too much to simply imitate Elvis. While Gordon brings the same sort of romantic brio to "It's Now or Never," conjures up a similar lovelorn passion on "Trying to Get to You" and even approaches the spiritual conviction of "Peace in the Valley," he finds a way to spin them his own way, and if he isn't the most original sounding vocalist in creation here, he approaches some of the best known songs in the rock & roll canon and interprets them on his own terms, no small task for any singer, and he does so with a healthy dose of heart and soul. Against all odds, It's Now or Never ranks with Gordon's best work since his heyday in the '80s, and finds him singing with strength, confidence and imagination, partly because he's rarely had material this good: maybe he should consider an Eddie Cochran or Buddy Holly homage sometime in the future.
Review by Mark Deming


It seems like an eternity ago now, but it was only thirty years, when this beanpole guy with a great voice put out an album of rockabilly music. It was so bare bones that if not for the fact it had a full drum kit in play, the album could have been easily recorded on a four track recorder and the sound quality would have been fine.
Robert Gordon accompanied by the late great Link Wray on guitar came out of nowhere to remind the world where Rock and Roll came from. They put out two great albums, Robert Gordon With Link Wray and Fresh Fish Special. "Red Hot", the single from the first album, was actually released in and around when Elvis Presley died, which made the song take off like a rocket.
Comparisons between Elvis and Robert were probably inevitable due to the coincidental timing of the first album's release and their similarities in vocal ranges and musical styles. Robert never denied that as a youngster Elvis' music had been a big influence on him, but none of his tunes would ever be confused with Elvis' music. They were harder edged with an undeniable punk influence in sound and attitude.
Link and Robert only lasted two albums together, mainly because the label that put out Fresh Fish Special went under leaving them high and dry. So his third album didn't come out until 1979 on RCA. Rock Billy Boogie was the first recording that Robert made with guitarist Chris Spedding and it had four songs on it that broke the top 100.
Now for the first time in twenty years, and more importantly thirty years since the death of Elvis, Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding have joined forces again for the release of It's Now Or Never on the RYKO label. The thirty-year anniversary is significant because every track on this disc was recorded by Elvis at one time or another during his career.
Since they are accompanied by Elvis' former backup singers, The Jordanaires, one could be excused for thinking that this is some sort of Elvis impersonator's album. Well you couldn't be further from the truth. If you haven't heard Elvis in a long time, than you might think that Robert sounds like him, but in reality it's only the style of the music and the fact they both are baritones.
At worst this is a tribute album, but in reality its interpretations of some of the classic rockabilly and country blues songs that were recorded by Elvis during his hay day. Looking over the track list there's only one song that Elvis even gets a writing credit for, "Don't Be Cruel" and only three others that he even held the rights to. Remember Elvis' first big hit "Hound Dog" was written by Big Mama Thornton, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that most of the songs that we associate with him were written by other people..
Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding have recorded the fifteen songs on It's Now Or Never as pure undiluted rockabilly without any of the augmentations or concessions to modern audiences that groups like the Stray Cats used to do in the early eighties during the so called rockabilly revival. These songs sound like they could have been recorded at the old Sun Records studio in downtown Memphis back in the 1950's they are so pure and authentic.
You can't fake the sincerity in the voice of Robert Gordon when he sings any of the songs on this disc. Even something as potentially cloying as the old country gospel tune "Peace In The Valley" works because he so obviously means what he sings. He still has wonderful control over his voice, as he's able to dip down into the baritone on "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" and reach up high when needed on "It's Now Or Never".
What's truly amazing to me when it comes to his singing is how melodious his voice still is. He's been singing for close to forty years now and there's nothing to suggest that his voice has suffered any damage at all. He never sounds like he's straining for a high note or volume. If at the start of the record you had thoughts that he was trying to imitate Elvis, by the time the disc ends you've completely forgotten about Elvis and are only thinking about Robert Gordon's voice.
I can't think of any other guitar player who would compliment Robert Gordon in this type of music better than Chris Spedding. Not only is he an amazing rhythm guitar player when it comes to this style of music, but he is a totally unselfish lead player. His rockabilly leads are incredible, with each note sounding out individually and echoing a time when guitar leads weren't about speed but what you could make a note say.
When the voice of Robert Gordon is joined with the voice of Chris Spedding's guitar and they are backed up the Jordanaires it is to hear what made Elvis and rockabilly so special. People of my generation really only saw Elvis when he had become the parody of himself doing those horrible shows in Las Vegas. Thanks to It's Now Or Never we have a real opportunity to appreciate the music and understand a little better why people would refer to Elvis as the King.
If he sang anything like Robert Gordon does now, then he must have been something wondrous to behold.
Richard Marcus


"It's now or never" is a tribute to Elvis on the thirtieth anniversary of his death. The album is a collection of Elvis songs from the king's rockabilly period. Some of them were hits, but many were not. The ones you recognize are wonderful and the ones you don't are equally good. Elvis had some great music that was not released for radio airplay.
The real kicker for me was that Gordon and Spedding used The Jordanaires, Elvis' backup singers for much of his career, as the backup singers for this tribute album. What great singers they were.and are. They add a touch of original seasoning to the music and give it a feel of authenticity that the recording may lack without them.
The arrangements seem to be almost exactly the same as the original recordings with the exception of Spedding's guitar work being featured a little more in the mix. Other than that, you'd think that Gordon had just recorded over the original tracks that had been enhanced to todays audio quality. I guess I am saying that this is what the original band would have sounded like had they recorded last year. Spedding still has some nice smooth chops and lays down an elegant backdrop for Gordon's vocals. Oh, about Gordon's vocals.
Robert Gordon will not be mistaken for Elvis Presley. He has a deeper voice and he does not use the inflections that Elvis used when singing. But, he makes the songs his own and could easily fool you if you simply heard the music in a store or weren't paying close attention. I was surprised at how well his voice had held up after all these years. It was clean and pure and he could hit the notes solidly without sliding into them. He is as good as he has ever been, and that is pretty damned good if you ask me.
If you are looking for an Elvis impersonator, don't get this album. If you are looking for a man that respects the early days of the king and works his tool to pay a beautiful homage to Elvis, then this is a must own. I have played it five times since I got it two days ago. My wife asked if it was Elvis and I just chuckled. It does sound like his stuff and the Jordanaires just sweeten the presentation to the next level. And that is the level of most excellent, daddy-o.


Have you heard the news! There's good rockin' tonight and it's coming from the return of Rockabilly legends Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding. Vocalist Gordon and guitarist Spedding pay tribute to Elvis Presley with their new release, It's Now Or Never. These gentlemen are joined by the King's backing vocalists The Jordanaires on fifteen tracks that range from the well known to the obscure. The CD is perfectly timed to hit shelves on the thirty-year anniversary of Elvis' passing,
These two first teamed up when Spedding became guitarist for Gordon's backing band The WildCats by replacing guitar hero/master Link Wray. Producing some good albums and ripping live venues apart, these kats scored with a cover of the classic "Red Hot" and Bruce Springsteen's gift to Gordon, "Fire." After spending twenty years apart, the voice and the guitar tear it up again with this collection of tunes first made popular by "the hillbilly kat," Mr. Elvis Presley.
From reeling and rockin' to slow and low Gordon has chosen tracks that represent the power and emotion that Elvis could convey when he wasn't singing about crap such as clam bakes or luaus. Gordon's vocals are as strong as ever on ballads where he pleads "Don't Leave Me Now," "Love Me," and the swinging title track "It's Now Or Never." On the latter Gordon shows off the power in his baritone voice as The Jordanaires recreate their smooth group harmony behind him. Gordon's voice is reminiscent of Elvis' but is deeper and more gruff, giving him a sound all his own.
Spedding begins to cut his way and be heard on some of the King's bluesy sides, turning tunes like "A Mess Of Blues," "Trying To Get to You," and "It Feels So Right" into grittier, mean-sounding gems from an after-hour's juke joint. The original session guitarist had the vibe but its Spedding's talent and feelings pushing these songs further, reminding us that with the right guitar slinger these songs are street level, greasy blues tunes.
The two rockabilly titans are strongest on the up-tempo numbers. It's here that Spedding swings his ax with a style that adds to the original arrangements while showcasing Gordon's fierce vocals. Songs like "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," and "Too Much" are given new life and jump just as much as the previous versions. "My Baby Left Me" hits hard and fast, leaving you asking for more, which our heroes gladly supply by tackling one of the holiest of Elvis' tunes, "Don't Be Cruel." Many consider this song untouchable and would rather it be left alone, but bravely they step and rock it almost as well as the King himself. Gordon's mature vocals conjure up images of an older Elvis performing in his '68 comeback prime as Spedding gives the tune more of a country slant.The track that pulls it all together is "I Beg Of You." Gordon asserts himself as an older, wiser vocalist. Spedding's picking and strumming jives well with The Jordanaires whose peppy backing chores shine as bright as one of the King's pinky rings. And no true Elvis tribute can be complete with out the spiritual that the King loved so much, "Peace In The Valley;" which is given a fine treatment by this talented group of performers.
In It's Now Or Never you'll get a fresh take on a few Elvis tunes that jump and swing with a life of their own. The rockabilly world is thankful that Gordon ditched his punk band the Tuff Darts to pursue his love of 1950s rock 'n' roll. He carried the torch for music that might have died with Elvis.
There are plenty of good rockabilly bands making the scene now but Gordon hit at a time when this brand of rock was at a low point. Elvis himself shied away from it at the end of his career, focusing more on being a jumpsuit-wearing entertainer. Gordon appeared and stripped this music back to its roots and drawing from the energy of his punk rock beginnings was able to breathe fire and attitude back into the rebellious music known as Rockabilly, the punk rock of the 1950s. So it's now or never, ghoulies. Enjoy the coming month because it's not often that Elvis and rockabilly will be celebrated as much as it will be this August.


PLUS:

A few BBC Radio programmes marking the 30th anniversary of EP's death

Elvis & Me - Presented by Suzi Quatro.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley on 16 August, this programme features a selection of people talking about their memories of Elvis.
Presenter Suzi Quatro describes herself as Elvis' Number One fan, although many would challenge her for that title! She has written a still unreleased tribute song called 'Singing With Angels', which she recorded with James Burton (Elvis' guitar player in the 1970s) and the Jordanaires, who provided backing vocals on so many of his records.
In addition to Elvis admirers Robert Plant, Tim Rice and Cliff Richard, there are stories and reflections from those who worked with him such as James Burton, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller and Ray Walker of the Jordanaires. Plus songwriter Jimmy Webb talks about his song 'Elvis And Me' and its inspiration.
The programme will cover Elvis' whole career - from the life-changing impact of his early records through to his Las Vegas live spectaculars of the seventies.



Elvis - The '68 Comeback Special

The amazing impact and legacy of a TV special which Elvis filmed for NBC in 1968.
This one hour documentary explores the amazing impact and legacy of a TV special filmed for NBC called 'Elvis', now better know as Elvis's '68 Comeback special'.
Elvis' stands as one of the great television moments in rock music history and a stunningly brilliant milestone in Elvis Presley's career. Elvis rocked the world in the 1950s, a leader among musicians who brought about a revolution in music and pop culture. Through most of the 1960s he concentrated mainly on his movie career, which was very successful, but had become a grind and had not given him many opportunities to prove himself as a serious actor.
By 1968, it had been more than seven years since Elvis had appeared on stage in front of a live audience. In this television special, Elvis played his greatest role - simply being himself.



Don't Start me Talking - about Elvis

Elvis Presley died 30 years ago, and this programme gives his UK fans an opportunity to share their memories of the night that he died, and to reflect about what Elvis means to them.
Told entirely in the words of the general public, and by turns revealing, moving and funny, the programme is a unique slice of British social history. The mix of first hand testimony, news archive and Elvis music presents a compelling tapestry of events around those days in August 1977, compelling for those who were there and enlightening for those who know the time only second-hand.
And in addition, it's the story of Elvis fandom in the UK. Presley never came to Britain, so we'll meet from the woman who travelled to see him play in America over 40 times. We'll learn about his uncanny ability to mimic a North Staffordshire accent, and what it's like to be kissed by the King! We'll hear about the parents who wouldn't allow Presley records in the house and from the young fan who was converted after finding Elvis singles in his mother's record box. And what happens if you're a fan of the King married to a non-believer? (Hint: not good.)
Don't Start Me Talking. is BBC Radio 2's acclaimed oral history series, telling the stories of pop music through the voices of the fans.


Each programme is in a single MP3 file, about 57 min. in duration, recorded from BBC Radio 2 at 64kbps.

PLUS:

To mark the 30th anniversary of Elvis' passing McLean's Country on BBC Radio Ulster pays tribute to the country roots of The King in the company of Elvis' guitarist James Burton, DJ Tony Prince and Jim Meredith.
The King Of Rock he may have been but Elvis was always a country boy at heart. Join Ralph McLean and Jim Meredith for a two hour celebration of the King's country roots on McLean's Country. From the man's personal favourite country songs to his greatest C&W performances and some great cover versions this is a timely tribute to a true original on the 30th anniversary of his passing.


51.3 MB @ 64 kbps, 114 min.


Thanks, once again, to crackpot, from whom I got the RG files.