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Charro |
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Written by: Billy Strange, Mac Davis Recorded: October 15, 1968 (Instrument track), November 25-27, 1968 (Elvis' vocal overdub), Samuel Goldwyn Studio, Hollywood Released master is a splice of takes 5 and 9 Single:w/ "Memories", 47-9731, March, 1969 Also re-released as Gold Standard Series, 447-0669, December 1970 Highest U.S. Charts Positions: Didn't chart 1st LP release: Almost In Love - October 1, 1970 |
Click to download or buy "Charro!" now from Amazon!  or download from iTunes: For other versions, see Lyrics and Downloads section below. |
| Elvis tried his hand at a Clint Eastwood style western toward the end of his film career and, to me, it doesn't quite make it. The title song works, though. Maybe over-the-top for some tastes and certainly not a typical Elvis tune, but arranger Hugo Montenegro gives it the full western treatment, and Elvis' voice suits the melodrama just fine! |
Other Spins(What did the critics and fans say?)"The title song, heard over the credits, is unusual and dramatic, with a big orchestral backing used sparingly by the arranger, Hugo Montenegro, whose use of strings, piano and horns in the early part, is striking. Montenegro was then enjoying an international hit with his theme from the Clint Eastwood film, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. But 'Charro', for all its qualities, feeds on the more commonplace characteristics of the earlier tune. It is an unusual song which gives a tantalizing glimpse of Presley's feel for the big dramatic ballad, something largely denied him up to this time." Robert Matthew-Walker, Elvis Presley: A Study in Music, 1979 "...The final Billy Strange composition on this album is the theme to Elvis's final attempt at a serious Western, and earns kudos by being produced and arranged by none other than Hugo Montenegro. 'Charro' is dramatic and well orchestrated in a way that almost takes it into Scott Walker territory, but it might have been better sung by Scott himself; Elvis doesn't sound entirely comfortable with the material." --from a must-read review of the album, Almost In Love, by contributor "flashbackcaruso" Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for Charro Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the For Elvis CD Collectors page for Charro "Charro" Links
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With eyes that hide the man within You see behind the eyes of other men You've lived and died and come to life again And now you stand alone at the crossroads of your mind You've left your yesterdays behind But which road leads you to tomorrow? Charro You've turned your back on yesterday Betrayed a man who swore he'd make you pay For when you left you took his pride away You know he'll never let you break away so easily You'll have to fight before you're free But how much more time can you borrow? Charro Now in a single moment your past grows dim One thought goes racing across your mind You ride to meet the woman you stole from him Oh no!...Charro don't go! Charro don't go!! There's something hanging, in the wind Your past is catching up and closing in You've been halfway to hell and back again And now you laugh in the devil's face with your last breath You'll run a race with life and death But will you live to see tomorrow? Charro! |
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