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Steamroller Blues |
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Written by: James Taylor Recorded: January 15, 1973, live at the International Convention Center Arena, Honolulu Single:w/ "Fool", 74-0910, March 4, 1973 Also released on Gold Standard Series, w/ "Burning Love", GB-10156, March 1975 Highest U.S. Charts Positions: #17 on Billboard's Hot 100 #10 on Cash Box Top 100 #31 on Billboard's Country chart 1st LP release: Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite - February 4, 1973 |
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One of the highlights of the Aloha concert, "Steamroller Blues" is a James Taylor blues tune that Elvis can really sink his teeth into. Taylor's original seems to be more of a novelty, a hip folk-rocker's angle on a slow blues tune with clever lyrics about how he's gonna roll all over you with his love, baby. :) It's a fun diversion and Taylor's ending is classic (and NOT something Elvis would've done except in private, I'm sure!) Elvis takes it in another direction, though, and with the full band and orchestra, it ends up pretty far away from Taylor's intentions. Starting off in a low, almost mumbling voice, with Joe Guercio's orchestra adding that trombone between the lines (an odd but effective touch!). Then after James Burton's blistering guitar solo, Elvis notches up an octave to deliver the final two verses in a full shout. Guercio's brass may not be every blues fan's cup o' tea, but it certainly adds a blaring punch. The end result is a classic '70s live performance from Elvis and the band! |
Other Spins(What did the critics and fans say?)"Steamroller Blues" is very much in Presley's blood, but although he receives a fine accompaniment, it is too fast. Robert Matthew-Walker, Elvis Presley: A Study in Music, 1979 Elvis fell in love with this one as soon as his stepbrothers played it for him - he ate it up like a starving man, and it shows: he chews on the sly lyrics. With an outburst of brass and James Burton cooking on guitar. Martin Torgoff  , The Complete Elvis, 1982 Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for Steamroller Blues Check out other opinions at Rate Your Music "Steamroller Blues" Links
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I'm a steamroller baby I'm 'bout to roll all over you I'm a steamroller baby I'm 'bout to roll all over you I'm gonna inject your soul With sweet rock'n'roll And shoot you full of rhythm and blues I'm a cement mixer A churning urn of burning funk I'm a cement mixer A churning urn of burning funk I'm a demolition derby A hefty hunk of steaming junk I'm a steamroller baby I'm 'bout to roll over you I'm a steamroller baby I'm 'bout to roll over you I'm gonna inject your soul With some sweet rock'n'roll And shoot you full of rhythm and blues I'm a napalm-bomb Guaranteed to blow your mind I'm a napalm-bomb Guaranteed to blow your mind If I can't have your love now baby There won't be nothing left behind |
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