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Tryin' to Get to You |
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Written by: Rose Marie McCoy, Charles Singleton Recorded: Jul 11, 1955, Sun Studio, Memphis Take number of released master is unknown. Single:w/ "I Love You Because", 47-6639, August 1956 Also released on RCA, 78rpm, 20-6639, August 1956 Also re-released as Gold Standard Series, 447-0612, September 30, 1958 Also re-released as Collectables DPE1-1005 4505, December 1986. Highest U.S. Charts Positions: Single didn't chart 1st LP release: Elvis Presley - March 23, 1956 |
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| The first version of "Tryin' to Get to You" was by The Eagles (no, not those Eagles, the '50s R&B Eagles). Their version opens with a similar boogie woogie riff to the one used in The Drifters' version (and Elvis') of "White Christmas", which works well with this tune, and the vocal harmonies are great! |
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Although recorded during Elvis' time with Sam Phillips at Sun Records, "Tryin' to Get to You" wasn't released until he moved to RCA Victor, when it showed up on his first album. Elvis made an initial unsuccessful attempt at the song in February of 1955, but Sam apparently wasn't satisfied with it. Another try in July was better, and may have been set aside as a possible single, but the deal with RCA came and it was handed over as one of the unreleased tapes. This version has a barely audible piano part that may have been Elvis himself. A straight-forward mid-tempo country outing until Elvis gets to the bridge and shouts out the line "When I read your lovin' letter..." and then the rockabilly Elvis kicks in. Still it's not really outside the boundaries of a country song, but it's got the fire! He put even more fire into his version 13 years later at the taping of his Comeback Special! During the informal "sit-down" portion of the show, he and the boys dug this one out and Elvis goes at it full blast on that bridge! |
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| Meanwhile, back in the late 1950s when a teenage Paul McCartney was still cutting his teeth trying to write his own songs, he drew heavily on this one when he composed what turned out to be the first recording by the Quarrymen, "In Spite Of All The Danger". McCartney himself wouldn't come right out and admit that it was this particular song, but he said it was based on an Elvis tune, and a few Beatles experts have honed in on "Tryin' To Get To You" as the probable inspiration. It's certainly not a direct copy of the melody or anything, but you can hear the similarity. (Read more at the Beatles Bible site.) |
Other Spins(What did the critics and fans say?)Elvis' version, like his other Sun tunes, was unique: a hiccoughing, yodelling gem, with verses dragged out and twisted to suit his style and Scotty and Bill on top of every note. Elvis' country roots are also evident in this romantic ballad, as well as his incredible vocal dynamics when he curls his voice low in the refrains. Martin Torgoff  , The Complete Elvis, 1982 Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for Tryin' to Get to You Check out other opinions at Rate Your Music "Tryin' to Get to You" Links
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I've been traveling over mountains Even through the valleys, too I've been traveling night and day I've been running all the way Baby, trying to get to you. Ever since I read your letter Where you said you loved me true I've been traveling night and day I've been running all the way baby, trying to get to you When I read your loving letter Then my heart began to sing There were many miles between us, But they didn't mean a thing. I just had to reach you, baby, In spite of all that I've been through. I kept traveling night and day, I kept running all the way, Baby, trying to get to you. Well if I had to do it over That's exactly what I'd do, I would travel night and day, And I'd still run all the way, Baby, trying to get to you. Well, there's nothing that could hold me Or that could keep me away from you When your loving letter told me That you really loved me true Lord above me knows I love you, It was He who brought me through, When my way was dark as night, He would shine His brightest light, When I was trying to get to you. |
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