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A Mess of Blues |
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Written by: Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman Recorded: March 21, 1960, RCA Nashville Studios Released master is take 5. Single: w/ "It's Now Or Never", 47-7777, July , 1960 (Million Seller) Also re-released as Gold Standard Series, 447-0628, February 1962 Highest U.S. Charts Position: #32 on Billboard Hot 100 1st LP release: Elvis Gold Records, Volume 4 - February 1968 |
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| Songwriting team Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman had written a handful of hits before submitting their first for Elvis, "A Mess Of Blues". They would eventually write some of Elvis' great 60s classics like "Little Sister", "His Latest Flame", "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow", "Viva Las Vegas" and quite a few others. Elvis recorded "A Mess Of Blues" during his first set of post-army sessions in March of 1960. These were also Elvis' first true stereo recordings. "A Mess Of Blues" is a pure upbeat blues song, and Elvis gives it the full treatment! The melody in the middle section has Elvis soaring and diving... |
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Oops, there goes a teardrop rolling down my face If you cry when you're in love, it sure ain't no disgrace ...and the ending builds to a nice finale, Elvis repeating the title phrase, "Since you're gone I've got a mess o' blues", and slipping into a smooth falsetto at the very end, something the Beatles would make their trademark in a few years. |
| As the flip-side of Elvis' huge international hit, "It's Now Or Never", "A Mess Of Blues" was a bit overlooked on the U.S. charts, and peaked at #32. It may also be the case that the pop music charts weren't as receptive to a pure blues song as they were to a pure Italian pop song. After all, this was 1960. Although its hit flip-side showed up on Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 3 in 1963, "A Mess Of Blues" wouldn't show up on an album until 1968's Elvis Gold Records, Volume 4. |
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"A Mess Of Blues" is a classic Presley recording: curiously his voice sounds different from other numbers at the same session. He sings with his tongue further back in his mouth. But Presley is fully in front, giving each word its due; he drives the song forwards, matching the lyrics and giving urgent shape to the number. The final falsetto is a master-touch. Robert Matthew-Walker, Elvis Presley: A Study in Music, 1979 Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for A Mess of Blues Check out other opinions at Rate Your Music "A Mess Of Blues" LinksMore About Songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
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I just got your letter baby Too bad you can't come home I swear I'm goin' crazy Sittin' here all alone Since you're gone I got a mess of blues I ain't slept a wink since Sunday I can't eat a thing all day Every day is just blue Monday Since you've been away Since you're gone I got a mess of blues Whoops there goes a teardrop Rollin' down my face If you cry when you're in love It sure ain't no disgrace I gotta get myself together Before I lose my mind I'm gonna catch the next train goin' And leave my blues behind Since you're gone I got a mess of blues Whoops there goes a teardrop Rollin' down my face If you cry when you're in love It sure ain't no disgrace I gotta get myself together Before I lose my mind I'm gonna catch the next train goin' And leave my blues behind Since you're gone I got a mess of blues Since you're gone I got a mess of blues Since you're gone I got a mess of blues |
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