TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Justin Gausman

"Elvis is history," Carl Perkins once said, "and anytime anyone or anything becomes history, whether it be Pearl Harbor or Elvis, it will never go away. The world will never tire of his songs." TCBCast is an unofficial fan podcast featuring co-hosts Gurdip Ladhar and Justin Gausman, along with regular guest co-hosts Ryan Droste and Bec Wyles, plus an array of Elvis fans and experts setting out to better understand that history, and those songs. Tackling topics from throughout Elvis's lifetime and beyond, TCBCast seeks to offer thoughtful, intelligent, heartfelt and honest discourse on Presley's career, his influences, the people who made his work possible, and the cultural phenomenon surrounding his iconography. TCBCast is not associated with or endorsed by Graceland, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Authentic Brands Group or Sony. read less
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Épisodes

TCBCast 310: The Nashville 1970 Sessions, Part 2
28-03-2024
TCBCast 310: The Nashville 1970 Sessions, Part 2
Justin and Bec pull out all the stops for a thorough exploration of the remaining Nashville studio sessions from 1970: June 6, 7 & 8 as well as the brief September 22, 1970, session where Elvis laid down four more tracks to polish off "Elvis Country" and prepare a single. As they begin to sense the material's strength (and Elvis' interest) waning, they ponder whether the "marathon" approach may have done more harm than good in the long run. There are still numerous highs, like much of the material that landed on the country record, but there's also... "Life." This episode's main topic is extra jam-packed so there's no Song of the Week this week, just a buttload of fun and thoughtful discussion about the huge pile of music Elvis & the band laid down that year, and how it was released throughout the rest of 1970, 1971 and even sprinkled a bit into 1972.  Want to hear a wonderfully curated collection of Elvis' 1970 session material? We highly recommend Sony's "From Elvis in Nashville" 4-disc box set from 2020, as of this posting still available physically, digitally and on streaming, and most of the final masters can be heard on the streaming versions of the albums "That's The Way It Is," "Elvis Country," and "Love Letters from Elvis" with a handful more on "Elvis Now."  If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 309: The TCBCast Takeover (feat. John Michael Heath)
20-03-2024
TCBCast 309: The TCBCast Takeover (feat. John Michael Heath)
Gurdip's on vacation and between day jobs and personal emergencies, timing isn't lining up just yet Part 2 of the Nashville sessions, so Bec and Justin got together for a quick spur of the moment episode and managed to rope in John Michael Heath of EAP Society for a loose Elvis discussion among the three. The team discusses John & his father's Elvis artifacts in their collection, favorite Elvis movies, the 1969 American Sound Sessions and the 1970 Nashville Marathon both come up, as well as John's recent acquisition of Memphis photographer William Speer's non-Elvis collection of decades worth of photos. For Song of the Week, John revisits a 1969 track previously featured as SotW (early in our run by Gurdip's nephew Roman) to give his heartfelt interpretation of Elvis' reading of Johnny Christopher's "Mama Liked The Roses." Justin's Song of the Week similarly focuses on a surprising, unexpected alternate interpretation of the December 1973 Stax recording "Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming" direct from the mouth of its writer, Rory Bourke, as well as a mini-SOTW side discussion on a January 1974 Las Vegas one-liner Elvis sang of the Rory Bourke co-write, Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl." If you'd like to hear more from John and Jamie Kelley, please visit youtube.com/EAPSociety or EAPSociety.com for details on their upcoming "Spring Festival" event in Iowa. If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 308: The Nashville 1970 Sessions, Part 1
13-03-2024
TCBCast 308: The Nashville 1970 Sessions, Part 1
Justin and Bec explore Elvis' "marathon" sessions from June 1970, starting with laying the groundwork for the return to Nashville's RCA Studio B, pondering why Elvis may not have chosen to return to Chips Moman's American Sound in Memphis. Instead Elvis is joined this time by a new band led by his live guitarist James Burton but otherwise comprised largely of country-soul players who had worked alongside producer Felton Jarvis in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, including Chip Young, Jerry Carrigan, David Briggs, Norbert Putnam and Charlie McCoy, and rather than a meticulous planned session with Chips' guiding vision... they tear through dozens of songs across four nights, with a follow-up session later that September. Part 1 focuses on the establishing information and the first two nights, June 4-5 and June 5-6, 1970.  For Song of the Week, Bec highlights "I Met Her Today," the understated Don Robertson ballad that was cut in 1961's Pot Luck sessions but held until the hodgepodge Elvis For Everyone album four years later. Meanwhile, Justin goes way back to the Sun era, selecting the middle child single "Milkcow Blues Boogie" - couched between Good Rockin' Tonight and Baby Let's Play House, yet containing that same genius melding of blues (it was written and originated by Kokomo Arnold) and country (also highly popularized by western swing artists like Bob and Johnnie Lee Wills) in a new rockabilly style as anything else he did at Sun. If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 307: Elvis Blue (1983) (feat. Rabia)
05-03-2024
TCBCast 307: Elvis Blue (1983) (feat. Rabia)
You're about to be taken on a journey...  Justin is joined by Rabia of Suddenly: A Frank Sinatra Podcast to tackle Australia's near-exclusive 1983 compilation "Elvis Blue" (also released in Japan & South Africa) which compiles all 19 songs Elvis released during his lifetime with the word "blue" in the title.  This strange collection of songs that, when initially described, sounds like a novelty cash-in, ends up becoming a compelling, thoughtful alternate exploration of the span of Elvis' entire artistic journey, from Sun Records to the last song he ever sang. Justin & Rabia examine the lyrics of these songs and spend time reflecting on the themes of loss, loneliness, sadness, love-gone-wrong and - surprisingly - a sort of disaffected, comedic flippancy in there, too.  For Song of the Week, the theme is carried forward, with Justin picking two Red West-penned 1966 home recordings "I've Been Blue" and "It's No Fun Being Lonely," one of which explicitly would fit the main topic's subject, and another that fits tonally. Rabia selects "I Need Somebody to Lean On," the understated, jazzy ballad from "Viva Las Vegas" and tries to root out some potential inspirations Pomus/Shuman may have had for it, and together Justin & Rabia ponder the potential influence of Ol' Blue Eyes himself on Elvis' crooning. Rabia's show "Suddenly: A Frank Sinatra Podcast" is available on all major podcast platforms where you can find TCBCast, with more info at suddenlypod.gay. If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 305: Elvis's Worst Album? Elvis Sings for Children... and Grown-Ups Too!
20-02-2024
TCBCast 305: Elvis's Worst Album? Elvis Sings for Children... and Grown-Ups Too!
Oh yeah, we went there. Gurdip & Justin sit down with the 1978 compilation album, intended for children but so often cited by Elvis fans who were around at the time as one of the worst and most misguided projects Colonel Tom Parker ever spearheaded... but is it, really?! Closer examination may be necessary! (Note: the guys ponder why the presence of an elephant in the artwork; Bec reached out after the fact and reminded us that Colonel Parker's favorite animal was, in fact, the elephant!) Also discussed is the newly surfaced Forth Worth, TX footage of Elvis from early 1958 (available here through the University of North Texas: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2049375/m1/?fbclid=IwAR1d8oliLIWVkU29QBzgdovqXuai1MqaWMZClyo3eYU3hHMPQjYTj8typek) and the upcoming release of numerous demos from songwriter Randy Starr on the Bear Family Records label "Randy Starr - Presley Style" as well as a rarely-seen or discussed November 1957 article about Elvis from TAN magazine that was dug up by friend of the show John Michael Heath. For Song of the Week, Gurdip knocks out another classic 50s track with the early country ballad "I'm Counting On You" that featured on Elvis' debut LP, while Justin sifts through the web of interconnected gospel songs that connect to "You Better Run," which Elvis was recorded and filmed singing during the rehearsals for "Elvis On Tour" in 1972 and also performed in concert at least a couple more times later in the 1970s. Source for the TAN magazine scan: https://archive.org/details/sim_tan_1957-11_8_1/page/30/mode/2up?view=theater
TCBCast 304: Blue Suede Shoes: The History, The Fashion, The Song
14-02-2024
TCBCast 304: Blue Suede Shoes: The History, The Fashion, The Song
One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready... For our main topic this week, Justin's extensive Song of the Week takes priority, as the guys dig into the history of "Blue Suede Shoes," originally written and recorded by Carl Perkins and famously associated with Elvis throughout his career and beyond. What was Carl tapping into when he wrote it in 1955, why did it have such appeal, and has it been overplayed? Numerous versions by both Perkins and Elvis over the years are covered and discussed. The story doesn't stop there - Justin's dug up what he believes to be some history behind when the soft, delicate dyed leather itself leapt the gender line and was introduced into men's footwear after decades of being associated with women and European nobility.  Then Gurdip, for his Song of the Week, selects "I Love You Because," the country-pop ballad that Elvis toyed around with alongside Scotty and Bill during that first professional Sun session that would later explode with "That's All Right."  An irreplaceable source this week was the book "Go Cat Go: The Life and Times of Carl Perkins, the King of Rockabilly" by Carl Perkins and David McGee and is highly recommended reading. Here's a link to the auction site with photos of Elvis' blue suede shoes as worn on the Steve Allen Show: https://rockhurstauctions.com/1956_Elvis_Presley_Owned_and_Worn_Blue_Suede_Shoes-LOT7513.aspx If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast Bonus - "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992) Commentary
30-01-2024
TCBCast Bonus - "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992) Commentary
The TCBCast gang is off for one week, but we've got something special from the archives: one of our earliest previously Patreon-exclusive unofficial commentaries, for the 1992 heavily-Elvis-inspired rom-com "Honeymoon in Vegas" starring Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker and James Caan, written & directed by Andrew Bergman (Blazing Saddles, The Freshman) with a soundtrack jam-packed with covers of Elvis songs and the movie itself containing numerous original Elvis recordings as well. Gurdip and Justin sat down with the film back in early 2021 for the first time in years to see if it held up. "Honeymoon in Vegas" is, as of this upload in 2024, available to buy digitally on a handful of platforms including Apple & Amazon - or you can do like we hosts did and cue up our old DVDs (or even VHS!) to watch along - or just enjoy the listen! And let us know if you watched it when it first came out. whether you've seen it recently, or if you're a fan of the Elvis-inspired soundtrack, as always you can email us at tcbcast@gmail.com If you enjoyed this, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast! Patrons get exclusive access to an archive of three years of bonus content just like this, with more commentaries, bonus movie and album reviews, early access to new episodes and more! If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to leave a positive review or mention our show to another like-minded music/movie history enthusiast.
TCBCast 301: Elvis: A Canadian Tribute (1978) Album Review
16-01-2024
TCBCast 301: Elvis: A Canadian Tribute (1978) Album Review
Gurdip & Justin ring in 2024 by looking at one of the earliest posthumous albums from 1978, "A Canadian Tribute," created to celebrate Elvis' 1957 tour of Canada and the songs Elvis recorded that have Canadian connections. Gurdip, as our resident Canadian, had this one in his youth so the guys decided to see if it holds up as well as it did back in the day.  The guys also discuss the announcement of Lisa Marie's new book, coming this October completed by Riley Keough, additional information on the Elvis Evolution experience scheduled to premiere this November, and the announcement that EPE has acquired what is claimed to be the original 1954 acetate of "That's All Right" played on the air by Dewey Phillips, the authenticity of which has been called into question in numerous fan groups and most prominently by our friends at EAP Society (please check out their video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDKGo5lpx40) Gurdip grills Justin on a different type of Elvis trivia, and for Song of the Week, he takes on "Are You Sincere" from the 1973 "Raised on Rock" album, while Justin ponders "What Now, What Next, Where To?" - a solid 1963 cut that undeservedly languished as a bonus track on the soundtrack for "Double Trouble." If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 300: Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla" - The TCBCast Review
08-01-2024
TCBCast 300: Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla" - The TCBCast Review
Marking Elvis Presley's 89th birthday (and 6 years and 300 episodes of TCBCast), Justin, Gurdip, Ryan and Bec gather to give their thoughts on writer-director Sofia Coppola's adaptation of Priscilla Presley's autobiography. The gang dig in and ponder whether it's any better or offers anything more than the other previous depictions of the Elvis & Priscilla story: e.g. the 1988 TV adaptation, the 2005 CBS miniseries, the handful of scenes in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis"... but ultimately pitting it against its source: Priscilla & Sandra Harmon's original 1985 bestselling book "Elvis & Me." As we expect most of our listeners will already be familiar with the story of "Elvis & Me," the discussion is more broad, generally covering the main beats. While there is minor discussion on Elvis news at the start, since this particular topic was always going to bit a bit chunkier, the first Songs of the Week of 2024 will arrive on TCBCast 301.  Warning: this episode contains audio of a fictionalized portrayal of sexual violence from the 1988 TV movie starting at around 2:16:30. Please skip about a minute around there if this may be upsetting for any of our listeners in any way. We apologize for not including a warning in the episode itself as we usually would. If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.
TCBCast 299: A Very Clambake Christmas 2023: Who Needs Clambake?
22-12-2023
TCBCast 299: A Very Clambake Christmas 2023: Who Needs Clambake?
Like socks. underwear and an ugly sweater from a relative you never see, you didn't ask for it but you're getting it anyway.  The biggest gathering of guests on a single episode of TCBCast ever convene for the strangest of holiday events: Clambake. We know exactly what you're thinking, but it turns out there's SO MUCH MORE we didn't talk about last year, there's less overlap than you might expect in terms of things to learn about 1967's "Clambake." We even managed to squeeze a Song of the Week in mid-show for "A House That Has Everything," digging into its roots as Mexican melody "Te Quiero Dijiste" and its other English adaptation "Magic is the Moonlight." And you know, even these end-of-year holidays aren't often so much about the holiday itself - it's the coming together with the people you care about. Speaking of which, here's who all makes an appearance: Gurdip, Justin, and Bec  Rabia and Felix from Suddenly: A Frank Sinatra Podcast John Michael Heath from EAP Society David "Ghosty" Wills from We Say Yeah: A Cliff Richard Fan Podcast  And special guests Olivia Murphy-Rogers, Darin Evans and Garrett Cash. The entire listening audience gets to vote whether this tradition continues next year, email "Clambake Yes" or "Clambake No" to clambake2024@gmail.com. Chapters:  0:00: Preshow 8:23: Official Introductions & Clambake Memories 31:44: Will Hutchins Memories w/Ghosty Wills 51:00: "Who Needs Clambake?" 1:01:17: Gildersleeve and Good 1:23:28: Shelley Fabares Discussion 1:31:18: Song of the Week: A House That Has Everything 1:50:24: Confidence, Agent Elvis and Italian James Bond 2:09:50: Clambake's Story Is Broken... But Didn't Have to Be! 2:23:25: Shortnin' Bread... and Bikinis, Too! 2:49:17: Post 'Bake Clarity 2:58:13: Clambake Down Under, GOOP and Daddy Issues 3:06:12: Soundtrack, Bonus Songs & Metacommentary 3:38:44: In Praise of Jeff Alexander 3:47:12: Arthur H. Nadel & The Lost OTHER Agent Elvis 3:58:25: Closing Thoughts & A Very Merry Clambake To All
TCBCast 297: Elvis vs Spankox - ReVersions, ReMixes and Christmas Remixes
12-12-2023
TCBCast 297: Elvis vs Spankox - ReVersions, ReMixes and Christmas Remixes
This week, Gurdip and Justin finally do an episode they've been threatening to do for some time now, exploring the work of Italian DJ Agostino Carollo, aka "Spankox," who in the late 00s began remixing Elvis songs that had fallen into the European public domain and ended up getting the endorsement of EPE/Graceland for his first two albums, making them technically official releases... an endorsement subsequently lost for the third, holiday-themed project.  The guys cover those first three albums, and also touch upon an obscure 2003 Elvis-inspired movie project, "DJ Hound Dog," that Spankox worked on and produced before turning in his "Baby Let's Play House" remix, as well as what else he's been remixing in recent years since he has mostly stopped producing new Elvis mixes. Even people who don't like remixes might find this episode interesting and funny - and if you really don't like these remixes specifically, you may feel a little schadenfreude by the time we get to "Christmas Remixes." In the news segment, the guys also briefly discuss the announcement of "Priscilla" coming to digital platforms (FYI this episode was recorded prior to the announcement of Cailee Spaenee being nominated for a Golden Globe), "Elvis' Golden Records" rising up into the Top 50 country albums chart earlier this month, and Justin give my initial impressions of the new book "Elvis and The Colonel: An Insider's Look at the Most Legendary Partnership in Show Business" by Greg McDonald and Marshall Terrill.  For Song of the Week, Gurdip picks the home recording "Sweet Leilani," most famously done by Bing Crosby, and Justin decided to go with the holiday season theme and highlight the lesser-appreciated "It Won't Seem Like Christmas Without You" from the 1971 "Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas" album.  If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting the show over at Patreon.com/TCBCast. If you are unable to support us via Patreon, but want to support us another way, please make sure to leave a positive review or mention our show to another like-minded music/movie history enthusiast.