EAP Index World: See the USA the Elvis Way (Single/EP

Title:

See the USA the Elvis Way

Label:

RCA Victor [EPA 4386 (mono) / EPAS 4386 (stereo)]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

8:50

Type of album:

Studio / Compilation

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

1967

Recording date:

July 7, 1954 - January 12, 1964

Release date:

March 3, 1967

Singles:

"Indescribably Blue / Fools Fall..." (Jan. 10, 967)

See the USA the Elvis Way is Elvis' thirty-third EP and 53rd audiophonic work (including LPs and singles). The work features recordings spanning a period of almost ten years and which, for RCA, defined the USA.

On January 10, 1967, the single "Indescribably Blue", which contained "Fools Fall in Love" on the B-side, proved that Elvis' new recordings could boost his return to the charts. The album "How Great Thou Art", released on February 27 of the same year, helped to further consecrate Elvis' return to the contemporary music scene, so there was nothing better than trying to continue the climb.

Seeing that the EP format and sales of Elvis soundtracks were increasingly losing ground in the market, RCA decided to test whether re-releasing some old tracks alongside new recordings would attract an audience, with the idea of perhaps commissioning a new LP of contemporary, non-soundtrack music. The Colonel resisted, as always, but deep down he saw that this was the way to go, given that even singles were languishing on the shelves.

So, while Elvis was recording the soundtrack for "Clambake", RCA decided to release a new EP, entitled "See the USA the Elvis Way", with four songs that defined the sound of four distinct regions of the country.

The album hit stores on March 3, 1967 with absolutely zero interest from the public in reliving Elvis's past classics. The low sales further confirmed what RCA already suspected: it was necessary to end Elvis' EPs.

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RECORDING SESSIONS

Dates:

July 7, 1954 - January 12, 1964

Studio:

Sun Studio
RCA Studio B
Radio Recorders
MGM Sound Stage

Location:

Memphis, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Hollywood, California

Musicians:

Voice: Elvis Presley
Acoustic guitar: Elvis Presley
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore, Chip Young, Hank Garland, Charlie McCoy, Peter Drake
Bass: Bill Black, Bob Moore, Charlie McCoy
Drums: DJ Fontana, Murray "Buddy" Harman
Piano: Floyd Cramer, David Briggs, Henry Slaughter
Harmonica: George Fields, Charlie McCoy
Saxophone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph, Rufus Long
Organ: David Briggs
Timpany: Murray "Buddy" Harman
Backing vocals: The Jordanaires, Millie Kirkham

Sound Engineer / Recording Engineer:

Sam Phillips / Bill Porter / Jim Malloy / Felton Jarvis

JULY 7, 1954

Blue Moon Of Kentucky F2WB 8041-NA

JANUARY 15, 1958
Turtles, Berries, Gumbo (Blanche Thomas)
Hard Headed Woman J2PB 3603-10
Trouble J2PB 3604-05
New Orleans J2PB 3605-05
King Creole (Alternate Master) J2PB 3606-18
Crawfish J2PB 3607-07

MAY 27/28, 1963
Memphis, Tennessee PPA4 0302-02
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Single Version) PPA4 0303-01
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Album Version) PPA4 0303-02
Ask Me PPA4 0304-02
Western Union PPA4 0305-04
Slowly But Surely PPA4 0306-05
Blue River SPA4 6768-02
Blue River SPA4 7357-SP
Ask Me (Alternate Master) PPA4 0304-06

JULY 10, 1963
I Need Somebody To Lean On RPA3 0386-20
Do The Vega WPA1 8025-07
Santa Lucia (Track)
Viva Las Vegas RPA3 0234-07
The Climb (George McFadden) HRA1 8687-09
Yellow Rose Of Texas / The Eyes Of Texas WPA1 8024-09
C'mon Everybody (Movie Version)

JANUARY 12, 1964
Memphis, Tennessee (Remake) RPA4 1004-06
Ask Me (Remake) RPA4 1005-11
It Hurts Me RPA4 1006-05

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SESSION LOGS