Elvis author David Ward and a friend are considering putting out two two basic guidebooks to Elvis Presley's FTD releases from 1999 to 2024. In this video David discusses what they may look like and asks for your feedback.
Mark James Died
Singer songwriter Mark James died. He was 83. R.I.P. Thank you for the music, you wrote some of my all time favorites!
Elvis Presley recorded 5 songs (co-)written by Mark James: 'Suspicious Minds', 'Always on My Mind', 'It’s Only Love', 'Raised on Rock' and 'Moody Blue', Elvis’s last number one country hit before his untimely passing. Two of Elvis’ albums, 'Raised on Rock' and 'Moody Blue' were named after Mark’s songs.
Born and bred in Texas, in the mid to late ‘60s, Mark cut singles for Liberty, Ventural/Crazy Cajun, Bell, Scepter and Mercury Records with “She’s Gone Away” generating unprecedented regional success in New Orleans with sales of over 65,000, breaking the record in Louisiana for most singles sold in 1964. Fate intervened with producer Chips Moman encouraging Mark to move to Memphis and pursue a career as a triple threat, artist, songwriter, and producer. Signed as a staff writer to Moman’s publishing and production company, in 1968 Mark’s big break occurred when B.J. Thomas recorded “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” which became the songwriter’s first hit. A year later, Thomas cut two more of his songs, “Hooked On A Feeling” and “It’s Only Love,” which became major chart hits.
Soon thereafter, Mark’s life was changed forever when Elvis Presley cut “Suspicious Minds,” which would rocket to number one in 27 countries; its arrangement was almost identical to the Mark James original single, with the exception of the lead vocal.
He recorded his own version of 'Suspicious Minds' in 1968 at American Studios with producer Chips Moman, but it failed to chart. A year later at his 1969 Memphis Sessions Elvis was looking for new material to record and heard 'Suspicious Minds'.
"Elvis wanted to hear the song over and over again, and learned it on the spot," said producer Chips Moman. Using almost exactly the same arrangement as James's original, Elvis took the song to number one in 1969 - rejuvenating his career.
Elvis would record a total of five singles written by Mark: “Suspicious Minds,” “Always On My Mind,” “It’s Only Love”, “Raised on Rock” and “Moody Blue”, two of Elvis’ albums, Raised on Rock and Moody Blue were named after Mark’s songs. Today “Suspicious Minds” is recognized as Elvis Presley’s all-time biggest single selling over 40 million records worldwide and is considered as the most important and influential single in his career.
James talked of meeting Elvis in Vegas, "Elvis invited me to Vegas when 'Suspicious Minds' was charting and I remember he was at a table talking in a long room with Sammy Davis or Andy Williams way across the room. And I came in the room and Elvis stood up and walked clear across the room and said, “Hi Mark. How you been doing?” I said, “Man, this guy is something else" - He was a classy guy, you know! There's nobody like Elvis. He was one of a kind."
The Halliday Sisters, who provided the backing vocals on 'Suspicious Minds', reacted: "Our hearts go out to the family of Mark James. He was a great songwriter & wonderful human being. He wrote “Suspicious Minds”, the last #1 hit for Elvis!
RIP Mark".
(Source: Elvis Presley In Japan / Elvis Club Berlin / Harpet Hills / Texas Heritage Association / Elvis Information Network)