Search - Elvis Presley :: Rubberneckin

A Great Encore For Elvis

Mike King | Taunton, MA United States | 09/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Rubberneckin'" was the hit song from Elvis Presley's last feature film, "Change Of Habit." As the B-side of "Don't Cry Daddy," it reached #11 on the charts way back in December of 1969. With the staggering success of the remix version of "A Little Less Conversation" from last year, it's only natural that another Elvis song would get the remix treatment. It may sound sacrilegious to Presley purists, but I like the remix version of "Rubberneckin'" even better than the original version! In fact, I like the extended remix version most of all. That version really features the twanging guitar part near the end. If that isn't Duane Eddy playing the guitar, some guitarist is doing a great impersonation of him. By updating Elvis Presley's sound, it introduces his music to a new generation of fans. For older fans of Elvis like myself, this CD single whetted my appetite for the upcoming "Elvis: 2nd To None" album."

Stop, look, and buy it!

Carl Savich | Detroit, MI, USA | 09/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RUBBERNECKIN was originally a B side on the DON'T CRY DADDY single, was in Elvis Presley's last feature film, CHANGE OF HABIT, and appeared on the 1970 Camden album ALMOST IN LOVE. Recorded in January, 1969, the single was considered by Elvis and RCA as not good enough and a throwaway. The song languished in obscurity until Paul Oakenfold remixed the song in a Radio Edit and Dance mix. The results are remarkable. Elvis never sounded funkier. RUBBERNECKIN is a funky record no matter how you slice it. The problem for Oakenfold was in trying to top the original version, which is also included on this release. The original was so strong that all Oakenfold could do was to make it contemporary and add new sound effects without radically altering the impact or feel of the original. Oakenfold just had to stay out of the way and let Elvis do the heavy lifting. The original features a funky lead guitar solo, a funky bass line, and incredible backing vocals by the female singers who grunt and scream and punctuate Elvis' vocals. There are also horns. What Oakenfold does in his remix is to bring Elvis' vocal in greater focus and relief, giving a clearer sounding delivery. He also mixes out much of the background vocals which tends to weaken the mix. But he adds a stronger drum beat and varied sound effects that give the record a contemporary feel and a dance beat. What is conspicuous in the new mix is a twangy guitar sound which achieves mixed results. Oakenfold adds enough to the original record to make it contemporary and to give it a dance rhythm. He pretty much stays out of the way and lets Elvis carry the load. The record shows that Elvis was second to none when it came to funk and sexual swagger. James Brown has nothing on Elvis here. We now know why Elvis was shown only from the waist up on the Ed Sullivan show. No one could match Elvis' swagger and the menace that he implied. No one. That is why Elvis was dubbed the King of Rock and Roll, because no one else could even come close.Stop, look, and listen! Listen to an unjustly overlooked Elvis funk masterpiece. Elvis never sounded so good. RUBBERNECKIN is highly recommeded."

Stop, Look & Listen ......

Dave | HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS United Kingdom | 09/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, so last years' surpise hit, was a remix of an old Elvis song, that most non -Elvis had never heard of "A Little Less Conversation" by a Dutch DJ who most people had never heard of. Will it work again this year ?After listening to the CD for the first time, yesterday, the emphatic & resounding answer to that is YES !Paul Oakenfold, the world renowned DJ, has taken the song "Rubberneckin", another obscure Elvis song from his last scripted movie "Change Of Habit", added a driving guitar, and backbeat, and makes the song sound as if it was recorded yesterday, not in the late 60's. The 1st re-mix on the CD is good, the 12' remix amazing, with the "Duane Eddy" style twanging guitar intro, making it worth the cost of the CD alone.
As with "ALLC" you get the original version of "Rubberneckin", which allows you to see just how much has been done & has been achieved in the re-mixing. Whether Elvis will receive as much recognition with this, as he did with 'ALLC" is yet to be seen.
Without the mass advertising campaign [Nike / Football World Cup] behind this song, I don't know. I believe in the States, the song is featured in a new "Toyota" advert, so this will certainly help.It seems that in the Elvis world, "re-mixes" of his obscure songs is the way forward, backed up with "Hits" packages as albums, what with "2nd To None" being released worldwide in October. I for one am all behind this, as it keeps Elvis in the public eye, and makes his music more accessible to the CD buying masses.
So, please "Stop, Look & listen" you will not be disappointed.
Thanks for reading."