Speaking to the Tennessean newspaper about the recording of “Guitar Man,” Jerry Reed recounted: ‘I was out on the Cumberland River fishing, and I got a call from Felton Jarvis. He said, ‘Elvis is down here. We’ve been trying to cut ‘Guitar Man’ all day long. He wants it to sound like it sounded on your album’. I finally told him, ‘Well, if you want it to sound like that, you’re going have to get me in there to play guitar, because these guys [you’re using in the studio] are straight pickers. I pick with my fingers and tune that guitar up all weird kind of ways’. This pivotal moment, bringing Reed’s unique sound to an Elvis session, was one of several key events in 1967-1968 that would eventually lead to the groundbreaking ’68 Comeback Special, redefining Elvis Presley’s career.
Lyrics of “Guitar Man”
Words & Music by Jerry Reed Hubbard
Well, I quit my job down at the car wash, Left my mama a goodbye note,
By sundown I’d left Kingston, With my guitar under my coat,
I hitchhiked all the way down to Memphis, Got a room at the YMCA,
For the next three weeks I went huntin’ them nights, Just lookin’ for a place to play,
Well, I thought my pickin’ would set ’em on fire, But nobody wanted to hire a guitar man.
Well, I nearly ’bout starved to death down in Memphis, I run outta money and luck,
So I bought me a ride down to Macon, Georgia, On a overloaded poultry truck,
I thumbed on down to Panama City, Started pickin’ out some o’ them all night bars,
Hopin’ I could make myself a dollar, Makin’ music on my guitar,
I got the same old story at them all night piers, There ain’t no room around here for a guitar man We don’t need a guitar man, son
So I slept in the hobo jungles, Roamed a thousand miles of track,
Till I found myself in Mobile Alabama, At a club they call Big Jack’s,
A little four-piece band was jammin’, So I took my guitar and I sat in,
I showed ’em what a band would sound like, With a swingin’ little guitar man. Show ’em, son
If you ever take a trip down to the ocean, Find yourself down around Mobile,
Make it on out to a club called Jack’s, If you got a little time to kill,
Just follow that crowd of people, You’ll wind up out on his dance floor,
Diggin’ the finest little five-piece group, Up and down the Gulf of Mexico,
Guess who’s leadin’ that five-piece band, Well, wouldn’t ya know, it’s that swingin’ little guitar man.
The TV-special verse:
Well, I came a long way from the carwash, Got to where I said I’d get
Now that I’m here I know for sure I really ain’t got there yet
Think I’ll start all over Swing my guitar over my back
I’m gonna get myself back on the track I’ll never, never ever look back
I’ll never be more than what I am Wouldn’t you know I’ m a swinging little Guitar man
Recording Sessions and Personal Milestones in 1967
“Guitar Man” was recorded on September 10, 1967, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. This session also yielded “Big Boss Man”. The following day, September 11, Elvis was back at Studio B, recording tracks like “Mine,” “Singing Tree,” “Just Call Me Lonesome,” “Hi Heel Sneakers,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “We Call On Him,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” A remake of “Singing Tree” was done on September 12. These studio dates were interspersed with other significant events in Elvis’s life.
1967 was a momentous year for Elvis personally. On May 1, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla Beaulieu were married in a private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. This was followed by a second wedding reception at Graceland on May 29 for family and friends who couldn’t attend the Vegas ceremony.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley on their wedding day, May 1, 1967
Professionally, 1967 involved soundtrack recording and filming. From June to July, he worked on his twenty-sixth movie, Speedway, co-starring Nancy Sinatra. News of Priscilla’s pregnancy was announced during this production. In September and October, filming took place for Stay Away, Joe, a western-themed comedy offering a departure from his recent films. These years also saw the release of films like Clambake in November 1967, reaching number fifteen at the box office.
Entering 1968: New Life and Shifting Tides
As 1968 began, Elvis continued recording. January 15 saw sessions at RCA Studio B yielding “Too Much Monkey Business” and “Going Home,” followed by “Stay Away” on January 16, and “U.S. Male” on January 17. However, the most significant event of early 1968 was the birth of his daughter.
On February 1, 1968, nine months to the day after their marriage, Priscilla gave birth to Lisa Marie Presley. This brought immense happiness to the couple. Lisa Marie spent her early years at Graceland, the iconic 14-acre estate in Memphis.
The spring of 1968 brought national tragedy that deeply affected Elvis. On April 4, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. This event, happening in his hometown, hit Elvis particularly hard, similar to the impact of John F. Kennedy’s assassination five years prior. Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech was something Elvis admired and often recited.
Amidst these heavy events, life continued. On April 6, Elvis and Priscilla traveled to Las Vegas, catching Tom Jones’ midnight show at the Flamingo. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary on May 1. Later that month, on May 18, Elvis, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie, along with friends, flew to Hawaii for a trip. They returned to Los Angeles on June 2.
Elvis Presley with Priscilla and baby Lisa Marie
Rehearsals for the ’68 Special Begin
Looking tanned and fit after his trip, Elvis reported to the Binder-Howe offices on Sunset Boulevard on June 3 to begin two weeks of informal rehearsals for what would become known as the ’68 Special. Just days later, on June 6, Robert Kennedy died after being shot in Los Angeles. This second assassination in quick succession profoundly impacted Elvis. His heartfelt reaction to these tragedies moved director Steve Binder to ask songwriter Earl Brown to compose a closing number for the Elvis Guitar Man 68 Comeback special that would capture Elvis’s sentiments about the state of the nation.
Rehearsals intensified, and by June 17, Elvis was reporting to the NBC Studios in California for formal preparations for the landmark television event. The journey that included recording the distinctive “Guitar Man,” navigating personal milestones, and reacting to national turmoil was now culminating in a project designed to re-establish Elvis Presley as a dynamic, relevant performer.
Elvis Presley on a plane returning to Los Angeles in June 1968
This period, marked by the recording of “Guitar Man” and the personal and political events of 1967-1968, directly set the stage for the incredible artistic resurgence seen in the ’68 Comeback Special. It reminded the world of Elvis’s raw talent and stage presence, moving away from the formulaic movie musicals and back towards his roots as a powerful live performer.
Exploring Elvis’s discography from this era offers insights into his evolving sound. For example, you might want to listen to an elvis famous songs list to hear how “Guitar Man” fits within his broader catalog. His film work, though often criticized, also played a role in his career arc during this time. You can learn more about movies like elvis presley film live a little love a little which were part of his output leading up to the special.
The Elvis Guitar Man 68 Comeback narrative highlights a crucial transition. The raw, bluesy feel of “Guitar Man,” achieved with Jerry Reed’s specific guitar work, was a hint of the musical direction Elvis would embrace in the special. It signaled a return to more authentic, roots-based music compared to some of his contemporary movie soundtracks.
Comparing “Guitar Man” to earlier hits like “Return to Sender” provides context on his musical journey. You can play elvis return to sender to appreciate the shift in style. The anticipation built during this period was immense, leading up to the special that would feature unforgettable performances and songs.
Looking at lists such as elvis presleys top 10 songs often includes tracks that gained prominence or were solidified as classics during or after the ’68 Special, even if recorded earlier. The special itself introduced or revitalized songs that became iconic.
The success of the ’68 Comeback Special was a turning point, leading to a period of renewed recording energy and live performances. While “Guitar Man” itself wasn’t one of his biggest chart hits at the time, its recording session and the surrounding events are integral to understanding the context and motivations behind his return to live performance and the eventual impact of songs like the original suspicious minds, which became a cornerstone of his later career, heavily influenced by the energy and success of the comeback.
Conclusion
The period spanning 1967 and the first half of 1968 was a time of significant change and preparation for Elvis Presley. From the unique recording session for “Guitar Man” with Jerry Reed to major life events like his marriage to Priscilla and the birth of Lisa Marie, and through the backdrop of national tragedies, these months built towards a pivotal moment. The rehearsals beginning in June 1968 were the direct result of this journey, culminating in the ’68 Comeback Special. This landmark television event, fueled by Elvis’s desire to return to his musical roots, effectively revitalized his career, proving that the “swinging little guitar man” still had a powerful voice and presence that would resonate for generations.
