“Moody Blue,” the title track from Elvis Presley’s final studio album released during his lifetime, stands as a poignant late-career single. Released in November 1976, the song offered fans a glimpse into the emotional depth that characterized Presley’s later work. While the lyrics paint a picture of a complex, ever-changing relationship, the song’s legacy is intertwined with the King’s last recording sessions and the events surrounding them.
Moody Blue Lyrics
Well, it’s hard to be a gambler
Bettin’ on the number
That changes ev’ry time
Well, you think you’re gonna win
Think she’s givin’ in
A stranger’s all you find
Yeah, it’s hard to figure out
What she’s all about
That she’s a woman through and through
She’s a complicated lady, so color my baby moody blue,
Oh, Moody blue
Tell me am I gettin’ through
I keep hangin’ on
Try to learn the song
But I never do
Oh, Moody blue,
Tell me who I’m talkin’ to
You’re like the night and day
And it’s hard to say
Which one is you.
Well, when Monday comes she’s Tuesday,
When Tuesday comes she’s Wednesday,
Into another day again
Her personality unwinds
Just like a ball of twine
On a spool that never ends
Just when I think I know her well
Her emotions reveal,
She’s not the person that I though I knew
She’s a complicated lady, so color my baby moody blue,
Oh, Moody blue
Tell me am I gettin’ through
I keep hangin’ on
Try to learn the song
But I never do
Oh, Moody blue,
Tell me who I’m talkin’ to
You’re like the night and day
And it’s hard to say
Which one is you.
Song Details and Recording
“Moody Blue” was written by Mark James, a songwriter known for several hits, including “Suspicious Minds,” another iconic song recorded by Elvis. The King recorded the track on February 4, 1976. This session took place in the relaxed, familiar environment of the Jungle Room at Graceland, Elvis’s home in Memphis. RCA Records brought in mobile recording equipment to capture these late-period performances.
The Historic Graceland Sessions of 1976
The recording sessions held in the Jungle Room in February and October 1976 were significant as they yielded the material for two albums: From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and the namesake album, Moody Blue. These sessions captured a raw, intimate sound, reflecting Elvis’s preferences at the time.
The February 1976 sessions, lasting several days, produced several tracks alongside the central moody blue song elvis. Songs recorded included:
- “Bitter They Are Harder They Fall”
- “She Thinks I Still Care”
- “The Last Farewell”
- “Solitaire” (recorded Feb 3/4)
- “Moody Blue” (recorded Feb 4/5)
- “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” (recorded Feb 4/5)
- “For The Heart”
- “Hurt”
- “Danny Boy”
- “Never Again”
- “Love Coming Down”
- “Feelings”
- “America The Beautiful”
- “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”
A follow-up recording session took place in the Jungle Room in October 1976, contributing more tracks to the Moody Blue album, which would ultimately be released posthumously in July 1977. Tracks from these sessions included:
- “It’s Easy For You”
- “Way Down”
- “Pledging My Love”
- “There’s A Fire Down Below” (Track)
- “He’ll Have To Go” (Track and Vocal Overdub)
Events and Life in 1975-1976
The period surrounding the recording and release of “Moody Blue” was marked by various events in Elvis’s personal and professional life, offering context to the era.
An interesting anecdote from January 1975 involved Elvis’s generosity. After gifting cars to police friends, Denver newsman Don Kinney jokingly wished for a car on air. Elvis reportedly bought him a Seville, though Kinney himself later offered a contradictory account, which has been documented.
The March 1976 tour saw challenges, including personnel changes in the TCB Band. Guitarist James Burton and drummer Ronnie Tutt initially indicated they might leave, and keyboardist Glen Hardin resigned. While Burton returned after a raise, Shane Kiester and later Tony Brown took over keyboards, and Larry Londin filled in on drums for a time as Ronnie Tutt joined the Grateful Dead. Security concerns were also raised by Elvis after the first show.
In his personal life, Elvis split with his long-time girlfriend Linda Thompson in early November 1976. Later that month, a dramatic incident occurred when Jerry Lee Lewis appeared at the gates of Graceland wielding a gun, attempting to see Elvis. The event required police intervention and was reportedly observed by Elvis via closed-circuit monitors.
Associated Releases
The Elvis Presley Moody Blue track was first released as a single in November 1976. It later became the title track of the album Moody Blue, released after his death. Many songs from the February 1976 sessions also appeared on the earlier album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.
Featured Classic Release
Tupelos Own Elvis Presley DVD, Never before have we seen an Elvis concert from the 50s with sound
For fans interested in Elvis’s career history, the “Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD” offers a unique look at his early days. This release features recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing six songs with sound from a 1956 concert in Tupelo, Mississippi, including classics like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” plus a rare performance of “Long Tall Sally.” It provides a vivid contrast to his later recordings like the moody blue song. The DVD also includes parade footage and interviews with Elvis’s parents, making it a valuable historical document and highly recommended for any fan.
Conclusion
“Moody Blue” remains a memorable song from the final chapter of Elvis Presley’s recording career. Recorded during the intimate Graceland sessions of 1976, it captures the complex emotions present in both the lyrics and the surrounding events of his life at that time. The song moody blues by elvis presley and the album serve as key artifacts from this specific period, reflecting the personal and musical landscape Elvis navigated in his final years.
