| Spotlight On....Mac Davis “Don’t procrastinate, don’t articulate………” By Kevin of Stevenage |
It was used with good effect to conclude the 1972 documentary “Elvis on Tour”. Elvis can be heard toying with the song in his 1970 Vegas
rehearsals. “Charro” was the only song in the movie of the same name and is heard over the credits of this 1968 movie for National
General Pictures.
Morris Mac Davis was born in Lubbock Texas January 21 1942. His initial success was as a songwriter. Then he proved he could sing and
bagged his own impressive hits such as “I believe in Music” and “Baby don’t get hooked on me”. Johnny Ace Cannon who toured with Bill
Black’s Combo also recorded the latter. Davis wrote “Something’s Burning” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. It was
recorded by several artists and covered again by Ruby Winters in 1977 as the flip side to her surprising hit which revived Billy Fury’s 1964
hit “I will”.
However it was the songs that he wrote which Elvis Presley recorded for which he will be remembered and were his greatest successes.
He wrote “A little less conversation” (with Billy Strange) which was used in the 1968 MGM film “Live A little love a little”. Originally the song
was written with Aretha Franklin in mind. The backing track was re-recorded for the 1968 NBC TV Special “Elvis” and Elvis recorded the
vocal for part of the song. His vocal performance was far superior to the earlier movie version. This did not go unnoticed in 2002. The
subsequent single backed by “Almost in Love” from the same film entered and left the charts with a whimper. In Britain it never even
charted. It would of course achieve worldwide posthumous success in 2002 as part of the Nike campaign of advertising for the football
world cup.
“Memories” (with Billy Strange) was not the only song he penned for the 1968 NBC-TV Special “Elvis”. “Nothingville “ (with Billy Strange)
apart from being too short is nothing short of superb. Used in the road medley segment.
rehearsals. “Charro” was the only song in the movie of the same name and is heard over the credits of this 1968 movie for National
General Pictures.
Morris Mac Davis was born in Lubbock Texas January 21 1942. His initial success was as a songwriter. Then he proved he could sing and
bagged his own impressive hits such as “I believe in Music” and “Baby don’t get hooked on me”. Johnny Ace Cannon who toured with Bill
Black’s Combo also recorded the latter. Davis wrote “Something’s Burning” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. It was
recorded by several artists and covered again by Ruby Winters in 1977 as the flip side to her surprising hit which revived Billy Fury’s 1964
hit “I will”.
However it was the songs that he wrote which Elvis Presley recorded for which he will be remembered and were his greatest successes.
He wrote “A little less conversation” (with Billy Strange) which was used in the 1968 MGM film “Live A little love a little”. Originally the song
was written with Aretha Franklin in mind. The backing track was re-recorded for the 1968 NBC TV Special “Elvis” and Elvis recorded the
vocal for part of the song. His vocal performance was far superior to the earlier movie version. This did not go unnoticed in 2002. The
subsequent single backed by “Almost in Love” from the same film entered and left the charts with a whimper. In Britain it never even
charted. It would of course achieve worldwide posthumous success in 2002 as part of the Nike campaign of advertising for the football
world cup.
“Memories” (with Billy Strange) was not the only song he penned for the 1968 NBC-TV Special “Elvis”. “Nothingville “ (with Billy Strange)
apart from being too short is nothing short of superb. Used in the road medley segment.
Not a lot of songwriters can uphold they wrote
both sides of a single for Elvis Presley.
But in collaboration with Billy Strange this is
what Mac Davis achieved with a single
released in the States, namely ”Memories”
backed with “Charro”.
“Memories” was a highlight of the critically
acclaimed TV Special “Elvis” in 1968 and
became a top ten hit.
Elvis recalled it for his Vegas comeback in
August the following year.
both sides of a single for Elvis Presley.
But in collaboration with Billy Strange this is
what Mac Davis achieved with a single
released in the States, namely ”Memories”
backed with “Charro”.
“Memories” was a highlight of the critically
acclaimed TV Special “Elvis” in 1968 and
became a top ten hit.
Elvis recalled it for his Vegas comeback in
August the following year.
When Elvis went back to the recording studio In Memphis in the winter of 1969 he chose another two
Mac Davis songs. Davis always wanted to write a song called “The vicious circle” but as he
explained nothing rhymed with circle.
The song was copyrighted as “In the ghetto (The vicious circle”) but it was requested by RCA to
release it without the subtitle.
Elvis also recorded “Don’t cry daddy”. Both songs state the songwriter as Scott Davis. But Mac
Davis wrote them and he used his son’s name for the credit. He wrote a song for his son called
“Watching Scotty Grow” which was a hit for Bobby Goldsboro.
Elvis also considered the Mac Davis song “Poor man’s gold” and the musical track was recorded by
the house band and Elvis is heard singing he first line of the song but he never recorded the vocal
track in full.
Mac Davis songs. Davis always wanted to write a song called “The vicious circle” but as he
explained nothing rhymed with circle.
The song was copyrighted as “In the ghetto (The vicious circle”) but it was requested by RCA to
release it without the subtitle.
Elvis also recorded “Don’t cry daddy”. Both songs state the songwriter as Scott Davis. But Mac
Davis wrote them and he used his son’s name for the credit. He wrote a song for his son called
“Watching Scotty Grow” which was a hit for Bobby Goldsboro.
Elvis also considered the Mac Davis song “Poor man’s gold” and the musical track was recorded by
the house band and Elvis is heard singing he first line of the song but he never recorded the vocal
track in full.
Ultimately Elvis recorded “Clean up your own backyard” (written with Billy
Strange) for the 1969 MGM film “The trouble with girls”.
With Mark James who I have spotlighted previously, he wrote “Soft sweet
pie”, “The sweetest song”, “Two plus two” and the Mac Davis hit song
“One hell of a woman” of which the flip side was “Poor Man’s Gold”.
Mark James was a quality songwriter and Elvis recorded some of his finest
songs including “Suspicious Minds”, which Mark James sang on New Years
Eve 1969 at TJ’s in Memphis where he joined the blind house singer
Ronnie Milsap and in attendance that night was one Elvis Presley and his
guests.
Ronnie Milsap was at the 1969 sessions and harmonized on “Don’t cry
daddy”. He also played piano on Kentucky Rain.
Strange) for the 1969 MGM film “The trouble with girls”.
With Mark James who I have spotlighted previously, he wrote “Soft sweet
pie”, “The sweetest song”, “Two plus two” and the Mac Davis hit song
“One hell of a woman” of which the flip side was “Poor Man’s Gold”.
Mark James was a quality songwriter and Elvis recorded some of his finest
songs including “Suspicious Minds”, which Mark James sang on New Years
Eve 1969 at TJ’s in Memphis where he joined the blind house singer
Ronnie Milsap and in attendance that night was one Elvis Presley and his
guests.
Ronnie Milsap was at the 1969 sessions and harmonized on “Don’t cry
daddy”. He also played piano on Kentucky Rain.
Mac Davis consistently wrote good songs and was inducted into the songwriter’s hall of fame in 2008. He went on to become an actor and
is still working today. He was listed as one of the promising new actors of 1979.
On a depressing note he tells the story of the cordon he had to get through to get to Elvis. The hangers on made life very uncomfortable
and there is a distressing chronicle relating to him accepting an invite from Elvis to go to the movie theatre as a guest.
Mr Davis I salute you. The quality of your song writing together with the quality of Elvis Presley’s voice made for some unforgettable
timeless songs. You must be so proud of your achievements and so you should be.
Whilst I am a fan of Elvis and always will be I know he was not a perfect human being, certainly his choice of “friends” i.e. paid friends was
appalling, misguided and ultimately fatally damaging.
But you battled that, to a point, in an attempt to befriend the real man. It is a shame that Elvis did not see, for long enough periods of time,
the real world or real people like you.
is still working today. He was listed as one of the promising new actors of 1979.
On a depressing note he tells the story of the cordon he had to get through to get to Elvis. The hangers on made life very uncomfortable
and there is a distressing chronicle relating to him accepting an invite from Elvis to go to the movie theatre as a guest.
Mr Davis I salute you. The quality of your song writing together with the quality of Elvis Presley’s voice made for some unforgettable
timeless songs. You must be so proud of your achievements and so you should be.
Whilst I am a fan of Elvis and always will be I know he was not a perfect human being, certainly his choice of “friends” i.e. paid friends was
appalling, misguided and ultimately fatally damaging.
But you battled that, to a point, in an attempt to befriend the real man. It is a shame that Elvis did not see, for long enough periods of time,
the real world or real people like you.
