Recorded - January 23, 1969
Released - August 26, 1969
#1 for week of November 1, 1969.
It's been quite a few years since Elvis has graced us with his presence on this blog. Ever since his return from the army in 1960, Elvis slowly began a decline in popularity. Perhaps it was due to his loss of the "Edge" he once had during the 1950's. Or maybe it was the fact that most of his energy went into his forgettable films. Either way, Elvis was almost irrelevant by 1967. Rather than fade away into obscurity, he staged a successful comeback special in December of 1968. With this comeback came a new, more soulful sound, for the king.
Fueled by this resurgence in popularity, he began a series of recording sessions in January 1969 at American Sound Studio in Memphis. Some of his best late period material such as "In The Ghetto" originates from these sessions. These sessions were so productive that they often ran through the night and into the next day. For example, "Suspicious Minds", was recorded around four in the morning. In this case, insomnia paid off as the song became Elvis' first #1 hit in years.
As much as I said earlier that it's hard for Elvis to produce a truly bad song, I can't deny that I found his previous #1's from the early 1960's to be disappointing. Songs such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight" just come across as pale shadows of the powerhouse Elvis once was. Well, Elvis rectifies this creative dip with "Suspicious Minds". In this case, going in a new direction helps both the King and the song itself sound fresh and invigorating.
Right off the bat, we are greeted with a pleasant guitar riff which acts a reoccurring melody during the verses. There is also string and brass part that reminds me of some of the Stax records from the 1960's. Fun fact, one of the backing vocalists is none other than future Grateful Dead member Donna Jean Godchaux. Go figure, a future member of one of the most famous hippie bands once sang for a man who absolutely hated the counterculture!
As for Elvis' vocal performance, "Suspicious Minds" remains one of his high points. He sounds more mature, almost like Bill Medley. As a result, his vocals have a very blue-eyed soul sound to them. In particular, the bridge of the song comes across as incredibly powerful, in terms of emotion.
On a side-note, I've always thought that the verses of the song sound like they're cut from the same cloth as the choruses of The Moody Blues song, "Never Comes The Day". As odd coincidences would have it, "Never Comes The Day" and "Suspicious Minds" were actually recorded within hours of each other, though on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Guess "minds" do think alike after all.
Elvis would never again have a #1 hit in the United States. Although he later would record some classic material such as 1972's "Burning Love", he would spend much of the 1970's in a state of tragic decline. On August 16, 1977, the world lost the man who helped shape not only rock and roll, but 20th century music in general. Despite his passing, his music and legacy still survive to this day.
Final Verdict - "Suspicious Minds" is one of the most successful sound reinventions in music history. It has a gripping musical melody, a wonderful vocal performance, and a lasting quality that ensures you'll want to listen to the song again and again. A well-deserved #1 I'd say.
Coming Up Next - "Wedding Bell Blues" by The 5th Dimension.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rock, and I've got a suspicious mind -
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