| Studio Sessions for RCA June 8-10, 1971: RCA's Studio B, Nashville. Elvis set his sights on a project he'd been talking about since at least the beginning of the year: making his own recording of "My Way," which had only recently become Frank Sinatra's signature tune. The band provided a powerful, Las Vegas-type arrangement that built to a highly dramatic ending; the singers follow Elvis closely on the climactic notes, but the blended voices fail to mask the fact that Elvis himself was tired and no longer totally committed to the song. The master was shelved; Elvis may already have known that he could only get what he wanted with the inspiration of a live audience before him. One of the remarkable aspects of this session had been the atypical presence of three female backup singers, and the trio was the subject of a running commentary throughout the week. Elvis had insisted on having the singers there during this session. And, though some of it was just good-natured ribbing, Elvis and the band seemed thrown off by the "girl singers" as the session wore on. On the pop material, the women were forced to work out more complicated arrangements on the spot, and their constant chatter and rehearsing in between takes had an unsettling effect on Elvis. "They just go on," he whined at one point. "They couldn't care less. They just go on." By the end of "My Way," as Elvis screamed his way toward the top of his register, he was seething with frustration--and when the singers couldn't get their vocals down fast enough he exploded: "I've run this song fifty times, and you still don't know your parts." With that he threw his headphones to the floor and stormed out. His entourage followed, and Felton was forced to shut down the proceedings altogether. Felton Jarvis had seen Elvis discontented before, but only while recording movie soundtracks. This version of "My Way" is from the last concert, June 26, 1977. First released on Aloha From Hawaii 1973 |
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| And now the end is near So I face the final curtain My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I've traveled each and every highway And more, much more than this I did it my way Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exception I planned each charted course Each careful step along the byway Oh, and more, much more than this I did it my way Yes, there were times, I'm sure you know When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way I've loved, I've laughed and cried I've had my fails, my share of losing And now as tears subside I find it all so amusing To think I did all that And may I say, not in a shy way Oh, no, no not me I did it my way For what is a man, what has he got If not himself, then he has not To say the words he truly feels And not the words he would reveal The record shows I took the blows And did it my way The record shows I took the blows And did it my way Words & music: Paul Anka/ J. Reveaux/ C. Francois |
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