Posted August 31, 200618 yr Elvis has inspired many songwriters to write songs about him and Walking In Memphis is one of my favourites! I guess most people are familiar with Cher's version of 'Walking In Memphis', but I have to say, I love Marc Cohn's version :wub: He is the man who wrote the song and here's some facts about it This was the first single for Cohn, who was discovered by Carly Simon. He won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist. Cohn wrote this after seeing an Al Green sermon in Memphis. It is a journey to be baptized in the world of Blues music. Cohn said it is about "Spiritual Awakening." "Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale" refers to Beale Street, an actual street in Memphis. Riley B. King became known as the "Beale Street Blues Boy" shortly after he first arrived in Memphis. Later, the nickname was shortened to B.B., the rest is history. (thanks, Gary - Thetford, England) The sounds at the beginning of the song are meant to indicate falling rain. The line, "Muriel plays piano every Friday at The Hollywood" is a reference to a local artist who played at the Hollywood Cafe, which is a small diner/music joint in Tunica County, MS. Muriel has passed away, but The Hollywood is still there - you drive right past it to go to several of the casinos now located in Tunica. (thanks, paul - memphis, TN) W.C. Handy, who Cohn refers to in the first verse, is a blues legend. His most famous recording is "St. Louis Blues," but he also recorded "Beale Street Blues" and "Memphis Blues." There is a statue in his honor in Memphis. (thanks, Aleks - Toronto, Canada) W.C. Handy was born in Florence, Alabama. Florence, along with Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals, is part of this quad cities group usually referred to as "The Shoals" (as immortalized in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"... 'the Shoals have got the Swampers'). There is a huge festival that takes place every August in the Shoals that honors WC Handy. It is aptly named The WC Handy Festival, and almost everybody, from churches to bars, and even the public library, hosts programs containing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Funk, and Rock and Roll. (thanks, Bobbo - Killen, AL) The reference to "Blue Suede Shoes" is not about Elvis Presley, but about Carl Perkins, who recorded the song in Memphis for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Perkins' ill-luck in a car wreck stopped him from touring to promote the record, allowing Elvis' cover version to become a massive hit. Presley's copy was recorded at RCA studios in Nashville. The narrator tells of seeing "The ghost of Elvis up on Union Avenue and followed him up to gates of Graceland." Sam Phillips' studios were called "Memphis Recording Service" and were at 706 Union Avenue. Elvis' start on the journey to fame and fortune (i.e. Graceland) is usually attributed to the success of "Blues Suede Shoes" - and that of "Heartbreak Hotel." "Security didn't see him" is probably a comment on the story that Bruce Springsteen once successfully scaled the wall at Graceland, trying to deliver a song he wrote. Apparently, Elvis wasn't there. "There's catfish on table and gospel in the air" marks the dichotomy between secular and sacred. Catfish is the standard Blues metaphor for sexual intercourse. (The word is also interchangeable with the slang expression for the female sex zones). "Catfish" thus would appeal to the bodily instincts, whereas "gospel" would be to the intellect. The metaphor gains more credence since Al Green supposedly renounced secular music after being scalded with grits by a jealous girlfriend. The lyrics refer to the girl waiting in the Jungle Room. This was the name of the play area at Elvis' Graceland mansion where he and the crew would take care of business (TCB). (thanks, Gary - Thetford, England, for above 5) Source: www.songfacts.com Walking In Memphis - Marc Cohn [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEIqA8-HNgU.swf ?
September 1, 200618 yr I also love Marc Cohn's version Carole, very very good :cheer: I agree, that's a lovely song
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