The other "Hound Dog" - 1952

[Mister Moon]

By popular demand, here are the original lyrics in Spanish. He later re-recorded the song in English. If you browse through YouTube, there are other versions by other artists. Unbelievable stuff :

Elvis Pérez el mariachi de la tierra del tepache es la nueva sensación.
Chamaquitas y mujeres se desmayan cuando Pérez les entona esta canción :

(sings one verse of "Hound Dog" in Spanish)

Ya dejó la mariachada, de eso no le importa nada, no quiere cantar el son.
Hoy no más con su guitarra, pegándole cachetadas canta puro rock and roll :

(sings one verse of "Heartbreak Hotel" in Spanish)

Así canta Elvis Pérez, ídolo de las mujeres, cantante de rock and roll.
Ya no le gusta la birria y el tequila le fastidia, toma soda con hot dogs.

En San Juan de Dios nació, con puro frijol se crió, pero ya se le olvidó.
Hoy se viste de tejano en lugar de andar de charro y canta puro rock and roll :

(sings one verse of "Don't Be Cruel" in Spanish)

Así canta Elvis Pérez, ídolo de las mujeres, cantante de rock and roll.
Y hasta tiró los huaraches, y abandonó los mariachis, ahora canta rock and roll.

*********


This is from 1957 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1UwuYyGy8

[John]

By popular demand, here are the original lyrics in Spanish. He later re-recorded the song in English. If you browse through YouTube, there are other versions by other artists. Unbelievable stuff :

Elvis Pérez el mariachi de la tierra del tepache es la nueva sensación.
Chamaquitas y mujeres se desmayan cuando Pérez les entona esta canción :

(sings one verse of "Hound Dog" in Spanish)

Ya dejó la mariachada, de eso no le importa nada, no quiere cantar el son.
Hoy no más con su guitarra, pegándole cachetadas canta puro rock and roll :

(sings one verse of "Heartbreak Hotel" in Spanish)

Así canta Elvis Pérez, ídolo de las mujeres, cantante de rock and roll.
Ya no le gusta la birria y el tequila le fastidia, toma soda con hot dogs.

En San Juan de Dios nació, con puro frijol se crió, pero ya se le olvidó.
Hoy se viste de tejano en lugar de andar de charro y canta puro rock and roll :

(sings one verse of "Don't Be Cruel" in Spanish)

Así canta Elvis Pérez, ídolo de las mujeres, cantante de rock and roll.
Y hasta tiró los huaraches, y abandonó los mariachis, ahora canta rock and roll.

*********


This is from 1957 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1UwuYyGy8

Fabulous. I love this kind of thing.

[Mister Moon]

Here's Lalo rippin' it up in Paris, France, in 1998 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpB37gvukvQ

[John]

Here's Lalo rippin' it up in Paris, France, in 1998 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpB37gvukvQ

Brilliant, and funny.

[Mister Moon]

One of my favourite post-Elvis versions has to be the parody recorded by Homer & Jethro for RCA Victor in October 1956. I think it's a sensational recording. It was recorded at the same New York studio Elvis used for his version, exactly three months later. The lyrics were completely re-written for comic effect (the Leiber-Stoller credit was not modified), and we can hear THREE fabulous guitar solos. Although George Barnes is usually credited for the lead guitar work, I would say the sound and the style of playing is not the same in all the solos. Also playing at the session were Chet Atkins and of course Henry "Homer" Haynes. What are the chances that each man, Barnes, Atkins and Haynes, played one solo ?

It appears two takes were recorded, and take two was chosen for release. Take one is also available on Bear Family's Homer & Jethro "Assault The Rock & Roll Era" CD. Here's the originally released take. Play it LOUD ! :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3V2OhH7Xfk

Listening closely, this is wrong.

I have been able to identify three different takes. The originally released one (possibly take three - see above), then a very similar but less polished take (possibly take two), and what is probably (warm-up) take one, with a conventional vocal.

The Bear Family CD I mentioned above omits the master, and includes the other two - the info in the booklet is also wrong. I don't have the 1988 Homer & Jethro BF LP, so I can't comment on its exact contents, although the liner notes claim it's take one included.

For Homer & Jethro completists everywhere, here are the other two takes :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1jabrS-Uno


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXY1QszbfW4

[Mister Moon]

From the booklet enclosed in "Elvis - A Legendary Performer - Volume 3" (1978) :

LP3 a.jpg

LP3 b.jpg

[HillbillyCat]

From the booklet enclosed in "Elvis - A Legendary Performer - Volume 3" (1978) :

LP3 a.jpg

LP3 b.jpg

Someone must have had a very fun day or maybe their very last (work-)day...

[Mister Moon]

Another connection between Elvis and Homer & Jethro is this telegram from 1960.

This is in reference to Johnny Cash's appearance on the "The Ford Show", hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford, on Thursday, May 12, 1960 (season 4, show #150), where Homer & Jethro were also guests :

Elvis Cash telegram -.jpg

https://www.ernieford.com/season-four


As a bonus, here is footage from that day, where we can see and hear Cash and Ford duetting on "Pickin' Time", one of the songs from Johnny's debut album for Columbia ("The Fabulous Johnny Cash", 1958) :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixVUY5g5E7w