In addition to the standard Elvis renditions, the Danzig Sings Elvis album is notable for its cover versions of selected songs from the King’s repertoire, unknown to a wide range of listeners. It is possible that this tribute looks a little late. Glenn Danzig is here at 64, and he’s far from being the excellent vocalist he used to be. And if at his peak in the late 80s he could really get close to his idol’s vocal abilities, now his voice sounds tired. But even this fatigue is attractive because of its lack of potential. And why would an old-fashioned metalhead claim to have the old-fashioned spirit? His time has passed, glam hard has long gone out of fashion, now you can pay tribute to the music that is eternal.
Danzig’s love for the King has long been known to everyone: in the early Misfits, he regularly included versions of Elvis in the repertoire. The ultra-metal Trouble from King Creole (1958) with the line “I’m evil, so don’t you mess around with me”, which became the motto of Glenn “Evil Elvis” Danzig, was released on Thrall: Demonsweatlive EP (1993) with the light production hand of Rick Rubin. Another heavy reading, Let Yourself Go from Speedway (1968), found a place on the Danzig Skeletons cover album. Danzig himself often defined his music as a cross between Elvis and Black Sabbath.
Danzig – Let Yourself Go
On Danzig Sings Elvis, released in April 2020 on Cleopatra Records, the arrangements are minimalistic and authentic rocker, the vocals are reminiscent of the 50s. Tommy Victor’s overdriven guitar is pushed into the background and sounds muffled. The keys are displayed on the 1st plan. The drums are almost inaudible. Danzig explains:
“I just stripped these songs. It always seemed to me that the abundance of backing vocals on Elvis’ (late) recordings stood between him and his voice. And I also changed some of the arrangements to make the music more memorable and sad.”
Is It So Strange, the bonus track to the movie Loving You (1957) is an excellent opening, the song creates a feeling of something very romantic and mysterious, taking it beyond the ordinary, reminiscent in its effect of Blue Moon Revisited by Cowboy Junkies, one of the best Elvis cover versions ever made. Is It So Strange and One Night are songs that suit Danzig well.
Lonely Blue Boy was originally called Danny, preceded Conway Twitty’s version, and was intended for King Creole, but was cut from the final version of the soundtrack. Danzig gave the song a touch of tragedy and tension. First In Line was on Elvis’ first album in 1956, and perhaps this is the number where Glenn overestimates his ability to sing like Elvis and instead of staying in his own way, he wants to pull out all the original notes, but fails in this. Of course, Danzig is an incomparably better vocalist than Lemmy Kilmister, who, however, did not hesitate to make a tribute to the King with more modest vocal capabilities.
Loving Arms is a Stax period song, and you rarely see its cover versions, which makes it even more enjoyable. Moreover, I like the idea of returning to a loving embrace.
The most famous of the album’s songs is Always On My Mind, a melancholic ballad with keyboards. Next, Glenn quickly makes up for the drawdown with the energetic Baby Let’s Play House, perhaps the most fun song on the album. However, Glenn sings it a little more seriously than he should. Next comes melancholy, which is more suitable for the performer.
Love Me is the most difficult for Danzig, because he wanted to do it in the manner of a King.
“It’s not easy to perform most of Elvis’ songs. His voice was incredible. To sing like him, you have to rise from the low notes to the middle notes and then to the high notes – this is what his voice did without any effort. It requires a certain skill. Elvis was an unsurpassed singer and entertainer and his vocal range was incredible. And he’s still great.”
The minimalist Pocket Full of Rainbows (from the 1960 film G.I. Blues) is a vivid example of Danzig’s emotional involvement in music, and the song shines with his vocals. Fever is made in the spirit of The Cramps, the same primitive slightly swinging bass, sparse arrangement, growing anxiety, as in an episode of the vampire horror Near Dark. Another new verse, an expanded version of the text.
The blues song When It Rains It Really Pours is also playing at the box office, and this is definitely a surprise for those listeners who only know Danzig from songs like Last Caress or Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight? On the theme of Like A Baby, Danzig’s vocals are unexpectedly somewhat reminiscent of Alexander Borisovich Gradsky, especially since he also loved to sing such blues.
In Girl Of My Best Friend, Glenn doesn’t even seem to be trying. Somewhere his voice is slightly hoarse, proving that this is a living person. The longplay closes with a touching Young and Beautiful, arranged by the keys alone.
Overall, it turned out to be an original and interesting album, seemingly hackneyed material, the King’s legacy re-sung 100 times – it sounds fresh and original here.
“This is not my metal-hard-rock band. I made this project for myself. I’m looking forward to singing these songs on stage. Some will like it, some won’t. I’m okay with that, but most of those who have heard the material have appreciated it, and that’s great. “
Listen to the album online: https://danzigsingselvis .bandcamp.com
Still, that loaded guitar on the record gives you the feeling that your metalhead buddy decided to show you that “I can also portray your old-school stuff.” Somewhere nearby, it feels like Light my fire, performed by Amorphis