This past Friday, the news was full of stories and live feeds of President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visiting Graceland. Radio, TV, newspapers, and web news pages gave Elvis fans all the coverage we could possibly want, so what’s left to say on Elvisblog? What’s an angle that hasn’t been covered?
Well. Here’s a good one. Nearly every news report mentioned that Prime Minister Koizumi released a CD back in 2001 of his 25 favorite Elvis songs. Only 200,000 copies were made, and all the proceeds went to Japanese charities. Hopefully, you have seen the photo of the CD cover in other media, because posting pictures is something Elvisblog doesn’t do (maybe next year). However, the CD picture is a clever computer cut-and-paste merging of Koizumi into an old photo of Elvis on the front porch of Graceland. For some reason, the words on the CD cover shown on the news reports are in English, not Japanese.
Check out the list of Koizumi’s 25 favorite Elvis songs.
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
I Was the One
Any way you want me
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
That’s When Your Heartache Begin
Don’t
A Fool Such As I
It’s Now Or Never
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
No More
Can’t Help Falling In Love
The Wonder of You
Bridge Over troubled Waters
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
The First Time Ever I Saw Your face
Amazing Grace
American Trilogy
The Impossible Dream
Separate Ways
You Gave Me A Mountain
My Boy
An Evening Prayer
If I Can Dream
Hawaiian Wedding Song
This list prompts several observations. None of Elvis’ biggest hits are on the list. No “Hound Dog” or “Don’t Be Cruel.” Instead of “Heartbreak Hotel,” Koizumi selected the flip-side “I Was The One.” Likewise, there is no “All Shook Up,” but the B-side “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” is there. Obviously, he prefers Elvis’ ballads to his rockers. “Wear My Ring” and “A Fool Such As I” are the only true fast songs in the collection. Also interesting is the number of gospel songs at the end of the CD.
To be sure, several of Koizumi’s favorites are among Elvis’ more obscure songs. “No More” came from the soundtrack of Blue Hawaii. Koizumi obviously liked this album, because he also included “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Hawaiian Wedding Song” from it, too. “My Boy” was released in 1975, and it went to # 20 on the charts. IF you are curious to hear this one, it is on the album Good Times.
“Separate Ways also made it to # 2 (1972), and it is on the RCA Camden album of the same name. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was the flip-side of “American Trilogy,” and both songs made the list. “An Evening Prayer” was on the album, He Touched Me, as is “Amazing Grace.”
Elvis never recorded “The Impossible Dream” in the studio. It was released only on the live concert album Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden. Two other selections were never released as singles. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” is from the soundtrack to the 1972 documentary film Elvis – That’s The Way It Is. Elvis sang “You Gave Me A Mountain” in the TV special Elvis Aloha From Hawaii.
The news reports made it plain that Prime Minister Koizumi is a genuine Elvis fan. His selections for the Elvis CD show he has certainly spent many hours listening deep into the Elvis library of songs: B-sides, movie soundtracks, TV specials, documentary movies, and gospel albums. Way to go, Mr. Prime Minister.
© 2006 Philip R Arnold www.elvisblog.net
-
The Last 50 Posts
- Elvis Books – Part 1 January 14, 2021
- Thank you. Thank you very much January 12, 2021
- Eclectic and Cheap Elvis Reading Material January 10, 2021
- Elvis Birthday Cakes – A Pictorial Essay January 8, 2021
- Some Interesting Numbers For You January 7, 2021
- Opening Night – Vegas 1969 January 5, 2021
- Happy New Year, Elvis December 31, 2020
- Happy New Year with Elvis — 44 Years Ago December 30, 2020
- Speaking in Elvish December 26, 2020
- Merry Christmas December 25, 2020
- Five Fun Christmas Music Videos December 24, 2020
- Getting A Vaccine Shot – Elvis Style December 19, 2020
- What Elvis Would Look Like at 75 December 16, 2020
- Elvis Has Left the Building December 10, 2020
- Buy an Elvis Christmas Gift for Yourself December 4, 2020
- Tony Curtis, Elvis, and Ducktails November 29, 2020
- A Thanksgiving Prayer In The Times of Covid November 25, 2020
- Variations on the Iconic Jailhouse Rock Image November 21, 2020
- Col. Parker Masterminds the Elvis Summer Festival November 13, 2020
- A Closer Look at Elvis’ Gold Lamé Suit November 7, 2020
- Elvis Pics, Pics, and More Pics November 1, 2020
- Tickle Me October 24, 2020
- The Women Who Loved Elvis October 17, 2020
- 75 Reasons We (Still) Love Elvis October 9, 2020
- Another Assortment of Elvis Goodies That Need a New Home October 3, 2020
- The King Revealed September 26, 2020
- Amusing Captions for Elvis Photos September 23, 2020
- FBI Investigates the Strange Elvis Pimple Scam September 19, 2020
- I Can’t Believe It. An Elvis Photo I’ve Never Seen Before September 17, 2020
- A Nice Assortment of Elvis Goodies That Need a New Home September 12, 2020
- Elvis Photos in the American Cool Exhibition September 7, 2020
- The End of ElvisBlog — Part 2 September 5, 2020
- Auction Results and Backgrounds on Six Elvis Rings September 3, 2020
- Will Vandals Attack Elvis Statues Next September 2, 2020
- Elvis and Southern Maid Donuts August 29, 2020
- ElvisBlog Before There Were Pictures in Every Post August 22, 2020
- The BIG 50 Auction of Elvis Memorabilia August 19, 2020
- Elvis Movie Bloopers August 15, 2020
- Elvis Movie Posters – from Italy August 11, 2020
- Elvis 30-Year Timeline August 5, 2020
- Elvis and Buddy Holly August 2, 2020
- A Better Use of Time July 28, 2020
- Elvis’ Most Valuable Sunglasses July 25, 2020
- Another Item at the First Rockhurst Auction I Found Interesting July 19, 2020
- Benjamin Storm Keough: 1992 – 2020 July 15, 2020
- Elvis’ PIG Pin July 11, 2020
- The Worst Movie about Elvis – Ever July 6, 2020
- Colonel Parker’s Secret Rules for Elvis Scriptwriters July 3, 2020
- Strange Elvis Searches on the Internet June 27, 2020
- Could It Happen? June 23, 2020
Subscribe to Blog via Email
My Favorite Elvis Links
- Elvis Today — Best blog for Elvis music. From Sweden by Thomas Melin
- Elvis-History-Blog — A detailed look at the history of Elvis by my friend Alan Hanson
- For Elvis Collectors Only Fascinating forums discussing everything Elvis
- Jerry Osborne Elvis collector, author, and expert
- Official Elvis Website Most popular Elvis website, operated by EPE
- Scotty Moore, Legendary Guitarist Detailed look at Scotty Moore and Elvis. Has features you won’t find elsewhere.
- The Mystery Train — Excellent Elvis blog by Troy Yeary