Was Elvis Presley Really a Good Musician?

A lot of people brush off Elvis as a no-name when it comes to musicianship and playing guitar. But how about this?.. whilst Elvis Presley’s records are always credited as being produced by various other people – the actual real producer of Elvis’ records was Elvis himself!

Fantastic musical sense

How do we know this?.. because unlike todays’s computer generated records and pop hits where every out-of-tune-note and instrument and effect is added after the separate instrument tracks are added one by one – ALL Elvis’ records were recorded in the studio – LIVE – in a few takes – sometimes 1 – with him at the helm – directing the musicians, the tempos and what he wanted his record to sound like. But we actually know this because all the pre-amble and recording process and him directing the session is still on tape for us all to hear!

Elvis a ‘Musician’ not really – Elvis Musical? Heck yea – he had it in triple SPADES!

He must have been doing something right as he had 18 No.1 hits BEFORE all todays over-reproduced ‘perfect’ conveyor-belt records with millions of dollars promotion and the entire social media network to promote them – he did it with virtually nothing in comparison just on the strength of his records. So I recommend if you are interested in the recording process in Elvis’ day you check out Elvis’ sessions on the Internet.

Could Elvis Presley Play guitar?

Many would say no – but I am a guitarist and I say DEFINITELY. And he had a GREAT sense of timing – just check out the guitar on Mystery Train live 69′ That’s Elvis playing a better rhythm than most pro-players! And remember – he did not ‘practice’ guitar – what he knew he picked up by fooling about and by ear. In other words – if Elvis had been inclined to be a musician (ie a player) he would have definitely excelled no question. But he had other talents and areas of greatness and chose wisely to use other musicians to play for him.