HOUND DOG (1956)
Elvis's treatment of Hound Dog is very unlike the 1952 original by Big Mama Thornton, written for her by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. The lyrics were altered to reflect Elvis's gender and to clean up the original's sexual innuendo. Elvis chose 'take 28' of the 31 attempts, but by this time his trusted guitarist Scotty Moore was getting frustrated, so on his second solo - the first is a brilliant spontaneous outing - made a few weird percussive noises and knocked out a couple of random licks. Keith Richards said it sounded like Scotty had thrown the guitar on the floor, picked it up and got the perfect sound.
TOO MUCH (1956)
This track contains one of Scotty Moore's most outlandish solos. We'll let Scotty explain, as he did to Guitarist magazine in 1992. "There's a boy on this tour we just finished, plays every note I ever played - even the bad ones," he jokes. "Too Much was in an unusual key for us at the time. It was in Ab, and we'd done two or three takes, but on this particular cut I just got absolutely bonkers, just got lost, but somehow I came out of it and that's the one Elvis picked. But anyway, this young guitarist would play that sucker note for note!"
LOVE ME TENDER (1956)
This story is from the Summer 2022 edition of Total Guitar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2022 edition of Total Guitar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ihsahn – "Extreme music lends itself well to experimental arrangements"
In an extraordinary double album, former Emperor guitarist Ihsahn delivers new material in two contrasting versions: metal and orchestral. "It was a perfect match," he says, “because my guitar had the same tuning as the cellos!"
Rosie Frater Taylor – "I Love Guitarists That Started in Jazz but Moved Into Pop"
It's a bold claim, but one that we're prepared to make: there is no other guitarist in the UK right now who sounds quite like Rosie Frater-Taylor.
DIRTY SOUND MAGNET
Swiss psychedelic trio Dirty Sound Magnet have created a unique racket that's both thrillingly expansive and potently evocative.
ELECTRO-HARMONIX PICO POG
You should be familiar with the Electro-Harmonix POG- it's the Polyphonic Octave Generator that set the standard for multistring, multi-octave layering and has graced the pedalboards of legends ranging from Jack White to Joe Satriani.
BOSS KATANA AIR EX
More Air, vicar? Boss pump up their popular wireless desktop amp
FGN BOUNDARY ILIAD BIL2MHS
With Japanese quality and top tones, could this be your next T-style?
THE 2024 GUITAR WORKOUT
Smash your new year guitar goals with our 30-day technical workout
"TAPPING IS THE MOST-USED WEAPON IN MY ARSENAL!"
Jon Gomm's tips for getting more out of your acoustic guitar
"THE BEST GUITAR SOLO IS A SONG WITHIN A SONG"
Ace Frehley: the guitar hero of KISS, and an influence for Tom Morello, Dimebag and many more
"THE SIMPLE PARTS ARE THE HARDEST TO GET RIGHT”
Lzzy Hale's recipe for meaty arena rock and killer tone