The only album I have bought for myself in the last six months or so is by a Belfast milkman whose real name is Jim Brown, but who performs under the nickname of his vocal twin. He's got the voice of The King.
"It was a hot balmy night in down town Belfast [according to the linear notes]. A man woke up suddenly beside his unconscious young wife. . . 'AH HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE YOU HAVE THE VOICE BOY.' The young man sat bolt upright in bed and said:
"'ARE YOU THE KING?'. . .
"'WHAT I AM SON... IS DEAD. STONE DEAD. AND AH'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M SICK OF BEING DEAD, AH WANNA LIVE ONE MORE TIME. AH WANNA MAKE ONE MORE RECORD...'"
That record is called Gravelands. And ah'm here to tell you, it sounds exactly like Elvis. But not some rehashed or remixed Elvis. It's new Elvis favorites he added to his set list in that land beyond the final curtain. Lennon, Hendrix, Marley, Cobain--- "(Take Another Little) Piece of my Heart" sounding like something from Viva Las Vegas. "(Sitting on the) Dock of the Bay," "Whiskey in the Jar," "No Woman No Cry" transformed. I'm all shook up over it.
This The King fellow pulls it off to a T. Several years back, there mutated forth Dread Zeppelin- a reggae band fronted by an Elvis impersonator, who toured around playing Led Zeppelin covers. Dread Zeppelin had its charm and they milked a couple of albums out of the idea, but ultimately it was only a novelty act. The King is different. Prime example: the first track on Gravelands is a cover of Nirvana's accidental hit "Come As You Are." Never a personal favorite of mine, a sort of interesting yet waterless song as sung by Kurt Cobain, redeemed by the bass and enigmatic lyrics. The King's version absolutely resonates- shockingly good. It rocks and raptures, it sends the creeps scampering along the tips of your nerves. It sends other nerves involuntarily tapping, moving. The style in which it's presented suits perfectly the best elements of the material. I consider it an exceptional song, far better musically than Nirvana's original.
He does the same to "Sweet Home Alabama"- it's a legitimate Elvis song, the sort of music he would have made. The song works for me far better with Elvis as the author and artist than Lenard Skynard.
It's a grand thing, what can I tell you? The King has done a couple of shows here in Dublin. There's a surprising number of Elvis Impersonators, really. Anyway he's the one I'm planning on seeing, if I can.
That shadowy figure who appeared one night and commanded Jim Brown (so the notes in the sleeve relate) to become The King warned-
"IT BETTER BE A BLOCKBUSTER OF A RECORD OR AH'M GONNA KICK SOME ASS."
There is no present danger of celestial karate vengeance. The King's command has been obeyed.
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