BSPH: Elvis Presley - Let Yourself Go

"Let Yourself Go" is a song performed by Elvis Presley and written by Joy Byers. It was released in 1968 on the soundtrack for film "Speedway" (his team-up with Nancy Sinatra, also home of the eternal "Your Groovy Self"). Late sixties were hard time for The King. Due to his questionable career choices (films, gospel records, etc) he became irrelevant relic of the past. It was only in 1969 when he did a Comeback Special he returned to public consciousness as The King. So when "Let Yourself Go" was released as a single it predictably but unfairly flopped. However, it was later used in Comeback Special in a truncated galloping form to great success.

"Let Yourself Go" is one of the best Elvis' songs even though today it is barely talked about (a line or two in general context doesn't count). I guess one of the reasons is that it is male-dominant love song about emotional submission - kinda unfashionable today but it's Elvis so just don't think too hard about it, ok? Listen to it - it drips with cool. It has this old-school Rhythm'n'Blues vibe in it as if Elvis was trying to do "Motown sound as seen by Elvis". Unlike many other Elvis' recordings of that period - there is no sonic overkill - saccharine overproduction - its arrangement is stripped to the bone and thus effective.

Backbone of "Let Yourself Go" is in pulsing brass fills and vamp piano stomping in the background. Elvis croons in his signature cocky confident manner but is somewhat more vicious and sleazy. He's in ironic mode due to unmistakingly predatory lyrics. How else you can deliver lines like "I'm gonna teach you what love's all about..." or "...don't be afraid just relax and take it real slow" without tongue firmly in cheek? The drums roll around and then march on the choruses. Guitar is adding some twangs here and there but really comes to the forth in the middle section before going into jangy passionate solo. Harmonica and doo-wop backing vocals join on second verse. The song keeps the tension building and then just ends as if it was never meaning to do anything. Lack of closure gives weird feeling.

But who cares - the song is great. (also check out Danzig rendition. It is also cool).