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Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues
Words & Music:
Danny O'KeefeEverybody's gone away
Said they're movin to L.A.
There's not a soul I know around
Everybody's leavin' town
Some caught a freight, some caught a plane
Found the sunshine in the rain
They said this town's will waste their time
I guess they're right, it's wasting mine
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
You know my heart keeps tellin' me
You're not a kid at thirty-three
Play around you'll lose your wife
You play it too long you'll lose your life
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues Recorded:
1973/12/13, first released on
Good TimesReactions
Too bad the author of the song didn't like Elvis' version. I love it.
For those too ignorant to realize it the word "blues" in the title of the song has nothing to do with the genre in which the tune belongs but the mental state of the person the song is about. I'm sure "The King" could have "goosed" it up and made a blues song out of it but he sang it the way he was feeling at the time. "The King" did a fantastic job of it.
After the pretty mediocre recording sessions in the Summer of 1973, Elvis was in top notch form again during the Stax recording sessions in December 1973. His voice was strong and warm, excellent for an intimate delivery of this song with pretty desperate lyrics. Like listening to your friend instead of the greatest superstar that ever walked the surface of this planet. Four stars from me.
I really love this song. One of the highlights on "Good Times". I especially like the live version on Opening Night August 1974. He does a great job there.
Good song, but not 'blues' at all, more like country. I agree not single material but I'm glad its on the album. An album in which like most 70's albums, is a very uneven affair with only a few solid songs on each side. At least this proved he was still listening to contemporary music. BTW, Needles, Calif is the reference in Never Been To Spain. For those that thought a drug reference, wow.
This is not a blues song but a country ballad, even though the word blues is in the title. What's this about a 'needles' reference in 'Never Been to Spain'? It's not 'needles' but Needles, a city in the Mojave Desert: 'So I headed for Las Vegas, only made it out to Needles'.
Strong vocals by Elvis on a solid song produces a slightly above average album cut that completes a uneven LP "Good Times". Album filler, not really worthy of a single especially since Danny O'Keefe had already released his version, but album filler does not mean bad, it just means it fills in an album, but it isn't a standouot. I prefer "My Boy", "Lovin Arms", "I Got A Feelin' In My Body" and "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" from the same album to this song. 3 stars maybe 3 1/2 depending on what my mood is that day.
A great blues cut which, more than any other Elvis blues cover, lives up to its name. Its tragic air does not undermine the quality of the performance, focused and impassioned as it is. Thank God he chose to sing it live. As for the lyrical omission, perhaps he anticipated that it would be more notable by its absence, than if he had left it in. That would explain why few people comment on the "needles" reference in "Never Been to Spain". Perhaps Good Time Charlie was crying out for help on that December night.
This is a great song and Elvis does a great job, but the missing verse is vital. Gives a whole new meaning to the song. Wonder why he left it out?
Fantastic Song, Elvis Making A Ok Song Into A Great Chilled Out Bluesy Song. Elvis In Full Control With His Voice And The Guitar Work Is Just Fantastic. TCB
A really good song from a good album. A great track to chill out with accompanied by a few beers.
great song. I love also Willie Nelson's version, with the "pills"-part
One of my favourite ballads from the 70s and one of the few post '72 songs I really love. A pity he skipped the pills verse, the pleasure could have lasted longer.
Available Alternate Versions