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See See Rider

Rating:
4.4 / 5

Words & Music: traditional

I said see, see, see rider
Oh, see what you have done
I said see, see, see rider
Oh, see what you have done
Oh girl, you made me love you
Now, now, now your lovin' man has gone

hear what I say

Well, I'm going away, baby
And I won't be back to fall
Well, I'm going away baby
And I won't be back to fall
And if I find me a good girl
I won't, I won't be back at all

Hear what I say, I said

See see rider,
Oh see what you have done
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Recordingdate: 1970/02/18, first released on: On Stage (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of See See Rider:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(baton)
(guitar)
(drums)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(bells)
(chimes)
(tambourine)
(tympani)
(vibes)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(flute)
(flute)
(flute)
(flute)
(french horn)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with See See Rider.

old shep wrote on April 29, 2008
It was great to here Elvis' version of the old Ma Rainey blues classic, when I bought the On Stage record many years ago.But .. now I have grown to dislike it intensely having heard a thousand and one concert versions since that first hearing.
bajo wrote on November 17, 2008
To me, I always go back to the original On Stage version when I want to hear this song! That's the "master" kill-version to me!
sitdown68 wrote on November 17, 2008
well, logic shows that certain key songs turn into a routine. As Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Leno or whoever have their theme, why shouldn't have Elvis his own. Having never seen the man live on stage, instinct says that the first drum rolls by Tutt surely where the acoustical signal for everyone's adrenalin to roll through ones body ;-) And if it comes to routine, the 68 shows defined what was to come for almost a decade, these shows molded the 70's repertorie in its basics. The four or five other songs he would add in between do not make a big diff'reence. But it wasn't the songs only in Presleys case, it was the whole rest he was surrounded with...
Natha wrote on November 17, 2008
After the really impressive 2001 theme followed by the powerful drums intro this turned into a stunning opening of the shows. A great song, performed with so much drive that it mostly set the evolving show. Listening to the ovational responses by the audience it befitted so well. Always love this song. I don't get tired of listening to it.
Volker Stockel wrote on November 17, 2008
See See Rider always very powerfull. I like the fast and the slow versions. Sung in a way only Elvis could.
theoldscudder wrote on November 17, 2008
Don't care for nothing. I perfer the versions by various blues artists. It was to fast. Too bad because it's a good song.
Steve V wrote on November 17, 2008
The original blues versions of this song are much slower and better. Why did Elvis rush everything? The On Stage version is by far the best because its the slowest of all he did and he put more raw vocal power into it. I always thought Thats All Right Mama should have remained his opening song as it opened his career.
Pedro Nuno wrote on March 03, 2009
The On Stage version is fantastic. Love the one we find in the import Madison release "Event nº 8" from Huston Astrodome 1974, since it does't have the orchestra (that was left out by Elvis in those shows) and we get a fantastic "Jam" sound.
dgirl wrote on March 03, 2009
The On Stage LP is the best. Listen to the difference in that one. The one filmed in Elvis On Tour is good also. All others are run of the mill versions like he was doing it on auto-pilot. Would have been nice to have a studio version around 1969-70 dont you think?
NONE000000 wrote on May 04, 2009
Indeed, the "On Stage" version tops the others, though I kind of recall hearing an excellent rehearsal version somewhere, on some non-official release. I often wonder too why Elvis sped things up so much in later live versions. "Jailhouse Rock" and "What I'd Say" suffered the worst for this, but "See See Rider" also got much too fast. So stick with the "On Stage" version.
shoesuedeblues wrote on May 03, 2010
Got tired of hearing it eventually. Best version probably the On Stage album. So many better songs Elvis could have started the concerts with.
TBG wrote on September 08, 2010
I'd say among top 50 of all songs he ever did. I love this song, great show opener. I agree that the On Stage version was the best. However listening to concert albums, with 2001 kicking it off and then going into the drum roll and See See Rider was a great way of starting the concerts. The reason why the opening songs often where rushed is cause he was nervous every time before going on stage. So he needed to get out some energy, cool down and getting real into it. That's why See See Rider was rushed. But so was That's All Right from TTWII and Blue Suede Shoes from '69.
Sirbalkan wrote on September 08, 2010
The moment that he made it slow during 70s' concert and shakes with the beat coming from the drums, is killing. it fits perfectly.
dgirl wrote on September 08, 2010
Was good for a while but like everything else in his live show, it got faster & rushed over time. Also, the opening song should have changed with every tour like Springsteen does to keep the show fresh & growing.
GeoElvis wrote on September 08, 2010
Fast or Slow, Great song! And fits perfectly after 2001 intro. Long Live The King!!
JLpResLey wrote on September 08, 2010
a great song and a great way to start his shows. Yes, it was rushed but it is understandable. Anyone that has ever been on stage performing in front of a crowd knows what happens to you when you are up there, with all the energy that is coming to you, and an Elvis show was always very energetic. And Elvis was a rock singer, so he should do fast songs. Elvis has often been criticized for rushing his songs, but on the other hand he was also criticized for abandoning faster rock songs, so it is hard to figure out what he should have done to completely please his audience. My favorite version is definitely the on tour version, it blows me away every time I hear it.
TCB1974 wrote on June 04, 2011
This is a great song and show opener! It is absolutely fantastic to hear Elvis perform this. The Elvis show was just the most innovative and exciting venture of the time in my opinion. After the Aloha From Hawaii show the pinnacle of this concept had been achieved and possibly the only thing that could have turned Elvis on again would have been a World tour. We know why that has not happened....
GEORGE (GK) wrote on June 04, 2011
It was a great opening song, regardless of his performance level, or what year. However, I think, he should have stayed with "Thats alright Mama" as his opening song, since this was his first record, and started it all for him and his fans. It worked well, at the Madison Square Garden concerts.
Deano1 wrote on June 05, 2011
I like all the versions that were released on regular RCA releases during his lifetime (including "Elvis In Concert", which I realize was released shortly after his death). I like the fact that Elvis pretty much made this his standard opening number as many fans came to see Elvis based on the "Aloha" show. It would have been nice artistically if he had changed it up more often, but Elvis was again giving the fans at the time what they wanted. This song has become almost as identifiable with Elvis as "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel". My sister's inlaws (not the smartest bunch or the biggest Elvis fans) think the 2001 theme is actually the beginining of "See See Rider"!
CJS wrote on October 26, 2012
A great song! My favorite is the rehearsal version from Feb. 1970 that had been released for the first time on the "Platinum" box set back in 1997.
ElvisSacramento wrote on January 20, 2013
This is such a stellar, fun, iconic, electrifying and unique song and my favorite Elvis version of it is definitely the "On Stage" version. Elvis made the right decision by making this classic blues song his opening song for so very many of his 1970's concerts.
Kenneth wrote on January 20, 2013
Elvis just simply does this song better than anyone else. 5 stars.
Gorse wrote on January 21, 2013
Difficult to rate this song as I have probably heard it too many times, and in many concerts was more of the same. The On Stage version taken separately was new and exciting to me so I will rate it 4 stars on that performance.
sugartummy wrote on April 28, 2013
I love all versions of this song by Elvis, from 1970 right up to the end in 1977. The original blues versions are often boring, because they're slow.(like Ray Charles' version). Elvis isn't the first one who speeds up the song (Laverne Baker), but he makes it his song.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on August 29, 2013
It always, seemed to me, that "See See Rider" was used, "on stage" as a vocal warmup for Elvis. The song, was almost always, the first song, and it loosened him up vocally. The song was good, but, I wish Elvis, would have continued opening his shows, with the stronger song- "That's Alright Mama", his first big "Sun Record" and the "big Bang of Rock-N-Roll". And to change it up, maybe in Vegas, opened the shows with "Viva Las Vegas".
alanfalk wrote on August 29, 2013
Love this song, and never got tired of it, the tempo is spot on to ,it screams rock'n roll. I have heard many versions that Are just as good as the On Tour version(especially from 74-75), and that is on Bootlegs that doesn't even come as multitrack ! Of course that doesn't fit with some peoples favorit tale, that everting Elvis did got vorse over time. And What is that about "elvis rushing EVERYTHING ALWAYS", Are this refering to the live version of Love Letters or T-R-0-U-B-L-E or Burning love or Just Pretend ? (because most versions I have heard of these from 75-76 are either spot on or Even a little bit on the slow side).
GEORGE (GK) wrote on August 29, 2013
Most likely, the faster tempo was to "excite" the audience, and keep the show moving, along. Sometimes, the tempo change worked, and at other times, it didn't. Regardless there was the legenday Elvis Presley, up on the stage, making his fans happy. He could have stood there for an hour just talking to the audience and I would have been happy.
Great Dane wrote on August 29, 2013
I love the On Tour version, i have the vinyl "Standing room Only" and the sound is so powerfull, it beats the blue ray disc. 5 stars for the on tour and 4 for the slower on stage.
JerryNodak wrote on August 29, 2013
Loved it when I first heard it on the "On Stage" LP, but as the years went I grew tired of it. Lumping all the versions together I give the song an overall 3 stars.
cookingfat wrote on September 19, 2013
OK at first, then it got tiresome.So many potentilal show starters and show stoppers and he used the same boring openers.
shawnrw wrote on January 04, 2014
Many versions of this one out there, but I think the version from "On Stage" is by far the best. Fun and to the point rocker, Elvis used it in the 70's to start his concerts. The song makes sparks to be sure.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on August 16, 2015
Which album/C.D. features the "On Tour" version of "See See Rider" ? I too love the version in the concert film.I wish RCA-SONY- would release a soundtrack album to "Elvis On Tour". Go back to the video and go through the audio and find each performance that appears in the film..and release it on a remastered C.D. RCA could work a deal to package the C.D. with the DVD movie. Just a thought
Great Dane wrote on August 16, 2015
I have the soundtracks from "On Tour" on vinyl, they are not from RCA (Laurel and Lisa records), but they sound good. I play them regularly and even without the visual i like it a lot, especially "CC Rider" and "Never been to Spain" are favorites played loud.
mypoint wrote on August 16, 2015
The Aloha is my favourite version. The drum roll from Tutt into the opening bars is flawless. It is the first time I remember seeing Elvis and it is what made me a fan.
Jim Davidson wrote on August 16, 2015
CC Rider is "the" opening song. Big Boss Man seems flat. To me, the shortfall is Elvis' inconsistent energy level as time went on -- not the song list.
atomic powered poste wrote on November 28, 2019
I really don't know why elvis was using this tune almost all the time as his concert opener during the 70's. This song wasn't associated with him - and none of his versions is a contender for the title "ultimate rendition of ssr". Anyway, even if bob lannings drums are very one dimensional on the on stage album, that's the only elvis version i care for. Elvis sounds very powerful here, all the later versions are mediocre or worse. 4 stars for the on stage version.
bajo wrote on October 28, 2020
It is kinda strange to read what oneself wrote about this song years ago!, But, it still stands. The On Stage version is the "master" of all Elvis' renditions. Why it ended up as his most used show opener us beyond me. But, I prefer it over a rushed That's All Right or Big Boss Man for that matter. In the end it all became: "The Show Must Go On". It didn't....
Cruiser621 wrote on October 28, 2020
5-stars for sure as to this song, but I agree, as time wore on, he kept speeding it up, much as he did with his "oldies grouping" (Don't Be Cruel/Teddy Bear, etc.) which he really should have stopped doing them if he thought so little of his past.
Milky White Way wrote on March 10, 2022
He started using this song as an opener in his Feb 72 Vegas season. He sang it really well here, almost as good as Feb 70. But I agree with everyone else, On Stage is the best version. 4 stars
DerekH wrote on December 02, 2022
After those terrible mid 60's movie records at last we had our Elvis back,,,
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