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The Boss Covers The King

November 06, 2003 | People
The new Bruce Springsteen greatest hits collection "The Essential Bruce Springsteen" contains a cover by The Boss of Elvis' "Viva Las vegas". The album will be released on November 11. Sprinsteen, a big Elvis fan who in his early years climbed over the walls surrounding Graceland hoping to be able to meet Elvis in person, has also performed other Elvis classics on stage like Heartbreak Hotel", "Follow That Dream" and "Blue Suede Shoes", but these have not be officially released.
Source:Email
E.J.F... wrote on November 06, 2003
You may like to know that this is not a recent recording by the Boss. This was first available circa 1988 on a 2-CD compilation titled "The Last Temptation of Elvis", produced by the UK Music Paper, New Musical Express. It was the first track on this compilation and yes, Bruce makes a very good rendition of the song. I would love to see a whole CD of The King's songs by The Boss! I'm sure it would be terrific.
Big Boss Man wrote on November 07, 2003
He has also done a very good and quite long(as Elvis in 1969) version of Suspicious Minds.
VanGogh wrote on November 06, 2003
It's a shame that much of that "Last Temptation" CD is so bad. There's a horrific version of "No Room To Rhumba in a Sports Car" on there which is purely making fun of Elvis. It's a terrible song anyway, but this was worse. Anyway, Springsteen is awesome. I have his version of "Follow That Dream" on a bootleg and it's fantastic. He changes many of the lyrics and slows the tempo. It's really heartfelt and amazing. Bruce also borrows a line or two from "King of the Whole Wide World" on his song "Badlands" in 1978 where he sings "Poor man wanna be rich; rich man wanna be king, and a king ain't satified till he rules everything." I love Springsteen and it just goes to show--quality, talented artists respect Elvis Presley and know the worth of his contribution.