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Down in the Alley

Rating:
4.4 / 5

Words & Music: Jesse Stone

Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane Jane
Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane Jane
Down in the alley, just you and me
We're going bowlin' till half past three
Just rockin' and reelin', we'll get that feelin'
Down in the alley, oh baby gee

I wake you now and dig you later
'cause you're a fine sweet potato
We'll have a ball and that ain't all
Down in the alley, just you and me

The clock is striking a mournful sound
This time of evening my love comes down
That's when I'm missin' your kind of kissin'
Down in the alley, that's where I'll be

Down in the alley, we sure have fun
We just get started 'bout half past one
So if you're 'round just come on down
Down in the alley and you will see

Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane Jane
Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane Jane
Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane Jane
Janie, Janie, Janie, Janie, Jane

Recordingdate: 1966/05/25, first released on: Spinout (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Down in the Alley:

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

Availability

Find available albums with Down in the Alley.

Lex wrote on January 09, 2009
Love this bluesy song, the bonus songs were the only reason to buy the album.
JLpResLey wrote on February 12, 2010
Not so crazy about the studio version, which I think is a bit overrated. However, I really enjoy the live version from 1974. It would have been nice if Elvis continued doing this song on stage
old shep wrote on February 12, 2010
California Holiday as it was called in the UK was perhaps not the best of Elvis' soundtracks apart from All That I am and the outstanding bonus songs. Dylan's Tomorrow is a Long Time, The lovely I'll Remember You and the this old Clovers hit showed what Elvis could do with the right material. It was interesting to see the line up of musicians for this album which appeared on an Australian fan site. They included a virtual Who's Who of top Nashville session people including James Burton.
JerryNodak wrote on February 12, 2010
Never cared for this song.
Steve V wrote on February 12, 2010
Better than the film songs on that LP, but the arrangement could have been better.
Deano1 wrote on February 12, 2010
Recorded in 1966 and included as a bonus song on the soundtrack LP "Spinout". This track is a nice bluesy song that Elvis really seems to enjoy singing. Not a great song, but a solid 4 star effort. Overall the LP "Spinout" was a notch above the soundtracks released before it ("Harum Scarum", "Frankie And Johnny" and "Paradise, Hawaiian Style) as it contained some decent rock tracks and ballads from the movie and three fine bonus songs. The only real unacceptable tune on the LP was "Beach Shack".
shoesuedeblues wrote on February 12, 2010
Always rated this one. The soundtrack albums were so bad around this period so the "bonus" songs were welcome.
dgirl wrote on February 12, 2010
Spinout was a welcome soundtrack after so many bad ones, and the bonus songs were even better than before. I like this one as Elvis reverted back to 50's R&B. Not a classic, but solid.
NONE000000 wrote on February 13, 2010
It's certainly a lot better than the soundtrack songs also on the same album, but it still feels a little off to me. I mean, I like it, and I liked the 1974 version, but something about it feels a little inauthentic or something. In other words, when I hear Elvis sing "Reconsider Baby" or "When It Rains It Really Pours" or even "Merry Christmas Baby" it feels like more heartfelt blues to me. "Down In The Alley"--while still a cool song that I like--just doesn't feel quite right. Maybe it is the arrangement? I have never been able to put my finger on it exactly. But even with all that said, I do like the song.
ElvisSacramento wrote on December 09, 2012
I've always admired this bluesy song immensely and I've never skipped it while listening to any Elvis CD that it's on. Elvis' renditions of it were all brilliant.
Gorse wrote on December 09, 2012
A mini Elvis classic to my ears with the maestro getting right into the guts of the song. The 69 sessions did not put this r&b number to shame ; yes a real top notch performance all round.
kink56 wrote on December 09, 2012
My favorite 60's soundtrack album and the 3 bonus songs were top notch, as were the whole side two of Clambake. Down in the Alley was a very welcome addition.
sugartummy wrote on March 02, 2013
This was recorded during a gospel session. A good way to blow of steam I guess. As good as the version by The Clovers.
Cruiser621 wrote on August 15, 2014
Don't care for this song, period! Probably because of the hokey "sitar" like sound that should have been a guitar. 1-Star if that.
trudygillenwater wrote on April 20, 2015
I love Down In The Alley! ELVIS sings great (as always) and the musicians are great. Classic R&B by The King!
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