Elvis Presley - A Big Hunk O' Love - From First Take to the Master

Elvis’ final recording session of the fifties yielded five songs from within RCA’s Studio B in Nashville on 10 June 1958. None of the five were ballad, all rock ‘n’ roll and all at a medium to fast tempo and almost none of the songs were completed quickly.
The second of the five was “A Big Hunk O’ Love” which was the only song which Elvis did not manage to complete a single take master. It was also the song which Elvis and the band used the least amount of takes. After just four takes, all complete, the decision was taken to create a master by splicing parts of takes three and four. The slice however was unusual in that it was not different parts of Elvis’ vocal that were chosen. Instead, all of Elvis’ vocal from take four was used with the instrumental break replaced with that of take three.
The final master is very distinct in that Elvis uses a style of vocal almost unique to this recording and makes for a superb performance. Despite the success of the single, it was almost fourteen years before the song was performed live on stage by Elvis. This is of course mitigated by Elvis’ national service and Hollywood contracts curtailing his live appearances, with none for almost eight and a half years.
This first live rendition, included in this compilation, is one of the finest pieces of live rock ‘n’ roll by Elvis in the seventies. It sees him almost spit out the words at times - who said Elvis in the seventies couldn’t do rock ‘n’ rol!!?
As with all of these videos, to get the most out of the re-edited audio, I highly recommend you use ear /headphones and turn the volume up as much as you dare!

[@MarkRogersVOCFB]

One of my all-time favorites. Thanks Leon.

[@davidrennicke9852]

A rocking #1 hit for Elvis before he went into the Army.

[@marjlazar968]

Love this!! Thanks for sharing❤

[@memphisrocks1]

Elvis Aaron Presley is Incredible. The one and only True King of All Music and Entertainment. Until The End Of Time

[@terri6854]

He was only the king of singing, really.

[@manueltelechea3620]

Y te parece poco ?

[@irenesteiner7591]

Absolutly powerfull ELVIS ❤👑❤

[@divinorodriguesdemattosrod7228]

❤ magia 🎉🎉

[@helenludlow2331]

such a fantastic pop/rock song and Elvis was the master at this time in his life - awesome 🎶🎧🎵🎤

[@jameskaft5233]

pop/rock my ass ! This is called Rock n Roll !

[@user-lk8bz4xi1u]

Great piano play with the greatest voices

[@oddjobtriumph1635]

Floyd Cramer on piano

[@syl4058]

Haha,can’t imagine this song been released for 65 years!!

[@stephanePerras69]

i freakin love that song! he is the King!

[@Jeri_C11]

Thanks Leon. 😊 Loved it. 🎸🕺🏻🎤🙋🏼‍♀️

[@jariheikkila4782]

Good ol rock'n roll 🎤🇫🇮

[@koreanelvis]

Personally, (as an Elvis Presley impersonator) I have never gotten a request for this song, but I’ve performed it once or twice. I can’t pull off the raw energy as Elvis could. Thank you Leon for this AMAZING UPLOAD!! Aloha.

[@karentranter7806]

Hi Leon ♥ I Love a big hunk of love. Thank you xxx 💝 🤗

[@karentranter7806]

@@clevec.claire hi Claire ♥ Lovely to hear from you. How are you my lovely friend? What a great song, like you say Elvis is fantastic!!!! Take care Claire ♥ Xxx 💝 🤗

[@joeblack8915]

I disagree with the comment about Elvis' live 70s versions. It's obvious they were just rushed, shortened versions, included because fans expected an inclusion of some early hits, which Elvis obliged. As a fan of almost 50 years' standing, I can't say I'm a fan of his '70s live versions of his '50s rockers. In my opinion, the last time he sang them with any passion or conviction was in the 1968 comeback special, not that it included this one, obviously. As to splicing takes three and four together, they should have had take four as the master. I find it strange that they replaced the instrumental break of take four with that of take three, as I think take four has the more exciting instrumental break.

[@meetontheledge1380]

Take 4 is absolutely unhinged- a moment of cosmic talent caught at (one of) his peaks. Maybe wearing his Army uniform and shorn of his hair-he super-compensated. That is Hank Sugarfoot Garland on lead. This music has become so ''canonized'' that it is worth pointing out to the generation that saw his arrival (like my mother) that these licks are as ''hard'' as ANYTHING from the entire Age of Rock. Big Hunk of Love can stand alongside anything Led Zeppelin, Free, Skynyrd or any other classic Hard Rock band ever recorded. The Sex Pistols had nothing on the sheer ''rudeness'' of those guitar lines! Garland may, indeed, have been too great. There remain serious suspicions as to the circumstances of his car wreck. As for the 70's versions, I think he was bored with them and also realized that the era of ending shows with THIRTY choruses of Hound Dog had passed. He also had a responsibility to taking care of his voice- reproducing Jailhouse Rock would be a dangerous to reproduce twice a night in Vegas. As for when was the ''last time'' he went all out with those songs-the very first Vegas engagement, Summer of '69 are INTENSE. He sang with all the raunch and grit of the Comeback show. It is unfortunate that those shows were not filmed (I've read that he was actually turning ''Summersault's'' on stage-literally risking injuring himself). We are fortunate that at least some of the shows were recorded. He probably just was ready to evolve and he did (AND he took his audience with him, which is always problematic as even Hendrix found out). As for the resource of this channel, what can one say? I'd have never dreamed of such in the 70's (didn't even know that out takes of most of his catalog existed). With Jorgensen's ''A Life In Music'' by my side, I'm going to start with ''My Happiness'' and just do the entire oeuvre one day, very soon. I did it (using the book and YT) in the late 2000's, but the expensive FTD catalog was certainly not available in its entirety on YT and NOTHING like this channel). VERY few Rock musicians would be worth this kind of study (it almost pains me to admit!), but Elvis (like Hendrix, and surprisingly enough, Cobain) can take the scrutiny (and not only as a vocalist and band leader but as a producer. He has never been recognized for his genius in that role).

[@bbo1779]

Fantastic! The first live Big Hunk rules over the later ones IMO.

[@ellensalvatore7235]

Enjoyed every take and love the live performance - great video!

[@daviddavies2072]

Brilliant just Brilliant ❤

[@istvannegazdag6173]

❤️❤️👑👑👑👑👑👑❤️❤️🥰

[@MisterMasterShafter1]

Great stuff as always, Leon.

[@josefreitasoliveira4547]

Fantástico

[@kirsty-marie]

So good, this didn't take him many takes did it?! Do you happen to have from first take to master for Don't Leon?? That is one of my very favourite Elvis songs 🫶🏻⚡️

[@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon]

I''d love to but unfortunately I'm sorry Kirsty-Marie, but all those session tapes are either lost or erased by RCA during a 1959 vault clear out.

[@kirsty-marie]

@@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon 😭 damn you RCA literally no idea what they had 🙏

[@amossamos9382]

A Big Hunk O' Love. A Boy From Tupelo/ Scotty Moore ...1959.

[@elygia]

In the early performance he tried like an apprentice to be seductive, but in his mature voice he claims for the price of.. Seduction ❤

[@Elvisultimatefanchannel]

Great stuff Leon I was looking for an e mail address but couldn't see one. I just wanted you to know that on the upcoming LIVE show this Sunday April 23rd I have chosen this channel as my "KZbin channel I recommend" Just wanted to let you know All the best Leon Steve

[@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon]

Cheers pal, that's very kind - so I've returned the favour and added your' superb channel to my recommended channels. PM me on Facebook and I'll send you my e-mail address.

[@randallries1208]

There's at LEAST 11 takes from 1957 and the last one featured here is from 1972 in Hampton Roads, VA.

[@randallries1208]

Simply, there isn't at least 11 takes here and the last one is a live track from Hampton Roads, VA from 1972. Which certainly isn't the Master.@paulgwyn7836

[@tacticalix]

All these are Elvis!??

[@stephanePerras69]

Yes sir!

[@tacticalix]

@@stephanePerras69 Wow! I always say that the King NEVER ceases to amaze.