The Gates of Graceland - The Jungle Room Sessions

In this episode of our web series, The Gates of Graceland, host Tom Brown and Graceland's Director of Archives Angie Marchese take a look at Elvis' Jungle Room sessions. Hear Elvis' Jungle Room sessions in a new 2-disc collection, "Way Down In the Jungle Room," which is available now.
Learn where and how Elvis recorded inside the Jungle Room and find out about Elvis' song selections for the recording sessions. Also, hear from the engineers who were there for the sessions.
Have you experienced the Jungle Room? It's a must-see. Buy your Graceland tickets now at Graceland.com and stand near where Elvis stood for these iconic sessions.

[@clifffor1179]

Wish there was more footage of Elvis from the final years..after 1973 and Aloha there is a huge gap where you don't see Elvis in anything. If these sessions were recorded on the camera we want to see it and if Feelings can be recovered from the tapes we want to hear it...and what about the rehearsals and warm ups why didn't they record that? The way down in the Jungle room album was a revelation. They'd been so many critics and stories about how Elvis didn't want to record how down he was and how his voice wasn't what it was. His voice had never sounded stronger and he really put himself into those songs. Love the 70's Elvis.

[@gracieg7601]

So interesting that he always warmed up with gospel music which was Elvis first love. He was planning a gospel tour after he got back from the tour that never happened.

[@roymarksberry4152]

What a beautiful room

[@sherrelhauhe7791]

Amazing facts shared about our iconic and beautiful man Elvis !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[@moviestarmemories630]

I still love "feelings"....I was a kid when it came out and still have that 45.Talk about a blast from the past.

[@honkytonk2010]

Wow! thank you for sharing your amazing! video

[@michaelrawson6261]

Recently discovered this smashing series, top bloke Tom and the wonderful Angie. Back in the day, I bought two copies of each of these albums. I've played and played one of each of them, but neither of the other copies has been out of its sleeve since the day I bought them, inspected them and put them back in. I've "double purchased" a number of albums in my collection and I love them all, but not many mean as much as these two.

[@_CoolHandLuke_]

For the heart is my favorite one recorded in the Den.

[@roymarksberry4152]

Great video I love the story behind the room

[@doomgloom8414]

TOM BROWN: Very cool shirt. TCB⚡

[@paulettekershner7464]

Whenever I see this I cannot help but remember my dear friend Mike McGregor and all the wonderful stories he told me about Elvis and the good times he had in this room. Miss you Mike and miss you my dear, dear Elvis. Paulette Kershner

[@roymarksberry4152]

That is so cool and recorded there

[@jamesjames3525]

I bought that 1976 LP. Still have it today and I treasure it. Thank you once again for this series of Videos. They are so Unique. Long Live The Great KIng Man.

[@exdus235]

Thank goodness for archives. 👌

[@lindaweinstein4846]

To actually be there or anywhere Elvis was HOLY SMOKES 🌟🌟🌟⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@beverleytinker2318]

All I can say is WOW !!!!!!! Talk about Elvis history this was such a great show and really brought Elvis back to us if only for a brief time..Thank You Both🌹🌹

[@gtorjoepontiac5136]

Probably my favorite release. I always wished I could have been there, in that moment. To save him.

[@cbigb1000]

Every episode of this series blows me away!! Thank you!

[@samsvita5475]

These videos are so great, thank you for sharing!!

[@kimmypresley6621]

Love this series

[@broken1394]

Truly amazing! You folks really bring Elvis back in a BIG way through this whole series. I'm saving to visit graceland. ❤

[@gracieg7601]

I think It’s just so terrific that he got to do recording st home.

[@mmhthree]

I wish we couldve seen video of Elvis recording in the Jungle Room... Enjoying this series, of course! Thanks!

[@francoisfavreau769]

they had a live feed camera in the RCA truck but i dont know if they recorded.

[@jamessorreda4483]

@@francoisfavreau769 it would be cool if they actually did.

[@gracieg7601]

I agree of course.

[@bcoats5277]

I love love love both of these albums. I never get tired of listening to them. Both albums are fantastic!!! I don't know about everyone else, but I can feel his pain (heartache) when I listen to them.

[@marciabrasileiro7554]

b coats Yes I feel too.

[@sandralybrand9407]

I can too! You can hear it when he sings and you know it by his song choices.

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Really wished he'd lived thru 1978, he had lots of great song to record.....

[@ssameiroyf]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@AdrianTurpin]

Great stuff... really interesting... I've stood in the Jungle Room which makes it even more fascinating..!

[@kathymabry8684]

I love this series. Thank you for giving us an inside glimpse.

[@carol2girls]

Thanks for sharing

[@JulieSmith-oc3nw]

Hi Tom Hi Angie. Angie you know you have the best job ever. I'm a Elvis fanatic fan. I mean I researched everything. But seeing his archives and your stories behind everything Vernon saved. Is just amazing how much you know. One day I'm going back to Graceland and I just have to meet you. I have mad respect for you. You're so perfect at it. Thank you for another great video

[@dawnblue4839]

I always look forward to the gates of Graceland.

[@robkenny100]

thank you for this very entertaining series...I was just at Graceland with my Son a few weeks ago...Really looking forward to going back!

[@elvishimselvis4380]

Excellent once again, love this series. Thank you.

[@walterbyrne5888]

You dont appreciate this album until you've been through it yourself.

[@dougdickason]

It's therapy for those going through those feelings.

[@mikeh.8155]

great info that you would hear about nowhere else - thank you!

[@luciano9212]

Excellent ! Thank you.

[@fcontitwo]

,,, this info keeps it fresh !!!! 👍✨🇺🇸✨🌷#thanks

[@braddarnell2498]

Loved this one, I loved seeing the video on the setup of the instruments. Didn't Paul Simon do a Graceland record? Like you guys Elvis's voice when he starts out with "Hurt" is astounding to hear. My family loves Elvis and Graceland, I watch something Elvis ever single day and love to karaoke his songs.

[@cins6827]

This video was done just days after I visited!

[@simonerodrigues9068]

Todas as músicas e as canções gospel que o Elvis Presley cantou, são exclusivas para mim.

[@VictoriasRoses]

I love this series! Every time I see the Jungle Room it reminds me of my Grandparents. They had a coffee table that was the same made out of wood varnished. They lived at the Oregon Coast and it was so perfect for their house. Thank you for this series. :)

[@tallman4040]

Note the roy hamilton album has Unchained melody which ended up on the moody blue album.

[@tommyboo21]

Thanks for a great presentation. Though I have FTDs Jungle Room Sessions I can't wait to get my copy of this new Way Down release.

[@bringyourownbrilliance4353]

This is my favourite period of Elvis' recording catalogue. Now they mention some "raw video" may exist? Hopefully, it actually does by virtue of the simple fact they mention it here. Hmm. I wonder if they will include the video footage on the Way Down release anticipated in August 2016? Let's keep our finger's crossed.

[@J.R.TheKingOfLondon]

You must have misheard. At no point do they mention the existence of raw video. The RCA engineer says they had cameras set up in the jungle room, but nobody mentions anything was videotaped.

[@bringyourownbrilliance4353]

You are right, J. R. I am being overly optimistic.

[@juliemontileaux7467]

Amazing

[@vashsant]

Wonderful. Any chance we will ever see an episode of going through Vernon's office and all the "hoarded" stuff from the family?

[@pardefarmeaurx3720]

Wow you can see the smudges and finger prints from Elvis' hands all over that record.

[@toddhensley880]

I’d be terrified to hold those records. I’d drop one for sure.

[@dawnrseaman3803]

Had to have great sound in there I'm sure.it does make sense

[@geordab]

I would have loved if they'd played the "Recording References!!"

[@miguelaguilera3462]

Great vídeo!! Thanks for sharing! Saludos.

[@loriej4504]

WOW! I just ordered this CD so excited!!

[@gaylegardinerankerry12123]

THANKS TOM AND ANGIE

[@sandralybrand9425]

Those are 2 of my favorite albums along with the American. Studio sessions. I think it was his best work in the 70$! That's when he started to pick what He wanted to record, instead of RCA and Parker.

[@thesouthwasright3253]

EPIC!

[@izabelcristinamachadodossa462]

the jungle room sessions., harryp for video. Elvis Presley

[@QueenCreole77]

I hadn’t heard the story about the RCA truck breaking down. I can just picture that😉

[@steveg.3974]

During these recordings, Elvis often kept the band/musicians waiting as he stayed upstairs in his bedroom. Or at other times, did not feel like singing/recording at all.

[@crooning4leftovers125]

And those musicians were paid for every moment of their time, whether Elvis was able to record or not; Presley made sure of that.

[@dougdickason]

The jungleroom sessions are a top 3 of sessions Elvis ever did in my view.

[@patrickreynolds6861]

My cousin went to College (U-Mass) with Mike Morans son. Mid 80's.

[@mochs3869]

Was there never even a single picture taken during those sessions?

[@janemary0001youtub]

These records are full of prints, I’m here wondering if they could all be Elvis’s

[@michaelrawson6261]

What a wonderful thought! As someone who loves collecting vinyl, I was so busy cringing at the records being stacked on Angie's lap whilst NOT in their protective sleeves, it didn't occur to me that such a lovely thing about the fingerprints might be the case. Thank you 🤓

[@gvalentino1]

Eh, Tom and Angie, how are you doing? This a great series and I hope you produce lots more. So... The coffee table, I know where it came from, and guess what? I have a coffee table from the same tree as the one in the Jungle Room. My question is; How the hell did Elvis find out about the Judd Furniture company in a small town like Waterford, Ontario, Canada? The process of making this furniture was a lengthy one but was very popular in this area. The first time I toured Graceland, it struck my how similar the tables were. It's cool to know I have a connection, there.

[@jamesstephenson8789]

I’d love to see your video of them during the session

[@patbertschinger8080]

How Great He Was. !!!!

[@marciabrasileiro7554]

Pat Bertschinger Yes!! Giant!!!!

[@vincentlattanzi8382]

will we ever see the film footage from the rca truck?

[@John-vk4gs]

Why aren’t there any photos of these sessions ???

[@2packs4sure]

A Zenith console stereo? You'd think everything would be RCA Victor..

[@roymarksberry4152]

They need to let ghost adventures come in

[@Hazelnut22]

Tom loves saying... Archival. ;)

[@noahh9472]

Could we get a list of songs he liked

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Does anyone know the acetates Colonel gave away after elvis died..?

[@daynewell4709]

Nobody should be able too ever sing in that museum ! Ever! Kid rock? A joke!

[@FollowThatDream76]

Did anyone else play in the Jungle Room?

[@BronsonOsborne]

did you not watch the video

[@ymtrott]

@@BronsonOsborne smart answer no need for it

[@BronsonOsborne]

@@ymtrott well did you

[@gracieg7601]

They just said Lisa recorded there and a couple of others.

[@m.walters4879]

Ernst Jorgensen did not write, "Elvis Day by Day," Peter Guralnick did.

[@izabelcristinamachadodossa462]

the jungue

[@JennyB957]

really though sweetie you really try to keep the songs simular on a album

[@lori3865]

All the Teddy Bears hmmm

[@dbevit]

MarchesE not MarchesI

[@gusjackson3658]

Gushy stuff. Not accurate. At the time he had lost all interest in music and only recorded at all when he was nagged into fulfilling his RCA contract. Most of the time he did no work, lay in his room sleeping all day and by night juggled girlfriends and read religious books and karate and car magazines. His songs were low grade by 76 because Parker demanded a cut of a writer’s copyright, so only the more desperate mediocre ones got through. It wasn’t fun. The musicians waited for days for Elvis to show up and were steamed when he finally got there. The more decent ones were shocked and concerned by his bloated and pale condition and his unstable temperament. Only Elvis could have saved Elvis. And he just didn’t.

[@gusjackson3658]

Joshy Presley Happy fro be corrected. Tell me your facts please.

[@anonymous11201]

They would know better than you would. They work at Graceland. Do you? Just because you read something somewhere, does not make it true. Angie works in archives, this is her job. This video is either completely accurate or at least 90% accurate. He did spend his time depressed in his room, reading spiritual books. But if you were not in the Jungle Room during the sessions, or do not work at Graceland, you wouldn’t know. And to contradict the recording manager, I am disgusted.