“A Teenager In Love,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “Can’t Get Used To Losing You.” There’s not much in early rock history that can equal those songs. Doc Pomus wrote hit after hit with an array of songwriting partners with Mort Shuman chief among them. Together they created a template for the sound of the late 1950s and early ’60s. Writing timeless classics covered by artists around the globe, one artist was King—Elvis Presley. Pomus/Shuman were the names on the sheet music for many a remarkable Elvis recording. “Viva Las Vegas,” “(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame,” “She’s Not You”—all classics. So, where do all those songs start? The demos. Painstakingly transferred, restored and mastered from the original acetates with full approval and cooperation of the Pomus estate, Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos) explores the recordings submitted to Presley for his consideration to record. Some (the afore mentioned hits and more) were recorded and released by Elvis, while others fell by the wayside for reasons lost to time, or recorded by other artists, and we’re left to imagine what might have been had The King recorded and released them.
Available on a double opaque orange-colored LP for Record Sore Day, the origins of rock ’n’ roll are in full force on Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos). Hear what Elvis heard for yourself and wonder what could have been! Viva Doc Pomus indeed!