A never-before-released song recorded by Elvis Presley nearly 40 years ago was recently unearthed and will be issued Oct. 7 by RCA on the previously announced compilation, “Elvis 2nd to None.” The announcement came Friday on the eve of the 26th anniversary of Presley’s death, on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42.
The song, “I’m a Roustabout,” originally was written and recorded for the 1964 Presley film “Roustabout,” co-starring Barbara Stanwyck, but the song was rejected by producers and never used. A completely different tune ultimately became the title song for both the movie “Roustabout” and the No. 1 album of the same name.
Meanwhile, an acetate recording of the original “I’m a Roustabout” sat for decades, undiscovered in the private collection of songwriter Winfield Scott, who composed it with longtime partner Otis Blackwell.
Neither of the men ever met Presley. Blackwell, who died last year, also shared credits on such Presley hits as “All Shook Up” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” as well as “Great Balls of Fire” for Jerry Lee Lewis.
Scott, now in his 80s, said he happened across the unmarked recording of “I’m a Roustabout” in the basement of his New Jersey home several years ago but didn’t think much of it.
“I know it sounds strange, but I had actually forgotten about it. It was just laying around, along with a whole slew of other demos and a couple hundred songs,” he said. “At the time, I said, ‘Well gee, I wonder why [Presley] never released it?’ And then I just put it back with the rest of the demos until later on.”
The disc remained stashed away until Scott mentioned the song years later to a reporter. That reporter in turn mentioned it in an interview with RCA producer-researcher Ernst Jorgensen, who later contacted Scott, listened to the disc and arranged for the label to obtain the recording.
“Elvis 2nd to None” will be the follow-up to last year’s compilation album “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits,” which has sold 9 million copies worldwide, according to the label. Among the hits from that album was the No. 1 dance remix of the previously obscure 1968 Presley tune, “A Little Less Conversation.”
The latest Elvis set will feature additional No. 1 hits from the King and lesser-known classics such as his first recorded single, “That’s All Right,” and a remixed version of the 1969 song “Rubberneckin,” given a contemporary treatment by leading DJ Paul Oakenfold.
Hoping to repeat the success of last year’s “Little Less Conversation” remix, “Rubberneckin'” will be released to U.S. radio outlets Aug. 25 and as a commercial single on Sept. 9.
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