The Earth Moved

[PeterSt]

Well well well ...

I guess this will be a kind of strange post, especially because it will look "bad" what I am going to say. Or whatever, but I feel I have some difficulties with expressing about my fever. OK, Fever.

Ahum.

Who on earth has decided that there's something in this Elvis track that is any good ??
Come on ! I can have one expression for this only, and I already said about literally the same with last Christmas : "It is now even so that those old Christmas songs show real basses !" (and I mean the upright ones).
But this Elvis-Fever would be a fairly badly selection of that.

But say just a recorded bass from back in the days. And yes (start laughing now) with some luck down do 45Hz, but I'm thinking of eating a hat if really so).

I tried to envision : how can people play this as a blasting bass (from the first second and at least that's what I got from that blog), with in my mind "is it me / my system ?".
So I listened carefully and further envisioned how the track is actually meant to be. So there's a quite forwardly singing Mr Presley but softly at the same time. This is no hard-slamming song at all. It is meant to be quiet. The bass is played explicitly quiet as well. Dream away into your fevers or so.
I'd even say that those basses are played rarely so softly. Listen to the plucking of the strings; it hardly happens (or otherwise the metal would bounce against the neck).

If I had to play this bass loudly (like in slam etc.) then Elvis' voice would break my windows.
So what's up with this ?

I for 100% sure must be missing something;
I found the track on The Dali CD Vol.3. So must be worth something. Or maybe not, I am not sure. Played the first 4 tracks but at the 4th I hopped over to Take 5 because I was fed up with the 4th woman on it. Still the Dali CD's are regarded Audiophile, right ?
Btw, also have the original, and is exactly the same I think (and very low compression).
Also tried an MP3 I had of it, in the hope that it would be a remaster and compressed (more bass) version. but again the same.
It just is so and it just is "nothing". Sorry.

Ah, you don't understand (like me myself actually). Well, then try the version of Peggy Lee. Want to hear a bass ? one which sounds superbly with all the air in it as how those basses can sound these days (through speakers I mean) ? Try that. Or the one from Ray Charles, same thing.
But also same thing, and especially the Peggy Lee version shows that very well ... it is a very quiet song. No strong basses belong to it at all. Merely kissing them - that's my idea and regarding this the Peggy Lee version is a real beauty. Byyyy the way, very loooong metal rattling of the strings against the neck here, but that can also be done when playing quietly.

After this I played Elvis (hey) Costello's Watching The Detectives. Level of his voice maybe a small tad louder than the other Elvis. But then the bass. OK, Electric one but plays in the same key. Estimate ? 6dB louder than Elvis his poor little bassy.

Now those who can perceive a rambamdangslam Elvis bass, please step forward and tell me how it works. It's on that Dali CD for a reason and it is played at shows for a reason (not that I ever heard that, but this will be because of the overvoicing Chris Jones' et all.

???

Peter

PS: This Elvis song should be played on shows etc. because the voice is completely beautiful (and beautifully rendered).