Softly

Lee 'Memphis King'  often includes some quite unusual and obscure Elvis songs in his shows and we receive lots of positive comments and questions about "Softly As I Leave You" .

The song was composed by Antonio DeVita with original Italian lyrics by Giorgio Calabrese and was first performed at the 1960 San Remo Music Festival under its original title "Piano" ("Softly").

The English songwriter Hal Shaper noticed the song and in 1961 wrote English lyrics to the melody calling it "Softly As I Leave You".  It is best known to UK audiences in the version by Matt Monro who had a huge hit worldwide with his 1962 recording.  The song has also been covered at various times by Frank Sinatra,  Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Doris Day and Shirley Bassey among others and as recently as in 2004 by Michael Buble.

None of these versions has the emotional poignancy and unique interpretation which Elvis gave to the song recorded live in Las Vegas in both 1973 and 1975 performed with one of his backing vocalists, Sheril Nielson. The song was later released as a 45 rpm single in 1978 (a double 'A'  side with "Unchained Melody").  

Lee captures the essence of Elvis's performance in his equally moving version in "One Night with Elvis".

Just Pretend

Another song included from time to time by Lee Memphis King in his concerts  is 'Just Pretend'. Surprisingly this more unusual Elvis song, but a favourite among dedicated Elvis fans, was also written by English composers. Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett enjoyed big success with names like Cliff Richard ('Power To All Our Friends', 'Sing A Song Of Freedom' and 'With The Eyes Of A Child') among others. They had already contributed a song to The King's  'Flaming Star' album and were invited by Elvis's office to submit others. Among these was 'Just Pretend' .  It is said to be Lisa Marie Presley's favourite song by her father and also that of Presley's musical director Joe Guercio.

'Just Pretend'  was recorded June 6, 1970 and  first released on  the LP "That's The Way It Is".