TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

This week's TCBCast starts off strong with a ton of news from Elvis' birthday, including a new tribute single "The Pledge" by fan musicians Chris Fillmore and Ron Glaser. Justin quizzes Gurdip in the new Trivia Game section and then for the main topic, Professor Ladhar cracks open the history books to March 1956, the week before "Heartbreak Hotel" first appeared on the charts, to see what the pop...

We celebrate Elvis' 84th birthday by Justin losing half the audio for this week's episode! What a great start to 2019! Justin talks today's news from the NBC All-Star Special, asks for you to send us YOUR story of how you became an Elvis fan, then spotlights some of the best and most interesting "off-air" moments from TCBCast's first year. Then, in lieu of Song of the Week, Justin's review of the...

Despite a hectic holiday season, Gurdip & Justin sit down to share their favorite Elvis Christmas songs, favorite gifts and memories, and ring in the New Year the Elvis way. For Song of the Week, Gurdip highlights a great Ricky Nelson track while Justin reaches out to Jesus. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: Poor Little Fool (Ricky Nelson) Justin: Reach Out To Jesus

Following up from last week's episode, Gurdip, Justin & Jamie continue an in-depth discussion of Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel and Anyway You Want Me, and why Elvis' versions of his hits changed over the years. Gurdip's Song of the Week is just "too much" while Justin's song, from one of Elvis' contemporaries, somehow proves it's a small world when his research leads right back to him! Check out Jamie...

Jamie Kelley returns to the show to talk Elvis news, his latest projects, including an online karaoke contest (details soon over at justawesomekaraoke.com), and Twilight's 10-year anniversary before digging into the history behind Elvis' biggest hit, Hound Dog. From Big Mama and Freddie Bell to Elvis' controversial performances on Milton Berle & Steve Allen's TV shows, it's all covered here. This...

50 years ago, Elvis' NBC TV special aired just in time for the holidays. Gurdip & Justin break down how it happened, the show itself, and just some of its after-effects. Then for Song of the Week, Justin pulls the Doo-Wop rug out from under Gurdip, and Gurdip heads to the 70s for a stunning live ballad. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: Let It Be Me Justin: I Need You So

TCBCast sits down to review the Eugene Jarecki documentary "The King," discuss the film in context of Elvis' recent Medal of Freedom, then briefly review Glen Campbell's compilation of demos recorded for Elvis. For Song of the Week, Gurdip starts the holiday season early while Justin tackles Chuck Berry's famous rewrite of a classic folk song (and Elvis' subsequent cover.) Featured Songs of the We...

Justin & Gurdip count down their Top 5 most favorite (not best!) movie music scenes. Then, Gurdip "cheaps out" on Song of the Week with a duplicate (but excellent!) movie song from his list of top movie music scenes, while Justin highlights a 1969 American Sound deep cut celebrating the life of a wanderer. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: I Don't Want To Be Tied Justin: Inherit the Wind

We're back! Unfortunately, with Justin's grandpa passing away, we decided to focus on current Elvis news including Elvis' Medal of Freedom and new FTDs. Next week will be a full topic discussion as usual! For Song of the Week, Gurdip finally picks a non-doo-wop ballad (and a memorable one at that!) while Justin run-run-run-run-runs away with the rest of the show! Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip...

Justin & Gurdip, both suffering from rough colds, are taking a week break. So now's the perfect time to revisit some of our earliest songs of the week from episodes 6-10. With some new clips & edits, everyone's favorite segment gets to shine! TCBCast will return with a normal episode next week! Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: I Need Your Love Tonight, Earth Angel, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, My Happine...

Dressed up in their Halloween costumes (and both ill with colds), Justin & Gurdip explore the fun world of mid-20th Century novelty songs, many with surprising Elvis connections. Then for Song of the Week, Justin celebrates Spaghetti Westerns and Gurdip highlights a great doo-wop classic. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: Come Go With Me (The Del-Vikings) Justin: Charro!

TCBCast takes a (not-even-remotely comprehensive) look at the history of Elvis box sets, from early favorites like A Golden Celebration to the RCA Albums Collection. For Song of the Week, Gurdip picks the most doo-wop of all of Elvis' doo-wop ballads and Justin highlights one of Elvis' last country-rockers. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Justin: For The Hear...

Viva Elvis! Viva Ann-Margret! Viva TCBCast! The conclusion of our review of 1964's Viva Las Vegas is here, featuring Ryan Droste! We discuss our takes on director George Sidney, Col. Parker's interference with production, and muses before diving into Song of the Week, in which all three decades of Elvis' career are featured as Ryan heads down the bayou to find some "crawfish," Gurdip "slowly but s...

Justin & Gurdip are joined by Ryan Droste for a lively discussion of 1964's MGM film "Viva Las Vegas." Does the fiery chemistry between its leads and traditional musical lineage with director George Sidney help it hold up as one of Elvis' better films, or has the dated acting and weak plotting been overlooked for too many years? This episode's discussion (including Songs of the Week) will be concl...

What's the opposite of Viva? This week, Justin & Gurdip take a look at where the ironically short-lived 2010 Cirque production "Viva Elvis" went awry and where it succeeded. Justin makes an important correction regarding the newly discovered army home recordings, and for Song of the Week, Gurdip highlights an obscure but upbeat 60s movie tune while Justin quits his job down at the car wash and lea...

This week, Gurdip & Justin examine the musical career of Elvis' colleague Jerry Lee Lewis. From his days at SUN to his later country shift, could he ever shake his traditional rock roots to cross-genre success? During Song of the Week, Justin highlights a lengthy R&B answer record history behind one of Elvis' SUN singles, while Gurdip hones in on a rare Sun-era live recording with deep doo-wop roo...

Huge news for Elvis fans as a fellow Elvis fan makes a massive discovery of home recordings public, then Justin & Gurdip sit down with the collection of records Elvis left with Scotty Moore for an enlightening peek into the influence of these early records on Elvis' performing style. Out of pure coincidence, both of the guys mark the big news this week by featuring home recordings as Songs of the...

Justin & Gurdip continue to progress through Elvis' studio sessions with the January & February 1956 sessions that mostly comprised his first LP and singles for RCA. Then, for Song of the Week, Justin tackles a Bobby Darin tune Elvis covered in 1969, while Gurdip highlights a pleasant, underrated doo-wop gem from 1960's Elvis is Back! Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: Thrill of Your Love Justin:...

While Gurdip is out, Justin sits down with Ryan Droste of the TopRopeNation podcast to swap stories of discovering Elvis' music, collecting Elvis records, and even discuss Ryan's thesis paper, which was about Elvis. For Song of the Week, Ryan brings an early 60s soundtrack tune that challenged Elvis vocally, while Justin highlights a minor 70s hit with a surprising history behind it. Listen to mor...

Gurdip's goin' to Disney! So with limited recording time this week, Gurdip gives his brief thoughts on Alan Hanson's "Elvis '57" book and highlights Elvis' Vancouver performance. Meanwhile, Justin has an Elvis sighting on Reddit with the 1977 video of "Unchained Melody," and then most of this episode is spent covering two genuinely obscure songs, one upbeat tune cut from an early 60s film, and ano...

Gurdip & Justin sit down with the latest reimagining of Elvis' music, Sony's "Where No One Stands Alone" to see how it stands up to scrutiny. Then, for Song of the Week, Justin feels the burn of another could-have-been TCB Band-recorded tune Elvis never cut, while Gurdip highlights one of Elvis' excellent early 60s film hits. Also highly recommended this week is Episode 221 of Bobby Owsinski's Inn...

This week, Justin & Gurdip sit down to discuss Elvis-inspired films as well as react to early previews of "Where No One Stands Alone" ahead of next week's full album review. Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip wears his love for a late 50s pop track around his neck, but it hurts Justin how underrated "It Hurts Me" is. Featured Songs of the Week: Gurdip: Wear My Ring Around Your Neck Justin: It Hurt...

Sync up your DVD or digital copy of King Creole and watch along with Gurdip & Justin! From Michael Curtiz's direction to Elvis' co-stars like Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau and Delores Hart, from the heavily Leiber/Stoller soundtrack to whether it really qualifies as film noir, this is a unique TCBCast episode for a truly unique highlight in Elvis' filmography. Please note: due to some editing issu...

This week, Justin & Gurdip read some listener emails, then explore the fascinating recording careers of Elvis's guitarist Scotty Moore and his bassist Bill Black in the 1960s, including the Bill Black Combo, Scotty Moore's solo album, and even their work with early tribute act Vince Everett! Then, Song of the Week features a cute pop tune from "King Creole" and a foot-stomping gospel number warnin...

Every artist has a few clunkers to go with their most innovative, emotional and resonant hits, and with a catalogue as big as Elvis', both Gurdip & Justin have a handful they skip over. We're bracing for the angry emails as we highlight the songs that aren't likely to be featured as Songs of the Week. Then Gurdip digs into the history behind Elvis's 1958 hit cover of a Hank Snow tune while Elvis'...