TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Just in time for our big 150th episode and third anniversary of TCBCast, we're thrilled to have Antony Rotunno, from the podcast Glass Onion: On John Lennon, join us for our first-ever big two-part discussion about Elvis and The Beatles. We cover a lot of ground in this first half, from the Quarrymen's Elvis-inspired demo, to Elvis' sole attempt at serious songwriting, and the Beatles' open desire...

Justin & Gurdip are joined this week by radio personality and longtime TCBCast listener David "Ghosty" Wills to discuss one of the most underrated and misunderstood eras of Elvis' career: the two years leading up to the famous NBC TV Special. Beneath the formulaic movies, poorly constructed soundtrack albums, and a generally well-received gospel album, those who look deeper can find an artist redi...

Justin & Gurdip start off 2021 and Season 4 of TCBCast reacting to Peloton's new exclusive Elvis remixes, then examining the first five chapters of the infamous 1977 book "Elvis: What Happened" by Steve Dunleavy, Dave Hebler and Red & Sonny West, as selected by TCBCast listeners. Justin points out the importance of context; particularly Dunleavy's long history in the right-wing tabloid media spher...

As 2020 winds down, Ryan joins Gurdip & Justin for an absolute whopper of an episode: our first-ever in-depth discussion of one of Elvis' 1970s concerts. Since its bootleg release the year Elvis died, the Pittsburgh New Year's Eve show from 1976 has claimed in some circles as perhaps the last great Elvis Presley concert. Armed with the "New Year's Eve" FTD and the "Final Countdown to Midnight" boo...

In 1971, Elvis laid down his second holiday-themed album, full of both traditional hymns and then-contemporary originals. The question is whether, despite the classic "Merry Christmas Baby," does the rest of the album hold up if you don't grade it on the Christmas Curve? In the news, the guys discuss the recent passing of country artist Charley Pride, Justin provides his in-depth review of the new...

For a bit of holiday fun, join Justin & Gurdip as they discuss topics from across the fields of TV, film, games and music. Gurdip fills us in on his recent viewings of Fargo, Justin discusses why The Mandalorian connects so well to all three Star Wars trilogies, and both examine the effect of subscription services on the increasingly fractured audiences. Justin dives into Cyberpunk 2077's problema...

Justin & Gurdip are busy toodling away at something different for a bonus episode you'll get later this week, but never fear! Golden Songs of the Week are here! Whether you're revisiting these or hadn't gone back and listened to them yet, here are the Songs of the Week from Episodes 26-30. Normally, we wouldn't have a compilation be this long but since #30 ends with "I'm Leavin'" and we discuss Jo...

Justin & Gurdip find that Santa has delivered them another gift of Elvis-themed novelty songs. From tracks poking fun at obsessive Elvis fans to a calypso-styled defense of Elvis' hip-shaking, the world of Elvis novelty records has some surprises in store! Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip discusses the one-off live version of Bo Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley" Elvis did in 1976 while Justin points ou...

This week Justin & Gurdip are joined by musician, songwriter and Elvis enthusiast Joe Var Veri, who's known on YouTube for his unique covers of Elvis and other classic rock acts as well as original material. Hailing originally from Melbourne, Australia, Joe deep dives Elvis' creative process as a musician, the value of live performing as an artist, and highlights some of his most memorable recordi...

While catching up with the hot new Sony Legacy release "From Elvis in Nashville," Justin & Gurdip are inspired to take a look at the first album comprised of material from those June 1970 sessions: That's The Way It Is. Blending live and studio cuts and bearing perhaps the most prominent influence of the 70s adult contemporary style (reflecting artists like BJ Thomas and Tom Jones), does the not-s...

Justin, Gurdip & Hugh continue their review of 1988's "Heartbreak Hotel." The fantasy of Elvis living the domestic life in small town Ohio wears thin as Gurdip laughs off the horrible impersonations and Hugh draws more comparisons between the film and other 80s classics. Justin, meanwhile, goes apoplectic from the leaps in logic and culturally problematic plot points. Then, to cool everything off,...

Justin & Gurdip are joined by movie buff and longtime listener of the show Hugh McKenna to review the 1988 film "Heartbreak Hotel." Written & Directed by Chris Columbus, who was right between two massive hits, Adventures in Babysitting and Home Alone, and with shades of John Hughes teen comedies and Back to the Future all over it, this flop of an Elvis flick should be right up our alley... yet ove...

After nearly a year and a half, Gurdip & Justin return to an early TCBCast topic to discuss some of the Elvis tracks that don't quite inspire them. Gurdip gets Justin riled up picking one of Justin's country favorites, while Justin not only backpedals hard on his previously even-handed thoughts on a glacially slow 50s ballad off Elvis' second album, but also very nearly retracts his position on "G...

To celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, Gurdip & Justin meet up at a haunted mansion to explore novelty recordings from throughout Elvis' lifetime, including several with Elvis connections. Just before Song of the Week, something wicked this way comes... and gets Justin! Gurdip reminds us to "Never Say Yes" to those who write off the Spinoff soundtrack, while Justin the Friendly Ghost come...

Just ahead of Halloween, Gurdip, Ryan and Justin wrap their review of the spookiest film in Elvis' movie oeuvre: 1965's "Tickle Me." With the back half of the film set in a haunted hotel aesthetically ripped right out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon, the guys finally settle on where this slightly outdated movie rests in Elvis' filmography before diving into their Songs of the Week. Apropos for the review...

Ryan Droste is back this week to join Gurdip & Justin in reviewing the 1965 musical film "Tickle Me." Notable for its extremely low budget and reused Elvis recordings, the film still had some comedy pedigree, with a script penned by writers known for working with The Three Stooges. Do the film's "far out" zany antics still hold up in 2020? What do the guys make of the recycled soundtrack? All this...

Justin & Gurdip reflect this week on the life and songs of singer-songwriter Mac Davis. For Song of the Week, they decide to pay tribute to Mac by selecting two of the biggest songs he wrote for Elvis. Justin selects "In The Ghetto," the plea against indifference toward the cycle of poverty, crime and systemic racism that unfortunately remains potently relevant. Gurdip, on the other hand, selects...

TCBCast listeners know that Gurdip has few good words for Elvis' 1973 album "Raised on Rock" due to an inexplicable title track and the universally derided "Three Corn Patches," but can Justin make a case for the rest of the album? And what were the implications of the album's commercial and creative disappointments for Elvis' career going forward? Was it genuinely a low point, or just a misfire?...

Justin & Gurdip spend the whole episode gushing over the very best of Elvis' performances - whether live, in the studio, or in the films - that have wowed them or evoked strong reactions from them. From fun rockers like "Ready Teddy" to inspirational and moving tracks like "If I Can Dream," sometimes it's just celebrate why we love listening to an artist's incredible music. Then, for Song of the W...

Professor Ladhar's class returns after a long summer vacation for a look at the chart where Elvis' last Top 10 R&B hit peaked. The Beatles haven't quiet yet came to the US, Motown is beginning to take hold, and things are about the change... but for the moment, Elvis is in good company alongside all-time great female vocalists like Doris Troy and Martha & the Vandellas, as well as icons such as Br...

EXCELLENT! Justin & Gurdip hop in their phone booth and travel back to 1992, the year that "Hunka Hunka Bill & Ted," an episode featuring Elvis from the short-lived Bill & Ted live action TV series aired. As the review goes on, Justin discovers to his surprise that his child-of-the-80s cohost has little love for Wyld Stallions! Bogus!!! Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip takes us "Down in the Alle...

Justin & Gurdip are joined by Olivia Murphy-Rogers for a review of the pilot episode of the 2017 CMT miniseries "Sun Records." Intended as an adaptation of the stage musical "Million Dollar Quartet," did the series' attempt at making Memphis Recording Service's historic breakthroughs relevant to modern audiences work, or did the show give in to biopic tropes and stereotypes?  Then, for Song of the...

We wrap up our coverage of Elvis' 1950s non-soundtrack studio sessions with the last session Elvis had before shipping out to Germany. Backed by an A-team of Nashville players, Elvis worked no less hard turning out single material than he did with Scotty & Bill. And unlike several prior sessions, RCA kept the tapes, so we get to hear the artistic process in motion as Private Presley pushes for dis...

Justin rounds off Blue Suede Reviews highlighting some of the major posthumous projects that purported to offer "new" Elvis recordings via overdubs, remixes and reorchestrations, along with a brief discussion of the state of RCA's Elvis output between 1977 and the release of "Guitar Man" in 1981. Then, Justin offers an extended discussion of his Top 10 favorite Elvis lifetime albums. Later this we...

As promised, Justin revives Blue Suede Reviews for Elvis Week 2020 to look at the albums released during Elvis' lifetime that were left off the RCA Albums Collection box set, starting with the 1970 Camden release of "Elvis' Christmas Album" and ending with the album that eventually accompanied the 1977 CBS Special "Elvis in Concert." This episode also includes a discussion on the 1973 buyout deal...