TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

As we move into a new decade, Justin & Gurdip look back at the 2010s and many of the music and movie releases Elvis fans got over the past 10 years. There are some excellent sidebar conversations as well, including a rant about Elvis conspiracy theorists, a mini-discussion on the 1988 film "Heartbreak Hotel," and a debate as to whether FTD should start releasing content digitally. Then, for Song o...

For the final show of the year, Ryan Droste joins Justin to review the Graceland-authorized video game "Hidden Mysteries: Gates of Graceland." Beyond checking to see if the game's any good, the guys are surprised to learn that the game features a song by a previous TCBCast guest! Then, during Song of the Week, Ryan "got lucky" when he picked a lovely track from the Kid Galahad soundtrack. Justin,...

To celebrate the holidays, Justin & Gurdip finally review the original iteration of Elvis' 1957 Christmas Album. Does this perennial favorite still hold up, or are the real holiday gems only on the first half of the album? Plus, Justin has a theory about why Elvis' Christmas music remains so popular decades after release (aside from it just being good!) Gurdip's Song of the Week highlights Elvis'...

Justin & Gurdip invite Andrew Hickey from the podcast A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs (500songs.com) to dig into Andrew's multi-year project, and where Elvis falls within it. Andrew also reports in on the Elvis in Concert live show he attended at Manchester Arena, and there's a lively discussion about rock critics misunderstanding Elvis. Then, for Song of the Week, Gurdip takes us to his Litt...

To celebrate its anniversary, Gurdip & Justin explore the legendary jam session that famously became known as the "Million Dollar Quartet." Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash teamed up for one brief moment at Sun Studio in December 1956 and the fly on the wall recording gives a fascinating glimpse into their creative thought processes. But the potentially groundbreaking moment co...

After a brief holiday break, the guys are back to review the "Elvis album without Elvis," James Burton's 1971 solo debut, "The Guitar Sounds of James Burton." Cut at an Elvis session with the TCB Band after Elvis left due to an eye problem, the lead track from the album, a cover of "Polk Salad Annie," featured heavily in the 2019 film "Ford vs Ferrari" and now Justin & Gurdip see if the album hold...

Gurdip & Justin are taking a one-week break, so catch up on the histories behind songs from Episodes 21, 22, 24 and 25! Featured Songs include Just A Little Bit, Bringing it Back, Pledging My Love, U.S. Male, Sentimental Me, Change of Habit, Burning Love and (Now and Then) There's A Fool Such As I!  Our upcoming schedule of topics is jam-packed! Next week, inspired by the film "Ford v Ferrari," we...

This week, Justin & Gurdip are honored to have Nate Wilcox of the Let It Roll podcast on to talk all things Elvis & early rock history. The guys took inspiration from Nate's show in creating TCBCast, so it was a thrill to chat about how Nate got into Elvis, and hitting topics as far ranging as publishing companies, Colonel Parker, "A Star is Born", the unsung black pop heroes who paved the way for...

Gurdip, Justin & Ryan wrap up a lengthy deep dive into Elvis' last feature length film, 1969's "Change of Habit." Justin & Ryan explain why the film resonates with them, from its humor and grounded nature compared to Elvis' other films, to its good-hearted-if-clumsy attempt to address social injustices that are unfortunately still very real today. Then, for Song of the Week, Ryan's so square he ex...

For its 50th Anniversary, Gurdip, Ryan & Justin sit down to review Elvis' final dramatic role in "Change of Habit." Justin ranks it as his favorite Elvis film of all time, Ryan thinks highly of it, but Gurdip's not sold just yet - can his mind be changed? From its formation as a Mary Tyler Moore vehicle, to its status as an early film depiction of autism, "Change of Habit" marks a wildly different...

Justin & Gurdip go back to the novelty song well to discuss some horror-themed novelty songs (as well as some other novelty songs with Elvis ties!) Gurdip thanks a listener for a gift, then picks a Roy Orbison classic that we almost got an Elvis version of for Song of the Week. Then, Justin gets spooky with perhaps the most ominous song Elvis ever recorded: a lullaby for "It Happened At The World'...

What you're listening to are the sounds of two men, burdened with the thankless task of analyzing a film paying homage to their hero so dreadful, so shocking in its nonsensical execution, they wonder that it ever could have come from the pen of a fantasy genius. Witness a game of ironic fate, penned by a writer of a generation who wished to restore a fallen king to an unwanted throne. A throne of...

This week, Justin & Gurdip are visited by 20-year-old Elvis fan Daniel, and after a discussion about discovering & learning about Elvis as a young fan today, the guys get down to business with a lengthy dive into the similarities and differences between the careers of Elvis and Michael Jackson. Professor Ladhar gives Daniel some Elvis homework, and then for Song of the Week, Daniel selects the tru...

This week, Justin & Gurdip review the first two episodes of the 1990 ABC TV Series "Elvis," starring Michael St. Gerard. Gurdip saw it when it first aired - has it held up? Justin, on the other hand, was just a baby at the time and hadn't seen it in years either; does it live up to the expectations? The guys read three emails from listeners, and then for Song of the Week, Gurdip "supposes" Elvis g...

Justin is taking vacation this week, so Gurdip brings in co-host Ryan Droste for a lightning round of trivia, news about an upcoming FTD "That's The Way It Is" book, and getting Ryan's opinion on Elvis covers, Roy Hamilton's influence, and much more! Then, for Song of the Week, Ryan highlights the lesser-known 1971 single "It's Only Love" while Gurdip proclaims "Treat Me Nice" as one of Elvis' 50s...

This week, Gurdip & Justin return to the world of Elvis covers, which eventually leads to an interesting theory about what elements people enjoy covers for. There's news about newly-discovered footage of Johnny Cash & Elvis from Ken Burns' Country Music Documentary, then for Song of the Week, Gurdip highlights a Fun in Acapulco cut with a massive international cover version, while Justin forgets t...

Jump in for a lengthy discussion on the deeply-felt influence of R&B icon Clyde McPhatter on Elvis's career and popular music. Whether solo, or as a member of the Dominoes or Drifters, Justin & Gurdip highlight some of their all-time favorites featuring McPhatter's soaring tenor tones. Then for Song of the Week, Gurdip tackles an underrated ballad from "Girls! Girls! Girls!" Meanwhile, Justin star...

This week, the guys present an abbreviated episode with news about Elvis' official photographer Ed Bonja passing away, and possibly new Elvis footage in Ken Burns' Country Music documentary. During Song of the Week, Justin tackles the many versions of Elvis' famous 1964 ode to Sin City, and Gurdip delves into the history behind "Trying to Get To You," including a surprising adaptation by members o...

This week, the guys sit down to talk about Elvis' April 1956 engagement at the New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, including an unusually excellent quality recording of the final performance. Then during Song of the Week, Gurdip starts off strong with a massive 1960 hit for Elvis until Justin hijacks the discussion to take issue with Malcolm Gladwell's psychoanalytic analysis of "Are You Lonesome Ton...

This week, Justin & Gurdip set the needle and crank the volume on the first album Elvis released after returning from the Army, "Elvis is Back!" While Gurdip ponders if it is in fact Elvis' best album, Justin asserts that it's Elvis' best "50s" R&B showing. Then for Song of the Week, Justin takes us to church to solemnly deep dive the history behind "Stand By Me" while Gurdip would rather invite y...

Inspired by Live 1969's rarer recordings, Justin & Gurdip highlight 10 rarely-heard one-off performances Elvis gave throughout his career as a live performer. There's plenty of Elvis Week news and listener feedback to react to, but the biggest news of Elvis Week comes in a mid-episode flash-forward as the guys jump back in to record their initial impressions of Netflix' "Agent King" announcement....

It's been 42 years this week since Elvis passed away in 1977, so for the 77th episode of TCBCast, Justin and Jaime Kay, co-host of The Jungle Room Podcast, sit down for the biggest Elvis-related crossover since the Million Dollar Quartet! From life as younger Elvis fans, to viewing Elvis as a person vs an icon; from factoids about his movies to the fandom's subsections, and how Elvis might want to...

Just hold your horses, it's not another movie review right away, but Gurdip is going on vacation, so we're doing a simplified episode with no main topic this week, just news, trivia and Song of the Week. We discuss news about the Live 1969 set, Austin Butler, Lisa Marie and Gurdip fails epically at trivia. For Song of the Week, Justin highlights Elvis jamming out a Beatles rocker, and Gurdip takes...

This week, we wrap up our film review of 1956's "Love Me Tender," debate if Elvis' character Clint Reno is an antagonist, and whether the film holds up. Then, Gurdip gets gollied up in a cane and a high starched collar for his Song of the Week, while Justin highlights a 1958 country ballad home recording that includes an unusual cover version - by Vernon Presley, Elvis' dad! All this & more in thi...

In this packed episode, Justin & Gurdip react to the news that Austin Butler will play Elvis in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming biopic, respond to listener feedback, remember legendary Elvis expert, collector and author Ger Rijff, then dig into the history behind Elvis' 1956 feature film debut, "Love Me Tender" before examining the film itself closer - which will be continued, along with Song of the Week,...