TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

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,...

Justin & Gurdip discuss the latest Elvis news including casting rumors for Baz Luhrmann's biopic and the newly announced 69 sets. Then, inspired by fan backlash over the American Sound digital release's cover art, the guys discuss the worst and best of Elvis' album covers. Gurdip gets challenged to a massive America-themed trivia question and later, he takes a deeper look at why "Fools Fall in Lov...

Justin & Gurdip look to the silver screen for some of their favorite or most interesting sightings of Elvis songs in major feature films. Then, Gurdip says "I Gotta Know" everything about a 1960 B-side and Justin picks a movie title tune Gurdip would never have guessed in a million years, then follows up with a fascinating "what if" scenario highlighting a poppy alternate song that Elvis could hav...

TCBCast returns from a one-week hiatus for a close look at the landmark 1969 album "From Elvis in Memphis" on its 50th anniversary. From the histories behind each song, to the corporate tensions that threatened the album, and why it resonates decades later to people born long after its release, this is a milestone episode of TCBCast that you do not want to miss! Justin's Song of the Week is the hi...

It's the silly hour again as Justin & Gurdip go through some of the strangest, funniest or interesting Elvis-themed novelty songs out there. We have our first ever Trivia victory and then for Song of the Week, Gurdip goes laughing at some people in the park and doesn't bother to explain while Justin, Elvis and Jerry Reed tell us all about "A Thing Called Love." ****Note: This episode features some...

Gurdip is taking the week off so Justin sits down with Ryan to take a look at some of the harder-to-find remixes and reworkings of Elvis' music in his collection. From classic techno and mashups to reggae and rap mixes, you'll be surprised how Elvis' music has inspired DJs and producers to create both official and bootleg remixes. Then for Song of the Week, Ryan highlights a sweet, longing pop bal...

Professor Ladhar's class is back in session as Justin cracks his textbook open to March 28, 1960 (the week before Stuck on You first appeared on the charts) to explore the cultural context Elvis was returning from the Army into. Gurdip almost gets away with skipping trivia thanks to a smooth topic transition but Justin catches him, leading to the first mid-episode Trivia section. The guys end the...

Justin, Gurdip & Ryan break down Elvis' appearance on the September 9, 1956 episode of Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town," then consider the context and impact of the performance. Does it hold up? Is it as groundbreaking as it's often said to be, or has it its importance been overstated over the years? Also, Ryan gushes over Ready Teddy while Justin is delighted by 60+ year old dry British humor. T...

Gurdip & Justin are joined by Ryan for a monumental two-parter. First up is discussion about recent developments and speculation on Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic, then Gurdip pits Justin & Ryan against each other in the first-ever Head-To-Head Trivia Challenge! Then this week's main topic begins with a deep dive in to the September 1-3, 1956 recording sessions. From an exciting trio of Little Richar...

Gurdip & Justin are taking a one-week hiatus in preparation for a massive upcoming discussion covering the September 1956 sessions and first Ed Sullivan appearance, with Ryan Droste joining in next week as well. This week, catch up on Songs of the Week from TCBCasts 16-20, including guest songs from Gurdip's nephew Roman and musician Jamie Kelley! Among the songs included are Wonderful World, Almo...

Justin & Gurdip sit down with longtime Elvis fan & collector Anthony Britch to talk about growing up when Elvis was alive, collecting Elvis, and a wide assortment of topics. Plus, news on a new 4K transfer of King Creole, and for Song of the Week, all three decades of Elvis are represented. Justin's "Loving Arms" can't shake Gurdip's "Hearts of Stone," but Anthony knows all about the Don Robertson...

A different kind of role, a different kind of man! Justin & Gurdip commemorate the 50th anniversary of Elvis' 1969 western Charro! Justin brings Harry Whittington's novelization of the story to compare while Gurdip bemoans the film that could have been. Keeping with the western theme, Justin's trivia questions are all cowboy-related, and his Song of the Week is Marty Robbin's signature epic cowboy...