Introduction to Sessions Info - Please Read In the following pages you will find the most up to date information on Jimmy Ellis' kno wn recording sessions. Initially this info was compiled by Shawn Walker and formatted, expanded and tidied up by myself, correcting some errors along the way using the available information at that time from internet sources, album notes, fellow fans and numerous other sources. This was available on the last OrionDiscs website pages. Since then fellow Orion enthusiast Kenneth Dokkeberg has managed to gain further details from sessions files, musicians, record producers and friends of Jimmy Ellis and has corrected the errors in my last update. PLEASE NOTE: Any errors on the pages were entirely my own, working on the info available, as Shawn has had no input since compiling the first basic list. My thanks to Kenneth for his invaluable input on my original session data. Following on from the more recent update on Kenneth's STC website (please visit) I have, following his lead, re-formatted, added to, corrected and tidied up his info before posting it on the following pages. I have also edited portions of the text removing those instances where all three contributors (myself, Shawn and Kenneth) have referred to themselves in the first person (eg. "I would guess" or "I have heard" as this only causes further confusion. As I originally stated and as Kenneth has repeated on his site, please bear in mind that this information is compiled only from the details available at this time and will very much remain a "work in progress" project with further information being added as/if it becomes available. Further details on any of these sessions would, as always, be very much appreciated. Tommy. The Early Years 1964 Jimmy Ellis and The Apollos: Dradco Master #001 Don’t Count Your Chickens Dradco Master #002 A Love is But A Love These are Jimmy’s very first recordings. It’s rumored he tried some Beatles songs but it’s not believed that anything else was actually recorded, as the band and Jimmy did not have much money to waste on tape. As information on these recordings is minimal, it is not even known if they actually recorded these two songs in a studio. They were a garage band for al l intents and purposes, so it is quite possible they recorded the songs themselves and then Dradco put them out for limited release. Supposedly only a few hundred of these singles were ever pressed and valued at around $100.00 the last time a copy was made available. Jimmy Ellis, as a result of this “session”, was offered a recording contract from Capricorn Records but his parents turned it down and he eventually went to college to work with horses for several years, while still continuing to harbor a desire to become a professional recording artist. Echoes Of Love (Rumored Recording) Rumored home recording of Jimmy Ellis singing along to Elvis' Echoes Of Love on the KISSIN' COUSINS soundtrack album and comparing his vocal to that of Elvis with classmates (mentioned on Robert Dillard’s DOWNTIME CD). It is not known if this recording exists or not. However it has been mentioned by several different sources close to Jimmy Ellis that they had heard the recording. It is likely that this was Jimmy playing the song as recorded by Elvis Presley and recording his own vocal while singing along on his home tape recorder. The question is what happened to the recording and did he make any other home recordings prior to 1969? So far none have ever surfaced. 1969 Home Recordings Master #001 1. Whistling 2. What Will My Mary Say 3. Milky White Way 4. Pocketful Of Rainbows 5. Just A Closer Walk With Thee 6. I Believe 7. I’ve Lost You 8. White Christmas 9. Silent Night 10. She Didn't Say Why (unreleased) 11. Autumn Leaves (unreleased) What Every Woman Lives For (partial only - unreleased) These first appeared on the DOWNTIME bootleg CD. They were taped in late 1969 through 1970. The last four songs were recorded from at least August 1970 through possibly December, as Elvis did not release I’ve Lost You until July 1970 and Jimmy Ellis likely first heard this song through Presley. Three other home recordings have been released and suspected to be from this session but may actually be from 1969 rather than during 1970. Home recordings Master #002 1. Just Call Me Lonesome 2. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain 3. The Fair Is Moving On. It seems these recordings were done in late 1969. The three home recordings here, although Presley songs, could not all have been Jimmy's source for hearing the songs. The first of these tracks recorded by Elvis had been released in late 1967 and the third in late 1969. The song Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain however, although recorded by several country stars, had not been recorded by Presley at this time, in fact it would be 1976 before he would record his version. Possibly a more likely inspiration may have been the previous years' album COUNTRY LOVE SONGS by singer/songwriter John D. Loudermilk which, as well as featuring the aforementioned Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, also included Welcome To My World, Am I That Easy To Forget; I Can't Stop Loving You and a song soon to have a big impact on Jimmy's future - Honey. Pure speculation of course. The sound on all three of these songs sounds like they were recorded together and not at separate recordings. All three appeared on the CD release BITS AND PIECES for the first time in 2001. These home recordings and any others that may in fact exist, especially from this time period, show a side to Jimmy Ellis rarely seen. This is Jimmy making music at home, relaxing and singing the songs he loved to sing. Whereas in later years the songs he would sing would end up being mostly Elvis songs that friends and fans would request him to do these were songs he wante d to do. Even though the sound is not the best on these it is good enough to give an insight into the personal side of Jimmy and his music. Were these all the home recordings done by Jimmy Ellis? Several sources indicate there may in fact be more out there, however this is all that has been released by any of these individuals at this time. Home Recordings Master #003 1. Remember Me (unreleased) 2. Mary In The Morning (unreleased) 3. Separate Ways (unreleased) 4. Let Me Be There (partial only - unreleased) 5. You're My Best Friend (unreleased) 6. My Way (partial only - unreleased) Recorded at the kitchen table of one of Jimmy's managers at the time, Mike Ketterbaugh. Jimmy playing guitar and singing. Date unknown but according to Bobby Dillard it is most likely 1976. 1972 Finley Duncan Sessions at Playground Recording Studio In Valparaiso, Florida By this time Jimmy Ellis had come into contact with Finley Duncan and this association would continue until late 1973. In this particular session several songs were taped. Listed here are the songs that are known to have been actually sung and the songs that were rumored for this session. Master numbers have been created for all of these early sessions as none seem to exist. Number Master Number Song Title 14. #005 That’s All Right 15. #006 Blue Moon Of Kentucky 16. #007 Big Brother* (unreleased) 17. #008 Rockin’ Robin** (unreleased) 18. #009 Poor Little Fool*** (unreleased) 19. #010 She**** (unreleased) Master Take #005 That’s All Right and #006 Blue Moon Of Kentucky were both sold to Sun in mid to late 1971, according to best sources, although it may have been as late as early 1972. Shelby Singleton was contacted by Duncan who did not know how to handle Jimmy’s "Elvis voice". Shelby gave instructions that he wanted Jimmy to record the two songs as close to Elvis’ versions. it was clear he wanted to release them as newly found alternative takes of Elvis to get some attention. He succeeded. Master #007 Big Brother This is a Vince Everett track, composed by Joe South, that Jimmy Ellis supposedly recorded first. However, as Everett recorded his version in 1965, that would pre date this session. But it has been rumored to have been recorded at this session by several different sources. So Jimmy Ellis must have been mistaken as to who recorded it first. Master #008 Rockin’ Robin Originally recorded by Bobby Day in 1958 this is definitely the type of song Jimmy would have enjoyed wrapping his vocal chords around and considering the fact he did That’s All Right and Blue Moon Of Kentucky that leads to some crediblity that this and the other songs may have also been recorded here. Master #009 Poor Little Fool Originally recorded by the late Ricky Nelson it became a huge hit for him in 1958. No tape of this recording has surfaced to date. It has been mentioned in several song lists from 1969 – 1972, but most likely it was indeed recorded here. Master #010 She This was recorded by The Monkees in 1967 so it is possible that Jimmy Ellis heard it, liked it and recorded it here. Even after compiling this song list the sessions held at Playground Recording Studio are still a mystery to most fans. Further updates for this in the future as more details unfold. One recording session that was supposedly held in 1971 for Finley Duncan, in Florida yet again, included several songs that to date have not been released in any shape or form. Most were cover versions. Produced By Finley Duncan Number Master Number Song Title 21. #011 Galveston** (unreleased) 22. #012 Winter Wonderland (unreleased)*** 25. #013 That’s All Right (rumored) The two songs Master #011 Galveston and #012 Winter Wonderland are also rumored to exist by several different fans, unfortunately to date no tapes of this session exist, or if they do have not seen release. In regards to #013 That’s All Right, two sessions are mentioned for it. One is 1969, the other is this one in 1971. The book True Disbelievers states that Billy Walker was the producer for I Use Her To Remind Me Of You at Jack Clement’s Studios. However Jimmy to anyone’s best knowledge did not record at Jack Clement Studios until at least 1973. Between ‘73 and ‘75 he did several sessions for them, but it appears the comments in True Disbelievers may be inaccurate in regards to the recording of I Use Her To Remind Me Of You. In early 1972 Sun Records released the 45rpm single Sun 1129 That’s All Right and Blue Moon Of Kentucky. The record got quite a bit of air time and became the number one song in several states, but never managed to make the jump to the national chart. RCA sued Shelby Singleton and Sun over supposedly releasing two Elvis songs. For months this went on and stories differ as to whether or not Elvis himself actually learned about it. In fact Shelby Singleton, before he had issued the record, played it for Sam Phillips over the phone and asked him who he thought it was. Sam said Elvis. Eventually Shelby proved it was Jimmy Ellis and not Elvis and the law suit was later dropped. Apparently this furor over the record, although it was not a hit was enough to draw the interest of someone from MCA and The “McCloud” television series. Somehow Jimmy Ellis landed a deal to record two songs for MCA. Apparently There Ya Go was to be featured in the TV series as well. which it was, although the recent DVD release of the episode in question features vocals by another singer and not the version recorded by Jimmy Ellis. Several fans are certain that when first aired the show did include Jimmy's version of There Ya Go but, considering it has been more than forty years since first broadcast, the question of whether Jimmy sang on the "McLoud" show remains unanswered. 1972 - 1974 Finley Duncan Sessions at Playground Recording Studio In Valparaiso, Florida At present it is difficult to be more precise, but sometime between 1972 and 1974 (possibly at the above session) Jimmy recorded quite a few other songs at Playground Studios, at least one (Georgia Pines) simply recorded over a pre-existing rhythm track. Several would surface, in poor quality, on cassette tapes among fans for years before finally seeing an official release in studio quality. The following are known to have been laid down at Playground Studios: Georgia Pines Anna Jones* The Most Natural Thing* Days Of Autumn Gold Leigh Remember You Circle On Your Finger* Tender Side Of Me* I Can Love You Better Every Time You Touch Me Words Kiss The Hurt Away Days Of Autumn Gold and Remember You found official release on Dradco Records 2003 release A VOICE FROM THE PAST. The remaining recordings were eventually to see an official release in 2006 on the Dradco Records release JIMMY ELLIS AT PLAYGROUND RECORDING STUDIO complete with bonus outtakes and alternate mixes of tracks marked *. The Hit One Records bootleg release IN THE BEGINNING features the above recordings, in slightly poorer quality, along with the following which are possibly other Playground recordings: Ailene Going To California Tiny Hands 1973: In early 1973 the following songs were put down in the studio: MCA Recording Session, Nashville Producer Joe Johnson, Arranger and Conductor Billy Walker Number Master # Artist Song Title 26. #014 There Ya’ Go 27. #015 Here Comes That Feeling Again Both of these songs would be issued on both an MCA 45 and, according to rumor, also on Challenger Records (which may have been a subsidiary of MCA) although no evidence of this second release has ever surfaced and all indications are this rumor is unfounded. No other songs are known to exist from this session. By all best reports these were the only two songs authorized to be recorded. MCA also does not have the master tape to this session. It has been lost. Probably a collector has it. The session log seem to indicate that both songs were completed in only a few takes as well. The single was released in May, 1973. Jack Clement Studio, Nashville, Tennessee Number Master # Artist Song Title 28. I Use Her To Remind Me Of You 29. Changing 1974 Jimmy's recording history for this time would appear to be very difficult to pin down with any accuracy and, at present, the following info cannot be 100% confirmed. It would appear however that he laid down a few tracks once again at the Jack Clement Studio in Nashville only one of which would see an official release the following year: Jack Clement Studio, Nashville, Tennessee Promised Land This song was to be found on an ultra-rare compilation album titled SUPER HITS 1974 VOL.IV released by Gusto-Power Pak Records with no credit given to Jimmy or any of the other artists included on the album. 1975 TTG Studios, 1441 North McCadden Place, Hollywood, California: 20. #016 By The Time I Get To Phoenix (rumored) 23. #017 Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast 24. #018 Medley: I’ll Never Be Free/You Don’t Know Me/Born To Lose/I Can’t Stop Loving You/Trouble In Mind/Bye Bye Love (unreleased) 25. #019 Medley: Swing Low Sweet Chariot/Feel Like Going Home/Homeward Bound/Feel Like Going Home 26. #020 Medley: Feelings/Loving Arms/Everything Must Change/All In Love Is Fair/And I Love You So (unreleased) 27. #021 Medley: Last Date/Without Love* 28. #022 Wildflower 29. #023 The Closer He Gets 30. #024 Movin’ On Masters #017 and #019 Remained unreleased until 2016 when they were included on the CD presented with the book published as JIMMY ELLIS - IN THE SHADOW OF A KING. Master #26 contains a duet with an unknown woman. All of the above mentioned songs have never been released officially except * which first saw release on the Dradco CD release A VOICE FROM THE PAST in 2003. Master #016 was mentioned by Jimmy Ellis himself in an old fan club newsletter and that is the only evidence of its existence. All the other masters are in the vaults of Sun Records, so Jimmy did most likely bring them to Shelby later when he signed with them. Jimmy recorded a version of #023 in California which did not have the talking part in the middle. The talking was edited in to the song by Bobby Smith when Jimmy signed with Boblo Records and then released. The complete song without talking has, as yet, never been released. The Boblo Sessions 1976 Boblo Studios in Brunswick, Georgia: It’s You Again The Closer He Gets* *The song “The Closer He Gets” was originally recorded in Los Angeles, California in April of 1975. Jimmy brought the master to Bobby Smith on Boblo and he edited in the talking part in the middle before he released it. 1977 Boblo Studios in Brunswick, Georgia: Tupelo Woman Just Out Of Reach There You Go Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling Again Movin’ On* My Baby’s Out Of Sight *According to Bobby Dillard (Jimmy's friend from school) the song Movin’ On was recorded in Los Angeles, California in April of 1975. 1978 Boblo Studios in Brunswick, Georgia: I’m Not Trying To Be Like Elvis Games You’ve Been Playing Warehouse Recording Studio in Jacksonville, Florida Engineer: Tom Markham, producer: Bobby Smith, backing band: Avalanche Moody Blue Return To Sender Hurt Kentucky Rain Can’t Help Falling In Love It’s Now Or Never Burning Love You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me Love Me Tender Mean Woman Blues Teddy Bear The eleven tracks above were released on the album BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS on Boblo Records in 1978. Other songs known to be recorded at Boblo: Baby I Still Love You Songs rumored to be recorded at Boblo: Morning Noon And Night The Sun Sessions 1978 -1983 Sun Records on their website now list every Orion master recorded at Sun. However there are still some Orion recordings that are not listed, unless they are listed under a different title. But the following list is what Sun Records currently acknowledge to exist in their vaults as both released and unreleased Orion recordings plus the addition of the known missing tracks, although there are no master numbers available for these additional titles. Master # Number/Title #1862 6 Hours Of Live Recordings That’s right six hours. Sun states that several concerts from 1979 -1982 were recorded and, although the person who supplied the info did not have the song listing in front of them for each of those performances, he believed they had recorded Orion’s first concert in Athens, Georgia. Also they did have a full live concert at Gilleys, along with concert material recorded by CBS and used on an evening news program. It was pretty much routine, according to this person’s response, that Sun recorded at least one of Orion’s shows every tour as new songs would be added to the show and Shelby wanted live versions of the songs in case they decided to do a live album. Also listed are some additional live recordings. These are in addition to the 6 hours of live recordings that Sun has listed under this master. Master # Number/Title #1863 A Stranger In My Place (live) #1863A A Stranger In My Place #1864 A Woman’s Touch #1865 Ain’t No Good (live) #1865A Ain’t No Good #1866 Always On My Mind (live) #1867 Am I That Easy To Forget #1867 Anybody Out There #1868 As I Sit Here and Remember You Let’s take a look at these ten recordings. We have live recordings of A Stranger In My Place, Ain’t No Good and Always On My Mind all of which have never been officially released live before but now we know they actually exist. Also A Woman’s Touch, the Tom Jones song from 1982 which Orion did in many live performances while at Sun was recorded in the studio. This is a song which many believed he did not record in the studio but can now be verified. Master #1868 is another song, As I Sit Here And Remember You. Perhaps this is that song re-recorded at Sun some years later. Master # Number/Title #1870 Away In A Manger #1871 Baby I Still Love You #1872 Baby Please Say Yes #1873 Baby You Got It #1874 Before The Next Teardrop Falls #1875 Beggin’ To You #1876 Billy and Sue #1877 Blue Moon Of Kentucky #???? Born #1878 Burning Love #1879 Can’t Help Falling In Love Above is the next batch of 10 songs. The only track out of the group currently unreleased as of yet would be #1875 Beggin' To You, although it has been included on several bootleg releases. Master # Number/Title #1880 Changing #1881 The Closer He Gets* #1882 Crazy Arms #1883 Crazy Little Thing Called Love #1884 #1885 #1886 #1887 #1888 #1889 Deck The Halls Devil In My Angel Dixie Fried Don’t Be Cruel Don’t Make Me Wait Ebony Eyes * This is a Boblo recording. Jimmy’s longtime friend, Steve Kelley, stated that Sun Records had a lease agreement with Boblo Records and possibly this is not a re -recording but one of the Boblo recordings and just included as a Sun Master. When Kenneth Dokkeberg and Henrik Knudsen received some CDs with unreleased recordings for their FROM THE SUN VAULTS project, The Closer He Gets was among the tracks. But the version they got was in fact a 45 vinyl transfer and not a remake. Changing comes from Jimmy Ellis’ second Sun single and Dixie Fried is a new song for Orion fans. So far it has been thought that the duet recording featuring Orion and Carl Perkins was the only version fans knew for sure existed. However this version features Orion singing the entire song without it being edited. The other new and unheard song is one titled Don’t Make Me Wait. Also Devil In My Angel from the SURPRISE album is listed. One song that Orion is known to have recorded but is not included here is the Elvis tribute D.O.A. (as sang by Misty on the reverse side of Sun SI -1136) and a rough cut of this song exists. Master # Number/Title #1890 Endless Sleep #1891 Face To Face And Heart To Heart #1892 Feelings #1893 Feels So Right #1894 The First Noel #1895 Flat Foot Sam #1896 Fool Around (live) #1897 Games You’ve Been Playing #1898 Going To California * #1899 Gone At Last * Going To California, is either a re-recording or a copy of the master done at Jack Clement Studios in 1974. Also Gone At Last #1899 which was performed live many times by Jimmy Ellis prior to his arriving at Sun, and also while as Orion, is now said to be recorded in the studio. A true find and welcomed by Orion fans as only live versions were previously known to exist. Other new songs are Flat Foot Sam, and Feels So Right which Jimmy has been known to perform live on at least one of his barn party shows and should not be confused with Elvis’ It Feels So Right. Truly some interesting material here not the least of which is yet another live recording, Fool Around, possibly from sometime in 1982 as that is when Orion started incorporating that into his shows regularly. Master # Number/Title #1901 Got You On My Mind #1902 Green Green Grass Of Home #1903 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! #1904 He Touched Me #1905 He’ll Have To Go #1906 Help Me Make It Through The Night #1907 Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling* #???? Honey #???? I Can Help #1908 I Can Smile #???? I Can’t Stop Loving You #1909 I Forgot To Remember To Forget #1910 I Hear You Knockin’ * Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling may be the Boblo master or it may in fact be a re-recording. On the CDs with unreleased stuff Kenneth and Henrik received from Sun Records this song was in fact just the released single version. Tape #1908, I Can Smile is a new song circulating in poor sound among collectors for years and probably not recorded at Sun. Also known under the title I Did Today. The other songs were heard and released on various releases throughout the years with the exception of the Billy Swan song I Can Help (Master Number not known) which turned up on the 2013 release FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #1911 I Just Sit Here And Remember You #1912 I Surrender All #1913 I Use Her To Remind Me Of You #1914 If I Can’t Have You #1915 I Heard The Bell On Christmas Day #1916 I’ll Be Home For Christmas #1917 I’ll Take What’s Left Of You #1918 In A Moment Of Weakness #1919 It Ain’t No Mystery #1920 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear I Just Sit Here And Remember You remains unreleased. Tape #1917, I’ll Take What’s Left Of You and Tape #1918, Moment Of Weakness remained unissued until 2013 when both were issued on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #1921 It Is No Secret #1922 It Takes A Man To Make A Woman #1923 It’s You Again* #1924 Jingle Bells #1925 Joy To The World #1926 Just A Closer Walk With Thee #1927 Just Out Of Reach ** #1928 Kentucky Rain* #1929 The Last Kiss #1930 Leave It Like It Is * These are Boblo recordings either from singles or the album BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS. It’s You Again is in fact a re-recording of his Boblo song done at Sun Records. ** This is a re-recording of the Boblo recording and can be found on the box set by Bear Family. Tape #1922, It Takes A Man To Make A Woman remains unreleased. Tape #1930, Leave It Like It Is, was released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #1931 Leigh #1932 Lonesome Angel* #1933 Long Black Limousine #1934 The Long Black Veil #1935 Long Tall Sally #1936 Look Me Up And Lay It On Me #1937 Look Me Up and Lay It On Me (live) #1938 Love Is In The Air (live) #1939 Love Me Tender #1940 Lover Please Tape #1931, Leigh. This is an unreleased re-recording of the song Jimmy did at Playground Recording Studio. *Tape #1932, Lonesome Angel was originally recorded at Boblo and 5 takes were apparently put on tape of the song. Tape #1937, Look Me Up And Lay It On Me and Tape #1938, Love Is In The Air, both are live recordings the second of which Jimmy would return to over a decade later in the studio at Kardina. Master # Number/Title #1941 Lyin' Eyes #1942 #1943 #1944 #1945 #1946 #1947 #1948 #1949 #1950 Matchbox Maybe Tomorrow Maybelline Me and Bobby McGee Mean Woman Blues* Memphis Sun Midnight Rendezvous Mona Lisa Moody Blue* * Both of these are Boblo recordings and were done for the BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS album prior to his contract with Sun. Midnight Rendezvous has two versions to it, one appeared on the bootleg album SURPRISE, the other on The Bear Family CD album SOME THINK HE MIGHT BE KING ELVIS. Tape #1941, Lyin' Eyes is Orion‘s version of the song made famous by The Eagles and released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #1951 Morning Noon And Night* #1952 Mountain Of Love #1953 Movin’ On ** #1954 My Baby Is Out Of Sight *** #1955 My Way ** #1956 Night Of The Rain #1957 No One Will Ever Know #1958 It’s Now Or Never #1959 O Little Town Of Bethlehem**** #???? Old Mexico #1960 Old Time Rock * Tape #1951, Morning Noon And Night was originally done at Boblo according to a very reliable source. It is not known if Sun would have copies of these recordings as well as their Sun master, however, as evidenced so far in this list, Sun does have several Boblo masters. ** Tape #1953, Movin’ On is a Boblo recording *** Tape #1954, My Baby’s Out Of Sight was re-recorded at Sun for the SURPRISE album. Sun may also have the Boblo master for this as well. No other details were available. Tape #1952, Mountain Of Love previously only heard on a bootleg live album was done in the studio and is an unreleased song. **** Tape #1959, O Little Town Of Bethlehem was never released on the CHRISTMAS TO ELVIS tribute CD. It was only available for a very short time on the Sun Orion Fan Club extended play. Tape #1960, Old Time Rock would be re-recorded by Orion for Aron Records in 1988 for the album NEW BEGINNINGS. However it was part of his live show as early as 1983. Recorded at Sun and unissued until 2013 when it was included on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #1961 On The Road Again* #1962 One Night Of Love #1963 The Other Side Of You #1964 Out Of The Blue #1965 Patches #1966 Peace in The Valley #1967 Peggy Sue #1968 Please Come Home For Christmas**** #1969 Please Help Me I’m Falling #1970 Release Me * Tape #1961, On The Road Again was part of Orion’s live show while at Sun, apparently some where along the way they did cut it in the studio. Tape #1963, The Other Side Of You was originally recorded by Ral Donner, a rough, alternative cut of this surfaced on the bootleg CD BITS AND PIECES while the finished track eventually saw release on the FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1 CD in 2013. Tape #1962, One Night Of Love is an unreleased song and it is not to be mistaken for Elvis' One Night (With You). There is also a rehearsal tape in a private collectors hands where this nice song is recorded. Tape #1964, Out of the Blue was re-recorded in the early 1990’s at Kardina but was a song used in live performances occasionally during the 1980’s as well. Orion originally cut this for Sun Records on March 16th, 1983 and this version was released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. **** Tape #1968, Please Come Home For Christmas is an unreleased Christmas song. It is possible he recorded it with the other Christmas songs that were eventually released on CD or the Fan Club extended play or may have been recorded at the same time as Sun1148, the single Remember Bethlehem and Silent Night. A very rough version of it exist among the collectors. Master # Number/Title #1971 Return To Sender* #1972 Revenge** #1973 Revenge** #1974 Rock Around The Clock #1975 Rock It Billy Rock It #1976 Rock N Roll Heaven*** #1977 Rockabilly Rebel #1978 Rockin’ Little Angel #1979 Rocky #1980 Rollin’ With The Flow *Tape #1971, Return To Sender is from Boblo and the BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS album. ** Tape #1972 and Tape #1973, are titled Revenge, possibly meaning that it is two different songs with the same title (eg. Elvis' Kissin' Cousins and Kissin' Cousins No.2), or it is the same song done in two totally different styles. Possibly the song of the same title also recorded by Brook Benton. Tape #1975, Rock It Billy Rock It, remained unheard until released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. *** Tape #1976, Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven, The Righteous Brothers did this song, however it is possible that this is Honky Tonk Heaven under a different title. One final note about Rock Around The Clock, this is a song rumored to have been performed live by Elvis back at Sun. The fact that Orion did this song shows that Shelby was out there listening to those rumors and getting Orion to record those rumored songs as quickly as possible. None of this has been released officially, as of yet. Master # Number/Title #1981 Run Fool Run #1982 San Francisco Is A Lonely Town #1983 Save The Last Dance For Me** #1984 Secret Love #1985 See You Later Alligator #1986 Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On #1987 She Hates To Be Alone #1988 She Uses Me*** #1989 Sing Me Like You Sing Your Songs**** #1990 Slow Hand***** #???? Snowbird #???? I'm Here To Love You Tape #1981, Run Fool Run was a staple of Jimmy Ellis’ live show from the late 70’s onwards. This is yet another example of a live song no-one thought was recorded in the studio but finally turned up on in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. ** Tape # 1983, Save The Last Dance For Me is the solo version and was only ever released on the 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES album which was sold on TV. Later turning up as a bonus track on FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. *** Tape #1988, She Uses Me is an alternate title for the song I Use Her To Remind Me Of You and the version Sun Records has is a remake. **** Tape #1989, Sing Me Like You Sing Your Songs, recorded in September/October 1981, is the same as the song known as Just Another Waterhole in Texas and was included on the CD included in the book published as JIMMY ELLIS - IN THE SHADOW OF A KING in 2016. ***** Tape #1990, Slow Hand, this was a part of Jimmy Ellis’ live show after he left Sun, it likely was laid down near the very end of his recording contract at Sun, along with several other songs that he would eventually record for Prostar/Kardina/Hardin Records. #???? The track I'm Here To Love You was recorded in 1981 and included on the CD accompanying the book JIMMY ELLIS - IN THE SHADOW OF A KING in 2016. Master # Number/Title #1991 Softly And Tenderly #1992 Solitaire* #???? Somewhere My Love #1993 Some You Win, Some You Lose #1994 Special Angel ** #1995 Strangers #1996 Strangers T'il We Touch**** #1997 Such A Night ***** #1998 Suzie Q #1999 Sweet Hour Of Prayer #2000 I Heard You Talkin’ With Your Eyes * Tape #1992, Solitaire, this song was sang live in the early days of Orion, as he did not have a lot of material of his own, so he did perform some songs by other artists in concert. Elvis' version being issued in 1976 would have been perfect for Jimmy at this time. This was most likely done early on in the studio and discarded for newer fresher material and just never used. ** Tape #1994, My Special Angel, is a Bobby Helms song. This may have been one of the songs considered for the REBORN album as it does follow the concept that was used on that album. Tape #1995, Strangers remained unreleased until 2013 when included on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. **** Tape #1996, Strangers T'il We Touch has only been released officially in Europe on the German FRESH album. It was slated for the cancelled SURPRISE album. ***** Tape #1997, Such A Night is one of the songs recorded for BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS album originally done at Boblo. Master # Number/Title #2001 Teddy Bear* #2002 Teen Angel #2003 Tell Laura I Love Her #2004 Texas Tea #2005 That Feeling** #2006 That’s All Right #2007 That’s All She Wrote #2008 Then I’ll Be Over You #2009 There You Go **** #2010 There’s No Easy Way * Tape #2001, Teddy Bear is from Boblo for the BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS album. ** That Feeling. This tape #2005 may in fact be the long rumored recording That Old Time Feeling that is rumored to have been issued on 45 and sent to DJ’s but then pulled. Again it could also be an alternate title for the song Here Comes That Feeling Again done at Boblo. Tape #2007, That’s All She Wrote remained locked away until released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. **** Tape #2009, There You Go was originally recorded at Boblo, however a re -recording of this track appeared on the Bear Family box set in 1999. Sun may have both versions of this song. Master # Number/Title #2011 These Sometimes #2012 This Is A Hold Up #2013 Tragedy #???? Treat Her Right #2014 Trust In the Lord (live)* #2015 Tupelo Woman** #2016 Turn Around #2017 Two Hearts*** #???? Two Loving Shadows on Fire #2018 Up On The House Top #2019 Washing Machine #2020 We Wish You A Merry Christmas Tape #2012, This Is A Hold Up Baby has been made available on bootleg. * Tape #2014, Trust In the Lord, yet another live recording. ** Tape #2015, Tupelo Woman, is the same as the Boblo master. *** Tape #2017, Two Hearts is an unreleased Orion song and possibly the same track previously recorded by Pat Boone. The song Treat Her Right (Master number not known) previously available as a rough cut on bootleg albums first saw its official release on the 2013 album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Master # Number/Title #2021 What Now My Love #2022 What Did I Promise Her Last Night #2023 What’d I Say #2024 Whatever It Takes #2025 What’s Forever For #2026 Where He Leads Me #2027 Where No One Stands Alone #2028 White Christmas #2029 #2030 #2031 #2032 #2033 #2034 #2035 Women Do Know How To Carry On You’re Driving Me To Someone Else You Can Have Her You Can’t Judge A Book You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me You Don’t Know Me Always On My Mind * Tape #2024, Whatever It Takes, this was possibly recorded for the SURPRISE album. ** Tape #2025, What’s Forever For is a unreleased song but known by the fans as Jimmy did it live in concert several times.. *** Tape #2029, Women Do Know How To Carry On, was a staple of Jimmy Ellis’ live show from 1983 till around 1989 and once again another live song not thought to have been professionally recorded in the studio but was in fact recorded at Sun. **** Tape #2030, You’re Driving Me To Someone Else’s Arms. This is likely the recording done at Jack Clement Studios in 1974, although it is possible that Orion may have re -recorded this and several other tracks at Sun. * Tape #2033, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me is from the BY REQUEST ELLIS SINGS ELVIS album from Boblo. This song was also occasionally performed live throughout his whole career. ** Tape #2034, You Don’t Know Me first appeared on the bootleg CD titled DOWNTIME and was recorded during his California sessions around 1975. Several of Jimmy's recorded songs from California are in the hands of Sun Records. Possibly Jimmy brought them to Sun for release at some point. Master # Number/Title #2036 Dixie Fried Orion and Carl Perkins #2037 Glad All Over Orion and Carl Perkins #2038 Gone Gone Gone Orion and Carl Perkins #2039 Honey Don’t Orion and Carl Perkins #2040 Lonely Street Orion and Carl Perkins #2041 Matchbox Orion and Carl Perkins #2042 Put Your Cat Clothes On Orion and Carl Perkins #2043 Your True Love Orion and Carl Perkins These were all done at the very beginning when Orion first came to Sun Records. Now if the story is correct and Sun edited together Orion’s version of the song with that of the original then we would have eight additional songs on this list alone because the version of Matchbox found on the ROCKABILLY album is not the same one as this, as the vocal sounds different. However on the box set WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?, we hear a few seconds of Orion in the studio on Your True Love, and he is singing along with the original but only singing his lines. So it is equally possible he only sang certain lines for these songs and the other duets. But the fact that Dixie Fried and Save The Last Dance For Me are on this list leads listeners to the conclusion that he did in fact sing some of these tracks in their entirety. Master # Number/Title #2044 Breakup – Orion and Charlie Rich #2045 Gentle As A Lamb Orion and Charlie Rich #2046 On My Knees Orion and Charlie Rich #2047 Sittin’ and Thinkin’ Orion and Charlie Rich #2048 Who Will The Next Fool Be Orion and Charlie Rich Once again these could be four solo songs as recorded by Orion, but they are not found in the solo part of this list, so they either only have Orion singing certain lines for these songs or they have possibly lost the master for each of them, and only have the duets remaining. These were all released on the TRIO+ album and on the box set WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN? from Bear Family along with the Carl Perkins tracks listed above. Master # Number/Title #2050 Be Bop A Lula Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2051 C.C. Rider – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2052 Cold Cold Heart – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2053 Good Golly Miss Molly – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2054 Good Rockin’ Tonight – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2055 Hello Josephine – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2056 I Forgot To Remember To Forget* – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2057 I Love You Because** – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2058 It Won’t Happen With Me – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2059 Money – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2060 Release Me*** – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2061 Rockin’ The Boat Of Love – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2062 Save The Last Dance For Me – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2063 Sweet Little Sixteen Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis #2064 What’d I Say – Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis It should be obvious that Sun recorded more duets with Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis than any of the other Sun artists, as Jerry Lee was still a very big name in country music, and it allowed Shelby to generate money from his back catalog. Charlie Rich’s career was on the wane and Carl Perkins had a brief resurgence on the Jet label in 1978, but was also losing popularity again. So Jerry Lee offered the most profit for the label. What’d I Say, tape #2064 has that edited portion where he really did sound like Elvis. This was not part of the original recording but was found and added on later to add to the controversy that the “friend” on the album might in fact be Elvis. * Tape #2056, I Forgot To Remember To Forget is a duet with Jerry Lee Lewis and Orion. The solo version was released on the box set so that may have been done at Sun. The duet version has never been released however. Hound Dog, was on the box set as well but is not included on the Sun Records website list. ** Tape #2057, I Love You Because is from the DUETS album. A solo version appeared on the FEELINGS album in 1983, however that song is not found on the solo portion of this list. *** Tape #2060. Release Me. This is an unreleased duet. A solo version was released on Orion’s COUNTRY album in 1980. It is possible that solo versions of all these songs exist as this list is obviously incomplete. The 1981 TV marketed album 20 ALL TIME FAVORITES contained an Orion solo version of Save The Last Dance For Me. Until the 2013 release of FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1 the aforementioned album was the only official release of the song without the Jerry Lee Lewis overdubs. Master # Number/Title #2065 Cold Cold Heart – Orion and Jim Owen #2066 Half As Much – Orion and Jim Owen #2067 Hey Good Lookin’ – Orion and Jim Owen #2068 I Can’t Help It – Orion and Jim Owen #2069 I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Orion and Jim Owen #2070 Jambalaya – Orion and Jim Owen #2071 Lovesick Blues – Orion and Jim Owen #2072 Take These Chains From My Heart – Orion and Jim Owen #2073 Your Cheatin’ Heart – Orion and Jim Owen All of these are true duets recorded in the studio with both singers present at the same time. All of these were originally made famous by Hank Williams Sr. Seven of the above titles were released in 2013 on the album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1. Both Hey Good Lookin’ and I Can’t Help It remain unreleased in any form. Master # Number/Title #2074 Ballad Of A Teenage Queen – Orion and Johnny Cash #2075 Get Rhythm – Orion and Johnny Cash #2076 Country Boy – Orion and Johnny Cash Considering the late Johnny Cash was voted the most important man in the history of country music, this makes his recordings with Orion even more important, even though they were likely overdubs. It is possible Orion recorded these tracks solo but no further information on this is available at the present time. Master # Number/Title #2077 Love Is In The Air - Orion and Universe This was laid down towards the end of Orion’s stay at Sun and finally issued on the CD album FROM THE SUN VAULTS VOL.1 in 2013. Apparently he wanted to try his band in the studio. On the solo list Sun mentions a live version of the song, and we all know an alternate version of this song was recorded several years later for Kardina. SPECIAL NOTES 1. Honky Tonk Heaven: Not listed anywhere on the Sun Master Catalog. Have they lost the master or is it listed it under another title? 2. Remember Bethlehem: Orion’s recordings of Silent Night and Remember Bethlehem are not on this list. These were recorded at Sun but are not included on this list. What happened to these songs? and are there any others that we don’t know about that Sun misplaced as well? Could Sun have lost the masters for these recordings as well? 3. I Can Love You Better: This was recorded at Sun, however it is not listed (just like D.O.A.). Since the master turned up at Playground Recording Studio in 2006 while searching for Jimmy Ellis material it is likely that Shelby did give the owner Finlay Duncan some masters at one point. 4. I Love You Because: Although both solo and duet versions have been officially issued, the Sun website gives no mention of the solo version issued on the FEELINGS album. 5. Hound Dog: This track has not been listed on the Sun Recordings website though it can be found on the Bear Family boxset. 6. I Forgot To Remember To Forget: The solo version has been released but, as yet, no release for the duet with Orion and Jerry Lee Lewis. 7. Two Loving Shadows On Fire was recorded for the planned LP SURPRISE. It has been out on bootleg but is not listed in the song list from Sun Records. That brings his total Sun output to at least 226 total songs, not counting possible duplication from the various duets mentioned. It is possible if those exist as solos that there is in excess of 260 Orion Sun recordings. The 1980's Sessions SPECIAL NOTE The following is an attempt to piece together what is known of Jimmy Ellis’ recording career after leaving Sun Records. Although the amount of material is not as mammoth as what was done at Sun, finding the dates, the recording venues and who produced the recordings and whether anything else was done at those sessions is a major task. It seems Jimmy would record (or re -record) tracks just about everywhere he travelled and often freely gave his recordings away to friends and fans. Again please note this is very much a “work in progress” and any further information or detail would be very much appreciated. A lot of the detail is unconfirmed and even the smallest piece of additional info would be welcome. 1982 Recorded at Soundtrack Studios, 1982: You Never Talk When We’re Dancing It’s Been Heaven Tonight Recorded at the studio of friend and country singer Razzy Bailey. 1983 March 16th 1983 at The Shelby Singleton Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee: Rock It Billy Rock It Out Of The Blue Run Fool Run November 2nd - 23rd, 1983 at Scruggs Sound Studio, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee: Freeze Up I Do Still In Love With Billy Runaround Sue (Unreleased) Three of the above listed tracks were released on cassette tape only as part of a press pack issued by The Tony Lawrence Organization. These recordings were intended to be a change of direction for Jimmy with the choice of material being totally different from his usual style. The recording of Runaround Sue was apparently taken to Ireland by the producer and remains unheard to this day. 1984 May, 1984 at Scruggs Sound Studio, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee: Old Time Rock Her Memory Just Won’t Let Us Lay Down I Can’t Get Used To Sleeping By Myself I Dream I Lay With You Tonight* Recorded late in 1984 and released by Kristal International Records: Saving Up My Pennies I’m Starting Over Note: Info says that the above four songs were mixed on May 14th. 1984 which means that they were recorded shortly before that. They were produced by guitar player Boomer Castleman who also supports the dates. 1985 April 1st. 1985 at unknown studio and released by Kristal International Records: 100 Pounds Of Clay Because He Lives BNA Recording Studio (Boomer Castleman’s studio) in Nashville, Tennessee: Mr. Me Misses You You’re Stealing My Wife Midnight Till Morning Midnight In Memphis* These songs was recorded between 1984 -1986 according to the late Boomer Castleman, Jimmy's friend and guitar player: "If my memory serves me correctly, Jimmy came to my studio three or four times to record. Midnight in Memphis was a track I already had. I just put his vocal on it. I cannot seem to find it. I am going to say those songs were recorded between 1984, 85 and 86. After 1986 I spent more time working with Larry Boone than I did with Jimmy. The reason I believe it was during those years was because I got my recording equipment together in the summer of 1984, & I believe that was when I started recording Jimmy". *Midnight In Memphis remains unheard still today. 1986 February 18th, 1986 at Soundtrack Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Producer: Fred James Guitar: Lonnie Mack Drums: D.J. Fontana Acoustic bass: Joe B. Mauldin Piano: Willie Rainsford Rhythm guitar: Fred James Background vocals: Mary-Ann Brandon, Bucky Lindsey and Fred James. Old Pipeliner Restless Never Too Old To Rock’n' Roll* Back On The Street Again* * The two tracks above would be collected among others and released by Aron Records of Canada on their 1989 NEW BEGINNINGS CD release. All four tracks were made available on the 2011 German CD release NASHVILLE ROCKABILLY. June 24th, 1986 at the Soundtrack Recording Studio: Thank God For America Sunday Father Going Off The Deep End Hell To Pay (But Heaven Tonight) I Make The Livin (You Make The Livin Worth While) Note: This song was written and produced by Jimmy's friend Jerry Cupit and supposedly recorded around the same time as Thank God For America. It is also possible that it was indeed recorded at the same session on June 24th, 1986 but it is not among the listed songs on the finished reel to reel master. Unknown studio in Birmingham, Alabama: Down In Mississippi It seems Jimmy wasn’t too happy about recording this song as it was very much in the Elvis Is Alive vein. After three years he was however talked into doing it after he got offered as much as 5000 dollars. 1988 American Sound Studio (a Division of Jimmy Velvet Enterprises) in Nashville, Tennessee: I Need You In My Life Lay Around And Love On You The Way My Dog Loves Me Dream On Me (Re-recorded later for the Stargem label) The following tracks from the bootleg CD ROUGH DIAMONDS are possibly from the above sessions but no information has yet been made available to confirm or deny this: Out Of My Life Love Lifted Me Starting Over Midnight Till Morning 12th. December, 1988 at Prestige Productions Studios: Sweet Mississippi Memories This track was recorded as part of a deal arranged that same day and as the B side of Down In Mississippi. Jimmy sang to a previously recorded backing track. The session lasted two or three hours and Jimmy had problems dealing with the lyrics. The 1990's Sessions 1990 Jerry Cupit Studio, Nashville, Tennessee: He’s Gone But Not Forgotten Although two other songs were submitted for recording, this was the only track actually put on tape. Jimmy was very sick, suffering from a heavy cold and working against a deadline. Issued on the various artists CD release A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS from K-Tel Records. Released version is take 3. 19th – 21st March 1990* at Stargem Studios – Nashville, Tennessee: MUSICIANS: Rodger Morris/Dirk Johnson – Keyboards/piano Leo Jackson – Rhythm Guitar Mike Severs – Lead Guitar Rob Hajacos – Fiddle Fred Newell – Electric Guitar Larry Paxton – Bass Guitar Hal Rugg – Steel Guitar Weldon Myrick/Sonny Garrish – Steel Guitar Tommy Wells/Owen Hale – Drums Harmony Vocal Overdub Direction – Jerry Cupit Produced by Wayne Hodge Executive Producer – Jim Highley Associate Producers – James M. Hardin; Dennis D. Ross; Gary K. Yount Engineers – Danny Dunkleberger; Dennis Ritchie; Bob Campbell-Smith (Mixer). ****Engineer – Denny Knight. Mix Engineers – (1st) Gary King (2nd) Allen Day. William L. Jones on # +Mixed at: Refraze recording Studio, Dayton, Ohio. # Mixed at Shalonda Productions, Dayton, Ohio. Mix produced by Johnnie Wilder Jr. Only A Woman Like You*+ Love It Back Together*+ Lookin’ For A Way*+ She Wakes Me With A Kiss Every Morning*+ We Can’t Go On Living Like This*+ Plastic Saddle*+ I Want You, I Need You, I Love You*+ Hooked On A Feeling*+ Separate Ways*+ If That Isn’t Love*+ Feel Right** Since I Met You Baby** Slow Hand** Nothing Short Of Dying** Love Is In The Air** That’s The Thing About Love** At This Moment** It Only Hurts When I Cry** Tips Of My Fingers** Treat Me Nice** Restless***# Out Of The Blue***# Dream On Me***# Just A Closer Walk With Thee**** Amazing Grace**** Where Could I Go But To The Lord**** You’ll Never Walk Alone**** I’ll Fly Away**** Lead Me, Guide Me**** Peace In The Valley**** Stand By Me**** Because He Lives**** Precious Memories**** * Although it is known that a recording session took place on these dates it cannot be confirmed that all of these songs were made at this three day session. The SPECIAL MOMENTS release featured quite a few recordings from previous sessions and it is possible that a few of those listed could be from a later session. Likewise there could also be further recordings which remain unreleased. The songs Just A Closer Walk With Thee and Peace In The Valley had previously been recorded at Sun Records and included on their GLORY album but these were newly recorded versions for the Stargem’s album. * These ten tracks would be released on compact disc later on the Stargem label under the title GENUINE, an album that would be issued both as an Orion release and as an Ellis James release. The Orion one having an alternate mix making the songs sound different. ** These ten tracks would be released by Stargem Records as the album THE LEGEND CONTINUES. *** These tracks would, along with a few earlier recordings, be released by Stargem Records as the album SPECIAL MOMENTS. **** These ten tracks would be released by Stargem Records as the album BECAUSE HE LIVES. The bootleg release STEADY AS SHE GOES/THE LEGEND CONTINUES from Jack Daniels Records contains outtakes from around the time of this recording session as follows: Treat Me Nice That’s The Thing About Love Since I Met You Baby Tips Of My Fingers It Only Hurts When I Cry Love Is In The Air (Two takes) Other tracks on this album may also be from this session but this is not able to be confirmed at this time. June 13th, 1990 at Jerry Cupit Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee: Mary Jane Doe This was a special spoken recording made for the Child Abuse Organization and available in 2002 only to members of the Orion Jimmy Ellis Music Club. Written by Jimmy Carr. Second track on the disc is an instrumental. 1991 May 3rd, 1991 at Gatlin Bros., Music Resources, Nashville, Tennessee: Unchained Melody Date unknown, 1991. Possibly a local studio in Alabama: MUSICIANS: Guitar – Sandy Renda Bass Guitar – Sandy Renda Engineer/Mixer – Phil Bruno I’ll Be With You Always (The Farewell) This recording was sold as a CDR from the internet by Walt Gollender in New Jersey. It was explained by his assistant, John Lopacinski, that Mr. Gollender does not have the Master Tape for this song. Jimmy and Gollender never met but agreed over the phone for Jimmy to overdub his voice to a previously recorded music track. Gollender then recieved only a cassette recording from Jimmy after he supposedly recorded the vocal somewhere in Alabama. He got musical assistance from Sandy Renda for the guitar and bass overdubbing, while engineer Phil Bruno of Early Bird Studio in Nutley, New Jersey created the overdubbed church bells. Gollender also informed that the original writer of the song has passed away. It exists in two versions of the song; one with the overd ubbed church bells and one without them. It was included on the CD included with the book JIMMY ELLIS - IN THE SHADOW OF A KING in 2016. 1993 Autumn, 1993 at the Sound Emporium Studios, Nashville, Tennessee: Steady As She Goes He Has His Hands On Your Heart Love Is The Only Way Out Between Hello And Goodbye Rock Your Baby I Know Where You Are Coming From My Boogie Wants To Boogie With You The Power Of Your Love If You Ever Want A Fool Around Starting Over These ten tracks would be released by Kardina Records in 1996 as the album STEADY AS SHE GOES The bootleg album STEADY AS SHE GOES/THE LEGEND CONTINUES reportedly features outtakes from both this session and tracks from the session from 1990 which produced the Stargem THE LEGEND CONTINUES album. However, as the bootleg does not include outtakes from any of the above songs it is very difficult to say for certain which tracks come from which date, if any. 1994 December 15th, 1994 at the Sound Emporium Studios, 3100 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee (Just a couple of doors along from 3106 Belmont Boulevard, the address given on several of Orion's Sun albums as the address of the Orion Fan Club): Producer: Larry Butler Engineer: Billy Sherill Lovers Nobody But You How Did We Get Here From There 1996 October 16th, 1996 at Andy Lee Lang’s Studio in Austria. MUSICIANS- (Listed as playing on all the tracks on the released CD's. It is not known at this time exactly which musicians played on the two Orion recordings): Drums – Herwig Wagner; Michael Strasser; Andi Weiss; Peter Muller; Andi Wagner; Dick Richards; Jimmy Redhead. Bass Guitar - Franz Rebensteiner; Rainer Leutgeb; Gerhard Strauhs; Freddy Poke. Upright Bass - Peter Strutzenberger; Marshall Lytle. Guitar - Bernhard Krinner; Michael Hoglinger; Ulli Winter; Charlie Gracie; Franny Beecher; Gordon Scott; Steve Bloomfield. Piano - Andy Lee Lang; Johnny Grande; Linda Gail Lewis. Keyboards - Murcus Hagler; Willi Grahsi. Alto Sax - Bernhard Adlberger; Guitar – Sandy Renda. Bass Guitar – Sandy Renda. Steel Guitar - Oliver Gruen. Engineer/Mixer – Phil Bruno. Tenor Sax, Flute - Sebastian Grimus; Joey D'Ambrosio; Martin Wichtl; Johnny Leonhartsberger. Baritone Sax - Markus Zahri; Bernhard Adlberger. Soprano Sax - Johnny Leonhartsberger. Trumpet - Josef Burchartz. Flugerhorn - Josef Burchartz. Trombone - Robert Bachner. Percussion - Stephan Maass; Herwig Wagner; Alex Munkas; Martin Schutzenhofer. Fiddle: Gordon Accordion: Christian Dozzler. Harmonica: Gordon Scott. Backing Vocals - Gary Lux; Monika Ballwein; Andy Lee Lang; Kai Peterson; Alex Munkas; Dietmar Baumgartner; Matchbox. Engineer/Mixer – Alex Munkas. All In The Game Puppet On A String The above two tracks were released as duets on two compact disc compilations by popular Austrian singer and actor Andy Lee Lang with Jimmy being credited as “Shadowman” on the sleeve. It seems that these tracks were made while Jimmy was performing live in Austria around this time, as photographs on the album sleeve show both Jimmy and Andy together in what appears to be a studio set up. The song Puppet On A String is the same song as recorded by Elvis Presley for inclusion on his GIRL HAPPY soundtrack album. November 7th. 1996, Gavle, Sweden: Alibis Young And Beautiful The above two tracks were recorded at the home/studio of entertainer Garry Lee Taylor while Orion was on a European tour. Garry had been Jimmy’s bodyguard and security adviser as well as his good friend and the first track was composed by Garry. The recording of Alibis has been made available on the Jack Daniels label bootleg titled IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. The recording of Young and Beautiful has been made available on YouTube. 1997 Studio not known: MUSICIANS: Leo Jackson – Acoustic Guitar Kelly Back – Lead Guitar Mike Leech – Bass Guitar Gene Chrisman – Drums Walt Cunningham – Keyboards Gary Prim – Keyboards on A CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH LOVE recordings. Steel Guitar – Weldon Myrick Fiddle – Bob Hajacos Backing Vocals – Billy Davis; Karen Morley; Amaleia Ruble; Debra Paxton. Additional Backing Vocals on HOLIDAY TRIBUTE TO THE KING recordings – The Jordanaires Background Vocal direction on HOLIDAY TRIBUTE TO THE KING recordings – Melody Paxton; Billy Davis. Producer – Dan Mitchell Engineer – Ronny Light Additional engineering on last ten tracks – Kurt Storey; Terry Alldaffer; Logan Patton A CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH LOVE recordings mastered by – Hollis Flatt, Custom Mastering. Christmas Memory A Christmas Filled With Love The Funny Little Man All Dressed In Red An Old Fashioned Christmas Christmas Spirit Christmas Eve The Fireplace You’re All I Want For Christmas Merry Christmas Love+ Here Comes Santa Claus I’ll Be Home For Christmas O Little Town Of Bethlehem Blue Christmas Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me+ Holly Leaves & Christmas Trees Silent Night Santa Claus Is Back In Town Jingle Bells It Won’t Seem Like Christmas Without You Stuck On You Don’t Be Cruel Crying In The Chapel All Shook Up Are You Lonesome Tonight Teddy Bear If I Can Dream I Want You, I Need You, I Love You That’s Alright Mama Follow That Dream These last ten tracks above were issued in 2000 by Kardina Records on the album JIMMY ELLIS SINGS ELVIS - THE LAST RECORDINGS. + These two tracks were released on the various artists album HOLIDAY COLLECTION from Kardina Records in 1997. First eight tracks were issued in 1997 on Kardina Records album A CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH LOVE. Latter ten festive tracks were issued by Kardina Records on the 1997 album HOLIDAY TRIBUTE TO THE KING. Although it cannot, as yet, be confirmed, it seems likely all of these tracks were recorded at the one session. Possibly early, 1997 (Possibly) Jerry Cupit’s Studio, Nashville: Are You Sincere Give Me The Right It Hurts Me Until It’s Time For You To Go I Really Don’t Want To Know My Boy King Of The Whole Wide World Follow That Dream And I Love You So The Wonder Of You Anything That’s Part Of You Without Love Paralyzed It’s Midnight These recordings were released on a fan club cassette titled ORION SINGS ELVIS - THE MAN WITH THE VOICE OF A KING in 1997. Jimmy sold these at his shows at least in October, 1997 introducing them as his latest recordings. All tracks have been made availabl e on bootleg CD. 1998 Approximately one week before Jimmy was murdered (early December 1998) he was in Jerry Cupit’s studio in Nashville and recorded music there. To this day they have not been heard or released.
