All the King's Men

Personnel includes: Scotty Moore (electric guitar); D.J. Fontana (drums); Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Joe Louis Walker (vocals, guitar); Joe Ely, Ronnie McDowell, Steve Earle, Tracy Nelson (vocals); Kevin Woods (acoustic and electric guitars); Jeff Beck (guitar); Norm Wray (saxophone); Willie Rainsford, Stephen Shepherd (piano, organ, background vocals); Jerry Dale McFadden (piano); Farrell Morris (vibraphone); Lee Rocker, Wade Bernard, Gary Branchaud, Ian Jennings, Doug Ford (bass); Stan Lynch (drums); Alice Newman (background vocals); The Band, The Mavericks, The Bodeans, Bill Black Combo, Cheap Trick, The Jordanaires.

Producers include: Scotty Moore, Stan Lynch, Reggie Young.

Engineers include: Scotty Moore, Chad Hailey, Scott Petito.

Includes liner notes by Dan Griffin and Eric Krohel.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

"Goin' Back To Memphis" was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Personnel: Scotty Moore (electric guitar); D.J. Fontana (drums); Robin Zander (vocals, guitar); Kurt Neumann, Raul Malo (vocals, acoustic guitar); Joe Louis Walker, Ron Wood (vocals, electric guitar, background vocals); Keith Richards (vocals, electric guitar); Tracy Nelson (vocals, background vocals); Duane West, Joe Ely, Levon Helm, Ray C. Walker, Ronnie McDowell, Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Millie Kirkham (vocals); Kevin Woods (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Sam Llanas (acoustic guitar); Jeff Beck (electric guitar, background vocals); Doug Ford, Jim Weider, Nick Kane, Reggie Young , Rick Nielsen (electric guitar); Norman Ray, Norm Wray, Ace Cannon (saxophone); Little Willie Rainsford (piano, organ, background vocals); Steve Shepherd (piano, background vocals); Jerry Dale McFadden, Bobby Wood (piano); Garth Hudson, Bobby Emmons (organ); Richard Bell (keyboards); Farrell Morris (vibraphone); Jerry Thomas, Jerry Arnold, Paul Deakin, Stan Lynch, Bun E. Carlos (drums); Alice Newman (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Doug Ford; Rob Jacobs.

Liner Note Author: Reggie Young .

Recording information: Blueberry Hill Studios, Nashville, TN; Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; Masterlink Studio, Nashville, TN; Moondog Studio, Nashville, TN; Sandy Mount Studio, Kildare, Ireland; Sweetfish Studios, Argyle, NY; Woodland Studio, Nashville, TN; Woodstock, NY.

Ensembles: Duane West; Ray C. Walker; Neal Matthews; Gordon Stoker; Millie Kirkham.

Photographers: Ebet Roberts; John Carrico; Larry Abrams.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Duane West; Ray C. Walker; Neal Matthews; Gordon Stoker; Millie Kirkham.

Forty years after making history as Elvis Presley's sidemen, guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana reunited to record All the King's Men. The album is a tribute to Elvis but not in the traditional sense. Most tributes devote themselves to covering shopworn classics by familiar artists, but this one tries to nail down the spirit of Elvis. With a number of guest artists in tow, Moore and Fontana run through a number of new songs -- Rick Nielsen's "Bad Little Girl," Joe Ely's "I'm Gonna Strangle You Shorty," the BoDeans' "Locked in the State of Illinois," and the Mavericks' "I Told You So" -- revamping them to sound like lost rock & roll classics. It's not always a successful effort, but most of All the King's Men is roots rock at its best and least pretentious. It's hard to resist Keith Richards and Levon Helm's duet on "Deuce and a Quarter," or Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood playing on "Unsung Heroes," and Moore and Fontana play superbly throughout. For die-hard rockabilly cats, All the King's Men will sound like a tribute fit for a king. ~ Thom Owens

Genre:

• Pop / Rock