Suspicious Minds

[Whyte Ice]

Anyone know how I can achieve a similar guitar tone to the one heard on Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds?" That riff? I assume its James Burton playing guitar on that and I know I'm not him but any information that could help would be great.

 

[luckymann]

Hi there.

It wasn't James Burton. Those particular spring -69 sessions they did in American Studios, Memphis, Tennessee, and used a house band of the studio. The guitar player was Reggie Young.

The guitar he used for that 'Suspicious Minds' was an old hollowbody Gibson (which I think had been previously owned by Scotty Moore), I don't remember the exact model.

I would imagine that Reggie used a country picking style, in which he used both the pick and fingers to make the sound. Not sure, though.

Cheers,
Kalle

 

[mocharock]

Wow what a lot of Elvis knowledge. I feel strangely enlightened.

 

[Paul881]

Those old style Gibsons were originally made for dance bands. Plenty of attack to cut accross the horns but no sustain.

 

[King Elvis]

luckyman was correct. The guitar that Reggie played was previously owned by Scotty Moore. It is the same guitar that Scotty used on songs like HOUND DOG back in the mid fifties. I THINK it was a blonde super 400, but dont quote me on that. Yup, just did a check on that info. The guitar was a 1956 Gibson Super 400 that Scotty traded to Chips Moman in 1963. That is how it ended up at American Studios. Chips was the owner of the studio.

 

[King Elvis]

Suspicious Minds was recorded in January 1969. Elvis didnt return to live performing until July 1969. So at the point the song was recorded the band was not together yet. Elvis got the band together specifically for his live shows. The band, which would later become known as The TCB Band originally consisted of: James Burton who was the musical director and lead guitarist, Ronnie Tutt on drums, Jerry Scheff on bass and John Wilkerson on rhythm guitar and Larry Mulhoberac on piano. Later, Glen D. Hardin took over on piano. Burton played with E thru his the end of his life, as did Wilkerson. Scheff left the band about '74 but came back in '75 and continued until the end. Tutt would eventually leave about '76 and was replaced by Larrie London. Hardin left in late '76 and was replaced by Tony Brown.

 

[Clive Hugh]

Whilst on the subject of Elvis' musicians, is Scotty Moore still alive? Plus, lets not forget Bill Black and DJ Fontana, what became of them?
Scotty did some great solos, pedal boards weren't invented yet.

 

[King Elvis]

Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana are both still alive. Scotty has his own website www.scottymoore.net

Bill Black died of a brain aneurysm back in 1965

As a side note, Elvis did not write Suspicious Minds so the song was not written specifically with Priscilla in mind. In the latter years of Elvis' life he did record material that sounded kind of autobiographical.