So what it boils down to was Elvis produced his own records. He came to the session, picked the songs, and if something in the arrangement was changed, he was the one to change it. Everything was worked out spontaneously. Nothing was really rehearsed. Many of the important decisions normally made previous to a recording session were made during the session. What it was was a look to the future. Today everybody makes records this way. Back then Elvis was the only one. He was the forerunner of everything that's record production these days. Consciously or unconsciously, everyone imitated him. People started doing what Elvis did.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Elvis pioneered spontaneous, in‑session production, a model now common.
- In plain terms
- He made decisions during recording, shaping modern production.
- What can you take from it?
- Real‑time creative decisions can drive innovation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is a rehearsed approach preferable to spontaneous creation?
Another view
Spontaneity may sacrifice polish for some genres.
More from Elvis Presley
Without Elvis, none of us could have made it.
Permalink to quote #29 He was a unique artist - an original in an era of imitators.
Permalink to quote #31 Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business.
Permalink to quote #28
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