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19th - 21st March 1990*  Stargem Studios - Nashville, Tennessee

THE LATER SESSIONS

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*+ Seperate 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 been recorded at Sun Records and included on their GLORY album but these were newly recorded versions for the Stargems 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.

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 I would welcome even the smallest piece of additional info.

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.

1988            Orchid Records - Nashville, Tennessee

II 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)

1988            Nashville, Tennessee

Her Memory Just Won't Let Us Lay Down I Can't Get Used To Sleeping By Myself Old Time Rock

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.

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.

1995/1996 (Date unknown)  Sound Emporium Studios/The Music Room, 3100 Belmont Boulevard, 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

MUSICIANS: Drums -  Milton Sledge Bass Guitar  -  Spade Brennan Lead Guitar  -  Pete Bordenelli Keyboards  -  Bobby Wood Acoustic Guitar  -  Jimmy Capps Produced by Larry Butler Recorded and mixed by Billy Sherrill

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.

1997   Studio not known

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 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.

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.

These last ten tracks above were issued in 2000 by Kardina Records on the album JIMMY ELLIS SINGS ELVIS  -  THE LAST RECORDINGS.

1983       Studio not known

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 Organisation. 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.

October 1996  Austria ( possible date & venue)

All In The Game Puppet On A String

The above two tracks were released as "duets" on two compact disc compilations by Austrian singer Andy Lee Lang with Jimmy being credited as "Shadowman" on the sleeve. It seems possible that, if these tracks are authentic duets, they  were made while Jimmy was appearing in Austria around this time. Or are they overdubbed fake "duets" using unreleased songs from earlier in Jimmy's recording career? The song Puppet On A String is the same song as recorded by Elvis Presley for inclusion on his GIRL HAPPY soundtrack album.

1998   (Date unconfirmed)     Studio not known

I'll Be With You Always (The Farewell)

MUSICIANS: Guitar  -  Sandy Renda Bass Guitar  -  Sandy Renda Engineer/Mixer  -  Phil Bruno

This recording claims to be the last recording made by Jimmy Ellis but at present this cannot be confirmed. Issued as a one track only CD release for sale via the internet.

1987     Southern Tracks Studio

Thank God For America Sunday Father You're Never Too Old To Rock And Roll

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. IIssued on the various artists CD release A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS from K-Tel Records. Released version is take 3.

7th. November 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 Jimmy's 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.

Date unknown         Jerry Cupit Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Mary Jane Doe

This was a special spoken recording made for the Child Abuse Organisation  and available in 2002 only to members of the Orion Jimmy Ellis Music Club. The recording date is unknown but possibly from around this part of Jimmy's career. More information is needed on this recording. Second track on the disc is an instrumental.

1990    Gatlin Bros.,Music Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. Unchained Melody

12th. December 1988   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.

1989    Nashville, Tennessee

Back On The Street Old Pipeliner

1988   Studio unknown

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. However as his recording career seemed to be going nowhere at this point he decided it could do his career no harm.

Note: The last track listed cannot be confirmed as being recorded at this session. I have been unable to confirm a date but, as it has been included on the compilation album NASHVILLE ROCKABILLY 1957 - 1987, I have added it to this session until more information can be found to determine when it was recorded.

NOTE: Many of the tracks above recorded at different sessions would be collected together and released by Aron Records of Canada on their 1989 NEW BEGINNINGS CD release.

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 The above tracks were released on a fan club cassette titled ORION SINGS ELVIS - THE MAN WITH THE VOICE OF A KING. No other information is currently avaiable. All tracks have been made available on bootleg CD.

DATE UNKNOWN         Studio unknown

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 You're Stealing My Wife You Never Talk When We're Dancing Starting Over Midnight Till Morning Deep End