This week, to mark the Valentine's Day holiday, Gurdip, Bec and myself gave a listen to the one explicitly Valentine-themed Elvis compilation, released 40 years ago amid celebrations of Elvis's 50th birthday.

Far from being a mere collection of famous love songs, some surprising deep cuts make the grade, but also a lot of songs about broken hearts, which confounds Gurdip.

For Song of the Week, Bec digs into the title theme from 1961's "Wild in the Country," and Gurdip matches with another movie title track, this time from 1967's "Double Trouble." Justin, however, takes the opportunity to examine the history behind one of the few songs Elvis ever publicly declared among his favorites, "Padre," which he recorded in 1971 but wasn't released until 1973.

Plus, if you're needing something to listen to today, we've got a special Valentine's Day playlist made up featuring songs from this album and a mix of other romantic tracks: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0eW2fGlc0x0CyAeTJIL9gw?si=dc41503407554785

If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.

Following on from Part 1, Justin, Olivia and guest host Chris Jones (of the "Hall of Songs" podcast) explore Elvis's Hot 100 hits that never made it to the Top 40, closing out the movie era with tracks from Speedway and Live A Little, Love A Little and moving into the 1970s, a decade that surprisingly offered Elvis far more pop success than may often be perceived, as only 5 of his single A-sides charted outside the Top 40 (and only the Christmas and gospel singles not charting whatsoever in the Hot 100). Also touched upon are the three posthumous Hot 100 hits that never reached the Top 40: The Elvis Medley, and the remixes of A Little Less Conversation and Rubberneckin'.

For Song of the Week, Chris is inspired by having recently watched "The Big Lebowski" to pick Elvis's 1966 home recording of the Sons of the Pioneers cowboy classic that opens that film, "Tumblin' Tumbleweeds," while Olivia goes deep on the extensive history behind Elvis's version of the apocalyptic spiritual "I, John," rooted almost entirely in Black gospel tradition until Elvis's 1971 recording released on the "He Touched Me" album in '72.

Visit hallofsongs.com or find it on your podcast platform of choice to hear more of Chris and his buddy Tim.

If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.

Chris Jones from "Hall of Songs" (hallofsongs.com or on any major podcast platform) joins Justin and Olivia for an exploration of Elvis's Billboard Hot 100 hits that charted outside of the Top 40; meaning #41-#100. Exploring Elvis's career through this unique angle shines a light on less-known songs, and some surprising famous ones that didn't go as high as you might think, while also revealing surprising insights about different periods of his music.

All this is inspired by Chris and Tim Malcolm's upcoming new project "The Almost Famous," where they look at songs that only ever peaked at #41 on the Hot 100, of which Elvis has two and they may one day cover!

Part 1 covers roughly 1956 through early 1968; we ran a bit long with our Songs of the Week so Part 2 - releasing Tuesday, Feb. 11, will cover 1968-2003 plus SOTW.

If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.