Tryin' to Get to You

"Tryin' to Get to You" is a song written by R&B singer songwriters Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton[1][2] It was originally recorded by the Washington DC vocal group The Eagles in 1954 and released in mid-1954 on Mercury Records 70391.[3][4][5] The format of the title on The Eagles’ record was “Tryin’ to Get to You”, with an apostrophe.[6][7]

"Tryin' to Get to You"
Single by The Eagles
A-side"Please, Please"
Released1954
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)McCoy, Singleton
"Tryin' to Get to You"
Single by The Teen Kings / Vocal, Roy Orbison
B-side"Ooby Dooby"
ReleasedMarch 1956
RecordedMarch 4, 1956
LabelJe-Wel
Songwriter(s)McCoy, Singleton
"Tryin' to Get to You"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Elvis Presley
B-side"I Love You Because"
ReleasedAugust 1956
RecordedJuly 11, 1955
GenreRhythm and blues, rockabilly
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)McCoy, Singleton

The song was also recorded by Elvis Presley in 1955 on his then unissued Sun recordings.

Presley recorded five versions of the song. The first on March 23, 1955 and the second on July 11, 1955, with the second session being released during his lifetime. He also recorded live versions of the song on Elvis (NBC TV Special), Elvis: As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis, and Elvis in Concert. On the earlier version that appeared on the 1999 album, Sunrise, Presley recorded this song while simultaneously playing the piano (and not aided by his rhythm guitar, as previously believed). Because his piano playing was not up to the expected standards, producer Sam Phillips erased the sound of the piano on the master take so, in addition to Elvis’ vocals, all one hears is the lead guitar, bass, and drums.[8] Elvis’ piano is heard on the July session version and appeared on his self-titled 1956 LP.

Presley’s vocal delivery appears to be influenced by that of The Eagles’ lead singer,[9][10][11] although taking the two warbles at 0.56 and 2.12 one step forward by extending his vocals so that they meet, then join (and without any stops nor breathing space in between), the first and second verses. In addition, Scotty Moore’s guitar solo on the Presley recording replaces a saxophone solo heard on the original.[9]

The track was released on Presley’s March 1956 RCA debut album Elvis Presley. It also featured on the famous 1976 The Sun Sessions release and on numerous other Elvis efforts and collections as well.

“Trying To Get To You” was next released by The Teen Kings with Roy Orbison in March 1956[12] as Je-Wel JE-101 backed with “Ooby Dooby” on the B-side.[13] A version by Johnny Carroll also then ensued,[14] being made on Decca Records on May 19, 1956 (Decca 9-29940).[15][16]

Ricky Nelson was the next to give treatment of the song in 1959.

After Eric Burdon performed it a few times on his own shows he reunited with The Animals in 1983 and recorded the song in the studio. It appeared on their album Ark. It was also included on their live shows before they disbanded again in early 1984.

Later it was also covered by Johnny Rivers, Faith Hill, Susie Arioli, Gene Summers, and many others.

The song was adapted by Paul McCartney to create "In Spite of All the Danger", the first ever original song recorded by the Quarrymen, the precursor to the Beatles.[17][18]

References
  1. This appears to be the co-writer of "Strangers in the Night" and other hits. See Talk:Trying to Get To You.
  2. BMI Repertoire: Charles Singleton is identified by CAE/IPI #40561413; the composer's works are split between two lists at BMI.
  3. Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Arnold Rypens, history of Trying To Get To You". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  5. David Neale, origin of Trying To Get To You
  6. The Eagles - "Tryin' To Get To You", May 1954, discographical details and label image at 45cat.com, Retrieved 16 February 2020
  7. Mercury Records advertising in Billboard magazine, 10 & 17 July, 1954, archived pages at Google Books
  8. Liner notes, Sunrise, RCA Records, 2002.
  9. MP3 (1954 R&B) Eagles - Trying To Get To You
  10. Michael Hicks, Sixties Rock, 2002, p.148
  11. Lady Writes The Blues: The Life Of Rose McCoy, text and audio at NPR website
  12. Orbison, Roy Jr. (2017). The authorized Roy Orbison. Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff,, Riesco, Marcel (Second ed.). New York: Center Street. p. 245. ISBN 9781478976547. OCLC 1017566749.
  13. "Orbison, Roy (RCS Artist Discography)". Rcs-discography.com. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  14. "Johnny Carroll and Judy Lindsey". Rockabillyeurope.com. 1937-10-23. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  17. Chris Ingham, The Rough Guide to the Beatles, Rough Guides, 2009.
  18. Way Beyond Compare: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, 1957-1965, Three Rivers Press, 2008, p.2.

Further reading
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