We Had It All - B.J. Thomas (1977)

A hidden gem from B.J.'s 1977 MCA album, "B.J. Thomas." Words and music by Troy Seals and Donnie Fritts.

David Briggs and Norbert Putnam owned the publishing on the song. They'd brought it to Elvis in December 1973 when he was recording at Stax, in Memphis. According to Marty Lacker, "He loved the song. He listened to it over and over again. If he listened to it once, he listened to it forty times. All the musicians were sitting around, scratching their heads, and saying, 'If he likes it that much, let's cut it.' But then he came to me and he said, 'Marty, I can't cut that. People will think I'm singing about me and Priscilla.'"

"We Had It All" became something of a holy grail for Elvis fans. Did he at least rehearse it? Is there any surviving tape? It would seem not.

Why am I focusing on what Elvis didn't record? Because, when I accidentally discovered B.J.'s version, on an old LP that was heading for the dumpster at the radio station where I worked on-air, I could hear Elvis in the delivery and the arrangement. Listen closely to the line, "When I was your man," and see if you agree.

Видео We Had It All - B.J. Thomas (1977) канала jaygordon1033