From the start, Pink Floyd was meticulous about record sounds. Whether you were interested in the philosophical aspect or merely wanted to hear a David Gilmour guitar solo, their recent albums were always special. Gilmour and Roger Waters co-captained the group when crafting audiophile classics, but ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was one of the rare songs that achieve perfection.
Before Pink Floyd, most rock bands were average. The Beatles were just beginning to take over the world when most of the band picked up their instruments, and Elvis Presley was still a global superstar. After starring in questionable films, his reputation as a rock and roller suffered, yet he could sing like no one else. Presley, a showman, threw his heart and soul into every song, adopting Big Mama Thornton’s blues swagger and making it white-friendly.
‘All Shook Up’ and ‘Hound Dog’ are uptempo, but ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ is mournful. Presley’s voice is still the star, but the swinging tempo makes the song more sad, especially when the guitars start and his voice echoes. Gilmour has always praised The Beatles, but he told BBC that this version of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was the best rock and roll ever. Though sparse, it exudes compassion with every detail.That place and piano are magical”.
If Gilmour loved the echo, he would utilize that eerie sound everywhere else. Gilmour’s natural singing voice is nothing like Presley’s thunderous lower register, but his echo effects make him sound like a disembodied voice half the time. Since Gilmour couldn’t equal Presley’s skill, he saved his greatest moments for his guitar playing. He may not have been attempting to compete with Presley anymore, but his guitar playing often sounds like a human voice crying out in pain.
Gilmour still tries. Until Pink Floyd’s final album, The Endless River, he tended to let his guitar speak for him rather than his tongue. A Gilmour guitar solo may speak louder than words half the time, but any rock star after Elvis Presley will compete for second place.
