Elvis Presley – I Feel So Bad

Introduction:

I Feel So Bad: A Bluesy Ballad by Elvis Presley

Not every song in Elvis Presley’s vast catalog can be a chart-topping, hip-shaking rock and roll anthem. But I Feel So Bad, released in 1961, showcases another side of the King’s musicality – his deep appreciation for rhythm and blues.

Originally a 1954 hit for R&B singer Chuck Willis, I Feel So Bad is a bluesy rhumba, a genre characterized by its slow, romantic tempo and Latin influences. Presley, a longtime admirer of Willis, decided to record his own version during a session at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee on March 12, 1961. Unlike his earlier, energetic rockabilly recordings, I Feel So Bad allowed Presley to explore a more soulful and melancholic mood.

While Presley wasn’t credited as a producer on his recordings at the time, RCA staff producer Chet Atkins likely played a role in shaping the final sound of I Feel So Bad. Atkins, known for his smooth production style, would have helped refine the backing instrumentation, which likely featured a standard blues band lineup of drums, bass, piano, and possibly saxophone.

I Feel So Bad was released as a double A-side single in the UK, paired with the song “Wild in the Country.” The strategy proved successful, with I Feel So Bad reaching number 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 1961. In the United States, the song wasn’t given the same promotional push, but it still managed to find an audience.

I Feel So Bad stands as a testament to Presley’s versatility as a singer. Even as he was becoming a global rock and roll phenomenon, he never strayed far from his roots in blues and R&B. This track, along with other ballads he recorded throughout his career, demonstrate the soulful and emotional core of his artistry.

Video:

Lyrics:

I feel so bad
Like a ball game on a rainy day
Feel so bad
Like a ball game on a rainy day
Yes, I got my rain check
Shake my head and walk away

Uuu, people, that’s the way I feel
Uuu, people, that’s the way I feel
Sometimes, I think I want
Then again, I think I don’t

Sometimes, I want to stay here
Then again, I want to leave here
Sometimes, I want to leave here
Then again, I want to stay here
Yes, I got my train fare
Pack my grip and ride away

Uuu, people, that’s the way I feel
Uuu, people, that’s the way I feel
Sometimes, I think I want
Then again, I think I don’t