Ral Donner - Elvis #2 There is only one King of Rock n Roll and that is and will always be Elvis Presley. But if you listen to Ral sing this song and then Elvis, Ral does a better job on it. If Elvis had never come on to the scene, Ral would have most likely been the King of Rock n Roll, he is that great. Ral also was picked to sing Elvis's songs in The Elvis Presley Story, which most people thought it was elvis's recordings, but they were all sang by Ral. He has many great songs recorded.
@fatjud1 Play To Love Someone by Ral Donner and then see if you don't think he sounds like Elvis. Ral Donner was picked to sing all of Elvis's songs in the Special The Elvis Presley Story. Most people couldn't believe that it wasn't Elvis singing all of the songs, but it was Ral Donner. Great voice.
@bmxshowtime I listened to the song and i'm sorry he sounds a little like Elvis but not a lot, i'm not saying he wasn't a great singer he was, but if i want to hear Elvis i will listen to Elvis and if i want to hear Ral Donner i will listen to Ral Donner.
this is not Elvis it is Ral Donner who`s version of this song is superb as are many other Ral songs, a very underrated singer, i`m a Elvis fan firstly but Ral is a close second.
allanh53, do you know what that icon is around the letter G of GONE? It looks like a serving of ice cream with topping or a look of a person from their chin, looking up.
@allanh53 Since I had a couple Ral Donner Gone singles when I was a kid, I've always thought the O in the Gone logo was a man with his mouth wide open because he's singing. The nose & ears are clearly visible & there's a scribble at the bottom that is probably a poorly drawn bow tie.
@bamapoppy do you mean around the letter "O" there is no icon around the "G" on the logo Gone records were an independent label in the early days of Rock and Roll and released a number of great recordings RIP Ral RIP Elvis RIP Gone Records I cannot emphasize the importance of this music Vaya Con Dios todo del mundo
Just to put my 2 cents in, I met Ral in late 1960 when he was living in Orlando, Florida. We were at a jam sessions together. Most of Ral's records are really Ral's natural singing voice, admittedly hammed up on this tune. His first two hits (Girl Of My Best Friend and You Don't Know What You've Got) were originally recorded in 1961 in Orlando with a local group called the Starfires. They were then over-dubbbed at Criterion in Miami. Ral was a heck of a nice guy who deserved better.
i like both ral and elvis' versions they are different approaches . elvis' original is much softer but spot on. ral sounds more elvissy in his version than even elvis . elvis' was just used as an album filler , ral released it as a potential hit single.. they are both very good records.
Better technical singing, better phrasing, warmer and much more controlled vocal, more sophisticated and tempered delivery, a smoother, fuller arrangement - and all of it more balanced, over a wider dynamic range and with a more driving and consistent rythmn......i don't know about anyone else, my ears tell me this guy is good, but that ELVIS inevitably wins by a landslide.
love Elvis and Ral, had the fortune to grow up with Rals son Ral jr in Chicago and met Ral Sr before he passed away, Rals son and brother Eric now have a Local band called Trash Martini ,check them out..Dr. Molina
ral's voice is good,,but as the guy said previously,,,elvis had a sweetness, and depth to his tone,.. that made E,,the greatest male rock n' roll singer we will ever have.
Elvis was smoother, better falsetto. Better deeper tone as well. Elvis always had a knack for wavering like a mad man. Elvis is probably the best singer ever technically. As far as switching up voices. But this version is good to.
Elvis might have recorded it first but it wasn't released as a single,it was just another song on an album that got no airplay. Then Ral recorded it in 1961 and had the hit. The same thing with Suspicion,Elvis didn't record it as a single,it was just another song on an album but after Terry Stafford released it as a single and it became a big hit Elvis's people released their version as a single but it was too late. Stafford's Suspicion was already sailing up the charts.
i think its over dramatic and over sung, elvis knew just how much to give and when to hold back thats why he is the king and all the rest will fade away!
I listened to Ral do the Elvis montage, guy is close, if I didn't know Elvis's music I wouldn't have known the difference. Still sad he also went out young.
Elvis Presley was and will always be the King. Sure miss him. But Ral Donner was also great. Yes they did sound a lot alike but Ral had his own style. Elvis even admired Ral for his talent. Ral also sang Elvis's songs in the tribute to Elvis special. No there will never be another Elvis but what great music and memories he left us.
why compare simply because he chose to record the same record as the king he had a similar voice but of course not exactly the same pj proby was the demo king for elvis records for 10 yr's i enjoyed this upload!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The biggest difference between Ral Donner's version and that of Elvis is that Ral Donner sang to a better arrangement of the song. Elvis did as good job of singing on his version, if not better, as Ral did on his. Unfortunately, for Elvis, the arrangement was a bit bland.
u should all stop comparing him to elvis ral donner was not elvis he was ral donner and u should compliment him on what he did and not compare with others
@sukie1958 Duh, wrong. Ral Donner WAS Elvis. He never performed live, only lip-synched. The starfires were the Jordanaires, the group that played behind Elvis. Ral Donner was a puppet, only a puppet. Look closely at the record above. Then read copyright law. At the bottom, you have to say who is doing the song. At the side left, you MUST tell the name of the actual person doing it. I see Elvis Presley there. Ral Donner was a real person, yes. But, he did not sing this. That is Elvis.
@emkcus1 ... Duh! That is Ral Donner singing this song, NOT Elvis, completely different voice, this is the way Ral sings, he's not trying to sound like Elvis at all, listen to his other stuff before making a dumb comment like you just made, you so obiously know fuck all about Ral Donner so shut up.
@emkcus1 don't mean any offense but you don't know what of what you're talking maybe he was influenced by Elvis' style but that's not a crime he was a largely unrecognized great singer of eraly rockabilly as was Johnny Burnette and his brothers Maybe if you do a little research and listening to the songs of Ral you may began to have an understanding of this completly underated pioneer of the Rockabilly genre No brag Just Fact!
@emkcus1 Elvis' name is on the record because he owned the publishing rights to it. During the 60s you had to kick back some of your publishing royalties if you wanted Elvis to cover your tune. Elvis did this tune before Donner, but didn't have a hit with it. Ral covered it later. He sounded like Elvis, but he wasn't Elvis. Why would Elvis record and release the same tune if it didn't do much the first time?
Ral's version is much more intense, deep, rich in texture, and, apparently, heartfelt. This is is the version that makes this song one of the best ever.
I think Ral Donner's and Elvis Presley's versions were both good. It's just such a lovely song, it's a treat the two versions were recorded. I like them both.
Some thought's to ponder: I think that Ral Donner's back-up group "The Starfires" were an integral, & warm addition to Ral's songs. Just as "The Jordanaires" were to Elvis. The music of the day had many groups or feature artists, with a back-up group. Ral Donner's ("The Girl Of My Best Friend"), Terry Stafford's ("Suspicion"), & Joe Dahl's, ("Wooden Heart")-All were cover version's of an Elvis Presley song. IMHO & arguably...all three of these guys version's were superior. Thanks for posting!!!
I absolutely agree with you Ral Donner did do a much better job on Girl of MY Best Friend than Elvis. He sounds so sincere like he really is in love with the girl of his best friend. What I meant to say about Elvis was there will never be anyone else like him who was such an influence on our music,culture,and just his personality. But Ral Donner did a better job on this song Love it!
OOPS! It was Terry Stafford who did Suspicion I thought it was Ral Donner as well,sorry. The sound of all three voices are amazingly alike,although there's none like Elvis!
I love this song by Ral Donner, it's got a sound like a garage band from the 60's which I like more than Elvis'clean faster version without the sincerity of Ral's voice and I absolutely LOVE ELVIS but I must say I prefer Ral on this one . I think maybe he was a guy in love with the girl of his best friend. Who was the artist that did Suspicion another Elvis song wasn't that Ral Donner as well?
Very nice! I don't think I've ever heard it before! But very memorable. Was this done before Elvis became popular? Sounds so much like him, (or visa versa).
Rals version of 'Girl of my best friend' is actually BETTER than Elvis's ! Elvis's version was just too damn confortable... Listen to Rals voice man !! He kicked ass !!!!! Probably THE most underrated singer of the late 50s early 60s !!! But....Hey ! What the fuck do I know ?!?!
davesharon5747 is correct Elvis' version was recorded and released first. For Elvis it was a filler song for the album Elvis Is Back. Elvis had It's Now Or Never, Stuck On You, Fame And Fortune......though this is a good song it is not in the same league as other songs RCA was releasing as singles in that time period.......Elvis is the original....."Before anyone did anything, Elvis did everything"
My recollection of Ral's song is that it was out before the Elvis version, I don't remember hearing Elvis's version until much later, maybe Elvis's was on an album, not a single, I do prefer Ral's version a little more.
I'm sorry, but I just can't compare Elvis to Ral Donner. Elvis' voice was so much more smooth and fluid. Ral can stand on his own, but I just don't see the comparison.
I believe Elvis' version was first released on his Elvis is Back LP which came out in April of 1960. Ral Donner's version came out as a single in July of 1961 and hit #19. His 2nd single, You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) came out a couple of months after that and it became a bigger hit at #5. Alot of people probably thought it was an Elvis tune.
This song was originally written for Elvis who passed on recording it. The song was given to Ral Donner who had a big hit with the song. Eventually after the song became a hit for Ral Donner Elvis did record the song, but it was never a hit for him.
After noticing the reference to 'Elvis Presley Music, Inc.', on the label, I would guess that Elvis' version preceded Ral Donner's. Both are well done and Donner is definitely a Presley 'sound-alike'. He would probably be considered an Elvis 'impersonator' today.
"Elvis Presley Music, Inc." also appears on the label of Terry Stafford's (another Elvis sound alike), "Suspicion." I think Terry's version is (arguably), better than E.P.'s version.
I never heard of this guy before but he sounds just like Elvis! And looks a lot like Ricky Ricardo!
ppehsy 1 month ago
How can somebody write this kind of magic lirycs and then somebody sing and play it so perfect?
I will come back to this when I go to heaven :)
chavacoatlito 3 months ago
5***** for this guy's version.got this on a best of lp and cd :)
wfarrar69 3 months ago in playlist wfarrar69's favorites
Ral Donner - Elvis #2 There is only one King of Rock n Roll and that is and will always be Elvis Presley. But if you listen to Ral sing this song and then Elvis, Ral does a better job on it. If Elvis had never come on to the scene, Ral would have most likely been the King of Rock n Roll, he is that great. Ral also was picked to sing Elvis's songs in The Elvis Presley Story, which most people thought it was elvis's recordings, but they were all sang by Ral. He has many great songs recorded.
bmxshowtime 4 months ago
he doesn't sound like Elvis to me.
fatjud1 5 months ago
@fatjud1 Play To Love Someone by Ral Donner and then see if you don't think he sounds like Elvis. Ral Donner was picked to sing all of Elvis's songs in the Special The Elvis Presley Story. Most people couldn't believe that it wasn't Elvis singing all of the songs, but it was Ral Donner. Great voice.
bmxshowtime 4 months ago
@bmxshowtime I listened to the song and i'm sorry he sounds a little like Elvis but not a lot, i'm not saying he wasn't a great singer he was, but if i want to hear Elvis i will listen to Elvis and if i want to hear Ral Donner i will listen to Ral Donner.
fatjud1 4 months ago
this is not Elvis it is Ral Donner who`s version of this song is superb as are many other Ral songs, a very underrated singer, i`m a Elvis fan firstly but Ral is a close second.
ejets1 10 months ago
Great tune, and best versionis Ral's.
barrygioportmorien1 1 year ago
This is great!!!
baldyholly79 1 year ago
allanh53, do you know what that icon is around the letter G of GONE? It looks like a serving of ice cream with topping or a look of a person from their chin, looking up.
Fabulous tune, too!
bamapoppy 1 year ago
@bamapoppy dont know but the 0 looks like an open mouth with tonsils showing
allanh53 1 year ago 2
@allanh53 Since I had a couple Ral Donner Gone singles when I was a kid, I've always thought the O in the Gone logo was a man with his mouth wide open because he's singing. The nose & ears are clearly visible & there's a scribble at the bottom that is probably a poorly drawn bow tie.
tamspeci 1 year ago
@tamspeci I thought it was a bow tie, too, until one of my sons once pointed out that it looks like a scalpel. Brrrrr.
Azishome 1 year ago
@allanh53 You are correct! It's the open mouth of someone singing.
Mstrblu 1 year ago
@You're right about the open mouth. The tonsils are artistically replaced by electricity waves to represent a recording.
Azishome 3 months ago
@bamapoppy do you mean around the letter "O" there is no icon around the "G" on the logo Gone records were an independent label in the early days of Rock and Roll and released a number of great recordings RIP Ral RIP Elvis RIP Gone Records I cannot emphasize the importance of this music Vaya Con Dios todo del mundo
elamite66 11 months ago
Just to put my 2 cents in, I met Ral in late 1960 when he was living in Orlando, Florida. We were at a jam sessions together. Most of Ral's records are really Ral's natural singing voice, admittedly hammed up on this tune. His first two hits (Girl Of My Best Friend and You Don't Know What You've Got) were originally recorded in 1961 in Orlando with a local group called the Starfires. They were then over-dubbbed at Criterion in Miami. Ral was a heck of a nice guy who deserved better.
Mstrblu 1 year ago
what the hell? dont fool yourself this man is trying to sound like elvis are you people kidding me?
slinney1 1 year ago
@slinney1 your right he is trying to sound like elvis but not succeeding very well,
not a patch on elvis
kurtspiano 1 year ago
still like ral donners the best
hah13 1 year ago
@hah13 lol
kurtspiano 1 year ago
i like both ral and elvis' versions they are different approaches . elvis' original is much softer but spot on. ral sounds more elvissy in his version than even elvis . elvis' was just used as an album filler , ral released it as a potential hit single.. they are both very good records.
rukusbob 1 year ago
@rukusbob i agree,listen to rals seond miracle, tho, its his own
tommieparch 1 year ago
Davyboy, the version you like is much thinner, but, hey, suum quique, right? Enjoy!
paititi 1 year ago
Better technical singing, better phrasing, warmer and much more controlled vocal, more sophisticated and tempered delivery, a smoother, fuller arrangement - and all of it more balanced, over a wider dynamic range and with a more driving and consistent rythmn......i don't know about anyone else, my ears tell me this guy is good, but that ELVIS inevitably wins by a landslide.
DaveBTHunt 1 year ago
@DaveBTHunt
Dave, and I thought you were talking about Ral's version, which to my ears and heart is THE version. Thanks.
paititi 1 year ago
@paititi of course you did, you have probably had a head trauma - was it slippery stairs?
DaveBTHunt 1 year ago
not bad but the elvis version is defo much better
epboulevard77 1 year ago
what year is tyhis from?
marcellolippi 1 year ago
this record is worth about 5 dollars...in mint condition
arizonaghost1 1 year ago
There's a valuable 45 record. Anyone got a guess at its value?
5inthehole 1 year ago
absolutely glorious
lizichell 2 years ago
In Mexico City the cover (very good as a matter of fact) was made for "Los sinner" y tambien por Luis VIVI Hernadez (q.e.p.d)de los Crazy Boys
harfuch1 2 years ago
Thanks......
musicwhiskeyredmeat 2 years ago
Keep in mind you had to be 16 and in love, made it all real...
divemtr 2 years ago
His versions of other singers is sensational highly under rated singer
shaka1521 2 years ago
Ral Has a great voice. I knew him from Morton Grove Illinois back in the 60's. great man...
CharlesT2010 2 years ago 2
love Elvis and Ral, had the fortune to grow up with Rals son Ral jr in Chicago and met Ral Sr before he passed away, Rals son and brother Eric now have a Local band called Trash Martini ,check them out..Dr. Molina
eyedrmolina 2 years ago
Sounds great!
wilawdog98 2 years ago
one of my favorties
bufb 2 years ago
he's alot better than overrrated Doug Church and CRAPPY Shawn Klush..still,not the voice of Elvis!!
kenpoman100 2 years ago
elvis recoreded this in 1960 sounds like an elvis copy
TJW1956 2 years ago
RAl did it in 63' Elvis in 66'or 67'
sportsaddict1942 2 years ago
beautiful...
cablonde320 2 years ago 5
ral's voice is good,,but as the guy said previously,,,elvis had a sweetness, and depth to his tone,.. that made E,,the greatest male rock n' roll singer we will ever have.
CHUCKLOVES1969 2 years ago
If you look in the green area You'll see this posted there............
GONE 5102 -
Elvis Presley Music Inc.
(SWI) 2:15
Patches914 2 years ago
Are you saying you think this is Elvis under another name?
georgehalo123 2 years ago
Elvis was smoother, better falsetto. Better deeper tone as well. Elvis always had a knack for wavering like a mad man. Elvis is probably the best singer ever technically. As far as switching up voices. But this version is good to.
swardle77 2 years ago 2
I think Elvis had a greater range in voice "fasetto"..but Ral's voice if pretty good
fgonzalezcuba2008 2 years ago
When did Ral record this?
Who sang this originally, Elvis or Ral???
likecrazydaddy 2 years ago
Elvis might have recorded it first but it wasn't released as a single,it was just another song on an album that got no airplay. Then Ral recorded it in 1961 and had the hit. The same thing with Suspicion,Elvis didn't record it as a single,it was just another song on an album but after Terry Stafford released it as a single and it became a big hit Elvis's people released their version as a single but it was too late. Stafford's Suspicion was already sailing up the charts.
garycooper1000 2 years ago 3
Elvis had a top five hit with song on the UK chart in 1960. Yet no release in the USA . What a bummer for RCA.
frankiehiyo 2 years ago
great song sung by a pretty great guy.. no he's not elvis, there was only one Elvis, but this guy was good too. one of my top 25....
wiford56 2 years ago
better than pj proby
stinkermouth 2 years ago
i think its over dramatic and over sung, elvis knew just how much to give and when to hold back thats why he is the king and all the rest will fade away!
JAARNO88 2 years ago
I listened to Ral do the Elvis montage, guy is close, if I didn't know Elvis's music I wouldn't have known the difference. Still sad he also went out young.
EricVonZipper2 2 years ago
Hmmm. On his deeper level similar, but I would still know. Elvis is quite abit smoother. He just comes off notes similar.
swardle77 2 years ago
Elvis Presley was and will always be the King. Sure miss him. But Ral Donner was also great. Yes they did sound a lot alike but Ral had his own style. Elvis even admired Ral for his talent. Ral also sang Elvis's songs in the tribute to Elvis special. No there will never be another Elvis but what great music and memories he left us.
bmxshowtime 2 years ago 3
When was this released?
EllieMarianna 2 years ago
In 1961
LARUSSALVAT 2 years ago
why compare simply because he chose to record the same record as the king he had a similar voice but of course not exactly the same pj proby was the demo king for elvis records for 10 yr's i enjoyed this upload!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
garybrown57 2 years ago 2
The biggest difference between Ral Donner's version and that of Elvis is that Ral Donner sang to a better arrangement of the song. Elvis did as good job of singing on his version, if not better, as Ral did on his. Unfortunately, for Elvis, the arrangement was a bit bland.
bgdisbrow 2 years ago 2
u should all stop comparing him to elvis ral donner was not elvis he was ral donner and u should compliment him on what he did and not compare with others
sukie1958 2 years ago 22
@sukie1958
Well said.
Ral did not attempt to sound like Elvis, he just had a similar timbre to his singing.
I have have many of Ral's records, and to me he is a personality in his own right.
frankiehiyo 1 year ago
@sukie1958 Duh, wrong. Ral Donner WAS Elvis. He never performed live, only lip-synched. The starfires were the Jordanaires, the group that played behind Elvis. Ral Donner was a puppet, only a puppet. Look closely at the record above. Then read copyright law. At the bottom, you have to say who is doing the song. At the side left, you MUST tell the name of the actual person doing it. I see Elvis Presley there. Ral Donner was a real person, yes. But, he did not sing this. That is Elvis.
emkcus1 11 months ago
@emkcus1 ... Duh! That is Ral Donner singing this song, NOT Elvis, completely different voice, this is the way Ral sings, he's not trying to sound like Elvis at all, listen to his other stuff before making a dumb comment like you just made, you so obiously know fuck all about Ral Donner so shut up.
MrDeejay45 11 months ago
@emkcus1 don't mean any offense but you don't know what of what you're talking maybe he was influenced by Elvis' style but that's not a crime he was a largely unrecognized great singer of eraly rockabilly as was Johnny Burnette and his brothers Maybe if you do a little research and listening to the songs of Ral you may began to have an understanding of this completly underated pioneer of the Rockabilly genre No brag Just Fact!
elamite66 11 months ago
@emkcus1 Elvis' name is on the record because he owned the publishing rights to it. During the 60s you had to kick back some of your publishing royalties if you wanted Elvis to cover your tune. Elvis did this tune before Donner, but didn't have a hit with it. Ral covered it later. He sounded like Elvis, but he wasn't Elvis. Why would Elvis record and release the same tune if it didn't do much the first time?
harvey1954 10 months ago
@harvey1954 Well Elvis released Suspicion as a single after Terry Stafford had a hit with it. Before that it was just and album track.
TCBINAFLASH1 6 months ago
Elvis much better.
gemmamitzi 2 years ago
Better than Elvis.
Floorbird 2 years ago
an interesting version but not as good as elvis but who could be
madarch52 2 years ago
From what I have read Elvis enjoyed listening to Ral, he had many of his records!!!!
waydecolt 2 years ago 11
jonise
rolandquinlan 2 years ago
Really good!
Loved it!
Sandie X
5*****
sandiesplace 2 years ago
I once saw part of an Elvis documentary, made after he had died, and they used Ral Donner as the speaking voice of Elvis...
PutOnASweater 2 years ago
elvis was rarely bettered but rals version just beats it. 5*
johnnyweep59 2 years ago 6
Sounds like Elvis with a sore throat standing out in the cold.
wildhorsestudios1421 2 years ago
Definitely not Elvis, but still good. It says 'Elvis Presley Music', sounds a bit fuzzy unlike Elvis version. Elvis better.
goku6330 2 years ago 2
Very Similar.. to Elvis . but there is only 1 King .. =)
ELRANDY11 3 years ago 4
i know but look at both sides of record CharlesRados
elvispresley445 3 years ago
This is Ral Donner. Not Elvis... I also have the original 45.
CharlesRados 3 years ago
look closley on the left says elvis presley vocals
elvispresley445 3 years ago
I don't think so. I believe that it reads "Elvis Presley Music, Inc. which is the publishing house that owns the song.
arthurzdog 2 years ago
Check yellow orangish side
elvispresley445 2 years ago
sounds like elvis..
johnny2phatty 3 years ago
He sounds just like elvis, telling you they was twins they look like eachother n they sound like eachother!!!!! its great
duzzy316 3 years ago
better than elvis version of the same song, great song.
zindy29 3 years ago 2
Yes, clearly better than the Elvis version; more powerful and stronger support.
toddwindyhill 3 years ago
I agree completely.
VickyLou616 3 years ago
I wonder if you could put Elvis & Ral together for this great song---your right he never got the credit deserved--Bruce in Oregon
brucer12 3 years ago
I never heard od this guy but he does Elvis song well thanks from tony melbourne australia,for you time allah53
anthony19678 3 years ago
I could never understand why he never became famous. He sounded more like elvis than Elvis did
hah13 3 years ago
Good, but not as good as Elvis
EricVonZipper2 3 years ago
Ral's version is much more intense, deep, rich in texture, and, apparently, heartfelt. This is is the version that makes this song one of the best ever.
paititi 3 years ago
Best version is still the one by Marty
Vine.
upperkkut 3 years ago
Ral was so underated, he was an excellent singer, Elvis version was slower and different but both were great versions.
ElvisFreak77 3 years ago
I love the song, with either artist!
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago
I like this song so much that I listen to it over and over
cosmicfred1234 3 years ago
Great, just like Elvis`version!
zaaritha 3 years ago
I think Ral Donner's and Elvis Presley's versions were both good. It's just such a lovely song, it's a treat the two versions were recorded. I like them both.
Johnkevin216 3 years ago
I t sound exactly the same as Elvis
MAGICO240 3 years ago
If you think this sounds exactly like Elvis, you don't listen to Elvis enought
EricVonZipper2 3 years ago
Yeah, I agree, Elvis voice is unique, what I meant is that this guy is trying to imitate Elvis.
MAGICO240 3 years ago
Wow this guy was great---he was very much unapprecited and deserved better. His bio is very interesting,Read his official family web.
brucer12 3 years ago
Some thought's to ponder: I think that Ral Donner's back-up group "The Starfires" were an integral, & warm addition to Ral's songs. Just as "The Jordanaires" were to Elvis. The music of the day had many groups or feature artists, with a back-up group. Ral Donner's ("The Girl Of My Best Friend"), Terry Stafford's ("Suspicion"), & Joe Dahl's, ("Wooden Heart")-All were cover version's of an Elvis Presley song. IMHO & arguably...all three of these guys version's were superior. Thanks for posting!!!
cmf1965 3 years ago
Sorry for the misspelling...it's "Joe Dowell!"
cmf1965 3 years ago
Dear Labaron 26,
I absolutely agree with you Ral Donner did do a much better job on Girl of MY Best Friend than Elvis. He sounds so sincere like he really is in love with the girl of his best friend. What I meant to say about Elvis was there will never be anyone else like him who was such an influence on our music,culture,and just his personality. But Ral Donner did a better job on this song Love it!
msstevie1951 3 years ago
OOPS! It was Terry Stafford who did Suspicion I thought it was Ral Donner as well,sorry. The sound of all three voices are amazingly alike,although there's none like Elvis!
msstevie1951 3 years ago
In my opinion, Ray Donner did as well a job on this song as Elvis.
Labaron26 3 years ago
I love this song by Ral Donner, it's got a sound like a garage band from the 60's which I like more than Elvis'clean faster version without the sincerity of Ral's voice and I absolutely LOVE ELVIS but I must say I prefer Ral on this one . I think maybe he was a guy in love with the girl of his best friend. Who was the artist that did Suspicion another Elvis song wasn't that Ral Donner as well?
msstevie1951 3 years ago
Great!
loucacciot 3 years ago
We need more of this music.Vallo
vallo3838 3 years ago
Very nice! I don't think I've ever heard it before! But very memorable. Was this done before Elvis became popular? Sounds so much like him, (or visa versa).
BabyBoomr 3 years ago
Rals version of 'Girl of my best friend' is actually BETTER than Elvis's ! Elvis's version was just too damn confortable... Listen to Rals voice man !! He kicked ass !!!!! Probably THE most underrated singer of the late 50s early 60s !!! But....Hey ! What the fuck do I know ?!?!
THEFRANKGANNONTRIO 3 years ago
Another great talent ...
viccharm 4 years ago
davesharon5747 is correct Elvis' version was recorded and released first. For Elvis it was a filler song for the album Elvis Is Back. Elvis had It's Now Or Never, Stuck On You, Fame And Fortune......though this is a good song it is not in the same league as other songs RCA was releasing as singles in that time period.......Elvis is the original....."Before anyone did anything, Elvis did everything"
ElvisInConcert 4 years ago 3
If Elvis had recorded some of Ral's better songs no one would have come close. Ral had some great songs.
serpico56 4 years ago
My favorite Ral Donner song is "She's Everything" and I remember listening to it on Chicago's, WLS, radio in the early '60's.
kansasbadger 4 years ago
My recollection of Ral's song is that it was out before the Elvis version, I don't remember hearing Elvis's version until much later, maybe Elvis's was on an album, not a single, I do prefer Ral's version a little more.
barrygio1
barrygio1 4 years ago
Ral was underrated because he sounded like Elvis, but Ral's songs stood on their own. Like elvis he died too young, 1985 I believe it was.
barrygio1
barrygio1 4 years ago
Sounds almost as Elvis!
Who was this guy?
zaaritha 4 years ago
I'm sorry, but I just can't compare Elvis to Ral Donner. Elvis' voice was so much more smooth and fluid. Ral can stand on his own, but I just don't see the comparison.
babeofelvis 4 years ago
I believe Elvis' version was first released on his Elvis is Back LP which came out in April of 1960. Ral Donner's version came out as a single in July of 1961 and hit #19. His 2nd single, You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) came out a couple of months after that and it became a bigger hit at #5. Alot of people probably thought it was an Elvis tune.
davesharon5747 4 years ago
He did some other songs which were great, too!
laffinlady 4 years ago
This song was originally written for Elvis who passed on recording it. The song was given to Ral Donner who had a big hit with the song. Eventually after the song became a hit for Ral Donner Elvis did record the song, but it was never a hit for him.
NYDutch1968 4 years ago
I love the song, with either artist!
hhrtwo 4 years ago
After noticing the reference to 'Elvis Presley Music, Inc.', on the label, I would guess that Elvis' version preceded Ral Donner's. Both are well done and Donner is definitely a Presley 'sound-alike'. He would probably be considered an Elvis 'impersonator' today.
iotbs5 4 years ago
"Elvis Presley Music, Inc." also appears on the label of Terry Stafford's (another Elvis sound alike), "Suspicion." I think Terry's version is (arguably), better than E.P.'s version.
cmf1965 3 years ago