Bill Parsons - All American Boy [Rare Elvis Presley Documentary] 1958

[profhum]

We're so familiar with the Bobby Bare version, it takes a mental effort not to call this version "wrong" when it doesn't match what our ears were expecting. But I listened to it a few times, until I could hear it for itself, and it does work. Great energy. I'm tired of people acting as if BP stole BB's version. Rock in those days wasn't serious,, college kids listed to jazz.. There were six touring companies of The Platters around the country. Saved travel expenses. In Texas they were Latinos.

[micmoable]

That guy sounded like a toothless hillbilly singing this song--like something off of Andy Griffith show like the Darling family moonshiners or something-ha!

[Archiebell68]

What the hell is this? Bobby Bare recorded this and then went into the service or something. Bill Parson was credited with singing it so he could tour behind it, This is trash!

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

This is not only a rare video/song, but it's also nastalgic!! Here in vancouver canada it was tthe bobby bare version that went to the top; but nevertheless there is something about bill parsons version that had me sittin' upright and taking note. It's not my fault that I haven't heard ths version up until this evening. I plan on tuning this in often & keep it posted, I'm not the only one who had some catching up to do. Thanks for sharing this classic with me and all other that enjoy doowop!

[reaforwhatitsworth]

@Ezdduf4kuZ The original version that made it to number 2, was a demo done by Bobby Bare and released under Bill Parsons name. This version, done by whoever, doesn.t even compare. AND anyone who ever heard Bobby Bare would recognize his voice no matter what the name was on the recording.

[Radioman11100]

@reaforwhatitsworth I don't know who this juker is but it ain't Bobby Bare...Like you said Bobby was the orig vocalist on All American Boy, but Bill got the credit for it and toured as such..

[wackernie2009]

Jeez...this blows! Not Bill/Bobby Parsons/Bare.......

[dgp1934]

This is a pathetic attempt to copy the original version by Bobby Bare, attributed to Bill Parsons, just didn't quite make it. Why this one was done is anybody's guess.

[FoxRunMan]

I agree. I'm a big Bobby Bare fan and would recognize his voice anywhere. I wasn't a Bill Parsons fan - not to say I disliked him, I just didn't know any of his work - but just finished listening to one of his songs from the same era, "Rubber Dolly" on YouTube, and the voice isn't even close to the same. This singer is higher pitched and more nasal - as you said, more hillbilly.

[wyowumin]

It doesn't sound even remotely like either one of them. They both have deeper voices and the Bobby Bare version isn't as fast as this one. This one sounds way more "hillbilly" than either Parsons or Bare ever sounded.

[ljk032437]

You are right, the version that got the radio play was Bobby Bare but Bill Parsons also recorded "All American Boy" and he toured, appeared on American Bandstand and performed under his own name. Bill recorded several songs and was quite good in his own right. He passed away several years ago - Bobby Bare is still around and lives in Hendersonville, Tn. His son is now in music also. Lori K.

[literauntie]

@ljk032437 What is his son's name?

[FoxRunMan]

This doesn't sound at all like Bobby Bare. I remember the original release, and have heard the label mix-up story, but am still pretty sure this isn't the version that was popular and got radio play.

[gringal0ca]

ok so i win. Bill Parsons was my grandpa. And this is not him. This is bobby bare. i have the actual records sitting right here. search rubber dollie and you will find that this is actually bobby bare. My grandpa wrote both of these songs and all american boy is definitly his

[reaforwhatitsworth]

@gringal0ca SORRY, THIS IS NOT BOBBY BARE. THE GUITAR WORK ON THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BOBBY BARE VERSION, YOU MAY BE BILLS GRANDCHILD, BUT THIS AIN'T BOBBY BARE. I WON'T ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT WHO WROTE THE SONG......... BUT BOBBY BARE SANG THE VERSION THAT GOT ON THE CHARTS, PERIOD.

[ItBJenPanCaliC]

@gringal0ca and bill is my granpa two and it is him on this record if u listen granpa had a lisp when he talked when he would say his ss so listen and u will here the lisp and yes he did wright the songs bothe of them u see it was going to be bobby bare recording this but he got drafted and granpa had to record it ♫ Jennifer

[ljk032437]

The recording of All American Boy on this site is actually Bill Parsons - you can listen to Bobby Bare's version which is totally different. Listen and compare!

[Johi2410]

You're right - but the description is correct anyway, Bare was on the record but declared as Parsons - Parsons made the performances in clubs while Bare was with the army, and he always sang to Bare's playback!