Words & Music:
Sid Wayne
Sherman Edwards
Every man has a black star
A black star over his shoulder
And when a man sees his black star
He knows his time, his time has come
Black star don't shine on me, black star
Black star keep behind me, black star
There's a lot of livin' I gotta do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Black star
When I ride I feel that black star
That black star over my shoulder
So I ride in front of that black star
Never lookin' around, never lookin' around
Black star don't shine on me, black star
Black star keep behind me, black star
There's a lot of livin' I gotta do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Black star
One fine day I'll see that black star
That black star over my shoulder
And when I see that old black star
I'll know my time, my time has come
Black star don't shine on me, black star
Black star keep behind me, black star
There's a lot of livin' I gotta do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Black star
Recordingdate: 1960/08/08, first released on: Collectors Gold (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Black Star:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(accordion)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
Availability
Find available albums with Black Star.
"Black Star" vs "Flaming Star"...They certainly made the right choice on naming Elvis' 6th movie and title song. As "Flaming Star", the song has a flow to it. As "Black Star", it sounds like there is a syllable missing each time he sings the title. Maybe it is because of years of listening to the version that made the top 15 in 1961. If the movie had been named "Black Star", I guess I would have gotten use to it and "Flaming Star" would have sounded odd. Still I give FS 4 stars and BS 3 stars.
Not a particular memorable song be it Flaming Star or Black Star.
Not a particularly memorable tune. But it has a more even, melodic flow as 'Flaming Star.'
Song was ok, remember, it was for a movie. Looking back Elvis should have kept doin this kind of movie along with more live shows and good, up to date recordings, plus some concerts outside the US. Sadly, after 1963~64 we had to wait until 1968 for this to happen in part. That said the years spanning 1960~64 were the best time for recordings IMO.
It does sound weird to hear a one syllable word occupying the same space where we all first heard a 2 syllable word. But still, I like it--both versions. "Wild in the Country", "Kid Gallahad, "Follow That Dream" and "Flaming Star" represent an alternate path Elvis could have stayed on in the 60s. Imagine Elvis doing one movie a year, with just an EP's worth of songs and touring the rest of the time, or recording non-soundtrack music. In fact, this group of movies and this path is what he returned to at the end of the movie years with "Change of Habit", "Charro", "Live a Little, Love a Little" and "The Trouble With Girls"....all with just a EP's worth of songs and all semi-decent movies compared to the mid-60's stuff. Doesn't matter--it was not to be. And who is to say he'd have had the same longevity if he had? Either way, I kinda like this one and I think it fit the film--the song has probably one the most dramatic/cinematic feels to it of any Elvis movie song except maybe "Charro".
I like this better than Blue Hawaii because of what it represented at the time, a movie in step with an artistic direction showing the growth of Elvis. The song itself? Not as good as Flaming Star, but decent.
I've always liked this song, but I totally prefer "Flaming Star". One of my most favorite Elvis songs is "Flaming Star".
I give this one 1 zillion stars!
The movie is better then this song. The Flaming star song is better then this one. Flows better.
Not a good song. A song without substance but suits the movie. 2 stars from me.
The song that Black Star became, Flaming Star, is a classic!
I echo the comments of others in that two syllables of the title 'Flaming' suits this song much more than one of 'Black'. and it does seem to flow a lot more smoothly - 3 Stars
Nice try, but no cigar. 1-star. Not worth the effort to be blunt so it didn't surprise me it did not make the cut.