Words & Music:
Ned Miller
From a jack to a king of loneliness to a wedding ring
I've played a ace and I won the queen
I walked away with your heart
From a jack to a king
With no regrets I stacked, I stacked the cards, I stacked the cards last night
And lady luck played her hand just right
You made me king of your heart
Oh for just a little while I thought that I might lose the game
Oh but just in time I saw that twinkle in your eyes
From a jack to a king of loneliness to a wedding, wedding, wedding ring
I played an ace and I won the queen
You made me king of your heart
For just a little while I thought that I might lose the game
Oh but just in time I saw, I saw that twinkle in your eyes
From a jack to a king from loneliness to a wedding, wedding, wedding ring
I played an ace and I won the queen
You made me king of your heart
Recordingdate: 1969/01/21, first released on: Back in Memphis (From Memphis to Vegas) (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of From a Jack to a King:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(sitar)
(bass)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
Others*
(steel guitar)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(french horn)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
*Orchestra, overdubs
Availability
Find available albums with From a Jack to a King.
One of my favorites from 1969 but it seemed to be recorded or produced badly. The female voices dont help much either, but I love the vocal delivery.
A fun, but half hearted performance of the song makes for one of the lesser moments at the Memphis Sessions of '69 ("And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind", "Hey Jude", "Don't Cry Daddy" and "I'm Movin' On"). Elvis just seems to be having fun (almost mocking the female chorus when they do their "La La's" and a bit over the top on the repeating of the words "wedding" and "stacked") and as a listener it is enjoyable, but not a great track. 2 1/2 stars.
Never liked this song. For me it stands as one of the very few low point of the Memphis Sessions. I don't listen to it.
The song swings along quite nicely but there are far better highlights of these sessions.
Amazing how others see this song. I don't hear Elvis mocking the female chorus. He is just singing along with them. And the "La-La-La's" are so catchy, that it makes the listener (me) want to sing along. Its a fun song, enjoy it !
My favorite version of this song. In my opinion it deserved to be a number one on the country charts.
Mine least favourite song of the "Back in Memphis" album. Still worth 31/2 stars.
This is easily one of my most favorite songs that Elvis recorded in 1969 and Elvis' rendition of it is brilliant, underrated and overlooked.
First came across this song by Ned Miller around 1962 when it echoed magnificently across the local palais. Liked it as soon as I heard it and Elvis makes a pretty good fist of it and imo sits in the middle tier of the 69 session output. Never skip the track and always thoroughly enjoy it.
Fantastic, this is sheer joy!
Freedom101 has it wrong. ELVIS' version of "From A Jack To A King" should been number one on all the charts.
I really love this version, I also like The Grass Won't Pay No Mind. The only 69 Memphis songs I do not like are Mama Liked the Roses, Hey Jude and Who am I. The rest are either just great songs, or Elvis' interpretations elevate them, as he usually does with a song.
Great version , and totally differant from Ned Miller's also excellant version. Fantastic vocal. On Elvis' version I get the impression this was a rough "jam" that came out so good, that Felton Jarvis decided to use it . I believe there was some overdubbing done to make it more commercial for the album release.
Love this performance. As I do, of all, the Memphis sessions. He was at his absolute best, at this time.
For all the Elvis impersonators, try an' sing this song like Elvis does here. I bet you can't. The song ain't that great, but he lifts this song to 5 stars by his voice alone.
I didn't like it then and I still don't care for it today. 2 stars.
As much as i love the Memphis Sessions in general, this isn't a great song. And on top of that it's careless performed and producted. The abrupt ending of elvis annoying guitar playing when he stops singing shows clearly that Chips Moman never intended to release this throwaway performance ... and he was right. Sadly enough, neither Elvis or RCA ever cared for quality control.
When one listens to the FTD CD version of this song and it's outtakes, you can tell it was a slapstick rush job aka Elvis didn't seem to be into recording this tune.
If you have never heard the Ned Miller hit, you may not recognize how great Elvis’ vocal and performance of this song is! I love it! Always have!
Not one of his best efforts from the Memphis Sessions IMO. Still an enjoyable performance. It is interesting that a radio producer in Greece, who was playing mostly country music, discovered it in the late 90's and was raving about it! 3 1/2 stars