TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Part 2 of our "Spinout" Extravaganza continues! Ghosty Wills taps out at the top of the show, but the rest of the team powers through to explore "Spinout"'s musical sequences and the histories behind them, from the Elvis competitor who cut "Stop Look and Listen" first, to the beautiful 19th century melody behind "Am I Ready," and how the woman who wrote the title track, finally settled a long dispute over the title of the film. Then the team surprises Felix with the three bonus tracks featured on the soundtrack album: "Tomorrow is a Long Time," "Down in the Alley," and "I'll Remember You." The gang also discusses international titles for "California Holiday," listens to some hilarious Elvis outtakes, and finally, close out reflecting back on both "Spinout" and "Clambake" and whether they hold up this year - both as Elvis films, and as holiday watches. From all of us to all of you, we wish you a very Happy Holidays and Merry Clambake! 

MERRY CLAMBAKE! Featuring Justin Gausman, Olivia Murphy-Rogers, Rabia, Felix, John Michael Heath, David "Ghosty" Wills, Garrett Cash and Darin Evans.  Part 1 opens with the revelation of how we tricked Felix into thinking he would have to watch Clambake again, then primarily covers our overall thoughts on the Norman Taurog-directed 1966 flick about a singing racecar driver, "Spinout." Sharing numerous overlaps with 1967's "Clambake", such as co-stars Shelley Fabares and Will Hutchins, "Spin-bake" puts the differences between the two Elvis films in sharp relief - and the earlier movie brings out a whole new world of fascinating themes to explore, from the way "Spinout" handles gender norms & expectations, to its origins as a deeply meta Elvis spoof, plus major cultural references, including allusions to the contemporaneous book & film "Sex and the Single Girl" by Helen Gurley Brown via Diane McBain's character.  Unlike previous years' Christmas episodes, this discussion is much more free-flowing rather than having an overly structured beat-by-beat recap, so having seen "Spinout" is strongly recommended! Part 2 will emphasize the song sequences of "Spinout" more linearly, as well as touch on the film's soundtrack and bonus tracks (which Justin & Gurdip also reviewed in 2023) more strongly through its cinematic lens.   

Gurdip joins Justin for one last shorter pre-Christmas episode as we look back on 2025 and what 2026 may hold for Elvis fans, briefly discuss the EPiC teaser & poster, the news of Making of G.I. Blues FTD's release, and the passing of Raul Malo, lead singer of the Mavericks, who took influence from Elvis's work - discussed back on Episode 275 of TCBCast. Following up from Justin's previous Song of the Week, listener Rob sends in an email taking a crack at translating "Lilla klocka ring igen," the Swedish version of "On A Snowy Christmas Night" and Gurdip shakes off the rust for a classic round of Elvis trivia. For Song of the Week, Gurdip brings the brief "Wheels On My Heels" from 1964's "Roustabout" while Justin tackles the history behind Johnny Tillotson's "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'," which Elvis covered on the iconic "From Elvis in Memphis" album. If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.

As we await the epic holiday two-parter for this year's Christmas episode, Santa may have just slipped a little something into your stocking a little early! Over at the TCBCast Jukebox, Gurdip and Justin settle in next to the tree to unwrap more Elvis-themed novelty songs that have come out both within Elvis's lifetime and beyond, this time with more of a holiday twist than usual. Tacky Elvis impressions, maudlin and overwrought post-1977 tearjerkers and - weirdly - a couple genuinely catchy ones; this list of Elvis novelty songs runs the gamut! Originally released as a bonus on the TCBCast Patreon in 2023, this episode marks the first time the guys revisited the topic of Elvis novelty songs since 2020. And never fear - there's still one more lighter episode on the slate yet to come just before the big Christmas drop!  

Ryan Droste & Bec Wyles took a brief aside from their upcoming main episode to bring their impressions of and insights on the first official teaser trailer for EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert from Neon & Universal, which has been confirmed for a February 27,. 2026 release date with a one-week IMAX exclusive engagement prior starting Feb. 20. Link to the teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsD6nCbQDcA