Outdoor Elvis

Description

Outdoor Elvis is the sophomore album by the American alternative rock combo The Swirling Eddies, released on Alarma Records in September 1989, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded and mixed by band member Prickly Disco (a.k.a. Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame) at The Mixing Lab in Garden Grove, California; with the band’s lead vocalist Camarillo Eddy producing (a.k.a. Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos fame).

This project gave the Swirling Eddies their first hit songs on the CCM charts, “Driving In England”, which made it all the way to No. 1 in some markets, and “Hide the Beer, the Pastor’s Here” which also created a small amount of controversy for the album. The latter song tells the tale of a Christian college professor that hides his own hidden sins and attacks his students for their obvious drinking habits. At the end of the song, “Spot” shouts out the name of numerous Christian colleges around the United States. Some of these colleges were upset that they were mentioned in the song while others were upset that they weren’t included. One song on the album, “Mystery Babylon,” had earlier been premiered on the Swirling Eddies Apology Video, which had been sent out to fans that ordered the Spittle & Phlegm video collection.

They’re back!!! That’s right, just when you thought it was safe to go into the back corner of your favorite Christian bookstore where they hide the rock music, those Swirling Da boys are back and this time they’re pissed off. (Look, if that last phrase offended you, please don’t think about buying this one, it’s not for you.) That’s right boys and girls, after over 15 years in Christian music the Men from A.M.O.S. are sick and tired and they’re not going to take it anymore.

Perhaps it’s that last year’s Swirling Eddies debut sold more than any other Da project, maybe it was that they weren’t invited back to Cornerstone after becoming the high point in three straight years, maybe they’ve been reading over all that hate mail they’ve received over the years (excerpts of which make up many of the comments in verses for the song «Elimination [The Band That Won’t Go Away]»), because Outdoor Elvis is a record that humorously and pointedly explores the place of Terry Taylor and company in this mixed up world and the Evangelical ghetto where their music has been cloistered. They know how some out there will respond («Knee Jerk»), but for now it seems they needed to make an album for themselves, and some of us. And you know, it’s the meanest, nastiest album to come down the pike since Doppelganger, and it’s very likely the most fun I’ve had listening to a record this year.

Oh don’t miss the point, of course this is a spiritually correct record. It’s just that the cultural confines that impinge on artists recording from a faith perspective can be debilitating. Here Taylor, backed by Tim Chandler, David Raven, Greg Flesch, Rob Watson, Jerry Chamberlain and new Eddy, Gene Eugene, seem willing to accept the fact that they don’t quite fit in to the expectations of some, and they make the best of it.

«Rubber Sky» reveals they are familiar with the role and punishment of prophets: “bounce him off the rubber sky/ and he’ll come back and taunt you/ sling shot snap/ brings him back/ a lover’s eyes that haunt you… he’ll be returning-a glutton for more/ you cannot tell if he’s devil or angel/ he drank with the sinners, he hung with the thieves/ he stayed out so long that he wore out his welcome/ you smiled kindly and asked him to leave.” They are used to going against the grain («Driving In England»), but the rejection always hurts more than expected. The best revenge, some say is living well and Taylor writes “they say I’m wasting away/ a star-crossed lover doomed for tragedy/ not true, baby not true/ I will arrive/ I’ll realize my full potential,” to express that all that has passed is of worth.

With 21 tracks (two are just filler), Taylor seems to have been influenced more than a little by Elvis Costello, although the LP’s title refers to The King, who observed in «This Town»: “You’re nobody in this town, til everyone thinks you’re a bastard.” Here the Eddies blast TV preachers again («Attack of the Pulpit Masters»), Christian metal bands that wear spandex («All The Way To Heaven»), Christian colleges and folk who use external rules to discern spirituality («Hide The Beer The Pastor’s Here») and folk who have a small, culturally defined understanding of God («Yer Little Gawd»). “I’m just a cynic,” Taylor sings in «Hell Oh», “talkin’ ’bout a white bleach sepulchre/ I’m bringing ants to your picnic.” Which may well describe Outdoor Elvis, it’s ants in the church’s pants.

But all is not just doom, gloom and cynicism. There’s «Blowing Smoke» a love song written for Taylor’s wife, «Billy Graham», which speaks of the TV pulpiteer’s integrity, «Hold Back The Wind, Donna», with it’s encouragement to stand strong, «Urban Legends», which holds high the importance of telling the truth, and «Strange Days», a song of hope. Not to mention «Arthur Fhardy’s Yodeling Party», which is more or less self-explanatory.

Tired of the same ol same ol? Want to laugh a little, cry a little, live a lot? Are you not afraid to face the music, even some of the best rock ‘n’ roll around? Maybe a little cynical, and a little hopeful? Me too, well this album’s for us. But don’t tell anybody, they’ll assume we’re not very spiritual. [Brian Q. Newcomb, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 3, Fall 1989 (Vol. 4)]

Retroactive Records Promo, 2025 LP/CD Re-issue

* Remastered CD; Bonus Content; Collector’s Sleeve; Limited to 500 CDs
* First Time Ever on Vinyl; Remastered for Vinyl; 2-LP set housed in a Deluxe Gatefold Jacket with expanded artwork, rare photos, faux band bios, and critical commentary; Pressed on Blood Moon Vinyl; Limited to 300 Copies

What happens when one of the most inventive voices in Christian music goes rogue with satire, soul, and a rock ’n’ roll grin? You get Outdoor Elvis – the fearlessly funny, sneakily profound sophomore album from The Swirling Eddies, fronted by none other than Terry Scott Taylor (a.k.a. Camarillo Eddy).

Following their mysterious, party-rock debut Let’s Spin, the Eddies returned less than a year later with sharper teeth and wider scope. Outdoor Elvis is a wild ride through conspiracy theories, evangelical absurdities, and painfully honest self-reflection – all wrapped in catchy, genre-blending pop and alternative rock. It’s the kind of album that makes you laugh out loud… until you realize you’ve just been convicted.

Now available for the first time ever on vinyl, Outdoor Elvis is pressed on eye-catching Blood Moon Vinyl, fully remastered for vinyl by Rob Colwell, and housed in a Deluxe Gatefold Jacket featuring a curated visual experience. The packaging includes all the rich content collectors crave – rare photos, satirical “Meet the Band” bios, and critical reflections – beautifully reimagined across the gatefold presentation.

The tracks are legendary:

«Hide the Beer, the Pastor’s Here» – a blistering, hilarious takedown of college hypocrisy
«Outdoor Elvis» – an unforgettable mashup of Elvis worship and Bigfoot folklore
«Mystery Babylon», «Modern Legends», and «Attack of the Pulpit Masters» – prophetic punches against greed, gullibility, and power obsession
«Blowing Smoke», «Hold Back the Wind, Donna», and «Strange Days» – moments of genuine heartbreak, conviction, and lyrical beauty

From the offbeat to the outrageous, and from the heartfelt to the downright holy, Outdoor Elvis isn’t just a cult classic – it’s a cautionary tale in disguise, a musical rollercoaster with spiritual depth.

Only 300 copies available. This is your chance to own one of the boldest, weirdest, and most wonderful albums in Christian rock – finally on vinyl. Because if you’re going to go looking for Elvis… you better go outdoors.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/outdoor-elvis/389825026)

CD tracklist:

01. Outdoor Elvis – 4:07
02. Driving In England – 3:33
03. Urban Legends – 3:09
04. Tiny Town – 3:22
05. Attack Of The Pulpit Masters – 3:08
06. Mystery Babylon – 2:31
07. Arthur Fhardy’s Yodeling Party – 2:06
08. Hell Oh – 3:24
09. Blowing Smoke – 3:00
10. Hide The Beer, The Pastor’s Here – 3:25
11. Hold Back The Wind, Donna – 4:04
12. Knee Jerk – 3:35
13. Don’t Hate Yourself – 1:00
14. All The Way To Heaven – 3:06
15. Rubber Sky – 3:10
16. CoCo The Talking Guitar – 0:52
17. Yer’ Little Gawd – 3:21
18. Billy Graham – 1:12
19. Potential – 3:27
20. Strange Days – 2:40
21. Elimination (The Band That Won’t Go Away) – 3:16

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued by Retroactive Records in 2025 on both CD (Deluxe Collector’s Edition, 500 copies) and Limited Edition 12-inch vinyl double LP housed in a gatefold sleeve (300 copies) pressed on Blood Moon Vinyl (released through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music).

Outdoor Elvis, Remastered and pressed on Blood Moon Vinyl, Retroactive Records 2025.