Elvis in 2003 - A year to remember ?

The new year has just begun and now it’s the time to look back on the year 2003 and see
what happened in the Elvis-scenery.
It was an interesting year with lots and lots of new releases – from official site and also from the non-official site. To find a point where to start from I want to begin with the official releases from RCA/ BMG and for sure from FTD.

First of all there was the new 4-CD-box-set “Close up” as an follow-up to the former
“Today, Tomorrow and Forever”-box-set.
It included 89 tracks that were all unreleased from official site. It was presented as usual with an extensive 48-page-booklet with some interesting liner-notes from Colin Escott and some more or less rare photographs.
The first CD started with some unreleased stereo masters from the 50’s – most of them from the “Jailhouse Rock”-sessions.
The second CD included a bunch of alternate takes from movie-songs – mostly from “GI Blues” and “Blue Hawaii”.
The third CD presented alternate versions of studio-material that were all recorded at the Studio B at Nashville between March 1960 and January 1968.
The most surprising thing about the first three CD’s was the sound. They were all mastered by Vic Anesini at the SONY Studios in New York instead of  Dennis Farrante & Co. and the result was breathtaking! The music sounded better than ever!
But, I won’t forget to mention the last CD, which was somewhat like a breakthrough. It included the first official release of a concert that was recorded for the documentary “Elvis On Tour”. The concert itself – San Antonio on April 18^th, 1972 – was former released from non-official-site as “Welcome in San Antone” on the famous Vicky-label.
The official one was mixed and mastered by Ferrante. The sound was pretty good, but I would have liked to see it also mastered from Anesini/ SONY.
In my opinion it could have been the most impressing Live-CD ever released by BMG.

Let’s go further. The next big thing to mention was the new remix of “Rubberneckin’” as an follow-up to the former bestselling remix of “A Little Less Conversation”.
This time the song was mixed by DJ Paul Oakenfold. It did well on the worldwide charts, but never as good as “A Little Less Conversation”.
In my opinion they should have chosen another song instead of “Rubberneckin’”, but nevertheless the single was only the “opener” for the up-coming follow-up of “Elvis 30#1 Hits” – “Second To None”, that also included a big surprise on it’s own.
RCA found an unreleased song of Elvis – after more than thirty years! It was “I’m A Roustabout” that was chosen as a possible title track for the movie “Roustabout”. It was skipped, because of the line “stick it up your ears”. The song itself is pretty good, but nothing to get over-excited – musical wise.
The compilation included some more or less “unknown” songs for “Mr. Joe Public” – starting with the Sun-songs “That’s all right, Mama” and “I forgot to remember to forget”, getting over some movie songs like “Loving You”, “Treat Me Nice” and “King Creole” and ending with classics like “Kentucky Rain”, “American Trilogy” and surprisingly “Moody Blue”.
All in all the compilation presented 30 songs from which the first twenty-eight were mixed and mastered from the original master tapes – at least that was what was mentioned from RCA/ BMG. At least I like to add, that RCA/ BMG is in bad need of CD-cover-creators. My hope for 2004 is that they’ll get one, who really cares about Elvis-CD-Covers! The ones shown here are speaking for themselves!

So every year the world celebrates christmas and you got the impression that RCA/ BMG releases on every christmas season another christmas-compilation from Elvis. I won’t mention all the other released christmas-compilations and try to concentrate on “Christmas Peace”, which was released perfect in time. It was released in two different forms – as a single-CD (as far as I know only in the UK) or as a double-CD package (in the rest of the world).
The first CD offered the wellknown christmas songs.
The second CD offered instead of alternates and outtakes wellknown gospel-songs.
Did it offer something special? Yes, it did and it was indeed a surprise in two ways.
First of all the songs were mixed and mastered from Vic Anesini/ SONY instead of Ferrante & Co. Second the compilation was presented with DSD-technology. They sounded almost pretty good, but there were also some annoying distortions and clicks on them, which was something of a let-down.

Almost at the same time when “Christmas Peace” was released, RCA/ BMG released a special edition of  “Elvis 30#1 Hits”.
On the first CD you got the normal  “30#1 Hits” compilation and the second one came up with tracks that were almost released on FTD-CD’s like “6363 Sunset”, “Fame and Fortune”, “Long Lonely Highway”, “Memphis Sessions” and the “Jungle Room Sessions”.
At least they put an extended remix version of “A Little Less Conversation” on it.
Nothing to get over-excited in the end – in my opinion.

Near to the end of 2003 RCA/ BMG released the “30#1 Hits” as a DVD-Audio in Dolby 5.1 Sound. It included also some bonus-material, which was not presented in 5.1 Dolby Sound: Burning Love (a:b-test) - Return To Sender (a:b test) - (You're The) Devil In Disguise (a:b-test) - In The Ghetto (Elvis' isolated vocal) - Suspicious Minds -  (Elvis' self-harmony vocal and comment) - Crying In The Chapel (with banter, laughter, false start). This one can only be played on DVD-Audio-players.
It was the first released DVD-Audio with Elvis-material.

From now on, let’s take a closer look on the FTD-releases in the year 2003. 

The first release was the release of the famous show from Pittsburgh on December 31^st, 1976 - “New Year’s Eve”. As it’s release was mentioned the hopes were high. We hoped for a soundboard release for what we were waiting for desperatley, but it wasn’t. Instead of that we got a complete audience recording on a 2-CD-set, which was not of the quality we were looking for. It had a lot of distortions and clicks on it what was really somewhat of annoying. The overall sound left a lot to be desired and we’re still waiting for a soundboard release of one of Elvis most impressive shows in his later years. That said I would add that this release was a beautiful digipack with some nice pictures of the show. 

(CD 1) - Also Sprach zarathrusta, See see rider, I got a woman/Amen, Big boss man, Love me, Fairytale, You gave me a mountain, Jailhouse rock, O sole mio/It's now or never, My way, Funny how time slips away, Auld lang syne, Introductions, Blue suede shoes, Trying to get to you, Polk salad annie

(CD 2) - Band introductions, Early morning rain, What'd I say, Johnny B.goode, Solos, Love letters, School days, Fever, Hurt, Hound dog, Are you lonesome tonight, Reconsider baby, Little sister, Unchained melody, Rags to riches, Can't help falling in love, Closing vamp.

      (8287650410-2 BMG/Denmark)

The next release “Studio B Nashville Outtakes 1961-1964” included some brilliant outtakes from Nashville out of the years 1961 to 1964, that Elvis recorded at the Studio B at Nashville.

 Kiss me quick (take 1) That's someone you never forget (take 5) I'm yours (take 4) His latest flame (rehearsal & take 2) Little sister (takes 1, 2, 3) For the millionth and the last time (take 1) Anything that's part of you (takes 4 & 5) I met her today (takes 8 & 9) Something blue (takes 3 & 4) Gonna get back home somehow (take 1) Easy question (take 3) Fountain of love (takes 1 & 2) Just for old time sake (takes 3 & 4) Night rider (takes 2 & 3) You'll be gone (take 1) I feel that I've know you forever (take 1) Just tell her Jim said hello (take 2) Echoes of love (takes 2 & 3) Please don't drag that string around (take 2) Love me tonight (takes 3 & 4) Western Union (take 3) Memphis Tennessee (take 1) Ask me (takes 8 & 9).

                                                                                                                (8287650411-2 BMG/Denmark)

Next to this really good release, FTD made the decision to re-release all soundtracks, which were originally released. Therefor the re-release were presented in a special form. All CD’s came in a beautiful triple fold-out digipack, with some great pictures from the movie, at the inside. They also included a 12-page-booklet with informations and a bunch of pictures. The first three chosen were the soundtracks from “Girl Happy”, “It Happened At The World’s Fair” and “Fun In Acapulco”. Next to the former released tracks FTD gave us a lot of former unreleased outtakes.

“ Girl Happy”           (recorded June 10-12, 1964 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood)

 Original-Soundtrack:

Girl Happy, Spring fever, Fort lauderdale chamber of commerce, Startin' tonight, Wolf call, Do not disturb, Cross my heart and hope to die, The meanest girl in town, Do the clam, Puppet on a string, I've got to find my baby, You'll be gone.

Bonus:

Puppet on a string (takes 5, 6, 7), The meanest girl in town (takes 7, 8, 9), Spring fever (take 4) Do not disturb (takes 24, 25, 26, 27), Cross my heart and hope to die (take 6), Girl happy (takes 1, 2, 3, 4), Puppet on a string (take 10), Spring fever (takes 18, 19, 21), The meanest girl in town (take 11), Do not disturb (take 35), Cross my heart and hope to die (takes 9, 10, 11), Girl happy (take 13 and take 4 of ending).                                                                                                  (82876-50408-2 BMG/Denmark)

“It Happened At The World’s Fair”      (Recorded August 30 & September 22, 1962 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood)

 Original Soundtrack:

Beyond the bend, Relax, Take me to the fair, They remind me too much of you, One broken heart for sale, I'm falling in love tonight, Cotton candy land, A world of our own, How would you like to be, Happy ending.

 Bonus:

One broken heart for sale (takes 2, 3, 1), They remind me to much of you (take 1), I'm falling in love tonight (takes 1 - 4), Beyond the bend (takes 1, 2), Cotton candy land (takes 1, 2, 4), How would you like to be (take 2), They remind me to much of you (take 4), Beyond the bend (take 3), Take me to the fair (take 4 - 7), I'm falling in love tonight (take 6), They remind me to much of you (takes 6, 7), Relax (takes 5, 6, 7), Happy ending (takes 4, 5, 6), Take me to the fair (August master from acetate).

       (82876-50409-2 BMG/Denmark)

“Fun in Acapulco”      (Recorded January 22 & 23, 1963 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood)

 Original Soundtrack:

Fun in Acapulco, Vino dinero Y amor, Mexico, El toro, Marguerita, The bull fighter was a lady, There's no room to rumba in a sportscar, I think I'm gonna like it here, Bossa nova baby, You can't say no in Acapulco, Guadalajara, Love me tonight, Slowly but surely.

 Bonus:

Mexico (take 7), The bullfighter was a lady (take 17 remake), I think I'm gonna like it here (spliced master), Bossa nova baby (take 1, 2), The bullfighter was a lady (takes 4, 5, 6), Marguerita (take 6), I think I'm gonna like it here (take 1), Mexico (takes 1, 2), You can't say no in Acapulco (takes 1, 2, 3, 4), Guadalajara (take 2), Bossa nova baby (take 3), Mexico (take 6), I think I'm gonna like it here (remake - takes 11, 12, 13), Guadalajara (takes 3, 4).                                          
                                                                                                                                                         (82876-50407-2 BMG/Denmark) 

After those three soundtracks, which were real gems for the real Elvis-Collectors (btw - mostly for their impressive package not musically wise), it was about time to release another soundboard.
This time we got a totally unreleased concert – one, where we were not sure about to have a soundboard-recording. It was recorded on October 1^st 1974 in South Bend. As we all know this tour wasn’t one of Elvis best tours to say it politely – and this recording showed it once more! He was very talkative, but at least much more focused then a few days before at the College Park shows, where he talked about Karate for hours… Two of the three bonus-songs were recorded on September 28^th 1974 at College Parkl, for what I’m shaking my head in disbelief since then. The first of the bonus-songs was a unrehearsed or at least improvised version of “Alright, Okay, You Win”.

“Dragonheart”
(Recorded in South Bend, October 1, 1974, exc. tracks 26, 27 & 28; recorded at 28/29-9-1974 at College Park & Detroit)

 1.See see rider 2.I got a woman/Amen 3.Love me 4.Blue suede shoes 5.It's midnight 6.Big boss man 7.Fever 8.Love me tender 9.Hound dog 10.Heartbreak hotel 11.If you love me 12.Bridge over troubled water 13.Introductions 14.Lawdy miss clawdy 15.Introductions 16.All shook up 17.Teddy bear/Don't be cruel 18.Let me be there 19.It's now or never 20.You gave me a mountain 21.Johnny B.Good 22.Hawaiian wedding song 23.Steamroller blues 24.Can't help falling in love 25.Closing vamp & Announcements

 Bonus:

26.Alright, okay, you win 27.Blue Christmas 28.Trying to get to you. (82876-53366-2 BMG/Denmark)

 After all, the concert was an ok-one, but far from being one of Elvis best performances. It showed up, that something was really getting wrong with Elvis – especially on this September/ October tour in 1974. So I think this one is for the ones who wants it all. Enuff said about this release.

After this somewhat ridiculous looking cover it was time for the next three special releases – the soundtracks from “Viva Las Vegas”, “Frankie & Johnny” and “Harum Scarum”. As the soundtracks mentioned above these CD’s came also in a beautiful triple fold-out digipack. They also included a 12-page-booklet with informations and a bunch of nice pictures at the inside. They offered us also a lot of outtakes from  the sessions.

„Viva Las Vegas“         (July 9-11 & August 30, 1963 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood)

 “Original Soundtrack”:

1.Viva las Vegas 2.What'd I say 3.If you think I dont need you 4.I need somebody to lean on 5.C'mon everybody 6.Today, tomorrow and forever 7.Santa Lucia 8.Do the vega 9.Night life 10.Yellow rose of Texas/the eyes of Texas

 Bonus:

11.The lady loves me (with Ann Margret) 12.You're the boss (with Ann Margret) 13.Today, tomorrow and forever (with Ann Margret, takes 1 & 2) 14.Viva las Vegas (takes 1 & 2) 15.Night life (take 3) 16.C'mon everybody (takes 1 - 3) 17.I need somebody to lean on (take 8) 18.The lady loves me (with Ann Margret, take 9) 19.You're the boss (with Ann Margret, take 3) 20.Today, tomorrow and forever (takes 3 & 4) 21.What'd I say (takes 1 & 2) 22.If you think I dont need you (takes 5 & 7) 23.C'mon everybody (takes 6 & 7) 24.Do the vega (take 1) 25.The climb (take 9).                                                                                                                 (82876-50412-2 BMG/Denmark)

“Frankie and Johnny”            (Recorded May 12-14, 1965 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood)

 Original Soundtrack:

1.Frankie and Johnny 2.Come along 3.Petunia the gardeners daughter 4.Chesay 5.What every woman lives for 6.Look out broadway 7.Beginners luck 8.Down by the riverside/when the saints go marching in 9.Shout it out 10.Hard luck 11.Please dont stop loving me 12.Everybody come aboard

 Bonus:

13.Frankie and Johnny (take 1) 14.Please dont stop loving me (take 10) 15.Everybody come aboard (takes 1 & 2) 16.Chesay (take 1) 17.Petunia the gardners daughter (take 2) 18.Look out broadway (takes 3 4 & 5) 19.Please dont stop loving me (takes 1 2 & 3) 20.Shout it out (takes 1 2 & 3) 21.Everybody come aboard (takes 9 & 10) 22.Chesay (takes 3 & 6) 23.Look out broadway (takes 6 7 & 8) 24.Petunia the gardeners daughter (take 5) 25.Please dont stop loving me (take 7) 26.Frankie and Johnny (takes 3 & 4 record version) 27.Frankie and Johnny (movie version).                                                                                                                    (82876-53370-2 BMG/Denmark)

“Harum Scarum”                  (Recorded February 24-26, 1965 at RCA’s Studio B, Nashville)

 Original Soundtrack:

1.Harem Holiday 2.My desert serenade 3.Go east-young man 4.Mirage 5.Kismet 6.Shake that tambourine 7.Hey little girl 8.Golden coins 9.So close, yet so far from paradise 10.Animal instinct 11.Wisdom of the ages

 Bonus:

12.My desert serenade (take 7) 13.Hey little girl (takes 1 & 2) 14.Shake that tambourine (takes 7 & 8) 15.Golden coins (takes 3 & 4) 16.Kismet (takes 1 & 2) 17.Animal instinct (takes 1, 3 & 4) 18.So close yet so far from paradise (take 1) 19.Shake that tambourine (takes 10 & 16) 20.Hey little girl (take 3) 21.My desert serenade (takes 2 & 3) 22.Golden coins (takes 7 & 8) 23.Harem Holiday (takes 1 & 2) 24.Wisdomn of the ages (take 3) 25.Shake that tambourine (takes 18 - 21).                                                                                                                                             (82876-53369-2 BMG/Denmark)

Next to those soundtracks, which were soundwise somewhat of a let-down, FTD came up with a soundboard for what we were looking for for years – the special mother’s day-concert from May 13^th  1973 which was recorded at 3 am at Lake Tahoe. The included bonus songs were recorded the same date at the midnight show. We were familiar with the recording itself, because of some import-CD’s which were released a few months before the FTD-release. But those were ‘only’ audience-recordings, which offered by the way the best sound for audience-recordings.

“Takin' Tahoe Tonight”   
(Recorded at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Nevada at 3am on May 13, 1973. The bonus songs were taken from the midnight show)

 1.Also sprach zarathustra 2.See see rider 3.I got a woman/Amen 4.Help me make it through the night 5.Steamroller blues 6.You gave me a mountain 7.Love me 8.Blue suede shoes 9.Long tall sally sally/whole lotta shakin going on/your mama dont dance/shake rattle and roll 10.My way 11.Hound dog 12.What now my love 13.Suspicious minds 14.Introductions 15.I'll remember you 16.I can stop loving you 17.Bridge over troubled water 18.Funny how time slips away 19.Its over 20.Release me 21.Faded love 22.Can't help falling in love

 Bonus:

23.I'm leavin' 24.A big hunk O'love.

   (82876-53367-2-2 BMG/Denmark)

To sum up the year we can say, that we got a bunch of releases. Most of them were great.
We got a good-sounding audience-recording of the fabulous New Year’s Eve-concert from Pittsburgh,
for what a lot of people were searching desperately. For all who were complaining about this release, I want to beg, that you please remember that not all of us have the possibility to get their hands on import-CD’s.
All six soundtracks which were released by now do offer the best package ever that we got from BMG so far. They were also great for those who left out the “Double Feature”-series.
At least we got two new soundboard-recordings from FTD, which are great to have – especially the one from Lake Tahoe, from where we didn’t have the most of soundboards. So it’s highly recommended…

 The new year started with a big bang and offered us with “So High” one of the best sounding studio-CD’s by now… So FTD, keep ‘em coming! I can’t wait to see the next releases!!

(Jörn)