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Out In Hollywood
Before I start, I
must say that this is the first review of a CD that I have ever written.
It seemed as no one else was going to review this CD, so I thought I
would. First, I must say that I do love listening to studio sessions
(out-takes / alternate takes etc...) It's amazing how different a song can
sound from take 1 up to the master take, examples being 'Sand Castles'
(listen to Takes 1 & 9 on the import release Hawaii USA and you'll see
what I mean) and 'Stay Away' take 2 that was released on FTD Vol.5 Long
Lonely Highway last year. I know some people don't like these "stupid"
movie songs - they say that these songs weren't the real Elvis. But I will
say this: What a perfectionist Elvis was with his music! How many other
artistes would go to the lengths of recording 31 takes of 'King Of The
Whole Wide World' or 20 takes of 'Adam & Evil' before getting them the way
he liked them? I don't think many would.
There's nothing really outstanding on this CD, but they are all new
alternate takes. A lot of these have been released before on Import
releases, but for some, it is the first time they have been released in
any form so I personally like this CD. In this review I refer a lot to the
released version of a song, this is the master take of the song already
released by RCA or BMG on the soundtrack Album.
The CD starts with 'Mexico' (take 7) from Fun in Acapulco. This is
actually very different to the released version (take 5) as Elvis sings
all of the words of the song. It's interesting to hear Elvis sing the
complete song himself. This version is released for the first time. Next
is 'Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (take 6) from Girl Happy. This is
interesting because there's no piano intro at the beginning of the song.
This is also released for the first time on this CD. 'Wild In The Country
(take 11) is next. This is quite different to the master version (take 19)
in that the backing vocals seem a bit flat and there seems to be no
feeling whatsoever. Also there seems to be a tapping all the way through
the song, as if someone is tapping a guitar the whole time, very
irritating.
'Adam & Evil' (take 16) from Spinout is next. Well after doing 15 takes of
this song, and not finishing a complete take, Elvis must have been really
tired of it, and it showed. We get a few seconds of 'When The Swallows
Come Back To Capistrano' and a couple of improvised lines of 'Adam & Evil'
by Elvis at the beginning of the take. Even though this take is complete,
Elvis did another four takes until he gets the song the way he likes it.
The master version is take 20. 'Lonely Man' (take 4 Record Version) is
next, and is released for the first time here. It is a lot slower than the
released version (take 13) and in my opinion, a lot better. We even get
the engineer at the end of the take saying "God damn, that's pretty",
and Elvis saying "Thank you". It's a shame they didn't put take 1
or 3 of 'Lonely Man' (Solo) on this CD, especially as it was the solo
version that was supposed to be used in Wild in the country. I say that
because I have a movie trailer on video, for Wild in the country with
Elvis (with guitar in hand) singing Lonely Man.
On 'Thanks To The Rolling Sea' (take 3) from Girls, Girls, Girls Elvis
almost stumbles on the lyrics "Abalone steaks and tuna fish cakes"
at the end of the take, but manages to keep the song going to the end.
It's not too different to the master version (take 5). 'Where Do You Come
From?' (take 13) also from Girls, Girls, Girls is next. This too only
differs slightly from the released version, where Elvis almost stumbles on
the line "Or from some di-stant star", and again at the end with
the line "And tell me what you'll say". Next we have take 3 of
'King Of The Whole Wide World'. The only difference here to the released
version (take 4) seems to be the longer saxophone ending. Now we come to
'Little Egypt' (take 21), this should be called Little Egypt #2, as it was
recorded the day after the released version was recorded. Elvis seems a
lot more relaxed, singing this song now, and he sings it a lot slower -
and in my opinion - a lot better, than the final master. Elvis also fools
around at the end of this take. 'Wonderful World' (take 7) is next. The
released version (take 17) was sung over the opening credits of Live A
Little, Love A Little. This is not much different to the released version,
apart from maybe a longer ending.
'This Is My Heaven' (take 4 vocal overdub) is quite different to the
master version, as Elvis can't seem to get those high notes needed for
this song. Elvis must have had trouble with the other takes too, as the
master is a splice between take 6 & take 8. We also get the last few
seconds of take 3 here. 'Spinout' (take 2) is not much different to the
released version (take 5), apart from the ending. On this take we don't
get Elvis finishing the song with "Well let me tell you spinout".
'All That I Am' (take 2) also from Spinout, differs a lot due to the fact
that there are no strings on this take, only piano, guitar etc.... The
vocals are much the same as the master version (take 5), which makes me
think that the piano was overdubbed onto the master. 'We'll Be Together
(take 10), yet another song from Girls, Girls, Girls is next, and it's not
much different to the released version (take 11). You can hear Elvis
himself say - almost at the end of the take - knowing that he would have
to do another one.
'Frankie And Johnny' (take 1) is next up. This is the only other complete
take of this song, apart from the released version (take 6), and Elvis is
just trying this song out here. He doesn't even sing the last part of the
song "Well Frankie told Johnny, well this is the end of the song"
etc... but never the less, this is another alternate version and is
welcomed on this CD. 'I Need Somebody To Lean On' (take 8) from Viva Las
Vegas doesn't sound much different to the master (take 20), apart from the
backing, less piano etc... This is the only other take of this song to be
released, apart from the master take (take 20) so it is also welcomed
here.
'The Meanest Girl In Town' (take 9) another song from Girl Happy is next.
It is a little slower than the released version (take 13), and Elvis
doesn't "Whoop" it up as much here, not as many Ha, Ha, Ha's as the master
version has.
'Night Life' (take 3) from Viva Las Vegas is next, and Elvis doesn't seem
at ease with this song yet, and you can tell, he even sings the wrong
lyrics after the instrumental break, but manages to keep the song going to
the end. The released version (take 14) has a much more bouncy feeling,
but hey, he had to do another eleven takes of the song to get it that way!
But as this is the only other take of this song to be released, apart from
the master, this is a welcome addition to this CD too. 'Puppet On A
String' (take 7) from Girl Happy is next; it's a little bit different to
the released version (take 11). About ¾'s of the way through take 11 the
tempo rises slightly, and Elvis gives the song that extra kick, but
on the take we get here, this doesn't happen, and the song is sung at the
same pace. A nice song nevertheless! Another new complete take here is
'Hey Little Girl' from Harem Holiday (takes 1 & 2), actually we get two
takes (take 2 is complete). This is a little different to the Released
version, (take 5) as Elvis sings his "Huh's and Ha's" differently
in the instrumental break.
'Edge of Reality' (take 6) is next, and this seems a little slower, with a
longer fade out at the end, compared to the master (take 8). Finally we
get 'Baby I Don't Care' (vocal overdub #2 take 6) from Jailhouse Rock.
This was first released by RCA in 1986, on Essential Elvis. But what we
get here is the vocal overdub only, without the backing track. It's really
strange hearing a song like this, and it made me think that there must
have been a lot more songs done like this, backing track recorded first,
then Elvis adds his vocals a few days later. That's probably how they did
the Guitar Man Album in the 80's, and more recently with Too Much Monkey
Business.
Well this was Vol. 2 in the Follow That Dream series, and if you like
Elvis in the Movies, or just like alternate takes, I think you'll enjoy
this CD.
© Keith Flynn, May 28 2001 |
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