The post above with the review giving it top marks,is no 9. ALL 8 folk who i have spoken to have giving it the top marks. Has Sebastian Jeansson done a bad MASTERING job on FTD?.
I don't think the Friday Music vinyl is cut by Kevin Gray...I also have it. He did some of their Elvis releases on vinyl but not King Creole. On the ones he did you can see his initials in the dead-wax, but they are not on the King Creole vinyl.
Well, I received the standard 2010 Vic Anesini remastered "Viva Las Vegas" CD today and what a wonderful album this is, it has great performances, good songs and wonderful mastering. I'm so glad I bought this, it really does stand out amongst all the other lousy movie soundtracks of the 60's and this is one I shall play often.
It is one of the best soundtracks, but really there is a lot of good material on all of the 1960-63 soundtracks too... I wouldn't dismiss them. During that period, you typically get 2-3 excellent songs, a few average-to-good songs, and 2-3 silly/expository/dopey songs. The latter is what everyone seems to remember or focus on, unfortunately. But it's not until "Kissin' Cousins" that the wheels really fall off the soundtrack wagon.
Agreed. The Kissin' Cousins soundtrack was a real low-point and if it wasn't bad enough, his soundtracks would get even worse in 1965 and 1966.
Yeah, those two in particular have the trifecta of awful material, horrible engineering, and lousy mix. The only redeeming things that came from those sessions are the hilarious outtakes.
On another note, thank you for having this thread going. Great to read about the newest FTD releases and to hear about it from people with knowledge. My next FTDs will be Golden Records, King Creole, This is Elvis (sentimental reasons) and Hot August Night. At this point I have most of the FTD classic albums (non soundtracks), much thanks to this forum/thread.
If you're wanting "Hot August Night", I would suggest you put that to the top of your list as my sources tell me it is now indeed deleted.
Jason, the thing that struck me with "Viva Las Vegas" is that it's actually a solid album throughout and not just a soundtrack with 2 - 3 good moments.
"Please Don't Stop Loving Me" alone raises it above those other three. Then the title track and "Hard Luck" are good tunes. Poorly mixed but still good.
Facts ... what could this man have done in those years 60 to 68ish. Albums that were full of new songs,songs that had nothing to do with movies. HIS HAND IN MINE,ELVIS IS BACK,SOMETHING FOREVERYBODY,ETC. Then you get what should have come out 63/64 = http://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Presley-For-The-Asking-The-Lost-Album/release/2087336 The man was at his prime,and we get this dross that his "vocal" did not deserve. What a bloody waste!.
I respect your opinion. That being said, I have never liked the album and consider it a very weak soundtrack...Just my opinion of course.
I think even his studio work started to suffer after 1962. Pot Luck wasn't as strong as Something For Everybody and an album from the 1963 sessions would have been weaker than Pot Luck. Imagine an album from those sessions without Devil In Disguise. That's a pretty weak album. The Lost Album comp did a great thing by including the three songs from January 1964 which were very good, particulatly It Hurts Me.
It only suffered because of the stupid contract with HILL & RANGE. He should have had the "right" to do songs he wanted. Take a look at the HOW GREAT THOU ART sessions ... the man was in the mood to do his Gospel album and also other songs he grew up with ie,fools fall in love etc. By the end of the last day of the session, hill and range had no decent songs and what could have gone on for another day or so of recordings,was killed dead.Presley walked out of STUDIOB in a bad mood because he WANTED to record and he would not get that back till 68/69. A waste indeed.
I contend that "How Great Thou Art" is Elvis' "Revolver" or "Pet Sounds". It doesn't get seen in that light because it is a Gospel LP, but he really pulled out all the stops on that one. Assembing the exact singers he wanted and the music was very well recorded. Listen to the cool distorted electric guitar volume swells on "Where No One Stands Alone".
You'll love it, it's one great sounding CD with a fantastic performance and superb mix and mastering. Enjoy