The content for "Elvis The Last Movies" suggests the session reels for his final soundtracks gone forever. Maybe one day they will be located, anything is possible, but it seems unlikely. It is unfortunate because Elvis was singing very well during that period. The Tahoe release is mildly interesting because very little has been officially released from Tahoe, and these May shows come off the heels of Elvis' highly rated March tour. Still, it would have been nice had FTD released 1973 era Tahoe performances instead. Maybe one day....
That's what I'm thinking as well. I would have loved it if they included alternate takes of Change of Habit, Let Us Pray, Charro and Swing Down Sweet Chariot but you can't release what you don't have. Pity. But there's some choice cuts here and I'll definitely be picking this up.
I found the image on the Bear Family's site, of all places! The Last Movies (CD, 7inch Deluxe Packaging) | Bear Family Records
Yeah, such a shame. These sessions would have been right around, during and after the comeback special... so Elvis was definitely back.
I'm glad that those films are out of the way now so that the speculation on how they'd be addressed is over. I would have liked more, but it is what it is. Can only release what you have. Outside of FTD releasing Kissin' Cousins, Elvis on Tour & Elvis in Concert (I currently have EOT film and nothing on EIC) and maybe some select '69-'72 concerts, I think I'll finally be exiting the FTD world. Doubt that I'll get For LP Fans Only since I already have everything and it'd only be for completion sake and I have enough Aloha material. Can't think of anything else. So, unless something unexpected pops up, it's been a fantastic run!
I just listened to the High Sierra, simply because of the announcement of the lake tahoe CDs. Elvis is less engaged compared to the march 74 tour, sounds tired, bored. I think we can expect the same thing from the new release. The last soundtracks only shows that ftd has nothing of interest from those sessions, maybe i buy that cd for completeness sake, maybe not. The vinyls are always from digital sources, so they are only worth buying for the cover, this one isn't to appealing imo.
'It's far from being all over...'* Hmmmn... Sounds interesting. (*Any fellow Whovians out there may also recognise that quote...)
Something else that surprises me is how side 4 of the Roustabout LP set is the mono mix as this wasn't released on the recent Roustabout FTD CD. Also interesting that they're fitting the entire - admittedly short - album on one LP side.
It is actually unclear what the future of FTD will be once Ernst retires. Various dealers know Ernst or have contacts associated with FTD and/or Sony and that is where a lot of alleged inside information comes from, but even Ernst cannot guarantee what the label's future will be. That said, most of the studio sessions have been exhausted and there are only a handful of soundboard releases from uncovered or under-covered tours and casino engagements that can conceivably happen based on what is allegedly in FTD's archive (most of the remaining live multitracks are being held aside for Sony releases). Clearly there is an audience for this material, but how big is the audience? FTD is pretty quiet on its sales figures, but the general consensus is that FTD product does not move big numbers. If Sony can figure out the economics of issuing soundboard product and/or downloads indefinitely, perhaps there will still be live releases for years to come, but one senses that once the studio material is exhausted, Ernst may ride off into the sunset with FTD's future in limbo.
I would assume that FTD would (and should) continue on releasing Live soundboards. In addition, there's hi-res and home video. For the love of God, his films should fall under their care. One thing we can't know, but history does suggest can happen, is the continued impact an artist will have on society. Meaning -- 50, 100, 150 years from now -- who knows. Some artists disappear in their own lifetime. Good ones too. Elvis clearly didn't. Honestly, I don't think Elvis will ever become unfashionable. Or uninteresting. He will be available for spurts of rediscovery long from now. There's too much evidence and testimony available for him to avoid discovery. I hope and pray that Graceland is still open 140 years from now. But who knows. Even though I understand Graceland exceeds the yearly visits of The White House. That doesn't mean it always will. Anyway, I'm listening to FTD 3000 South Paradise Road, Disc 2. Sounds like a cassette recording on a dinky mic. And I'm loving it.
Deleted or just out of stock? <edit> Never mind. According to The Elvis Shop London, they are indeed deleted (and being priced as such). Better get them while you can (if you want them). Not a good sign if new FTDs are already being phased out.
I missed out on the Fashion for a King release. I keep hoping that the bonus disc will eventually get released on its own (like the The Way It Was and Rockin' Across Texas CDs were) but so far it hasn't happened. A somewhat glaring omission in my FTD collection.
Could Sony as a corporation be reining in FTD, thus explaining these quick deletions? Are they profitable and sustainable?
Could it be that the deleted titles are simply not selling? Not many of the "Classic Album" titles have gone out of print and some of them have been available for 10+ years.
FTD has always been tightlipped about its sales figures and profitability. When the label first started 18 years ago, the releases were intended to be "limited" in nature. Clearly FTD deviated from that position with certain titles, especially as the label evolved, but one has to assume certain titles (especially soundboard releases and other compilations with sonic limitations) cannot justify additional production runs.
Because these are releases without any historical significance, and very limited commercial potential. The hardcore sb collectors already have them, unappealing for all other fans.
They probably do a run of 500 or something now and that's it unless there's demand for more, which is unlikely for soundbaords nowadays. I don't know now which factory FTD uses, but many CD manufactures have 500 as a good discounted pressing run.
