Am watching some YouTube 8mm video from Elvis in the 70’s. Very interesting, never seeing this kinda bootleg footage before how informal it was during the shows! Very human but new to me as I’m used to seeing the “produced” Elvis product. Interesting how the machine marketed him to America but the reality is so much more human. Amazing……… BeaVe
Speaking of the rehearsals, FTD should reissue the rehearsal audio from the TTWII book project. Perhaps not all 8 discs, but at least the 7/15 or 7/24 rehearsal in its entirety. Historically, FTD has on occasion subsequently issued book project audio as standalone releases (e.g. Rockin' Across Texas, Live In LA, The Way It Was). I understand keeping the audio exclusive for a period of time, but fans shouldn't be deprived of music simply because they did not spend a small fortune on a highly limited book project.
Did anyone read the How RCA Brought Elvis to Europe book? I'm curious about the blurb in the press release: "And did Elvis really pose a threat to communist Eastern Europe when he served as a US Soldier in West Germany?" Is there a Cold War angle to his story?
If the Sony Legacy TTWII box set is any indication, don't be surprised if Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals is recycled as part of the Sony Legacy box set, with the complete rehearsals attached to the forthcoming highly-priced book project.
So I got 'The Pot Luck Sessions' for Christmas and ripped/loaded it onto my iPod ('cuz I'm old fashioned etc.) and well, the masters went down a treat, great sound, great remastering... but after six solid takes of 'Kiss Me Quick' I was on the point of a nervous breakdown or something. I deployed the shuffle button and I enjoyed it much, much more. I've not had this feeling previously with these sets and usually enjoyed the 'work in progress' type listening. Maybe I was wrong all along, maybe I'm not hardcore after all? Oh well, no rest for the wicked, I'm off to play 'Elvis Back In Nashville'. See you on that thread in a little while...
Some journeys are more rewarding than others. Try listening to all the takes of "His Latest Flame". It's a great ride.
The 20+ takes of “King of the Whole Wide World” are pretty interesting, in my opinion, if only to hear Boots Randolph’s solo each time. But I find jazz and 50s/early 60s rock sessions where the entire band was playing live inherently more interesting than post-Sgt. Pepper sessions built up from overdubs.
Bring on takes 1-37 of ‘Do Not Disturb’! I kid, but in all honesty I bet it would be an entertaining listen.
The Pot Luck Sessions is on par with From Elvis In Nashville as one of the most enjoyable Elvis releases, for me personally, in quite some time. The album tracks and all these related singles make for fantastic listening. The mastering is again superb. Additionally, the photos they chose really make this set stand above the other sessions sets. It's a handsome package
The next FTD release will be a 3-CD-set covering "Aloha from Hawaii" (to be released in February). When seeking key career highpoints, Elvis’ multi-faceted musical legacy certainly divides opinion amongst fans and critics alike. However, if one goes by the sales and the audience viewing numbers too, there is only one answer. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite. RCA’s double album of the show was released throughout the world in February and shot to the #1 spot in many countries including the U.S. The album went to #1 on the Billboard album chart and reigned supreme from late February until late October, re-entering in late December for another two months. Today in the U.S. the album stands at 5.5 million sales and is certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA. To acknowledge this achievement, FTD is proud to present an upgraded re-release of Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite utilizing the talents of successful Memphian recording engineer Matt-Ross Spang who has newly remixed the original broadcasted show and the after-concert 3:00 AM crowd-less masters including rehearsal performances for the first time. Also included is the Sony Legacy 2013 remix of the rehearsal show form January 12. Packaged in our ‘sessions’ style 8” x 8” slipcase, this deluxe 3-CD contains a 28-page color booklet, great photos, memorabilia and insightful essay. Disc 1 1. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey) 1:09 2. See See Rider 3:00 3. Burning Love 3:11 4. Something 3:32 5. You Gave Me A Mountain 3:18 6. Steamroller Blues 3:12 7. My Way 4:20 8. Love Me 1:36 9. Johnny B. Goode 1:43 10. It’s Over 2:09 11. Blue Suede Shoes 1:23 12. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:10 13. I Can’t Stop Loving You 2:27 14. Hound Dog 1:06 15. What Now My Love 3:16 16. Fever 2:48 17. Welcome To My World 1:54 18. Suspicious Minds 4:31 19. Introductions by Elvis 2:41 20. I’ll Remember You 2:32 21. Medley 2:04 Long Tall Sally 1:02 Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On 1:02 22. An American Trilogy 4:42 23. A Big Hunk O’ Love 2:22 24. Can’t Help Falling In Love 1:42 25. Closing Vamp 2:23 Recorded live at the Honolulu International Center Arena, January 14, 1973. Disc 2 1. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey) 1:08 2. See See Rider 3:01 3. Burning Love 3:03 4. Something 2:25 5. You Gave Me A Mountain 3:18 6. Steamroller Blues 3:15 7. My Way 4:13 8. Love Me 1:43 9. It’s Over 2:12 10. Blue Suede Shoes 1:23 11. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:08 12. Hound Dog 0:59 13. What Now My Love 3:18 14. Fever 2:35 15. Welcome To My World 1:58 16. Suspicious Minds 4:00 17. Introductions by Elvis 2:24 18. I’ll Remember You 2:37 19. An American Trilogy 4:26 20. A Big Hunk O’ Love 2:44 21. Can’t Help Falling In Love 1:41 22. Closing Vamp 1:56 Recorded live at the Honolulu International Center Arena, January 12, 1973. Disc 3 BONUS SONGS 1. Blue Hawaii – rehearsal, takes 1-2 5:31 2. Ku-U-I-Po – rehearsal 2:32 3. Ku-U-I-Po – take 1 2:02 4. Ku-U-I-Po – take 2 (incomplete) 2:12 5. Ku-U-I-Po – take 3 (incomplete) 2:02 6. Ku-U-I-Po – take 4 2:24 7. No More – take 1 (incomplete) 3:10 8. No More – take 2 (rehearsal) 5:06 9. No More – take 3 2:40 10. No More – take 4 3:04 11. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 1 2:03 12. Hawaiian Wedding Song – rehearsal 4:01 13. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 2 2:03 14. Hawaiian Wedding Song – take 3 2:06 15. Early Morning Rain – take 1 4:16 16. Early Morning Rain – take 2 3:10 Recorded live without an audience at the Honolulu International Center Arena, January 14, 1973. Source: Elvis Day By Day: January 12 - Aloha From FTD (elv75.blogspot.com)
I wanted 7×7, not 8×8 dammit! Do I add this to my classic albums collection? It's been a hole for many a year.
I'll second that. This and MSG will now probably never make it to 7". That said, the slipcase cover is a massive improvement on the awful original.
I'm looking forward to the new mix of the main show, but I hope that Matt Ross-Spang has stayed away from the particular reverb that he applied to Elvis' vocals on the 1969 shows. It sounded like vintage studio reverb. I don't mind this on studio recordings (I liked his mixes of the Jungle Room material), but to my ears, this kind of reverb sounds out of place on live recordings.
This all but confirms there won't be a companion set to '68 Comeback from Sony next year, where of course the missing content is the video (which I presume could all fit on a single Blu Ray). And since Stax already got the treatment in 2013 this makes me wonder if 2022 is Ernst's swansong on Elvis Presley releases, at least for Sony, after Elvis On Tour is covered.
I don't know. This kind of reverb is not noticable on any of the live recordings released in Elvis' lifetime. There's only slight reverb. Perhaps Matt Ross-Spang just likes the echo chambers that are still in use at Sam Phillips Recording a bit too much.
The fact that this release is not coming in 2023 for the 50th anniversary is indeed somewhat surprising. One could think that Ernst is in a hurry. Perhaps he really is retiring. After all, he has already passed his 70th birthday.
I like the idea of this Aloha from Hawaii release, but I just tend not to enjoy the 1970s material very much. I think it's because the songs, to me, seem to come over as routine rather as interpretive. I'll have to watch the DVD again, though, and see if it inspires deeper exploration.