Agreed. I don't understand the reasoning on this album. In the Sun cuts Elvis is clearly not going for a country sound. They completely gloss over some songs in the early sixties that have the strong Countrypolitan vibe like "Good Luck Charm" and "Anything That's Part Of You". I can think of several better songs for use to present Elvis to a country music fan.
The intent of this album appears to be to present Elvis' covers of songs that were big hits on the country chart for other artists. All but three songs fit this criteria, so for the most part they followed that theme. And two of the three that don't fit (Guitar Man and Krntucky Rain) were at least written by big country stars. The songs you listed wouldn't fit that criteria, nor would Lovin' Arms as was suggested by someone else. As Steve noted, they missed a few likely candidates, but for the most part the goal seems to be to compile songs that would be familiar to country fans in their original versions.
Agree 100%. And I have no doubt the inclusion of alternate takes was to get collectors to purchase it.
Isn't that case with nearly every themed Elvis collection? Obvious songs that fit with the theme are omitted, and other songs that have little or nothing to do with theme are included.
Like I said, I do not think this compilation is as random as some are suggesting. With three exceptions, every song on here was a big country hit for some other artist. And the three that were not were all country chart hits for Elvis. Two of them in fact were significant in his career as his first (I Forgot to Remember to Forget) and last (Guitar Man remake) #1 songs on the country chart.
I hear you. I actually like the compilation and it is one of the few I held on to over the years. I was making more of a generalization -- typically with most Elvis compilations, there are some very curious omissions and inclusions.
Keith Flynn's site contains lists of Elvis' live performances complete with any corresponding record releases: Essential Elvis lists Omissions I could identify: So in summation, uh, yes. Like, 99%
There are two major differences in the tracks - The Boy From Tupelo only covers the Sun years and the last Hayride show represented there is from Oct 1955. The Hayride comp includes three tracks from 1956, plus another two from later in 1955 (Nov & Dec) than ABFT. These extra 1955 tracks could possibly be mislabled in terms of dates, as it's odd that they're not on Tupelo, unless they were omitted as Elvis had already signed to RCA by the time of those performances. However, despite these extra tracks, the Hayride comp only has 16 songs, Tupelo has 32 live tracks.
Now, songs like "One Night", "I Need Your Love Tonight", "Ask Me", " The Wonder of You", were all A-sides, correct ? On the other side, (pun), this 1996 set actually sounds gorgeous, the best sonic quality up until some of these songs went to there respective homes, but it still holds up extremely well. I really had hoped RCA, BMG would have re issued those two sets, volumes 1 and 2, with the original artwork, would have been beautiful.
As for the track, "A Fool Such as I", Yes it was a standard country hit, but again, this is Elvis' instinct to reinvent the song and make it his own and in this case from country to r&b. According to RCA/ BMG /Sony whoever the hell, they seem to place songs that have no business on being on one of their themed Elvis titles. "A Fool Such as I" and "Old Shep" released on the "50 Greatest Love Songs". One year later, they both appeared on the Country comp. ?!?! They both also made the two CD country collection, "The Country Side of Elvis" ... Country Love Songs ???
Your Cheating Heart take 9 We may have looked at this already, but I would rather it be here twice than not at all. This version really has a bit of bounce to it.
Just Call Me Lonesome take 6. I love steel guitar, and we start with some nice steel guitar. Elvis proceeds to sing a beautiful smooth vocal, and there are plenty of really nice pieces of guitar to please us string addicts
There Goes My Everything take 1. This is the epitome of country. We have more steel guitars, and enough misery to fill the titanic, but that's cool, sometimes a bit of misery is therapeutic Another nice vocal.
Green Green Grass Of Home take 1. We get this really tender vocal delivery in the early stages here, and it works really well.
Help Me Make It Through The Night take 3. Kris Kristofferson's debut album is my favourite country record.... and I actually do like a few. There were so many brilliant songs on that album, that they were being remade for years to come. This is perhaps the second most well known, Bobby Mcgee being almost certainly the most famous. Elvis does a really good job of this version here.
Guitar Man 1980 remake - mono This is still a strange one to me ... it actually could have been great, but the overloaded chorus effect on the guitar spoils it a little for me.
It's still an odd collection because "Heartbreak Hotel" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and "Don't Be Cruel" were #1 country hits for Elvis and still get play on country radio but they didn't make the cut (I'm not saying that I think of them as country songs any more than Elvis' version of "A Fool Such As I").
The Fifties Easy Reference guide 1959 - Feb 10 1964 - Reference guide April 1964 - Sept 1967 October 1967 - December 1969 January 1970 - March 1974 May 1974 - October 1977 @ClausH 's Elvis album thread from 2007 + Part II + Revisited --------------------------------- Feb 1978 - He Walks Beside Me It's Impossible If I Can Dream Feb 1978 Unchained Melody/Softly As I Leave You Unchained Melody - Unchained Melody May 1978 - Mahalo From Elvis Blue Hawaii Early Morning Rain Hawaiian Wedding Song Ku-u-i-po No More June 1978 Worldwide Gold Award Hits pt 3&4 July 78 30 Golden hits singles box July 78 Puppet on a String/ Teddy Bear July 78 Elvis Sings For Children ... Sept 78 Canadian Tribute Sept 78 From Elvis With Love Nov 78 A Legendary Performer Vol3 Danny Fame and Fortune take 2 Frankfort Special take 13 Britches Guadalajara take 2 It Hurts Me Let Yourself Go - Correct version cheers @EternalReturn Let It Be Me - Correct version cheers @ClausH 1978 The Legendary Concert Performances - tracklist thanks @artfromtex Feb 1979 Our Memories Of Elvis Vol 1 Are You Sincere - Correct version cheers @ClausH It's Midnight My Boy Take Good Care Of Her I'll Never Fall In Love Again Your Love's Been A Long Time Comin' Spanish Eyes Never Again Solitaire August 1979 Our Memories Of Elvis Vol 2 I Got A Feeling In My Body Green Green Grass Of Home For The Heart She Wears My Ring I Can Help Don't Think Twice It's Alright October 1979 Rare Elvis Late 1979 Elvis Greatest Hits - Readers Digest May 1980 Forever Elvis Vol 2 June 1980 Elvis Sings Leiber and Stoller August 1980 Elvis Aaron Presley - Silver Box Album 1 side one side two --- Complete interview. Thanks @ClausH Album 2 Pearl Harbor Album 3 They Remind Me Too Much Of You Tonight Is Alright For Love Follow That Dream Wild In The Country Datin' Shoppin Around Can't Help Falling In Love Dog's Life I'm Falling In Love Tonight Thanks To The Rolling Sea Album 5 Polk salad Annie/ You've Lost That Lovin Feeling Sweet Caroline/Kentucky Rain/Are You Lonesome Tonight/My Babe In The Ghetto/American Trilogy/Little Sister-Get Back/Yesterday Album 7 I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen Album seven side 2/album 8 side one Dallas June 6 1975 pt1 Dallas June 6 1975 pt2 Dec 23 1980 Guitar Man/Faded Love Jan 1981 Guitar Man side 1 side 2 March 1981 This Is Elvis side 1 side 2 side 3 side 4 July 1981 Million Dollar Quartet (covering the 2006, complete version) part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 Oct 1981 Greatest Hits Vol 1 side 1 side 2 Nov? 1981 Elvis By Request Vol 2 (Brazil) Jan 1982 The Sound Of Your Cry (UK) There Goes My Everything/ You'll Never Walk Alone Feb 1982 The EP Collection Vol 1 (UK) Aug 1982 Memories Of Christmas O Come All Ye Faithful Silver Bells I'll Be Home On Christmas Day Merry Christmas Baby If Everyday Was Like Christmas Christmas Message/Silent Night Merry Christmas Baby (full unedited, never released officially) Oct 1982 Elvis Medley Elvis Medley Oct 1982 EP Collection Vol 2 (UK) 1982 It Won't Seem Like Christmas Without You UK I Was The One/ Wear Your Ring Around My Neck (overdubbed single) April 1983 I Was The One Paralyzed thanks @ClausH Ready Teddy and Don't thanks @czeskleba (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care thanks @czeskleba Paralyzed/ Little Sister 1983 Rare Elvis Vol 2 Oct 1983 A Legendary Performer Vol 4 side 1 side 2 Dec 1983 Rare Elvis Vol 3 Dec 1983 Elvis, The Legend Jan 1984 Elvis Golden Records cd Mar 1984 The First Live Recordings side 1 and 2 Mar (lp) May (cd) 1984 Elvis Golden Records Vol 5 Kentucky Rain stereo version thanks @ClausH If I Can Dream stereo version Jul 1984 The Hillbilly Cat Sept 1984 Golden Celebration part 1 part 2 please note, some individual tracks prior cd 2 cd 3 cd 4 - actual disc of the songs Sept 1984 - cd releases Elvis Presley, Elvis, 50, 000,000 fans Sept 1984 - Merry Christmas Oct 1984 The Beginning Years Oct 1984 Rocker Oct 1984 Golden Singles vol 1 (7" box set) Oct 1984 Golden singles vol 2 (7" box set) Nov 1984 In The Beginning (UK) Jan 1985 Valentine Gift For You Mar 1985 Reconsider Baby The tracks with variations May 1985 Always On My Mind single May 1985 Always On My Mind LP/CD Don't Cry Daddy, Solitaire, Bitter They Are, Hurt I've Lost You, It's Midnight, You Gave Me A Mountain July 1985 Christmas album White Christmas with studio chatter November 1985 Merry Christmas Baby/Santa Clause Is Back In Town Sept 1986 Return Of The Rocker King Of The Whole Wide World - mono, movie version. Mar 1987 The Memphis Record Any Day Now, Wearing That Loved On Look June 1987 The Number One Hits Hard Headed Woman June 1987 The Top Ten Hits June 1987 Elvis Talks July 1987 The Complete Sun Sessions I don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine take 1,2 & 3 I'm Left You're Right She's Gone slow version take 3 I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin) alternate I Love You Because July 1987 The Definitive - series August 1987 All Time Greatest Hits December 1987 Elvis Aron Presley Forever 1987 The Readers Digest Collection January 1988 Essential Elvis - First Movies Party movie version alt. Loving You KX20-21 Loving You KX1 Treat Me Nice movie version Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do Feb 1988 Remembering Elvis Mar 1988 (the other) Elvis Country May 1988 The Alternate Aloha August 1988 Worldwide 50 Gold Hits Volume 1 Suspicious Minds - extended - no fade Oct 1988 Elvis In Nashville Oct 1988 Heartbreak Hotel original soundtrack 88/89 Mess O' Blues Feb 1989 Essential Elvis volume 2 songs pt1 Apr 1989 Known Only To Him - Elvis Gospel Peace In The Valley - Ed Sullivan July 1989 Christmas Classics Sep 1989 Elvis Double Feature Speedway/ Clambake Oct 1989 Good Rockin' Tonight best of vol 1 and 2 Jan 1990 Great Performances/ Million Dollar Quartet version 2 Aug 1990 The Great Performances Shake Rattle and Roll, Ready Teddy, Treat Me Nice, Always On My Mind, Unchained Melody, Memories Memories - the correct version Sep 1990 Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog and Other Top Ten hits Oct 1990 Hits Like Never Before - Essential Elvis vol 3 part 1 part 2 Oct 1990 For The Asking June 1991 Collectors Gold part 1 - continued part 2 part 3 - continued Part 4 August 1991 NBC TV special Feb 1992 From The Heart June 1992 The King Of Rock and Roll - Complete Fifties Masters part 1 part 2 part 3 I Beg Of You July 1992 Blue Christmas 1992 The Legend Begins The Complete Louisiana Hayride shows 54-56 1992 Best of vol 3 and 4 from Brazil February 1993 4x Double Features - Harum Sacrum/Girl Happy - Love In Las Vegas/Roustabout - Kid Galahad / Girls Girls Girls - It happened At The Worlds Fair/ Fun In Acapulco September 1993 Essential Sixties Masters I Beyond The Reef - Come What May - I'll Remember You -Suppose - Guitar Man - High Heeled Sneakers This Time/I Can't Stop Loving You - In The Ghetto - Suspicious Minds - Kentucky Rain - Big Boss Man- Down In The Alley - Memphis Tennessee I'm Yours - His Latest Flame - That's Someone You'll Never Forget - Surender - It's Now Or Never - Love Me Tender/Witchcraft May 1994 Double Features - Frankie And Johnny/ Paradise Hawaiian Style - Spinout/ Double Trouble - Kissin' Cousins/Clambake/Stay Away Joe You Don't Know Me - Clambake - Dominic - actual Dominic lol July 1994 Amazing Grace - His Sacred Performances Why Me Lord/How Great Thou Art - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Nearer My God To Thee August 1994 The Essential Collection October 1994 If Every Day Was Like Christmas January 1995 Heart And Soul Bridge Over Troubled Water March 1995 Double Features - Flaming star/Wild In The Country Follow That Dream - Easy Come Easy Go/Speedway - Live A Little Love A Little/ Trouble With Girls/ Change Of Habit/ Charro I Slipped I Stumbled I Fell - A Whistling Tune - corrected Slipped Stumbled Fell complete Whistling Tune Love Machine - Sing You Children She's A Machine - Suppose - Almost In Love - A Little Less Conversation/Take 10 Lets Forget About The stars/ song Swing Down Sweet Chariot Clean Up Your Own Backyard - Almost July 1995 Command Performances - Essential Sixties Masters II Follow That Dream take 4 - You Don't Know Me movie version Almost In Love Edge Of Reality Unedited A Little Less Conversation take 10 Sept 1995 Walk A Mile In My Shoes - Essential Seventies Masters She Thinks I Still Care - The Fool - A Hundred Years Form Now splice 1&2 - Faded Love unedited - Tomorrow Never Comes take 6 - I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water Unedited - Amazing Grace take 2 - Lady Madonna She thinks I Still Care take 2b I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen no overdubs - Tiger Man jam Don't Think Twice Its Alright, My Way, For The Good Times, It's Diff'rent Now, Something, Heartbreak Hotel, I Was The One, One Night, Never Been To Spain, You Gave Me A Mountain, A Big Hunk Of Love, It's Over, Twelfth Of Never, Softly As I Leave You, Alla En Al Rancho Grande, Froggy Went A Courtin', Stranger In My Own Hometown, Jan 1996 Elvis 56 Feb 1996 Heartbreak Hotel (4 track EP) Heartbreak Hotel take 5 I Was The One take 2b Jul 1996 Essential Elvis Volume 4 I Didn't Make It On Playing guitar, I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water, Little Cabin On The Hill, I've Lost You, Got My Mojo Working, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, T'aint No Big Thing, Cindy Cindy Faded Love, The Fool, Rags To Riches, Just Pretend Faded Love 3, Where Did They Go Lord, It's Only Love, Until It's Time For You To Go, Patch It Up, Whole Lotta Shaking Goin On (full extended version), Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Lord's Prayer If I Were You (correct) Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On Aug 1996 Louisiana Hayride Archives Vol 1 Aug 1996 The Other Sides - Worldwide Gold Hits Vol 2 Oct 1996 Great Country Songs Your Cheating Heart, Just Call Me Lonesome, There Goes My Everything, Green Green Grass Of Home, Fairytale, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Guitar Man 1980
Volume 1 has a LOT of B sides on it. (14-15 depending) Volume 2 has a few A sides on it. Yes there were a few too late for volume one A-sides. And One Night, His Latest Flame and Ask Me were certainly A sides that belonged on volume 1. There are a few B sides here that should have swapped places with a few of the B sides on volume one as well. One could easily argue that at least 4 songs from each volume should have swapped places. The most egregious omissions from volume 1 are Ask Me, One Night and His Latest Flame. I think they should have taken the place of Where Do You Come From, Heartaches Begin and Playing For Keeps. Volume 1 B sides chart position less than #30: That's When Your Heartaches Begin #58 Playing For Keep #34 A Mess Of Blues #32 Anything That's Part Of You #31 Where Do You Come From #99 Volume 2 A Sides chart position: One Night #4 His Latest Flame #4 (His Latest Flame charted higher but Little Sister charted LONGER, both sides belong on Volume 1) Ask Me #12 (Ain't That Loving You Baby was the intended A side, but Ask Me became the bigger hit). Volume 2 B sides chart position above #30: Doncha Think It's Time #21 My Wish Came True #12 I Need Your Love Tonight #4 Fame And Fortune #17 These A sides chart peak occurred AFTER Volume 1 was compiled: The Wonder Of You I've Lost You You Don't Have To Say You Love Me I Really Don't Want To Know Volume 2 also included all songs from his top 6 selling EPs (except singles from those EPs already used on Volume 1 ex: Love Me Tender and Jailhouse Rock) but OMITTED Don't Leave Me Now from Jailhouse Rock EP.
