Essential Elvis - Vol. 6
Here's the tracklsiting of Essential Elvis Vol. 6 (Such a Night: The Stellar Nashville
Sessions, 1960 - 1964) that is scheduled for February 8th, 2000
Such a Night/ Make Me Know It/ Stuck on You/ Fever/ The Girl of My Best Friend/ Soldier Boy
/ Surrender/ I Believe in the Man in the Sky/ Give Me the Right/ I'm Comin' Home/ There's
Always Me/ Little Sister/ I Met Her Today/ Gonna Get Back Somehow/ Night Rider/ (Such An)
Easy Question/ Suspicion/ Please Don't Drag That String Around/ Memphis, Tennessee/ It
Hurts Me.
The Home Recordings
Here we have the new BMG release "The Home Recordings"
(BMG 07863 67676 2) that contains the recordings at Elvis' home. I have to admit I was
a little skeptical about this cd, but it changed dramatically, I really love this CD. Here
we hear Elvis' love and joy, and that's making music with his friends. For a homerecording,
the quality is very good, and one of the highlights are "What now my love" (sample can be
found on my Real Audio Section), "Mary Lou Brown". This is a highly recommended cd, and
enjoy the private Elvis at this best!!.
When the saints go marching in/ I understand just how you feel/ I asked the Lord/
I'm beginning to forget you/ Mona Lisa/ Hands Off/ Make believe/ If I loved you/ What now
my love/ Tumblin' Tumbleweeds/ San Antonio Rose/ Tennessee Waltz (not the Platinum
version)/ Show me thy way, O Lord/ After loving you/ I've been blue/ Mary lou Brown/ It's
no fun being lonely/ Suppose/ Indescribably blue/ Write to me from Naples/ My heart cries
for you/ Dark Moon.
Sunrise
Here we have the new BMG release "Sunrise", a 2 CD set which contains the material from Elvis' sun period.
Sunrise (RCA 07863 67675 2)
Disc 1) That's All Right; Blue Moon of Kentucky; Good Rockin' Tonight; I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine; Milkcow Blues Boogie; You're A Heartbreaker; Baby Let's Play House; I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone; I Forgot To Remember To Forget; Mystery Train; I Love You Because; Harbor Lights; Blue Moon; Tomorrow Night; I'll Never Let You Go; Just Because; I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (slow version); Tryin' To Get To You; When It Rains It Really Pours
Disc 2) My Happiness; That's When Your Heartaches Begin; I'll Never Stand In Your Way; It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You; I Love You Because (alt. take); That's All Right (Mama) (alt. take); Blue Moon Of Kentucky (alt. take); Blue Moon (alt. take); I'll Never Let You Go (alt. take); I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (alt. take); I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (slow version) (alt take); Fool, Fool, Fool; Shake, Rattle & Roll; I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (live); That's All Right (live); Money Honey (live); Tweedle Dee (live); I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (live); Hearts Of Stone (previously unreleased live)
The main track on this release is of course "the song "It wouldn't be the same without you", but overall this release is a little disapointing to me. Click here for a detailed review.
Elvis- the concert '99
Out now, is the new 2-CD set "Elvis - The Concert 1999" (BMG 74321 64429 2) , on occasion of the european Tour of "Elvis- The Concert". The set is released in a limited edition of 25.000 copies. It contains all the songs appearing in "Elvis - The Concert" (including two unreleased songs) in the same order:
(CD-1)
See see Rider / Burning Love / Steamroller Blues / I Can't Stop Loving You / Johnny B. Goode / You Gave Me A Mountain / Polk Salad Annie / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' / Proud Mary / Never Been To Spain / Just Pretend (studio-version)/ Make The World Go Away (studio version) / In The Ghetto (Unreleased) / How Great Thou Art / Bridge Over Troubled Water
(CD-2)Trouble-Guitar Man / Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel / All Shook Up / Heartbreak Hotel / One Night / Love Me Tender / The Wonder Of You / Lawdy Miss Clawdy /Funny How Time Slips Away / Suspicious Minds (Unreleased)/ I'll Remember You / A Big Hunk O' Love / My Way / An American Trilogy / Can't Help Falling In Love.
This nice looking CD comes in a 16 page booklet, the sound quality is pretty good, and I guess that this will be a collectors item soon for only 25.000 copies were made.
Elvis in Rock (Spain)
The latest release from Spain is "Elvis in Rock - Sus Grandes Canciones De Rock 'n' Roll" (see artwork). From this release also a promotional CD has been issued that seems to be very hard to get, will add this one as soon as I have a copy. (Thanks to Joaquin Luque. Vice-president of Spanish Fanclub "Club Elvis" for the info.
Aloha via Satellite
This CD (DCP 12214) is/was included as an extra bonus CD with the Tunzi's book "Aloha via Satellite" (see Elvis news). It features 5 tracks from the latest BMG release "Aloha from Hawaii" welcome to my world/ What now my love/ Steamroller blues/ It's over/ dialogue-I'll remember you in a gatefold cover.
Promo "Artist of the century"
Here we have the first promo CD to promote Elvis as the artist of the century. This promo (RCA 74321 619112) contains 7 tracks, and these are "Hound dog" (taken from the album "Artist of the century", "Mystery train" taken from the album "Sunshine", "Santa Claus is back in town" (taken from the album "Tiger man"), "Gospel Medley" (taken from the album "Memories"), "After loving you - outtake"(taken from the album "Suspicious minds"), "Talk about the good times" (taken from the album "Rhythm and country", and "Make believe - unreleased" (taken from the album "Private Elvis").
1960-61 Romantique & 1960 films
Two new releases from the La legende sequels is the "1960 films", featuring songs from the movies "Flaming star & Wild in the country. Also including the outtakes such as Black star & Summer kisses, winter tears. The other one is the "1960-1961 Romantique" feauturing the ballads from 1960, and also both CD's contains a beautiful full color magazine.
Memories; The '68 comeback special
Here we have the new BMG product "Memories" (BMG 07863 67612 2), a 2 CD set that contains one of Elvis' best period ever (of course the 1968 comeback ;-)). BMG treated us with 22 unreleased tracks, and my favourite is the outtake of "A little less conversation", and "when it rains it really pours" from the dress rehearsal, that was released before on the "From Burbank to Vegas", and finally now on a BMG product. It comes with a 24 pages booklet, with linears note from Colin Escott. This is an essential release, you'll get the the king at his best!!.
Click here for a full review by Lex Raaphorst.
Vino, Dinero Y Amor
Here we have "Vino, Dinero Y Amor" the follow-up of the Mexican promo "Alle en El Rancho Grande", and again this promo comes in a picture disc and a very different artwork. This time we have two tracks, namely "Vino, dinero Y amor" & "Fun in Acapulco". It's a nice collectible for the CD Collectors.
Tigerman
From BMG the latest release is "Tigerman", featuring the complete and unedited 8PM sit down show. For the non-import collectors this is a must, here we have 7 unreleased performances. The Import collectors already have this material for a long long time in their collection, so, I'm not very excited about this, but the sound quality is pretty good. The tracklisting is as follows;
Heartbreak hotel/ Baby what you want me to do/ introductions 8pm/ That's all right/ Are you lonesome tonight/ Baby what you want me to do/ Blue suede shoes/ One night/ Love me/ Trying to get to you/ Lawdy miss Clawdy/ Santa Claus is back in town/ Blue Christmas/ Tigerman/ When my blue moon turns to gold again/ Memories.
Here's a review of the BMG Tigerman release by Johnny Savage, click Tigerman
Rhythm and Country
Here we have the long awaited 5th volume of the very popular Essential Elvis releases. And this time BMG treated us with 16 previously unreleased performances from the July & December 1973 recording sessions from the Stax Studios. I'm not a big fan of the Stax material, except for a few songs like Promised land etc.., but I do like the compilation of this release that is made in the same formula as "Essential Elvis Vol. 4" (studio chats, a lot of clowning/cursing etc. !!! It starts off with the 1st take of "I got a feeling in my body", and it seems that he really had the feeling in his body, for it's sounding pretty good for it's first attempt. Follows is one of the better songs from these sessions "Loving arms" (take 2), and one of my wife's all-time favourite "I've got a thing about you baby" (take 14).
Other songs are "She wears my ring" (take 8), "You asked me too" (take 2) , "There's a honky tonk angel" (take 1), "Good time Charlie's got the blues" (take 8), "Find out what's happening" (take 6), "For ol' time sake" (take 3), "Promised land" (take 4), "Thinking about you" (take 4), "Three corn patches" (take 14) arghhhh, "Girl of mine" (take 9), "Your love's been a long time coming" (take 4), "Spanish eyes" with Spanish countdow (take 2), "Talk about the good times" (take 3), "If that isn't love" (take 1).
Overall this is a nice compilation, and of course a must for the 70's fan. For a complete review of "Rhythm & Country", click here!!!
Alle en El Rancho Grande
A new promo CD from mexico, and in a really weird artwork is "Alle en El Rancho Grande" featuring "Alla en el Rancho Grande", "Guadalajara" & "Mexico". The latest what I heard that this will also be released in Columbia, I only have this Mexican promo, but if someone can give me more info about the Columbian CD, please let me know.
Promo Elvis '68
Here we have the new promo "Elvis '68 - NBC TV Special 30th anniverary sampler from the forthcoming releases "Tigerman (07863 676112) & Memories (07863 67611 2). The tracks on the promo are;
Trouble-guitarman/Trying to get to you/ Tigerman/ Baby what you want me to do/ Jailhouse rock/ If I can dream.
A nice detail is this version of "Jailhouse rock" will be only available on this promo, and not on the official release.
La Legende's continues
Here we have two more of the La legende series from France. This time we have the "En concert" Aloha from Hawaii - Volume 2, including the bonus songs "Ku-U-I-po", "No more", "Hawaiian wedding song" and Early morning rain". And the other title is "1957-1960 romantique" with 15 ballads from the 1957-1960 era.
1958 Films & En concert
From France 2 new volumes from the La Legende collection, and again like the other 2 titles it comes with a full colour magazine. The new volumes are the "1958 Films" featuring 16 tracks from the "King Creole" movie. The alternate takes of "As long as I have you" & "King Creole" is also included, and also the undubbed version of "Lover doll" and the instrumental track of "King Creole".
The other volume "En concert" is really not interesting, it's featuring the songs from the "Aloha from Hawaii" concert, and it's incomplete too!!!.That's really weird.
Blue suede shoes - The ultimate Rock 'n Roll collection
This release from the U.K. is indeed an Ultimate Rock collection, it's featuring 33 tracks, and I think it's a great compilation. A lot of my favourite songs are included like "Mystery train, Memphis Tennesee", but of course this is hardly essential for the Elvis collectors, but again, I love the compilation of the songs. The artwork is beautiful.
Hawaii Review
For the fans who are still considering buying the new Aloha from Hawaii CD, maybe the review of Wolfgang Pesch can make it a little easier for you to decide, click on Aloha review and then buy this, or not :-).
Elvis Aron Presley Box
Out now (sooner then expected) is the Elvis Aron Presley box (a.k.a. the silver box).
This CD box was released orginally as an 8 LP box in 1980, and it's so good to have this
on CD now. It's a thrill to hear the 1961 Honolulu Benefit concert on CD, that will be my
favourite part of this set, together with the Las Vegas years. Also great to have on CD
is the beautiful capella version of "Thanks to the rolling sea". For many fans who don't
have the CD "Live in Dallas" (special BMG products from Holland) that was released years
ago, will enjoy the 1975 concert on disc 4. This all in a very attractive longbox like the
Platinum & Golden celebration box, and the booklet is superb deluxe with full color photos
and a review of every track on this CD. Well done BMG.....
La Legende
A new compilation hits CD from France (BMG/Edition Atlas) is "La legende" and now on
the market is the "1954-57 Romantique" & "1956-57 Rock 'n' Roll". The songs that has been
put on the the album are the familiar stuff, but what makes this CD releases interesting
is that each volume comes with a full color 32 pages magazine.
Can't help falling in love
A new CD single release from Spain to promote the CD "Elvis 20 aniversario" is the 1
track promo CD "Can't help falling in love". This is a very highly collectible since only
100 copies were pressed.
The movie years & A Mi Manera
BMG Australia released a new promotional CD "The Movie years" (PROCD21104) featuring
10 moviesoundtracks, and BMG Argentina came out with a promo CD single "A Mi Manera" (AR
002) featuring a live version and studio version of "My way"
Out in Hollywood
Here we have the 2nd release of the Follow that Dream Collectors label (again in
digipack) and this time they treated us with 22 movie outtakes. It's true that a lot of
tracks was released before on Import cd's, but not in this sound quality. The vocal
overdub of baby I don't care and I need somebody to lean on is for me the highlights on
this CD. The songs from Viva Las Vegas sounds like it was taken from the original 3 track
masters. Here's the tracklisting with the takenumbers;
Mexico (take 7) - Cross my heart and hope to die (take 6) - Wild in the country (take 11) - Adam and Evil (take 16) - Lonely man (take 4) - Thanks to the rolling sea (take 3) - Where do you come from (take 13) - King of the whole wide world (take 3) - Little Egypt (take 21) - Wonderful world (take 7) - This is my heaven (vocal overdub take 4) - Spinout (take 2) - All that I am (take 2) - We'll be together (take 10) - Frankie and Johnny (take 1) - I need somebody to lean on (take 8) - The meanest girl in town (take 9) - Night life (take 3) - Puppet on a string (take 7) - Hey little girl (take 1 & 2) - Edge of reality (take 6) - Baby I don't care (vocal overdub take 6)
Can't help falling in love
A new compilation CD release from BMG Europe is "Can't help falling in love"
(RCA 07863 67873 2) featuring 22 tracks from his movie years. Only interesting for the
die-hard fans for it contains nothing new. Tracks;
Jailhouse rock/ Loving you/ Hard headed woman/ Teddy bear/ King creole/ Treat me nice/
Love me tender/ Shoppin' around/ Wooden heart/ Rock a hula baby/ Follow that dream/ King
of the whole wide world/ Easy question/ Return to sender/ One broken heart for sale/ Bossa
nova baby/ Viva las Vegas/ Kissin' Cousins/ Roustabout/ Puppet on a string/ Clean up your
own back yard/ Can't help falling in love.
Artist of the Century (vinyl)
A new BMG special products from Castle Music "Artist of the Century" is expected any
moment now. It features 5 albums pressed on a 180 gram heavyweight vinyl, and will have 5
different covers (three of them is the same as in the CD version). including is a 22 pages
booklet. More details later!!
New single releases BMG Holland
BMG Holland issued three different CD singles of Suspicious minds (that is chosen to
be his Dutch Fans as the absolute number one song ever (mine vote was not included ;-)),
the 1st one (a two track) comes in a cardboard sleeve and contains an outtake of " Shake
rattle and roll" (take 2) that was never released before. The 2nd contains four tracks
with In the ghetto, Reconsider baby, and an outtake of Little Egypt that was previously
released on the Time Life cd's. The third and last one is a real beauty, this one is a
two track shaped CD that features an outtake of Snowbird (previously released on Time
Life).
Artist of the Century
This is a CD title that speaks for itself, and our man deserved this title with no
doubt. The three CD box (BMG 07863 67732 2) is a great compilation CD of Elvis' best
songs, and this CD is a must have for the reason that the sound is so superb, it's really
amazing how they remastered the songs for this album. Buy an extra copy and give it away
to a friend's birthday.
BMG Re-mastered
More new re-releases from BMG are Burning Love (BMG 07863 67742 2) features a great
compilation of songs from Elvis' 1971-1972 era including some unreleased songs such as
Little sister/get back (Feb 14, 1972). Other new re-releases are Elvis (RCA 07863 67736 2)
incl. 6 extra bonus tracks, Something for everybody (RCA 07863 67738 2) also incl. 6 bonus
tracks, and Pot Luck (RCA 07863 67739 2) again with 6 extra 6 bonus tracks. The sound of
all these cd's are digitally remastered, but I guess that this all cost a lot of money for
BMG, so they sell it for full-price. Oh well, I'm not blaming, for I enjoy the Artist of
the Century Box too much.
Burbank '68
Here we have the first BMG/Follow That Dream collectors label with the title
"Burbank '68". As you can see the artwork is exact the same
as the German promotional CD "Elvis '68" that was issued in 1998 to promote the double
CD-set "NBC TV Comeback special". The dress rehearsals (track 1-12) is in a great sound
quality, with some great highlights such as Tigerman (love the ending) ,Lawdy Miss Clawdy,
and Elvis trying to get the high notes on Blue moon of Kentucky. And a big part of the
2nd stand-up show (June 29th, 8 PM) is something we don't have on CD yet. The CD close
with an alternate vocal splice of "If I can dream", and an instrumental version of Let
yourself go. Well, as we all know this new label can only survive as we will buy this
release, and the first release is a very good start and we really have to thank Ernst
Jorgensen for his dedication to the Elvis Fans, otherwise there won't be a Follow that
dream label.
A Mi Manera
The classic A Mi Manera Lp originally released in 1980 and re-issued in 1987 for the
10th. Anniversary is coming out on CD with (6) bonus tracks!!! A compilation showcasing
Argentina's most requested Elvis ballads.
Tracklisting is: 1. Yesterday; 2. Hey Jude; 3. Something (1970 version); 4. In The Ghetto
(alternate take); 5. Fever; 6. Bridge Over Troubled Water (alternate take); 7. The
Impossible Dream; 8. If I Can Dream (alternate take); 9. Help Me Make It Through The
Night (alternate take); 10. Green Green Grass Of Home (alternate take); 11. And I Love
You So (alternate take); 12. Unchained Melody (overdubbed); 13. What Now My Love; 14. My
Way.
BONUS TRACKS: 15. My Way (studio); 16. Runaway (alternate live version); 17. You Don't
Have To Say You Love Me (alternate live version); 18. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
(rehearsal); 19. Sylvia; 20. Suspicion.
Shipping date is August 2nd., 1999.
You can order this CD directly from Carlos Ares, his e-mail address is
ares@elvis.com.ar
or visit his great website
at http://www.elvis.com.ar
La Pelvis
I forgot to add this release from Argentina, sorry Carlos. But here it is. The
long-awaited ELVIS LA PELVIS CD (66392-2) is finally out. Shipping date:
April 30th., 1999. It contains the original 17 songs plus 9 bonus tracks!!!
Tracklisting:
1. Ain’t That Loving You Baby (complete fast version) 2. Trouble
3. Blueberry Hill (stereo) 4. All Shook Up 5. Jailhouse Rock (alternate take)
6. Loving You (three slow versions) 7. I Need You So 8. When It Rains It Really
Pours (1957 version) 9. Blue Christmas 10. Loving You (two fast versions) 11.
Treat Me Nice (mono movie version) 12. Tell Me Why 13. Your Cheatin’ Heart (alternate
take) 14. Santa Claus Is Back In Town 15. Is It So Strange (stereo – includes false
start) 16. Gotta Lotta Livin’ To Do (end title version) 17. Baby I Don’t Care
BONUS TRACKS: 18. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (1953 version) 19. That’s When Your
Heartaches Begin (1956 version) 20. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (1957 version) 21.
Treat Me Nice (mono single version) 22. Treat Me Nice (stereo movie version) 23. Mean
Woman Blues (dub version) 24. Mean Woman Blues (stereo) 25. Party 26. Party
(alternate take)
You can order this CD directly from Carlos Ares, his e-mail address is
ares@elvis.com.ar
or visit his great website
at http://www.elvis.com.ar
4 New BMG Releases
Out now "On Stage" (7863 67741 2), digitally remastered incl. 7 bonus tracks.
"Tomorrow is a long time" (07863 67740 2) with 18 tracks from the period 1966/1968,
"Elvis is back" (07863 67737 2) digitally remastered incl. 6 bonus tracks, and Elvis'
first album "Elvis Presley" (07863 67735 2) digitally remastered incl. 6 bonus tracks.
The most (to me) interesting is the On stage CD, it sounds great, and love the piano on
Long Tall Sally. Nothing can beat Elvis live in 1970, (except Elvis live in the 50's).
"Tomorrow is a long time" is a complete new CD title that covers Elvis musical comeback
66-68. "Elvis is back" sounds superb, and this album is also considered as one of Elvis'
best album he ever made. And the bonus songs should be included on the original release
in 1960 too, for it would have sold much much better. Enjoy the 4 new CD releases from
the artist of the century!!!!
Always Elvis - King of Belgium Vol. 2
A CD that has been released by our Southern neighbour country Belgium is "Always
Elvis - King of Belgium Vol. 2" (BMG 74321 656692) that contains 21 well known tracks,
but the interesting part is that also a limited edition has been issued that comes with
an extra free bonus promo CD "Elvis, artist of the century" . So, now we have three
different versions of the Artist promo (Dutch, German and now the Belgium version). The
lay-out is very nice, and the booklet is also very nicely done and it is written in two
different languages (Dutch and French).
Suspicious Minds
(By Lex Raaphorst)
Finally after 30 years BMG made it to release an album better than "From Elvis in
Memphis". It's a heavy start for a review, but I thought let's say the obvious first...
After waiting one day beneath the mailbox in vain I finally got it today. I have a pretty
tough flu at the moment but this thingie really made me feel better. Of course I started
with Disc 2, which contains the outtakes. A lot of them can already be found on several
bootlegs, but not in this near perfect soundquality. And... finally we have the vocals of
Poor Man's Gold, all 18 seconds of them ;-). A fire-engine got Elvis out of the mood of
something that started pretty promising. Next to the alternates Disc 2 contains several
underrated ballads (IMHO), like If I'm a Fool, Do You Know Who I Am, This Is the Story,
Inherit the Wind, oops, I'll do the tracklisting on one of my other pages.
Disc 1 contains the earlier mentioned "From Elvis in Memphis"-album, completed with the
singles, Stranger in My Own Home Town and Without Love. Again in superb soundquality (of
course).
The finishing touch of this CD is made by Peter Guralnick. Another great coverage of what
happened by one of the best Elvis-authors there is. My wife often says that Elvis is
about the only thing that gets me emotionally involved (which isn't true, but she's
allergic for the other one - just kidding :-)), and indeed reading this booklet I had to
use one of my sleeves every now and then...
These two nicely packaged discs brought me to my early conclusion that this is a better
album than "FEIM", mainly because it's longer - not long enough for me, but we can
hardly blame BMG/RCA for that. Elvis shouldn't have spoiled the 60's with those mediocre
movies... Unfortunately we can't turn back the clock and maybe that's one of the charms
of the sessions: when everybody thought Elvis wasn't able to do something valuable
anymore he showed he still was the best.
The waiting is now for volume 2: The masters without the overdubs - especially the damned
violins on Stranger, which are irritating me for about 25 years now - and more outtakes of
course :-).
I think I have to add to Lex' review that the I'm movin' on is the highlight on this CD,
and this song alone is well worth to buy this CD.
