It's happened to me also, only having heard certain not unknown tracks only later in my "hobby" (or whatever I can call my unending passion for Elvis' music). In a way that's what keeps things interesting, for me. Discovery. Especially with regards to the movie soundtrack recordings: there were a lot more gems buried in there than I realized for a long time (years). Also, my appreciation of several Nashville tracks from the early 60s has gone up considerably these past 5 or 6 years. I don't know why that is, I think because of listening how Elvis developed these songs through the outtakes on the FTD Classic Albums. There are tracks, both movie songs and regular studio songs, that I find so infectuous, that I wish a new composite was made from all the outtakes plus the master, just to prolong the continuing fun.
By the end of the sixties bands released very long tracks on albums, 10-15 minutes. In concert often longer. Sometimes there were great pieces. Sometimes I wondered what the point was... But I found them seldom to match the quality of Elvis' best tracks of the early 60s, which were all 2-3 minutes songs and could have been stretched a few minutes longer (because the compositions were great, and Elvis such an adventurous singer).
Sometimes I found earlier takes if not as perfect, more catchy and fun than the masters. That could be due to certain instruments more prominent in the mix, better soloing, or a more relaxed vocal by Elvis. Or an interesting instrumental and/or vocal experimentation in earlier takes that sometimes was abandoned by the time the band reached the master take. In most cases they choose the right master take, but sometimes real gold was left in the can until FTD leaked it to us. Those outtakes have only enhanced my devotion and respect towards Elvis' legacy (and that of his bandmates) and masters.
With Trying To Get To You, the first time I heard that song, it was the 6 pm sit-down version on a VHS video called "One Night With You". So that was the version that I took to heart. Later on I liked the 8 pm version even more. But they're close. Only years later, by the end of the 90s, did I hear the original Sun record. While I *really* like that original '55 version, I still prefer his '68 live takes because of their raunchy rock 'n' roll rawness and Elvis' more mature voice.
Joe Krein interview with Sherril Nielsen: "YOU KNOW YOU FORGET HOW GOOD HE REALLY WAS. I SAID MY GOODNESS. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE WITH HIM YOU ARE SO WRAPPED UP DOING THE SHOW, BUT HERE NOW 20 YEARS LATER, I HEAR HIM AND REALIZE WHAT A GREAT TALENT HE WAS. HE WAS THE REAL DEAL.
......it`s like he didn`t quite get the feeling of the song as Elvis did on so many occasions(recordings) Elvis always will be my no.1 singing Trying to get to you.....I think. 