ELVIS: ON THE CREATIVE EDGE II

[etp]

Hey folks,

Yesterday I happened to read the fine liner notes from Piers to his set "Creative Edge" again - and again, I was sop fascinated by this high-spirited, and deep and strong concept that I switched the compilation into my CD-player spontaneously.

I don't know for how long now I want to create a sequel to this set because there are so many other great alternative takes out there which have to be compiled together to create a real portrait in music! -

Now, I decided: with the help of you guys, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to create a follow-up to this greatest fan-compilation that really deserves the title .....

And this is my concept: as the first volume dealt with the first takes, the second volume should include great alternative material which is not take one ...

The first three tracks are in my opinion:

* Blue Moon Of Kentucky (SUN-Outtake)
* My Babe's Gone (alt. version to I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone)
* Heartbreak Hotel tk. 5 (including the extra verse)

other strong candidates are:

* Like A Baby (FTD Elvis Is Back)
* Vienna Woods Rock'n'Roll (EAP-Box)
* His Latest Flame (rehearsal)
* There's Always Me (eigener Session-Cut)
* Too Much Monkey Business ("So High)
* True Love Travels On A Gravel Road (Memphis Anthology)
* Seeing Is Believin' (Easter Special)
* She Thinks I Still Care (Take 2B)

What else would you choose???? Piers?????

If you have no idea what I'm talking about visit here:
first link is the liner notes,
second list is the tracklist ...

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis_on_the_creative_edge_pt1.shtml

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/creative_edge_the_cd.shtml

[DarrylMac]

I'd have to include the alternate take of Stand By Me from Close Up - it's really beautiful, and more delicate than the master, and had become a firm favourite of mine.

[jeanno]

treat me nice (FTD flashback)
it hurts me (essential 6)
only the strongs survive (FTD memphis)
got my mojo workin´ (essential 4)
talk about the good times (essential 5)

[Renan]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

[etp]

treat me nice (FTD flashback)
it hurts me (essential 6)
only the strongs survive (FTD memphis)
got my mojo workin´ (essential 4)
talk about the good times (essential 5)

It Hurts Me is already included on "CREATIVE EDGE"

Go My Mojo Working is a must, yes!

Also:

After Loving You tk.2
This Time / I Can't Stop Loving You

[jeanno]

Outch! I forgot take 2 of AFTER LOVING YOU : killer version!
If you take THIS TIME / I CAN´T STOP, why not focuse on some rehearsals too : from 1970 , JOHNNY B., JUST PRETEND (both from july 24th) and LITTLE SISTER / GET BACK, I JUST CAN´T HELP BELIEVIN´ (both from 29th)?

By the way, this article was really interesting!

[Marco Aurelio]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

This is the song I have most heard during these days.... It´s beautiful!!!

[etp]

Ku-U-I-Po? Which take? From alternate aloha or from TT&F!?

After a little walk I consider these one as fitting, too:

* Little Egypt tk. 21
* Today, Tomorrow & Forever duet
* You'll Never Walk Alone work-out
* Girl Happy tk 4 (?)
* Shake That Tambourine ("teeny feet"-version)
* I Beg Of You tk.1 from Stereo'57 (which is not a fav of mine, but truly fitting the concept)
* Loving You fast version tk. 1

I wouldn't focus on the rehearsal because that would lead to another theme, I guess. I'd like to stay right to the recording sessions.

I don't think TALK ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES is much different from the master. It's a great outtake, but from the STAX sessions I guess I prefer Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming from Essential Elvis: R'n'C. It has a different arrangement which sounds beautiful ....

[TJ]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

Apart from on the infinitely superior original recording

[norrie]

Amazing Grace take 2 (70s Box set)One of my favourite
alt takes.


norrie

[etp]

Well, to be honest, I don't think Amazing Grace is so much different from the master. .... anyway... here is my first listing of songs which I would choose ... what do you guys think!? what is good, what is not so good, what is missing?

By the way: in the end, the album shoudk have 2 CDs with 16 to 18 tracks each - i.e.: 36 tracks max!


1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (SUN Outtake)
2. My Baby's Gone tk. 7
3. Heartbreak Hotel tk. 5
4. I Beg Of You (Stereo`57 tk.1)
5. Is It So Strange tk. 1
6. Loving You fast version tk. 1
7. Young And Beautiful (Close Up)
8. Treat Me Nice (Flashback)
9. Jailhouse Rock (Master von Close Up)
10. King Creole alt. master
11. Like A Baby tk.1/2
12. The Girl Of My Best Friend tk.3
13. Vienna Woods Rock'n'Roll (EAP Box)
14. Can't Help Falling In Love (Close Up)
15. King Of The Whole Wide World (FTD)
16. Summer Kisses, Weinter Tears (Close Up)
17. His Latest Flame (Studio
18. Do Not Disturb
19. Today, Tomorrow And Forever -duet-
20. I Need SOmebody To Lean On (Out In Hollywood)
21. Bossa Nova Baby tk. 2
22. I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here alt. master
23. Little Egypt
24. Shake That Tambourine ("teeny feet")
25. Datin' (EAP Box)
26. You Don't Know Me (movie version 1-3)
27. You'll Never Walk Alone workout
28. Too Much Monkey Business takes 4,10
29. This Time / I Can't Stop Loving You
30. After Loving You tk.2
31. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road tk. 2
32. A Hundred Years From Now
32. Got My Mojo Working
33. The Lord's Prayer
34. Seeing Is Believing
35. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (TT&F)
36. It's Different Now
37. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming (R'n'C)
38. She Thinks I Still Care tk. 2B

others:
Blueberry Hill tk. 2
In The Ghetto tk. 9
Girl Happy tk. 4
Memphis Tennessee remake tk. 1
Witchcraft (TT&F)
Long Legged Girl (TT&F)

[PiersEIN]

Hi etp.
Thanks for the reminder - I've been away for too long, distracted by work & family stuff.

Creative Edge II now added to the EIN site today.
Check them both on EIN rather than the old site which has no follow up articles.
I will peruse your suggestions & do another exploratory article.

Andreas from Germany has also written suggesting
Volume II “Greatest Hits Revisited” - all the big alternate hits from 30#1 Hits and 2nd To None, to which interesting outtakes or different masters exist.

Vol III - “Behind The Shelf” – collecting 30 essential outtakes that portray the film session works, i.e. “Do Not Disturb” from the Girl Happy session or others.

Vol. IV - “Get Informal” collecting 30 informal jam/recordings from the Million $ Quartett Sessions to the 1975 Tiger Man jam.

All very interesting stuff and plenty to keep us busy exploring.

Cheers
Piers

[etp]

Andreas from Germany is me, Piers

So - you see: I am a big fan of your compilation and the idea behind it just fascinates me over and over again ......

And by the way: the FTD-edition of ELVIS IS BACK makes it possible to upgrade your CD ..... Reconsider Baby and It Feels So Right!

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

So let me thank you both, Andreas and Piers for this great 2-CD set

I missed this thread (not that it ever stops me) but I highly
recommend the essays (see threads above) even without
the music. It's a real treat !

Once again, fans out-do RCA with fresh concepts to help
us re-think Elvis' music!

[etp]

Thank you, Greg! Glad to see that someone is interested in it ....

I was so fascinated by the track listing, Piers did, I couldn't resist to do a sequel.

I discussed the track listing on the german board (because the interest was stronger there) and I really loved the discussion there because it really helped the tracklist.

This is the result and I think this is the definítive track listing (don't be disturbed by the Germany words in there, I simply copied the list):

CD 1:

1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Take 1 von "Sunrise")
2. Blue Moon (Takes 3-5 von "Sunrise")
3. My Baby's Gone (Take 7 von "The Complete Sun Sessions")
4. Heartbreak Hotel (Take 5 von "Elvis'56" DSD Remaster)
5. I Beg Of You (Take 1 von "Stereo'57" im Mono-Mix von Timothy)
6. Blueberry Hill (demo (?) acetate von "Platinum")
7. Loving You (Take 1 von "Essential Elvis")
8. Jailhouse Rock (Take 6 von "Close Up")
9. Treat Me Nice (Takes 1-3 von "Flashback")
10. King Creole (alt. master take 18 von "King Creole" Re-Issue)
11. The Girl Of My Best Friend (Take 3 von "Elvis Is Back" FTD)
12. Such A Night (Take 1 von „Elvis Is Back!“)
13. Frankfort Special (Take 2 fast version von "G.I. Blues" re-Issue)
14. Black Star (alt. master von "Collectors Gold")
15. I Feel So Bad (Take 1 von "Elvis: Blues. Millenium Masters")
16. Can't Help Falling In Love (Outtakes von "Close Up")
17. His Latest Flame (rehearsal von "Studio B")
18. King Of The Whole Wide World (Take 17 von "Kid Galahad" FTD)

CD 2 :

19. She's Not You (von "Long Lonely Highway")
20. Night Rider (Take 1 - "Close Up")
21. Viva Las Vegas (Tryout Take 1 von "Viva Las Vegas" FTD)
22. Today, Tomorrow And Forever (duet Take 2 von "Viva Las Vegas" FTD)
23. Little Egypt (Take 21 von "Out In Hollywood")
24. Girl Happy (Take 14 & Workpart 4 von "Girl Happy" FTD)
25. If The Lord Wasn't Walking By My Side (Take 4 von "TT&F")
26. You Don't Know Me (movie version take 3 von Bootleg "24 Carat Gold")
27. You'll Never Walk Alone (workout von "So High")
28. Too Much Monkey Business (Take 9 von "Long Lonely Highway")
29. If I Can Dream (Take 1 von "Platinum")
30. In The Ghetto (BD take 9 von "Finding The Way Home")
31. After Loving You (Take 2 von "Suspicious Minds")
32. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (alt. take von "TT&F")
33. Burning Love (Take 2)
34. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming ("Rhythm'n'Country")
35. She Thinks I Still Care (take 2B)

[Keith Richards, Jr.]

Yeah, Piers is one of the best and most enthusiastic Elvis writers in the world! His article "The First Cut Is the Deepest - Elvis on the Creative Edge" was also published in the UK magazine The Man And His Music. Fantastic stuff. It really makes you want to hear those outtakes again.

Keep it up, man.

Keith Richards, Jr.

[familyjules]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

I love that performance! And the version of Hawaiian Wedding Song too. I love the feel on those Aloha 'after hours' numbers. Am I alone in loving these songs? I say this because I took Renan's wink to suggest he wasn't being genuine.....

Jules

[ColinB]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

I love that performance! And the version of Hawaiian Wedding Song too. I love the feel on those Aloha 'after hours' numbers.

Am I alone in loving these songs?

Jules

Pretty much.

Elvis sounds real tired & uninspired on these performances

[familyjules]

Am I alone in loving these songs?

Jules

Pretty much.

Elvis sounds real tired & uninspired on these performances

I know it was late and Elvis wanted to go home, but I still think he conveyed that far-from-home melancholia that suits the melodies of the Blue Hawaii songs. I just think those performances are beautiful.

Jules

[Denman]

Am I alone in loving these songs?

Jules

Pretty much.

Elvis sounds real tired & uninspired on these performances

I know it was late and Elvis wanted to go home, but I still think he conveyed that far-from-home melancholia that suits the melodies of the Blue Hawaii songs. I just think those performances are beautiful.

Jules

Actually I love them too. Especially "No More" and "Ku-Ui-Po"

[Renan]

Ku-ui-po from Aloha rehearsals....one of the sweetest singing that Elvis did in my opinion

I love that performance! And the version of Hawaiian Wedding Song too. I love the feel on those Aloha 'after hours' numbers.

Am I alone in loving these songs?

Jules

Pretty much.

Elvis sounds real tired & uninspired on these performances

I agree with you Colin but there is something different. This a sweet version of this song.

Elvis and The Stamps voices together here is so great and pure!

[stari062]

Hello folks,

Just love those "On the Creative Edge" cd sets!, Just made part 2, can anybody please email me the artwork for the two volumes?

j.staring6@chello.nl

Thanks in advance

Jan

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

Thank you, Greg! Glad to see that someone is interested in it ....

I was so fascinated by the track listing, Piers did, I couldn't resist to do a sequel.

I discussed the track listing on the german board (because the interest was stronger there) and I really loved the discussion there because it really helped the tracklist.

This is the result and I think this is the definítive track listing (don't be disturbed by the Germany words in there, I simply copied the list):

CD 1:

1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Take 1 von "Sunrise")
2. Blue Moon (Takes 3-5 von "Sunrise")
3. My Baby's Gone (Take 7 von "The Complete Sun Sessions")
4. Heartbreak Hotel (Take 5 von "Elvis'56" DSD Remaster)
5. I Beg Of You (Take 1 von "Stereo'57" im Mono-Mix von Timothy)
6. Blueberry Hill (demo (?) acetate von "Platinum")
7. Loving You (Take 1 von "Essential Elvis")
8. Jailhouse Rock (Take 6 von "Close Up")
9. Treat Me Nice (Takes 1-3 von "Flashback")
10. King Creole (alt. master take 18 von "King Creole" Re-Issue)
11. The Girl Of My Best Friend (Take 3 von "Elvis Is Back" FTD)
12. Such A Night (Take 1 von „Elvis Is Back!“)
13. Frankfort Special (Take 2 fast version von "G.I. Blues" re-Issue)
14. Black Star (alt. master von "Collectors Gold")
15. I Feel So Bad (Take 1 von "Elvis: Blues. Millenium Masters")
16. Can't Help Falling In Love (Outtakes von "Close Up")
17. His Latest Flame (rehearsal von "Studio B")
18. King Of The Whole Wide World (Take 17 von "Kid Galahad" FTD)

CD 2 :

19. She's Not You (von "Long Lonely Highway")
20. Night Rider (Take 1 - "Close Up")
21. Viva Las Vegas (Tryout Take 1 von "Viva Las Vegas" FTD)
22. Today, Tomorrow And Forever (duet Take 2 von "Viva Las Vegas" FTD)
23. Little Egypt (Take 21 von "Out In Hollywood")
24. Girl Happy (Take 14 & Workpart 4 von "Girl Happy" FTD)
25. If The Lord Wasn't Walking By My Side (Take 4 von "TT&F")
26. You Don't Know Me (movie version take 3 von Bootleg "24 Carat Gold")
27. You'll Never Walk Alone (workout von "So High")
28. Too Much Monkey Business (Take 9 von "Long Lonely Highway")
29. If I Can Dream (Take 1 von "Platinum")
30. In The Ghetto (BD take 9 von "Finding The Way Home")
31. After Loving You (Take 2 von "Suspicious Minds")
32. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (alt. take von "TT&F")
33. Burning Love (Take 2)
34. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming ("Rhythm'n'Country")
35. She Thinks I Still Care (take 2B)

Hello again, Andreas (etp), I was wondering if the artwork was ever completed by you (or someone else) on this great sequel to the first "On the Creative Edge"...?

[GERRY]

Elvis recorded overdubbed "Let Us Pray" (listen to the original take)normally,then later he redid the vocal.

When he redid the vocal he sorta curled the lyrics,delivering more into each line,this style of singing was his own,i can't explain what exactly he is doing with his voice but he does the same sort of thing CC Rider Aloha for a little bit.

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

I'm always surprised that he went back to re-do that rather pedestrian song, succeeding in adding some bite to it. I think he grunts in the master version, if that's what you mean.

Where is the original version available? (What set?)

The premise on these set doesn't always hold ("the first cut is the deepest") but it makes for a fresh listen.