ElvisMusic

Overzicht

Tussen 1993 en 1997 bracht BMG alle Elvis soundtracks opnieuw uit. Dit paste binnen de enorme workload die producer Ernst Jorgenson op zich genomen had om Elvis op een historisch correcte en zo aangenaam mogelijke manier voor te stellen. De reguliere studioopnames maakten deel uit van de 3 box sets die toen verschenen.

Een tiental CD’s (Double Features) met daarop minstens twee soundtracks verscheen tussen 1993 en 1995. Deze reeks werd aangevuld met de ontbrekende soundtracks in 1997. We verwijzen naar de originele uitgaven, via links naar de definitieve uitgaven. Daar worden ook de versies die op deze reeks albums staan besproken.

Harum Scarum & Girl Happy (BMG 07863-66128-2 – 1993)

  1. Harum Scarum
    Harem Holiday
  2. My Desert Serenade
  3. Go East Young Man
  4. Mirage
  5. Kismet
  6. Shake That Tambourine
  7. Hey Little Girl
  8. Golden Coins
  9. So Close, Yet So Far (From Paradise)
  10. Animal Instinct
  11. Wisdom Of The Ages
  12. Girl Happy
    Girl Happy
  13. Spring Fever
  14. Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce
  15. Startin’ Tonight
  16. Wolf Call
  17. Do Not Disturb
  18. Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
  19. The Meanest Girl In Town
  20. Do The Clam
  21. Puppet On A String
  22. I’ve Got To Find My Baby

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk november 2003 en april 2003. De laatste kreeg een update in 2009.

Viva Las Vegas & Roustabout (BMG 07863-66129-2 – 1993)

  1. Viva Las Vegas
    Viva Las Vegas
  2. If You Think I Don´t Need You
  3. I Need Somebody To Lean On
  4. You’re The Boss (with Ann-Margret)
  5. What’d I Say
  6. Do The Vega
  7. C’mon Everybody
  8. The Lady Loves Me (with Ann-Margret)
  9. Night Life
  10. Today, Tomorrow And Forever
  11. The Yellow Rose Of Texas/The Eyes Of Texas (Medley)
  12. Santa Lucia
  13. Roustabout
    Roustabout
  14. Little Egypt
  15. Poison Ivy League
  16. Hard Knocks
  17. It’s A Wonderful World
  18. Big Love, Big Heartache
  19. One Track Heart
  20. It’s Carnival Time
  21. Carny Town
  22. There’s A Brand New Day On The Horizon
  23. Wheels On My Heels

De soundtrack van Viva Las Vegas werd hier voor het eerst volledig gebundeld in één uitgave. Het is een van de meest problematische soundtracks, zowel wat betreft de verschillende uitgaves waarop ze verschenen als de mix.

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk november 2003 en november 2017. Viva Las Vegas kreeg in 20018 nog een update tot 3CD-versie.

Kid Galahad & Girls! Girls! Girls! (BMG 07863-66130-2 – 1993)

  1. Kid Galahad
    King Of The Whole Wide World
  2. This Is Living
  3. Riding The Rainbow
  4. Home Is Where The Heart Is
  5. I Got Lucky
  6. A Whistling Tune
  7. Girls! Girls! Girls!
    Girls! Girls! Girls!
  8. I Don’t Wanna Be Tied
  9. Where Do You Come From
  10. I Don’t Want To
  11. We’ll Be Together
  12. A Boy Like Me, A Girl Like You
  13. Earth Boy
  14. Return To Sender
  15. Because Of Love
  16. Thanks To The Rolling Sea
  17. Song Of The Shrimp
  18. The Walls Have Ears
  19. We’re Coming In Loaded
  20. Mama
  21. Plantation Rock
  22. Dainty Little Moonbeams
  23. Girls! Girls! Girls! (end title version)

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk november 2004 en november 2007.

It Happened At The World’s Fair & Fun In Acapulco (BMG 07863-66131-2 – 1993)

  1. It Happened At The World’s Fair
    Beyond The Bend
  2. Relax
  3. Take Me To The Fair
  4. They Remind Me Too Much Of You
  5. One Broken Heart For Sale
  6. I’m Falling In Love Tonight
  7. Cotton Candy Land
  8. A World Of Our Own
  9. How Would You Like To Be
  10. Happy Ending
  11. One Broken Heart For Sale
  12. Fun In Acapulco
    Fun In Acapulco
  13. Vino, Dinero Y Amor
  14. Mexico
  15. El Toro
  16. Marguerita
  17. The Bullfighter Was A Lady
  18. (There’s) No Room To Rumba In A Sports Car
  19. I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here
  20. Bossa Nova Baby
  21. You Can’t Say No In Acapulco
  22. Guadalajara

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in april 2003 (#1 #2)

Tin Can (BMG 07863-61835-2 – 1993)

Frankie and Johnny & Paradise Hawaiian Style (BMG 07863 66360-2 – 1994)

  1. Frankie and Johnny
    Frankie And Johnny
  2. Come Along
  3. Petunia, The Gardener’s Daughter
  4. Chesay
  5. What Every Woman Lives
  6. For Look Out Broadway
  7. Beginner’s Luck
  8. Down By The Riverside / When The Saints Go Marching In
  9. Shout It Out
  10. Hard Luck
  11. Please Don’t Stop Loving Me
  12. Everybody Come Aboard
  13. Paradise, Hawaiian Style
    Paradise, Hawaiian Style
  14. Queenie Wahine’s Papaya
  15. Scratch My Back
  16. Drums Of The Islands
  17. Datin’
  18. A Dog’s Life
  19. House Of Sand
  20. Stop Where You Are
  21. This Is My Heaven
  22. Sand Castles

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk november 2003 en juli 2004.

Spinout & Double Trouble (BMG 07863 66361-2 – 1994)

  1. Spinout
    Stop, Look And Listen
  2. Adam And Evil
  3. All That I Am
  4. Never Say Yes
  5. Am I Ready
  6. Beach Shack
  7. Spinout
  8. Smorgasbord
  9. I’ll Be Back
  10. Double Trouble
    Double Trouble
  11. Baby, If You’ll Give Me All Of Your Love
  12. Could I Fall In Love
  13. Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On)
  14. City By Night
  15. Old Mac Donald
  16. I Only Love One Girl
  17. There Is So Much World To See
  18. It Won’t Be Long

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk mei 2004 en oktober 2004.

Kissin’ Cousins / Clambake & Stay Away Joe (BMG 07863 66362-2 – 1994)

  1. Kissin’ Cousins
    Kissin’ Cousins (Number 2)
  2. Smokey Mountain Boy
  3. There’s Gold In The Mountains
  4. One Boy, Two Little Girls
  5. Catchin’ On Fast
  6. Tender Feeling
  7. Anyone (Could Fall In Love With You)
  8. Barefoot Ballad
  9. Once Is Enough
  10. Kissin’ Cousins
  11. Clambake
    Clambake
  12. Who Needs Money?
  13. A House That Has Everything
  14. Confidence
  15. Hey, Hey, Hey
  16. You Don’t Know Me (Original Film Version) *
  17. The Girl I Never Loved
  18. How Can You Lose What You Never Had
  19. Clambake (reprise) *
  20. Stay Away, Joe
    Stay Away, Joe
  21. Dominic *
  22. All I Needed Was The Rain
  23. Goin’ Home
  24. Stay Away

Deze soundtracks werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk november 2017, april 2006 en oktober 2017.

Flaming Star / Follow That Dream & Wild In The Country (BMG 07863 66557-2 – 1995)

  1. Flaming Star
    Flaming Star
  2. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
  3. Britches
  4. A Cane And A High Starched Collar
  5. Black Star
  6. Summer Kisses Winter Tears – movie version
  7. Flaming Star – end title version
  8. Wild In The Country
    Wild In The Country
  9. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell
  10. Lonely Man
  11. In My Way
  12. Forget Me Never
  13. Lonely Man -solo
  14. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell – alternate master
  15. Follow That Dream
    Follow That Dream
  16. Angel
  17. What A Wonderful Life
  18. I’m Not The Marrying Kind A
  19. Whistling Tune
  20. Sound Advice

Deze soundtracks werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk december 2014, december 2004 en januari 2008.

Easy Come, Easy Go & Speedway (BMG 07863 66558-2 – 1995)

  1. Easy Come, Easy Go
    Easy Come, Easy Go
  2. The Love Machine
  3. Yoga Is As Yoga Does
  4. You Gotta Stop
  5. Sing Your Children
  6. I’ll Take Love
  7. She’s A Machine
  8. The Love Machine – t11
  9. Sing Your Children – t1
  10. She’s A Machine – t13
  11. Speedway
    Suppose – alternate master
  12. Speedway
  13. There Ain’t Nothing Like A Song
  14. Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet, Baby
  15. Who Are You (Who Am I?)
  16. He’s Your Uncle Not Your Dad
  17. Let Yourself Go
  18. Five Sleepy Heads
  19. Suppose
  20. Your Groovy Self (by Nancy Sinatra)

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk juli 2007 en juni 2016.

Live A Little, Love A Little / Trouble with Girls / Charro & Change Of Habit (BMG 07863 66559-2 – 1995)

  1. Live A Little, Love A Little
    Almost In Love
  2. A Little Less Conversation
  3. Wonderful World
  4. Edge Of Reality
  5. A Little Less Conversation – album version
  6. Charro!
    Charro!
  7. Let’s Forget About The Stars
  8. The Trouble With Girls
    Clean Up Your Own Backyard
  9. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
  10. Signs Of The Zodiac
  11. Almost
  12. The Whiffenpoof Song
  13. Violet
  14. Clean Up Your Own Backyard – undubbed version
  15. Almost  – undubbed version
  16. Change Of Habit
    Have A Happy
  17. Let’s Be Friends
  18. Change Of Habit
  19. Let Us Pray
  20. Rubberneckin’

Deze soundtracks werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in oktober 2017.

Loving You ( BMG 07863 67452 2 – 1997)

  1. Mean Woman Blues
  2. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
  3. Loving You
  4. Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do
  5. Lonesome Cowboy
  6. Hot Dog
  7. Party
  8. Blueberry Hill
  9. True Love
  10. Don’t Leave Me Now
  11. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
  12. I Need You So
  13. Tell Me Why
  14. Is It So Strange
  15. One Night Of Sin
  16. When It Rains, It Really Pours
  17. I Beg of You – alternate master t12
  18. Party – alternate master t7
  19. Loving You – uptempo t13
  20. Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do – finale

Deze soundtrack werd ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in januari 2006.

Jailhouse Rock & Love Me Tender ( BMG 07863 67453-2 – 1997)

  1. Jailhouse Rock
    Jailhouse Rock
  2. Treat Me Nice
  3. I Want To Be Free
  4. Don’t Leave Me Now
  5. Young And Beautiful
  6. (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care
  7. Jailhouse Rock – movie version
  8. Treat Me Nice – movie version
  9. I Want To Be Free – movie version
  10. Young And Beautiful – movie version
  11. Don’t Leave Me Now – alternate master
  12. Love Me Tender
    Love Me Tender
  13. Poor Boy
  14. Let Me
  15. We’re Gonna Move
  16. Love Me Tender – end title version
  17. Let Me – solo
  18. We’re Gonna Move – stereo t9
  19. Poor Boy – stereo
  20. Love Me Tender – stereo

Beide werden ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in respectievelijk september 2009 en mei 2014.

King Creole ( BMG 07863 67454-2 – 1997)

  1. King Creole
  2. As Long As I Have You
  3. Hard Headed Woman
  4. Trouble
  5. Dixieland Rock
  6. Don’t Ask Me Why
  7. Lover Doll
  8. Crawfish
  9. Young Dreams
  10. Steadfast, Loyal And True
  11. New Orleans
  12. King Creole – t18
  13. As Long As I Have You – movie version t4
  14. Danny
  15. Lover Doll – undubbed
  16. Steadfast, Loyal And True – alternate master
  17. As Long As I Have You – movie version t8
  18. King Creole – t3

Deze soundtrack werd ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in mei 2015.

G.I. Blues (BMG 07863 66960-2 / BMG 07863 67460-2 – 1997)

  1. Tonight Is So Right For Love
  2. What’s She Really Like
  3. Frankfort Special
  4. Wooden Heart
  5. G.I. Blues
  6. Pocketful Of Rainbows
  7. Shoppin’ Around
  8. Big Boots
  9. Didja’ Ever
  10. Blue Suede Shoes
  11. Doin’ The Best I Can
  12. Tonight’s All Right For Love
  13. Big Boots – fast
  14. Shoppin’ Around – t11
  15. Frankfort Special – fast t2
  16. Pocketful Of Rainbows – t2
  17. Didja’ Ever – t1
  18. Big Boots – acoustic version
  19. What’s She Really Like – t7
  20. Doin’ The Best I Can – t9

Deze soundtrack werd ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in juli 2012.

Blue Hawaii  (BMG 07863 66959-2 /  BMG 07863 67459-2 – 1997)

  1. Blue Hawaii
  2. Almost Always True
  3. Aloha Oe
  4. No More
  5. Can’t Help Falling In Love
  6. Rock-A-Hula Baby
  7. Moonlight Swim
  8. Ku-U-I-Po
  9. Ito Eats
  10. Slicin’ Sand
  11. Hawaiian Sunset
  12. Beach Boy Blues
  13. Island Of Love
  14. Hawaiian Wedding Song
  15. Steppin’ Out Of Line
  16. Can’t Help Falling In Love – movie version
  17. Slicin’ Sand – t4
  18. No More – t7
  19. Rock-A-Hula Baby – t1
  20. Beach Boy Blues – movie version
  21. Steppin’ Out Of Line – movie version
  22. Blue Hawaii – t3

Deze soundtrack werd ook uitgegeven in de FTD-reeks in februari 2009.

 

Remixed = RED

1993

  • Kid Galahad / Girls Girls Girls – remixed from 3-track source by Dick Baxter and EJ, remastered by Dick Baxter, BMG Recording Studios, NY November 1992
  • It Happened At The World’s Fair / Fun In Acapulco – remixed from 3-track source by Dick Baxter and EJ, remastered by Dick Baxter, BMG Recording Studios, NY November 1992
  • Viva Las Vegas / Roustabout – Roustabout tracks only remixed from 3-track source by Dick Baxter and EJ, remastered by Dick Baxter, BMG Recording Studios, NY November 1992 – VLV tracks audio restoration: Bill Lacey
    Roustabout, one may easily hear how The Jordanaires are lower in the mix than on the original, where they were a bit too loud in the mix, imo
  • Harum Scarum / Girl Happy – remixed from 3-track source by Dick Baxter and EJ, remastered by Dick Baxter, BMG Recording Studios, NY November 1992

I may be lengthy so I’ll split my answer on different posts. I will start with the first 4 volumes released (kid Galahad/girls, acapulco/fair, Vegas/roustabout and girl happy/scarum).
Those were remixed entirely in 1993. All of them are disposable nowadays except (for me) it happened and girl happy – scarum.
Kid Galahad is disposable because the original masters were remixed recently in vastly superior sound by FTD on the sessions set.
Girls girls girls was remixed too, but the original mixes remastered last decade sound (for me) better.
Acapulco was remixed but (again) the recent remastered sound better. Note that I say remasters, because the masters on the sessions FTD weren’t remixed. It’s so easy to spot, but a tip: just hearing the title track will let you know, as the original master ended without fade out.
It happened is quite enjoyable because the original mix is questionable because it increases and puts emphasis in the way it was recorded in the sense that the channel separation is too brusque. The 1993 remix softens that.
Viva Las Vegas is a disposable echo affair.
Roustabout is disposable too. The original mixes sound superb as released by FTD and that 7 inches also offers a sensible remix.
Harum and Girl happy is a must have, as the original mixes sounded dreadful with no chance of salvation of the remastering skills of Anesini and co. Eventually, FTD will release a remix in the sessions series. Until then that 1993 edition is the way to go.

One oddity on the IHATWF/Fun in Acapulco Cd is that the song Fun in Acapulco has a faded ending whereas the original release was a full ending.

 

1994

  • Spinout / Double Trouble – Digitally remastered by Dick Baxter and EJ at BMG Recording Studios, NY March 1994, audio restoration: Bill Lacey
  • Frankie & Johnny / Paradise, Hawaiian Style – Frankie & Johnny tracks only remixed by James Nichols and EJ, Digitally remastered by Dick Baxter and EJ at BMG Recording Studios, NY March 1994
  • Kissin Cousins / Clambake / Stay Away Joe – Digitally remastered by Dick Baxter and EJ at BMG Recording Studios, NY March 1994, audio restoration: Bill Lacey, the following tracks were mixed by Dennis Ferrante and EJ: How Can You Lose What You Never Had, Clambake (reprise), Dominic, All I Needed Was The Rain, Goin’ Home and Stay Away

Frankie and Johnny. For the same reasons as on my previous post, this remix is still the best available version. It was remixed
Paradise is not remixed but channels were reversed, offering a disposable. It’s a dreadful soundtrack but it’s almost always overlooked that it sounded PRETTY good.
Spinout – double trouble . I don’t have that release anymore, my recollection is that it wasn’t remixed
Kissin cousins wasn’t remixed
Stay away joe and clambake were partly remixed. That was the year when Ferrante entered the picture. He told me moons ago that he finished that project that’s was started by Baxter. The booklet gives credit to Ferrante remixing all the stay away tracks except the title song and how can you loose and clambake reprise.
Easy come easy go and speedway were remixed from scratch by Ferrante, and it’s a keeper for me, even if I enjoy a lot the remixes done on both soundtracks on FTD
The first soundtracks cd (wild in the country etc) was remixed from scratch (except of course follow that dream that was monaural). For me it doesn’t offer anything that I can’t find in recent FTD releases that sound superior.

 

1995

  • Flaming Star / Follow That Dream / Wild In The Country – Engineers: Dennis Ferrante and Dick Baxter, audio restoration: Bill Lacey
  • Live A Little, Love A Little / The Trouble With Girls / Charro / Change Of Habit – Engineers: Dennis Ferrante and Dick Baxter, audio restoration: Bill Lacey
  • Easy Come, Easy Go / Speedway – Engineers: Dennis Ferrante and Dick Baxter, audio restoration: Bill Lacey

 

the last movies double features is a keeeper for me. I’ll try to explain myself, because all those final soundtracks received the FTD 7 inch treatment in an stellar fashion, BUT, I’ve always felt that the remixes on the love a little FTD have the vocal by Elvis too much on front, whereas the remixes by Ferrante are better integrated, 90’s artifices and all. It still makes for a great listen all those final movie masters.

So there must be some remixes!

 

I do not detect any conventional remixing of the Easy Come, Easy Go soundtrack.
Ferrante cloned the rhythm track to artificially expand the stereo picture from its original hard-panned mix and also tinkered with levels and FX, but no traditional remixing [from the original unprocessed source tapes] to my ears.
TCM/FTD soundtrack.
The same stereo mixes that were originally issued in New Zealand, Australia [both on LP] and Japan [Compact 33 EP] in 1967.
> The original 3 track tapes always give less “space” for remixing, but I can assure you Denis used the multitracks.
>>As per the vintage stereo mix, Ferrantes’s 1995 “mix” has the same severely limited, hard-edged, hollow sound [too little midrange frequency content] to have been credibly remixed from the original multitrack tapes.
>> Whilst they were poorly recorded in the first place, just compare the difference in dynamics of the outtakes to the masters [both original and Ferrante]. There is a tangible difference.
>> Ferrante may have had access to a production mastertape [as opposed to an LP/EP cutting tape with fades] but on aural evidence, not the original unmixed source tapes.

You can do little with them but you can fix previous mistakes, for example the level of each track. On harum scarum and Frankie and Johnny the vocal track was mixed originally much more prominent than the others. That was corrected in the remix. You can also apply effects to an individual track. For example just to what you hear on left channel, or to Elvis (central). When the channel separation is wild (like on most mgm sessions). you can leak some of left channel to right or viceversa so it won’t sound so separated.
Last, but not least, mixing the multitrack tapes give the benefit of working with the first generation unadulterated tapes.

 

 

The 50s movies are not included. And Tickle Me, GI Blues and Blue Hawaii are not included. The 50s soundtracks and GI Blues and Blue Hawaii were also reissued around this time though, but individually (except for Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender were on the same disc).

These were all released in 1997, 2 years after the final Double Feature releases were put out.

You’re right. But I am pretty sure they were done to finish off the soundtrack project left over from Double Features. The GI Blues one features the original version of Didja Ever first released in 1960 and subsequently been replaced with the spliced version ever since.

 

 

Yes, it does. Ernst and Co. were kind of shooting in the dark on the Viva Las Vegas soundtrack since very few, if any, of the original songs had been mixed to stereo back in 1963 or 1964.

Per Keith Flynn and his wonderful web site, too much digital echo also mars the Easy Come, Easy Go masters on its Double Features release.

Pretty sure they used some [if not all] of the versions that were remixed in stereo by Dick Bogert for Vol. 2 of the UK E.P. Collection [Love In Las Vegas] in 1982.
“Viva Las Vegas” and “What’d I Say” were later recycled on Vol. 3 [1983] of the German Rare Elvis series.
Not sure if any of the other mixes were ever reissued [A Valentine Gift For You, perhaps] prior to the Double Features release.

 

The 1997 editions were remixed and mastered by Dennis Ferrante.

 

Roustabout (FTD)

29/12/2018

Kissin' Cousins (FTD)

29/12/2018