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Flaming Star

By ElvisNews.com/ Lex, January 02, 2015 | Music

I've been staring to it for over a week now and really don't know anything other to write than what is below. Anyone with some value added?

Design

As usual.

Content

Boring as hell, 4 songs, 2 of them extremely poor, repeated over and over again.

Conclusion

The bottom of the barrel is obviously reached.

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Buy at OEPFC
Pietro S wrote on January 02, 2015
C'mon Lex, you have proved many times that you can really nail a great review of any kind of product... To me it's overall a nice release. Of course, what can you do with Britches and Starched Collar? But they're nice addition, just like three takes of Dominic have been in the past. No harm done to listener (especially if listener is very well informed about the content of this release). On the other hand Flaming Star and especially Summer Kisses are great tracks. Sure, they're not a #1 Hit material, but they're very enjoyable. Why do I stick for Summer Kisses? It's very different type of song for Elvis, wchich works very well with the movie plot. It's no rock'n'roll, it's not blues, neither a ballad in the manner of LMT or Doin' The Best I can from previous movie. It has something special - I don't know: be it arrangement, be it certain "flavour" - you name it. And from this point of view, you shouldn't be surprised that although repetetive, I find this FTD outing entertining. So, before all bashing begin, let me tell you it's only my opinion ;) Happy New Year to All of You!!!
Lex wrote on January 02, 2015
* takes a bow for Pietro *
JerryNodak wrote on January 02, 2015
Bottom of the barrel? Elvis is in fine voice. I'm enjoying this release immensely. I've always loved the title tune. And just can't enough of Summer Kisses, Winter Tears. A Cane and A High Starched Collar is fun. Though I've never cared for Britches.
burton wrote on January 03, 2015
I'd love to be able to contribute to this review, but as usual where the heck can I find it & buy it? HMV don't have a clue. Can anybody help?
Loesje wrote on January 03, 2015
burton: use the red button above: the official EP fanclub of Brittain!
circleG wrote on January 04, 2015
I won't be happy till this is on vinyl- happy New year btw everyone !
schemies wrote on January 04, 2015
To me personally this release is more than the FTD "Love Me Tender". But this depends a lot on personel taste, which songs you like more. I like the title song a lot, so for me it is fine to finally have all alternate takes in the same (good) quality. Together with the recently released (Scandinavian) release of the movie on blu-ray, this is the perfect audiovisual package for me. Bottrop of the Barrel? Almost. I could think of an very attractive CD containing all the binaural Session outtakes & masters of the January 1957 Session, which are still spread over four old releases ("Essential Elvis vol.2" ; "Flashback" ; "Close Up" ; "Today, Tomorrow & Forever"). Also there still could be another CD filled with session outtakes from the "Pot Luck" sessions. And I would wish we could get a CD with mistakes corrected, e.g. the complete take of "Merry Christmas, Baby" but without the strange change in mix within the track as heard on the Classic Album release. Yes, we had another 7:20 edit with perfect mix, but is it worth to buy this CD today? And there are many examples of single versions of songs spread on various releases, which could be collected on one CD from FTD to give it to the die-hard collectors: "Always On My Mind" with brass overdubs; The outtakes from "Roustabout" (Maybe worth a Classic Album Release? Could also again include "Carny Town" with blues ending); how about "Kentucky Rain" without fade at the end and with the correct mix as also heard on old releases; "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water" (unedited undubbed master) and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (unedited undubbed master) as once heard on the "Essential Elvis vol.4", better without fade at the end; "I'm Yours" (stereo single master), and we can find many more like this.
benny scott wrote on January 04, 2015
schemies : sounds like 'good thinking' to me ! Always El.
Cruiser621 wrote on January 04, 2015
I'm envisioning an FTD release of the 45 RPM Extended Play "Just For You". This could entail all the outtalks of "Blueberry Hill", "Have I Told You Lately I Love You" and "Is It So Strange" which were included (at least some of the outtakes) on Stereo 1957, Essential Elvis-Volume 2 and Flashback. Other outtakes such as "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" could also be added. Just a thought. As FTD issued "Flaming Star" which they have, I see no reason not to include my suggestion in the future. Just a thought.
Rejane wrote on January 04, 2015
I will buy it to complete my FTD movie soundtracks, the music is not very strong but I like both Cane and High Starched Collar and Britches, Too bad they couldn't have coupled it with one of the other movie soundtracks that have very few songs like Change of Habit or Charro. I like the booklets with the pictures of the lobby cards ect, that I would never have the money to buy.
benny scott wrote on January 04, 2015
You guys have good ideas ! Let's hope FTD does something like this in the (hopefully near) future ! Always El.
Boxcar wrote on January 19, 2015
Personally I think it's terrible to read a lackluster review like this on a Elvis fan and collector site. Here we have the session to the soundtrack to one of Elvis' best movies. Tracks like "Cane" did fit the movie-scene very well. And if it's not your favourite then at least your soul as a collector should jump high about the fact that we have the session in top notch Sound. When I was young I had the 1976 LP "Elvis In Hollywood" and "Flaming Star" was a big big favourite of mine. Never would I have dreamed about having the session on my shelf one day. When the "Bilko" release of "Black Star" was released it shook the Elvis world. Now we have the session of this gem. Last but not least I have to confess that I love "Summer Kisses". Beside of that as a collector I love every outtake by Elvis. To get all this in the highest possible quality on one release is a dream come true for fans and/or collectors. I find it sad that you are no longer able to treasure releases like that. I find it sad that more and more of your reviews start with: This is not my cup of tea but I have to write something about it". I find it sad that you spread your lack of interest among the fans. This spoils the fun for those who want to enjoy these last collector's treasures immense. I don't want you to say "Amen" to everything. But this is a site where -I thought- we share the joy about the fact that releases like this still appear after almost 40 years.
Lou A wrote on January 22, 2015
This is a pretty good release . I'm glad to have all of the Flaming Star material on one disc. Goes along well with the previous Wild In The Country , Kid Galahad, Follow That Dream movie releases. All films that never had LP releases for obvious reasons .
Jamie wrote on January 24, 2015
Come on Boxcar - behave yourself. You're entitled to place great sentimental value to FTD's Flaming Star release (for different reasons, I do too), but you can't slam down some one else for appraising it more prosaically. The title song and 'Summer Kisses...' are great examples of how Elvis could elevate middling compositions above their station. And 'Black Star' is a terrific little curio. But this music isn't amongst Elvis's elite work, and it doesn't make sense for a reviewer to trash their credibility by gushing praise over unexceptional releases. This is thematic and incidental music for an early 1960's western and it sounds like it. I'm glad I've got my copy of this FTD because it's collects the Flaming Star sessions together, is in good audio quality, and I have a soft spot for two of the songs. But, objectively, this is moderate Presley fare...and it really is monotonous.
Boxcar wrote on January 27, 2015
Jamie: First of all .. being disapointed about a review or several lacklustered reviews within a short time-span isn't 'bad bahaviour'. Second: If you can only be excited about releases comprising "Elvis' elite work" (as you call it) you will be done for good after 10 FTDs. So, there must be something else adding to the magic that Elvis was. Sure I put some personal memories in this release. We all do. Otherwise most of the soundtracks, most of the poorer 50s songs and the main part of the 70s songs that never saw a top 50 chart-ranking would have been disappeared 30 years ago. To avoid this all the Clambake, Spinout and Three Corn Patches lovers assambled here to share their hobby of collecting Elvis' music. At least I thought so but it seems like I'm wrong. O by the way: Even Venus' "Hard Knocks" CD with it's far under average song selection is sold out. So it seems like I'm at least not alone. And lucky enough there are still pages where they treasure such releases, discuss the new outtakes and enjoy their Hobby .. even when a release is not 'elite work'.
Boxcar wrote on January 27, 2015
Uh, just for info. Over at the Elvis-collectors forum is a thread about a Kissin' Cousines FTD. Currently this thread has 5832 views and 245 replies. Hard Knocks CD has 5197 views and 180 replies. People are discussing these releases, they speculate what recordings might excist. THIS is my hobby as I understand it. And here fans are accused for loving a "Flaming Star" sessions FTD with top notch sound. Crazy .. wrong place for me. Reviews like this do more damage to Elvis than they do good. O no, they do ONLY damage. Especially for new fans.
You Dont Know Me wrote on January 27, 2015
Excellent sound QUALITY really noticeable and a worthwhile 76 minute FTD CD.
Lex wrote on January 28, 2015
Sorry for my feelings about this release, Boxcar. There are still Elvis recordings I enjoy, but indeed it turns to the plain simple masters more and more, this stuff get boring, especially when mediocre songs are involved (and mediocre is very friendly in a lot of cases). Flaming Star one of his best movies? Shows how poor the rest of them are... because I'm a fan (and less and less a collector, since I refuse to buy the same stuff over and over again) I do not have to enjoy everything. And sorry, 76 mins filled with 4 songs, 2 of them extremely poor is NOT something I enjoy. If you can do better... you're welcome anytime. I gladly reserve the space...
dailyone wrote on February 11, 2015
Oh my a shocker of a performance by Elvis , actor and songs . Not his fault for the songs but the film ?? !! . Fans and non fans stayed away in droves put in Wild in the Country and you complete the duo . The resounding feature of the EP is the smilling Elvis tho he didnt have to smile that often in the film . Seen the film once , bought the EP never listen to it . I read that Summer Kisses WInter Tears was sung in the film , cut out whilst Elvis and Indians having a peace pipe ???????? Not Elvis at his best and he seemed to try so hard to impress , sad but there again if others like so be it .