The year was 1987. The RCA/BMG staff prepared a comemorative issue of Elvis 10th aniversary passed way. Was released: The Complete Sun Sessions, The Number One Hits, The Top Ten Hits and The Memphis Record. At the
time - compact disc - CD was a new product in the music market. Few titles of Elvis' catalog were available on CD.
The Memphis Record
The Memphis Record is a compilation of 23 classic tracks recorded in American Studios in 1969. But it is not an usual release. It was at the time one of the few records remixed and remastered digitally. Maybe one of the best RCA releases.
This release consists basicly of the : From Elvis In Memphis" album, plus the singles "Suspicious Minds", "Don't Cry Daddy" and "Kentucky Rain" and some songs from the "Back In Memphis" album, a total of 23 songs. "Wearin' That Loved on Look" is an alternate take.
The perfect sound, with brillant balance between bass and treble give us a beautiful ambience. It sounds very, very good. You can hear perfectly the drums, horns and strings, guitar and much, much more. Pay attention to "Stranger in My Own Home Town", listen this beautiful blues music.
Also "Inherit the Wind" and "You'll Think on Me" are examples of a succesfull restoration.
"Do You Know Who I Am", "This Is Story", "A Little Bit Of Green", "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind", "From A Jack To A King" and "Hey Jude" are the missing songs from the great 1969 sessions.
Conclusion
Beside ELV1S 30 #1 Hits, The Memphis Record is one of the best releases in sound quality. This album is one you can keep playing again and again, it has better sound than its successors and the lately released "From Elvis In Memphis", "Back In Memphis" and "Suspicious Minds Anthology". This album deserves a special place in our collections. Don't miss it !!
The Memphis Record
By Douglas Hartung, October 23, 2002 | Music
kink56 wrote on
April 21, 2012
I actually prefer this to all releases since, incuding the Legacy Edition. Patiently awaiting the FTD Memphis sessions to collect all outtakes, remixes and versions in one place.
woody1 wrote on
March 01, 2014
Recently revisited this from my collection, I hadn't played it for years thinking somewhere in the back of my mind that it didn't sound right, but having giving it a few spins it's really something special and sounds superb.
It is different to the other releases of this material with everything somehow sounding upfront it's great to have and if like me it's been neglected in your collection dig it out and enjoy.