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Elvis' Golden Records

June 10, 2015 | Music

With U.S. sales of more than six million, and an even higher figure for rest of world, ELVIS’ GOLDEN RECORDS is Elvis’ biggest selling album except for his 1970 budget album ELVIS’ CHRISTMAS ALBUM. It was complied from eight #1 A-sides, along with five B-sides and the track “Love Me” from his second LP ELVIS. Collectively they represent more than 20 million singles sold in the USA alone, resulting in 17x platinum certifications. Elvis' best-selling EP ELVIS (EPA 992) sold more than one million copies in the USA and was RIAA certified double platinum. For this FTD release we have added four songs that easily could have been included; “Blue Suede Shoes,” “My Baby Left Me,” “I Was The One” and “Playing For Keeps.” Additionally, stereo versions available in RCA’s vault are added of four songs from the album. Unfortunately, most of the outtakes from the sessions that produced these songs have been lost, so the bonus disc includes all the outtakes of four songs recorded during the period in January 1957.

Tracklisting

DISC 1
ORIGINAL ALBUM 
SIDE 1

01 Hound Dog
02 Loving You
03 All Shook Up
04 Heartbreak Hotel
05 Jailhouse Rock
06 Love Me
07 Too Much

SIDE 2

08 Don't Be Cruel
09 That's When Your Heartaches Begin
10 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
11 Love Me Tender
12 Treat Me Nice 
13 Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)
14 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

BONUS SONGS

15 My Baby Left Me
16 Playing For Keeps
17 Blue Suede Shoes
18 I Was The One

The Stereo and Binaural Hits

19 Jailhouse Rock
20 Love Me Tender
21 Treat Me Nice - undubbed movie master
      Previously unreleased in binaural
22 Loving You - KX take 8
23 That's When Your Heartaches Begin
     splice of takes 7/M & 6
     Previously unreleased edit

DISC 2

The Binaural Session Tapes

01 Mean Woman Blues - take 14/M
02 Blueberry Hill - takes 1-2
03 Blueberry Hill - take 3
04 Blueberry Hill - takes 4-7
05 Blueberry Hill - take 8
06 Blueberry Hill - take 9/M
07 That's When Your Heartaches Begin - take 1
08 That's When Your Heartaches Begin - take 2
09 That's When Your Heartaches Begin - takes 3-6
10 That's When Your Heartaches Begin - takes 7-13 
11 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - takes 1-2
12 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - takes 3-7
13 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - takes 8-13
14 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - take 14
15 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - take 15/M
16 I Beg Of You - take 1
17 I Beg Of You - takes 2-5
18 I Beg Of You - take 6
19 I Beg Of You - takes 7-11
20 I Beg Of You - take 12/M

Source:The OEPFC of Great Britain

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Natha wrote on June 12, 2015
I hold very dear memories related to the original LP. It was my first encounter with Elvis. So to use a phrase from Jailhouse Rock: I met his music by accident, and what an accident it was. I still feel the aftermath every day after half a century.
Jamie wrote on June 12, 2015
Hello. This looks very good. There are a small number of out-takes (eg, Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, I Want You...) that could have been included on disc 1. But none are unreleased, and it does make sense to find a home here for the 1957 binaural sessions. The original LP, of course, is one of the greatest compilation albums if all time. The addition of classics like Blue Suede Shoes and I Was The One can only add to the sense of wonder at Elvis Presley in his absolute prime. I think they've thought this one through and they've got it about right considering the archive material they have in the vault.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 12, 2015
Very well stated, Jamie. I agree with you for the most part. This does turn out to be a good home for the stereo/binaural recordings... even though it seems rather odd to have "Blueberry Hill" & "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" included on this set particular set.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 12, 2015
Who would've ever guessed that "Elvis' Golden Records" (FTD) would become the home for most of the binaural recordings?... minus the song "Is It So Strange". Now I wonder where it will find a home? The plot thickens.
marty wrote on June 12, 2015
I always loved the album and the cover is one of my favourites too! Always brings back memories when I see the cover art online, searching through my collection or at a record shop. Not much unreleased material, but we know there's hardly anything left unreleased from the '50s. I would have liked to have an album (or two) with all the binaural/early stereo recordings from FTD. The first cd would have all the master takes in stereo while all the outtakes would fill the remaining cd's. It doesn't look likely now but I am still glad to have these recording in an album I love...
JerryNodak wrote on June 12, 2015
I'm really looking forward to adding this goody to my FTD collection. Thanks, Ernst and FTD team.
Dazman wrote on June 13, 2015
Good for nostalgic purposes only given that there's no outtakes available, so I'll pass on this one. Probably worthwhile if you don't have the stereo versions as well. Just a bit disappointed that there's no concert release along with this one. Give fans of all era's a choice. Concert releases have dried up a bit since "In Florida" '75 (apart from "Rock Around the Bloch") which is an unusual trend in FTD's release cycle. Cisco could you please shed some light on this or are you sworn to a level of secrecy ?
little jimmy tompkin wrote on June 13, 2015
I agree TheMemphisFan - Is it so strange has always been one of my Elvis faves especially the out-takes ! Genuine laughter not like that awful Are you lonesome tonight alternate version !
Cruiser621 wrote on June 13, 2015
Geez, lets see if my comments get printed; for the 3rd time.... I don't know whether I'll buy this FTD CD or not; the addition of the January 1957 recordings, although a nice addition, really don't warrant the additional outlay of money, USA over $37.00 for a great CD to be honest, but how many times can one purchase the same material over and over? We'll see. A damn fine LP in it's day to be sure that brings back memories from 1958.
Cruiser621 wrote on June 13, 2015
Ah yes "Memphis Fan", you're so right. Where is "Is It So Strange" and it's numerous outtakes? This was one outtake which definitely should have been included. I think my original idea of releasing the EP "Just For You" with all the January 1957 outtakes would have been the way to go. As someone said, The plot does in fact, thicken.
PTJones1968 wrote on June 13, 2015
I have to agree with Cruiser621, for 40 bucks this is becoming a difficult buying choice for me. The master takes of Jailhouse Rock and Love Me Tender were only just released on This Is Elvis and each track has had it's own dedicated FTD release (two for Jailhouse Rock).
Theo wrote on June 13, 2015
I thought this was going to be great set, as I thought all of the remaining 50's outtakes would be on disc 2, until I read TheMemphisFan's comment that the Is It So Strange outtakes are missing. How could FTD omit them from this release, when they put all the other binaural outtakes of the January '57 sessions on disc 2? Isn't there another 17 minutes of disc space left to include those 12 takes of Is It So Strange? Can't they dump those 4 bonus songs instead? I'll buy this of course, as I only have the binaural outtakes which have been officially released so far and I want these binaural outtakes complete and in the best sound quality on one set, but I'm really wondering if and where the Is It So Strange outtakes will find a home...
JerryNodak wrote on June 13, 2015
Sit back. Relax and take a deep breath. I'm sure Ernst has a plan for the "Is It So Strange" outtakes. His plan is not always our plan. Keep 'em coming, Ernst.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 14, 2015
Maybe Ernst is saving the "Is It So Strange" outtakes, and the live recording of "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" as bonus tracks for a re-issue of the 1959 album, "A Date With Elvis"... either on the FTD label or Sony Legacy Edition.
JerryNodak wrote on June 15, 2015
You may be right. In time all will be made clear. Patience is a virtue.
circleG wrote on June 15, 2015
Ernst and Roger need to pay particular attention to the distribution of these Cds. I believe for Europe they're printed in Holland and then shipped out by the most awful comapanies who lose boxes and orders. Things have gotten so desperate in the UK that one source tells me some fan clubs are driving to Europe to pick up the orders themselves such is the bad service ! This means that fans will pay over the price on websites or just not bother ordering at all. It seems there's not much point in creating these packages if fans can't get hold of them, Ernst look into it please!
Cruiser621 wrote on June 15, 2015
You know, I think "The Memphis Fan" once again may have a point as "A Date With Elvis" is the most logical spot to include the "Is It So Strange" outtakes in all their glory and sound. The one version where Elvis goes up in range as he's singing is a better version than what was released in my mind. Still, all in all, it might have been better to include all the outtakes of "Is It So Strange" on this upcoming FTD issue. Just my opinion.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 15, 2015
I'd like for Ernst to issue "For LP Fans Only" & "A Date With Elvis" together as a 2-cd set on either FTD or Sony Legacy Edition.
Boxcar wrote on June 16, 2015
I'll buy it but collectionwise it's worthless. When I saw on Keith Flynn's site that several of the bi-naural takes on the Christmas Album are marked with a + (meaning the FTD take is edited and you need an additional bootleg to get the real thing) I went another step in the "Skip FTD" direction. Ernst really kills all the fun with his tempering around with collector's material..
Jamie wrote on June 19, 2015
Hello. Following up Boxcar's message re editing, does anyone know if the binaural songs on FTD's 1957 Christmas Album have been tampered with or is the editing limited to reducing studio banter? Thanks, gang.
JerryNodak wrote on June 20, 2015
There's no doubt I will buy this release. Makes no difference to me if the binaural takes are edited or not. As for the FTD '57 Christmas album I'm fine with it as is. Edited binaural takes notwithstanding. I do NOT support bootleggers.
PTJones1968 wrote on June 20, 2015
Wasn't it partially due to bootleg CD's, especially high quality labels like Bilko, that the FTD label started in 1999? I at least appreciate them being around for that, otherwise we'd be settling for more repackaged greatest hits albums. I do agree with other posters, I don't like when takes are edited, especially on this release with "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" on CD 1, splicing two already available takes and advertising it as unreleased edit. On some occasions, it's not even for the right song. The pre-chat on "If You Don't Come Back", take 3 on Essential Elvis 5 is the same as the pre-chat banter on take 6 of "Love Song Of The Year" Promised Land FTD.
Jamie wrote on June 21, 2015
I agree they should never duplicate the banter in the way you describe, PTJ. Elvis is a towering historic figure, and his legacy should be curated accordingly.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 22, 2015
With Elvis' initial 12 attempts of "I Beg Of You" closing out this set, it's a perfect lead-in to the next volume, "Elvis' Gold Records Volume 2" (already issued by FTD a few years ago). However, I can't see a credible justification for Volume 3 and Volume 4 getting FTD releases... even though I have to admit that they are classic albums. How would Ernst be able to offer enough worthy material for 2 CDs in each set?