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FTD Update

January 24, 2005 | Other
FTD has to change their release schedule for their releases. There are several reasons for this, but the most important one is the time factor. The pressure to deliver higher quality and a substantial number of releases, is more than they can handle within the time constraints. By sticking to four release dates only, a good portion of the time consuming non creative work will be limited.
They return to a policy of 4 release dates per year: January, April, July and October. They aim to have the product ready for release around the first of each of these months. They will release the regular digipack releases each quarter and in most cases there will be extra
releases coming out at the same time: "Classic Albums", books or other projects.


The new release dates are as follows:

April 1st:
The Live In Las Vegas 1975 Soundboard - no title yet;
Rockin' Across Texas - Stanley Oberst's book with 2 soundboards;
Elvis Is Back - 2 CD Classic album;

July 1st
A yet to be determined regular release;
Today - 2 CD Classic album;

FTD is also working on many other projects. The SUN book/CD
project is in the final stages of research. Several classic albums are in the works including Clambake, Something For Everybody, and Raised On Rock.
Source:Elvis Unlimited
glennd wrote on January 24, 2005
It´s getting a little better with the releases, but there are still too much of the FTD CDs. Maybe there will be another announce in the near future that only FOUR Cds are coming out per year ?!? TCB.
elvis_77 wrote on January 24, 2005
I don't think there's too many at all. There can never be too many FTD releases. If they hold back many Elvis fans will never get to live long enough to hear it all. I think the 2 releases 4 times a year is fine and maybe a bonus from time to time. I know it's very expensive to buy them all but it gives us something to look forward to. I love the FTD label that's the best thing in my opinion that's happened with getting the hard to get stuff out. Keep up the great work Ernst.
luckyjackson85 wrote on January 24, 2005
What! No Girls ! Girls! Girls!, Roustabout or Kissin Cousins mentioned at all. Well I'm glad at least Clambake is in the works. Maybe the big 3 movies will be of the "classic albums to be released in the July 1st release date, I think more people are interested in the movies then anything else they are so difficult to obtain. Plus they have the great booklets and great cover art. I hope to see a movie in the near future. By the way what's coming out in January ?
ep3577 wrote on January 24, 2005
6 FTD cds a year would be great, no less, maybe more as elvis_77 said we wont live long enough to enjoy them. Ernst keep them coming, more studio albums, enough of the soundboards, lets have TODAY before Elvis is Back!? Rock ON!
RobIreland wrote on January 24, 2005
ROUSTABOUT I Want ROUSTABOUT !
gribz wrote on January 24, 2005
THis is great news, because everything has to be held to a high standard. THis is an important year for Elvis with a Broadway play planted in New York through October. Two major specials that will occupy prime time for the whole first week of May, and a dual sony bmg release to coincide with this. In June a world wide broadcast celebration of the United Nations 60th anniv will feature the new video of Elvis in leather singing If I Can Dream, with the TCB band backing up the video broadcast, and this will be seen by over a billion people with all it's alternate releases. This is the time to take the King to the whole world in a contemporary way that will help to solidify his legacy, take the whole thing to another level, and reach and bring in the younger generation.. The way pop culture is right now, timing couldn't be better. I hope all get my point and think about it..
Graeme J wrote on January 24, 2005
When they do release the FTD cd's will they be on the stated dates. I can't remember the last time a C.D was released on the proper date, it's usually a week or two late. If this was a living big name artist such as Robbie Williams they would try there upmoast to get it released on time.
emjel wrote on January 24, 2005
I've posted responses in various threads throughout this website about the non-release of certain soundtrack albums. BMG do not currently have enough outakes from Kissin Cousins, Roustabout, Girls Girls Girls, Live a Little and Change of Habit. The tapes appear to have taken a walk, like the stereo masters from Follow That Dream - hence all the delays. BMG are confident they will turn up, but I am afraid you'll probably have to wait until next year at the earliest.
shaneleebrown wrote on January 25, 2005
Is Clambake really a classic album?
JerryNodak wrote on January 25, 2005
Shaneleebrown: Is "Clambake" a classic album? No. But it is a soundtrack album for which they have outtakes. So, it will be released in the 7 inch format as a part of the "classic" series as the previous soundtracks have been. To all the other posters wondering about other soundtracks not metioned by FTD: It's impossible for them to give us deluxe versions of these albums when RCA doesn't have the complete session tapes in their posession. They're lost. Hopefully they'll be found. The search is ongoing. I want these as much as the next person. But they can't give us what they don't have.
Ton Bruins wrote on January 25, 2005
To each his own, but I am not waiting for all those movie soundtracks to be honest. Clambake, Roustabout, etc. As a matter of fact Elvis did some great movie songs, but a lot lousy ones too. What we need is that the FTD label for example come with a great DVD release; On Tour or Elvis In Concert, That's The Way It Is Vol.2 or a complete On Tour Show.
Theo wrote on January 25, 2005
On the one hand I'm happy with these classic album releases (whatever the definiton of classic is). The format is great and it's great to have all these outtakes with the original album. But some of these albums should have a mainstream release! I mean Elvis Is Back! is one of E's best albums and now it's re-re-re-released through FTD for just the hardcore fans. It should be out in stores everywhere, at least in a single-disc version with the 12 songs from the album & the 3 singles from the same sessions, with lots of promotion! I hope the people at Sony/BMG will make up their mind and like Elvis Presley, Elvis and Loving You make other classic albums (such as King Creole, From Elvis In Memphis, Elvis Country) available to Joe Public. Or better yet, let the fans decide! I'll probably end up buying these new FTD versions of Elvis Today and Elvis Is back anyway (for the unreleased outtakes), even though I already have the 60's and 70's box set, as well as the Elvis Today album on cd.
luckyjackson85 wrote on January 25, 2005
I've been seeing Girls! Girls! Girls! alternate takes on other FTD CD's such as Silver Screen Stereoand probably Out In Hollywood so I hope I don't have to wait too long for that one. Would Ernst please give the release date for the January release of the FTD CD's and what movie soundtracks (other than Clambake) of what we might see this year,if any.
Cruiser621 wrote on January 26, 2005
This used to be a decent outlet (FTD) for Elvis material; not anymore. As a matter of fact, the web site has gotten to the point where it's all about the UK and their singles. (I use the term their, loosely as their conception of Elvis' single releases is so out of wack with the United States that it's no longer amusing.) Stop trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. I'm really sick of the constant whining about I can't get this and I can't get that. Give us all a break and start providing truly interesting copy and updates on Elvis and not this contrived drible which of course includes the now, re-releasing of outtakes we've all heard before with the main stream music in contrived CD's.
Tony D. wrote on January 26, 2005
Crikey! Some bitterness there frrom Mr. Cruiser!! I think three FTD's at once in March is a bit too hefty. I thought it might make better sense to release the book in February and give us the chance to "spread the cost" a little better. Still can't get those singles!!
RobIreland wrote on January 29, 2005
I want Roustabout
Ton Bruins wrote on January 29, 2005
Rob, what is so great about Roustabout ???
RobIreland wrote on January 30, 2005
Ton for me Roustabout has a whole unique quality about it. First of all I love the image of Elvis in the film, that leather motorbike gear is so cool, the songs and quality of his voice have a special edge to them. If some of the songs were recorded with todays technology I think theyd be hits. The cover of the album I just love, its difficult to explain but it just has a certain somethiing. My 2 fav films have always been King Creole and Roustabout.
Ton Bruins wrote on January 31, 2005
O.K. fair explanation.