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Gold Records, Volume 4

October 04, 2016 | Music

This is what FTD has to say about their upcoming (October 24) CD-set Elvis' Gold Records, Volume 4:

It was 10 years after the release of Elvis’ Golden Records in 1958, that RCA Victor released Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 4. It contained seven ‘B’ sides and only five ‘A’ sides.  Whether at the behest of Colonel Tom Parker, or RCA, the philosophy of not including tracks that already featured on existing albums weakened what could have been a more powerful and hit-laden compilation.  Although omitted from Volume 3 for the same reason, the addition of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, “Return To Sender” would surely have enhanced it’s sales potential and the inclusion of “Crying In The Chapel” (albeit included on How Great Thou Art in 1967) should have provided the icing on the cake. However, for dedicated Elvis fans, it was still rewarding to get these songs on a long- playing album for the first time such as  “Love Letters”, “It Hurts Me” and “A Mess Of Blues”. Other hits that could have featured are added to Disc 1 as bonus tracks and Disc 2 features the entire original album in glorious mono!

Tracklisting

Disc 1 – The Original Stereo Album
Side 1
1    Love Letters
2    Witchcraft
3    It Hurts Me
4    What'd I Say
5    Please Don't Drag That String Around
6    Indescribably Blue
Side 2
7    Devil in Disguise
8    Lonely Man
9    A Mess of Blues
10    Ask Me
11    Ain't That Loving You Baby
12    Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
Bonus Songs
13    Wild in the Country
14    Viva Las Vegas
15    I'm Yours (single version)
16    Come What May
17    Fools Fall in Love
Outtakes
18    Lonely Man – take 3*
19    A Mess of Blues – splice of take 4* & 3
20    Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello – take 3
21    Kiss Me Quick – takes 8* & 9*
22    Suspicion – splice of takes 4 & 5*
23    Gonna Get Back Home Somehow take 4*
24    What'd I Say – splice of takes 3* & 4/M

Disc 2 – The Original Mono Album
Side 1
1    Love Letters
2    Witchcraft
3    It Hurts Me
4    What'd I Say
5    Please Don't Drag That String Around
6    Indescribably Blue
Side 2
7    Devil in Disguise
8    Lonely Man
9    A Mess of Blues
10    Ask Me
11    Ain't That Loving You Baby
12    Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello

Source:The OEPFC of Great Britain

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bajo wrote on October 05, 2016
Well, it only shows that we are coming to an end of the FTD series. There are only a few albums left to be treated, so I guess they are doing the best of it of what's left. I have enjoyed most of FTD releases over the years, and I have no problem with this one either.
JerryNodak wrote on October 05, 2016
I've recently rediscovered Gold Records Vol 4 via the 60 CD LP Collection box set. Very much looking forward to this FTD version. The first copy I had of the original album back in the day was mono. So, very much looking forward to Disc 2. I was raised on mono. Thank you, Ernst and FTD team.
marty wrote on October 05, 2016
Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 4 was my first album. My father bought it for me at my request in 1977 shortly after I watched the news that he died on TV. It is still a favourite and I will be buying the FTD version as well...
Gladyslove wrote on October 05, 2016
Not much unreleased material but I love Vol. 4 of the Golden Records, all 5 of them ( I hope Ernst will bring Vol. 5 even it wasn´t released in Elvis´ lifetime. )
Adams wrote on October 05, 2016
Always liked Gold Records vol.4. But... concerning this release, I'd rather find it as the lost opportunity to present this LP as something fresh and new. It's because almost all of the outtakes have been released before. Now I'm looking forward to expanded re-release of Fun in Acapulco LP/FTD. There are still many unreleased takes around, some of them were released on many different FTD's but not on the title FTD. Fun in Acapulco sessions it's the last time when our man had his sensational gentle voice of early 60s, songs are well-written, full of fun and melody, and Latin flavour doing very well for this album. It needs to be an expanded 2CD edition of FiA.
Yoshi wrote on October 05, 2016
Ernst is fed up it you ask me. Many fans stood loyal to FTD and never bought a bootleg .. waiting for those outtakes to be released officially. And now they get this piece of listlessness. A mono CD with a playtime of 37 minutes and a handful of takes .. many not real outtakes but spliced takes. What a gag. I'm out Ernst. I love this classic release. And I have all the takes. But I would have bought it again on FTD for 25 Euro. But not this way! If you are new to Elvis: Try to get these "out of EU copyright" tracks elsewhere officially on a 9,95 Euro release from i.e. the "Elvis One" label or elsewhere. These CDs are mostly filled to the brim with mono recordings and outtakes. I will instantly re-support Ernst if I get the impression he does his homework again. I have to work for my income every day. I can not say "I once was good, so go on and pay me forever".
VivaLasDavies wrote on October 05, 2016
I doubt many people who are "new to Elvis" are buying FTD releases. They are aimed at the collector. This is welcome but I will admit it's light on outtakes.
You Dont Know Me wrote on October 05, 2016
I won't be buying this why should i/ nothing that i don't have on it! i now await next unheard FTD soundboard such as we just had the Memphis 17th March 1974 E/S -which was VERY satisfying thanks!~
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 06, 2016
The single "Tell Me Why" was released in December 1965 and sold over 500,000 copies. Even though we already have it on other FTD releases, it would have been a very appropriate addition to this new "Gold Records, Volume 4" set as a bonus song on CD-1 sandwiched between "I'm Yours" & "Come What May".... or a Mono bonus song on CD-2.
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 06, 2016
Regardless of the oversight of "Tell Me Why" missing as a bonus song, I will buy this new set anyway. The inclusion of the Mono disc (CD-2) wouldn't seem so strange if FTD had also included a Mono disc for Volume 3... but I'm glad they put the extra outtakes on Volume 3 instead. Sort of confusing isn't it?
Cruiser621 wrote on October 06, 2016
This is definitely the final gasp for FTD. It was a great ride while it lasted; you can only put out what Elvis left us in the "can" or should I say RCA.
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 06, 2016
The final gasp for FTD isn't here yet, but it is approaching. There are still a few 'classic' albums that they need to tackle... For LP Fans Only/A Date With Elvis, Roustabout/Kissin' Cousins, Elvis In Concert, and hopefully they'll produce something worthwhile to cover Charro!/The Trouble With Girls/Change of Habit, and the Elvis On Tour material. As for soundboards, there might be a few more interesting ones remaining. We shall see.
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 06, 2016
Considering that the singles of "Love Letters" & "Indescribably Blue" have never actually been certified "Gold" by the RIAA, I don't see the point or purpose of FTD including the flip sides, "Come What May" & "Fools Fall In Love", as bonus songs. However, I fully see the logic of including "Wild in the Country", "Viva Las Vegas", and the single version of "I'm Yours". Accuracy and/or consistency have never been FTD's strong point.
schemies wrote on October 06, 2016
To me this is a quite weak release. I wonder why it is not possible to include at least the bonus songs from the first disc in their mono version (as originally released on single) on the second disc. Further, Even more mono versions from not-gold singles could be added to make this a more interesting release for collectors. This is especially true for the songs they mentioned could have been included in the original release. So when will fans get the mono mixes of all singles from the 60s? This could have been the opportunity to provide at least a big bunch of them.
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 07, 2016
schemies, you make some valid points. I have a feeling that "Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Vol. 1" and "Worldwide Gold Award Hits, Vol. 2 - The Other Sides" (both MONO) are in Ernst Jorgensen's plans for FTD. Any of the following recordings (all RIAA certified Gold) could make for some nice bonus tracks on those sets... That's All Right  Good Rockin' Tonight   Money Honey (from Heartbreak Hotel EP)  Shake, Rattle And Roll (from EPA-830 EP) Blue Suede Shoes (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - (from Peace In The Valley EP) Party (from Loving You, Vol. 1 EP)  Follow That Dream (from Follow That Dream EP) What A Wonderful Life (from Follow That Dream EP) King of The Whole Wide World (from Kid Galahad EP) I'm Yours (single version)  Blue Christmas  Frankie And Johnny  Clean Up Your Own Back Yard  Rubberneckin'  Mama Liked The Roses
Gorse wrote on October 07, 2016
As an aside I remember buying this album when it was first issued and it incorrectly listed Never Ending (B side of Such a Night issued 1964) on the cover instead of Love Letters. It made me wonder whether this track was on the cards to be included at some point.
TheMemphisFan wrote on October 07, 2016
Was that a U.K. copy, Gorse?
Gorse wrote on October 08, 2016
Now you mention it TheMemphisFan I believe it may have possibly been French or possibly Italian. I include Italian as I once owned the It Hurts Me single release from there which from memory had piano as the main backing. Perhaps I should have retained both the album cover (it bugged me at the time) and single release in view of what people collect nowadays !!.
samcra wrote on October 15, 2016
I think you're right bajo. It makes me wonder if the "Fat Lady is about to Sing"