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Our Memories Of Elvis Vol. 1 & 2

May 23, 2010 | Music

Victrola's next project will be a re-release of the Our Memories Of Elvis series.

Press release

Revisiting the 'Our memories of Elvis' albums (a.k.a. 'More of the pure Elvis sounds') from 32 years ago, we came to realize that Joan Deary did have a vision well ahead of time. Nowadays we're craving for recordings like this. 

Unfortunately, at the time most fans didn't understand the concept of these two albums. These weren't ever intended to be 'undubbed recordings'. Both 'Our Memories Of Elvis' and 'Our Memories Of Elvis - volume 2' are mainly the masters which were completely remixed and edited. Most overdubbed recordings and in a few cases also parts that were recorded at the original sessions were left out of the mix to get more out of Elvis' voice. Obviously, in some instances this left gaps in the sound, so the engineer had to remix it! With these releases, Joan Deary showed that her musical vision was right… Most songs sound much better in their stripped form.

The main reason for this project was that there were many requests at the time from fans complaining about the fact that Elvis' voice was buried under the many instruments and backings. 'Can we have a more pure Elvis…' - well, that's what they got in 1979.

Purists complained that it is tampering with 'original' recordings. (Would it have been okay if it had been done a few years earlier?). Many forget the purpose of making music… In order to survive as an artist, you need to go along with your time and the music will stay in the mainstream. Elvis is an artist who, if treated well, will survive the new eras also.

This release is a must-have and a rare one at the same time. SONY-BMG/ FTD decided that this is not an essential release, simply because it was done in 1979. They focus on the masters "as is", and the undubbed takes. This leaves out these essential remixes, which are not done anymore with the multi-track recordings. Only minor adjustments are being made these days, without the intention to redo the old job for a new / more up-to-date version of a song. Many lesser-known artists have re-releases with updated sound, why not Elvis, the King of Music himself!

We seriously remastered these two albums in detail from newly discovered Joan Deary reference tapes which included an unreleased track, "It's easy for you", which was cut out of the Volume 2 because of the total running time - likely because of the long jam "Don't Think Twice It's All Right."

The song selection is well-chosen within his concept. The slightly longer silences between the songs give you comfortable time to get into the next song.  This new release is perfect introduction to a more personal encounter with Elvis. 

Tracklisting

OUR MEMORIES OF ELVIS
1. Are You Sincere (2:06)
2. It's Midnight (3:26)
3. My Boy (3:00)
4. Girl Of Mine (3:45)
5. Take Good Care Of Her (2:58)
6. I'll Never Fall In Love Again (3:47)
7. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming (2:55)
8. Spanish Eyes (2:29)
9. Never Again (2:56)
10. She Thinks I Still Care (3.56)
11. Solitaire (4:45)

OUR MEMORIES OF ELVIS - VOL 2

12. I Got A Feelin' In My Body (3:41)
13. Green Green Grass Of Home (3:41)
14. For The Heart (3:35)
15. She Wears My Ring (3:29)
16. I Can Help (4:08)
17. Way Down (2:41)
18. There's A Honky Tonk Angel (3:11)
19. Find Out What's Happening (2:46)
20. Thinking About You (3:32)
21. Don't Think Twice It's All Right (8:41)
22. It’s Easy For You (3:30) 

Source:For CD Collectors Only
JimmyCool wrote on May 24, 2010
I like it! I hope it has great sound ;D
lvisfan wrote on May 24, 2010
I really enjoyed these albums when they first came out, and they did produce a couple of top 10 country hits that kept Elvis on the charts for a short time. "Are You Sincere/Solitaire" made it to #10 and "I Got A Feelin' In My Body/Honky Tonk Angel" made it to #6 three months later in September 1979. A couple of years ago I transferred my vinyl to CD with the original cover art since I figured RCA would never release them that way. What do I know, I never thought they'd release the Camden albums either, now look.
Lou A wrote on May 25, 2010
Is Victrola associated with BMG/Sony, or is it a bootleg label?
lray wrote on May 25, 2010
Lou this is a boot. You can listen to these on various FTD's. Don't waste your money or time trying to find this.
drjohncarpenter0117 wrote on May 25, 2010
Expect more postumous RCA albums to get a make-over from this label as more are in the pipeline.Our 'Memories of Elvis' has already been released on varous outings so unless the sound is really different and 'more pure'? then are we really in for a treat.....doubtful? although have to say 'Greatest Hits volume 1' was impressive. The only thing in Victor(ola)'s favour on there first outing was a really well done digi-pack and i am sure most import collectors will have got a copy even if they have the vinyl or cd versions. 10 out of 10 for cd artwork and vinyl looking cd but 8 out of 10 for content as tracks have already done the rounds.Will wait and see/hear what this set has to offer when it arrives in the post.
Ciscoking wrote on May 25, 2010
Seeing it with nostalgia..they do have their charm
Mike Landsdown wrote on May 25, 2010
I've always had a soft spot for these two albums and think it's great that they are being re-released (thanks Victor(ola)). Can anyone suggest where I could order a copy? Thanks in advance.
benny scott wrote on May 26, 2010
Well, I just read on a belgian Elvis-site FTD is planning to release ( rather soon ) a double-CD entitled "Our Memories Of Elvis" (!!!!) , containing not only all the before-mentioned undubbed tracks, but also a lot of, untill now, unreleased stuff. If this is true, then I wander why the songs of the original tracking lists have been released already by FTD in the past, albeit scattered on different CDs. Business ??? I think so . But the music-industry has always been big business. Always El.
benny scott wrote on May 26, 2010
Sorry, typo " then I wonder" of course! A.E.
elvis_aotc wrote on May 26, 2010
A Dutch fan club had released vol.1 & vol.2 on one cd in 1988. Think not much people know that. So i think they used this source. For there previous Greatest hits vol.1 cd, i think they used the Australian release. The only country who released Greateast Hits vol.1 on cd. Both cd's are hard to get nowdays. Why didn't i came up with that idea the release those cd's, got both cd's in my collection. lol
MightBelvis wrote on May 27, 2010
So I have a question. How did they get these tapes, and how are they able to put this out without getting sued by RCA?
elvis_aotc wrote on May 28, 2010
For MightBelvis: Think they used the original cd's for this release, but for the song It's easy for you it is a puzzle for me also. Still it is illegal, so Sony/ BMG can sue them if they know where the are.
Jerome-the-third wrote on May 28, 2010
just another market strategy, 'a more pure intimate experience with elvis'. my as*..
Steve V wrote on May 28, 2010
Never cared for these albums. If anything, they showed Elvis did need overdubs and extra backing to cover up some vocal problems on certain (not all) songs. Its just that Felton went a bit overboard with it.
JerryNodak wrote on May 30, 2010
I've read stories lately on another Elvis site that FTD is readying a 2 CD release of these albums with additional tracks. IF this turns out to be the case I will buy the FTD release.
elvis_aotc wrote on June 02, 2010
For Koenfan: It was a official Dutch fan club (It'sETime)/ RCA released in 1988. Nothing illegal with that release. The only official cd release in the world. But release from Victrola is not official. But i think a lot of illegal cd's are indeed Dutch related, i am sorry to say. That's a shame, because i am Dutch to.
CrazySteph wrote on June 05, 2010
Superfluous ? Or are those outtakes different from the ones we already have on various FTD digis ?