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The Complete Million Dollar Quartet Release

August 09, 2006 | Music
BMG Australia has confirmed that "The Complete Million Dollar Quartet", featuring Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, will also be released "downunder" around September 19, 2006. This version will be the complete tape and with audio restoration by Kevan Budd (who did the audio restoration work on the releases as "Elvis At Sun", "Elvis Presley" and "Loving You"). The session will be presented in the correct order and will feature material never before released.
Source:Elvis Information Network

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Ton Bruins wrote on August 09, 2006
Well, that's a nice release I must say. Because I still don't have it on CD...I mean that..lol.
sttos wrote on August 09, 2006
How come this report didn't mention Johnny Cash. He was there too.
JimmyCool wrote on August 09, 2006
Sttos, the reason why they didn't mention Johnny Cash is because he left the studio before the tape started rolling... I'm curious about the "never before released (heard?)" material... Is it Elvis singing? I would like to se a tracklist for this.
E.J.F... wrote on August 09, 2006
JimmyCool, if you go to amazondotcodotuk or playdotcom you will see the full track listing. This is a 2-Disc release. Disc 1 has the same track listing - and in the same order - as the copy I've had for ages except for the addition of "Reconsider Baby" which we already own anyway. This is "inserted" between "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and may account for the "correct order" mentioned. Disc 2 comprises of original masters (I believe) of several songs by Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins & Johnny Cash. Nothing new Elviswise but I don't know about the other singers but I suspect may account for the "never before released" material mentioned in the press release. As for the audio restoration I guess one has to purchase and listen to find out whether all the hype is true.
SuziB wrote on August 09, 2006
EJF, despite the title being the same I don't think this is the BMG release on the websites as that is on a label called Snapper. I dont see Ernst issuing a cd full of JLL and JC masters....
thenexte wrote on August 09, 2006
It appears the double-disc release is not identical to what BMG intends to reissue and is not even authorized by BMG for that matter. As reportedly earlier the BMG reissue will be a single-disc release wih 12 additional minutes of material (79 mins. total running time) and features restored audio in the original running order. It appears the unauthorized version is simply lifted from existing BMG releases and will not include previously unreleased material.
Devon wrote on August 09, 2006
I have the first one that came out back a few years ago, so for me ill pass but as i say anyone just starting out with Elvis this would be a great one to have.
JimmyCool wrote on August 09, 2006
EJF, the double CD you mentioned is NOT the CD BMG's gonna release now. You're talking about a new import that came out...
sttos wrote on August 10, 2006
I can assure you that Johnny Cash was in the studio. The recording session that day was for Carl Perkins and Johnny being Carl's friend happened to be there. I don't know how Jerry Lee happened to be there but out of the blue Elvis dropped in and they all decided to have an unofficial jamfest. Luckly Sam Phillips who recognized what an impact this may have started the tape player to record it. The reason some people don't think Johnny's voice is there is because he had to sing in an unusually higher voice tone to keep up with Elvis' singing. And this came straight from the horses mouth from Johnny's biography.
E.J.F... wrote on August 10, 2006
Ok Ok sttos, we understood you the first time! You don't have to repeat it 5 times! lol. By the way, the release currently available from online shops and to which I referred to in my previous posting is on the Charly Label. Just for the record, the version I own is also on the Charly Label, was released in 1987 and comprises 40 tracks.
Wim wrote on August 10, 2006
The reason Jerry Lee Lewis was at the Sun studio during the recording of the Million Dollar Quartet, was that he played the piano at some of the Carl Perkins recordings.
Sean Ryan wrote on August 10, 2006
Can anyone tell me if Johnny Cash was in the studio at the time? ; )
sunrecords56 wrote on August 10, 2006
Jerry Lee was a sessions Piano Player.....even in the movie WALK THE LINE they show him touring with the SUN CREW in 55 which DID NOT HAPPEN......also singing the LEWIS BOOGIE using the words "that Presley Boy aint nottin but but a Hound" that was not a part of Elvis's fame at that time.....he should have been struck from the movie.....at the end of the quartet he does sing End of the road which would be his first Single...but in 1955 there was really no one except Cash and Perkins that should have been there along with elvis....Perkins was also on the Memphis flip label
sunrecords56 wrote on August 10, 2006
and Point of interest in Sun Studio...is Listen to to Junior Parkers MYSTERY TRAIN then flip it over and listen to side 2,,,,and you will see how PARKER-PHILLIPS came up with ELVIS PRESLEY OF MYSTERY TRAIN.......i was recently at the studio...and they guide had no idea what i was talking about....so what some people say is GOSPEL may be just here say....and i DO NOT BELIEVE Johnny Cash is on the Quartet album ....
Carl wrote on August 12, 2006
Jerry Lee Lewis was a session piano player at Sun. Jerry Lee was playing piano on the Carl Perkins sessions for "Your True Love" and "Matchbox", which were in progress when Elvis stopped in at Sun Studios in Memphis. Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Phillips, Elvis, and Johnny Cash were in the studio, but Cash left. After Elvis joined Sun Records in 1954, Carl Perkins was signed later that year and released his first single "Movie Magg"/"Turn Around" in early 1955 on the Sun subsidiary Flip, which was geared towards a coubtry market. Johnny Cash joined next, releasing his first single in the middle of 1955. The Killer was a session pianist at Sun for most of 1956, releasing his first single "Crazy Arms"/'"End of the Road" at the end of that year.
Carl wrote on August 12, 2006
Jerry Lee Lewis was a session piano player at Sun. Jerry Lee was playing piano on the Carl Perkins sessions for "Your True Love" and "Matchbox", which were in progress when Elvis stopped in at Sun Studios in Memphis. Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Phillips, Elvis, and Johnny Cash were in the studio, but Cash left. After Elvis joined Sun Records in 1954, Carl Perkins was signed later that year and released his first single "Movie Magg"/"Turn Around" in early 1955 on the Sun subsidiary Flip, which was geared towards a coubtry market. Johnny Cash joined next, releasing his first single in the middle of 1955. The Killer was a session pianist at Sun for most of 1956, releasing his first single "Crazy Arms"/'"End of the Road" at the end of that year.
memphisflash wrote on August 12, 2006
Johnny Cash was there, I have a big poster of the four of them round the piano.
Greg Nolan wrote on August 19, 2006
'Flash, as you can see from earlier posts, the key is that he was there for the photo but apparently not the session, as he left soon after. This release will make the old 1990 (?) release sound pathetically bad as well as incomplete. How can anyone settle just for that old one? I used to say the same thing: "But I have it." Then I learned that reissues usually have the best ever sound, especially when you're talking a 16-year difference in issue dates... While you do have to don your "history" mindset to fully enjoy this set, it should be a must-have for serious fans.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on August 20, 2006
Simple question,is this cd the complete session? nothing left out that they will give us on down the line,i dont have a problem with this cd,although i wont play it much,but i however dont care to buy it again with some new stuff found a year or 2 down the line,has anyone asked ernst this hard hitting question?
Greg Nolan wrote on August 22, 2006
"Mature'...", Are you trying to put RCA/BMG/Sony out of business? That's their business plan, friend o' mine! Drop me a line, mate.