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Ultimate Elvis

May 01, 2014 | Book

The Elvis Files team is delighted to let you know about a new and very special project we have been working on for quite a while, which will be coming your way very soon!
Entitled 'Ultimate Elvis – The Complete And Definitive Recording Sessions' book, this three-volume, individually numbered, deluxe set (in a beautiful slipcase), not only comprises all the session information available to date, based on Keith Flynn's incomparable website keithflynn.com, but includes comprehensive notes on each session, discographies, reviews of every single, EP and album release, release dates, facsimiles of RCA's paperwork, session logs, listing notices, letters from Colonel Parker's office and RCA's archive, the reproduction of original sheet music covers (courtesy of Chris Giles), a huge index and a host of other things. Of course, as you have come to expect from The Elvis Files, the icing on the cake is a wealth of stunning photographs - approximately 1500 of them! - many of them previously unseen, relating to the time period in question.
With major contributions from Erik Lorentzen, Keith Flynn, Gordon Minto, Piers Beagley, Arjan Deelen, Alan Hanson, James V. Roy, as well as many other notable contributors from throughout the world, these volumes, designed by Chris Middleton (Nightrider Design), have an unparalleled pedigree.
We firmly believe that this deluxe set will represent the most exhaustive and lavishly illustrated document to date about Elvis' recorded works. Legendary guitarist James Burton sums it up neatly: 'These are the most beautiful books I have ever seen and the best researched.'
All the recording sessions, all the record releases, and lots, lot's more... Out August 2014.

Source:Elvis Information Network
benny scott wrote on May 01, 2014
Bye bye Tunzi's Recording Sessions IV ? Probably not ( if Tunzi's book will see the light of day after this announcement), 'cause what will be the price of this, without any doubt, fantastic release ( with contribution of Keith Flynn !!! , so now we know why parts of his site are off screen for the moment ) ? Always El.
EJF wrote on May 01, 2014
Interesting and tempting, but would I need to sell my Ferrari to get these?! :)
marty wrote on May 01, 2014
Information regarding recording sessions is what intrests me most in music, besides listening of course! This looks like a fantastic release, pity I have to wait until August. I am in the middle of my own little (but time consuming) project of organizing all the songs I have ripped from my Elvis cd's in chronological order and I'll probably have to wait as some information is missing from the various cd's and the previous session books :( Benny: I agree with you, this probably explains why much of Keith Flynn's site is currently offline!
benny scott wrote on May 01, 2014
Hi Marty, glad to read there are other fans who find info on recording sessions great ! I love it ! It's so interesting. I think the waiting will be worthwhile. Let's hope for a fair price ! Always El.
Pieter wrote on May 01, 2014
€ 189,- is what I understand.
Troubleman wrote on May 01, 2014
Marty – I did a similar project using Ernst’ book ‘The complete recording sessions’ as a guide. I did the complete recordings (acetate, studio recordings, jams) in order. I also did a CD of: - The Million Dollars Quartet session - 50s, 60s, 70s outtakes (1 CD for each decade) - Best of Rehearsals - Best of Home recordings - Best of Interviews - Best of live recordings for the 50s, 60’s (1960 and 1961) and one CD for each year from 1969 to 1977) - A final CD I called ‘Legacy’ with the best of remixed songs (From the ‘Guitar man’ album, the Lisa-Marie duet, Spankok remixes, etc.). I ended up with a nice collection of 45 CD’s. This does look like an interesting package. TCB
benny scott wrote on May 01, 2014
Pieter, that's a provisional price (a Belgian/Dutch club). Could be some others will sell cheaper. Let's wait and see. Always El.
Lou A wrote on May 02, 2014
This looks really interesting . Could be the definitive recording account of Elvis recording career. Three volumes ! I remember back in 1976 how exited I was to get the original Recording Session booklet and later Reconsider baby, and Tunzi's books !
Smile:-) wrote on May 02, 2014
Wow! :-)
marty wrote on May 02, 2014
Troubleman, Benny & others. Nice to see that other fans share my intrest in the recording session information , organizing the songs, making custom cds etc. I have similar books by other artists and now I am also waiting for 'The Johnny Cash Encyclopedia' that unfortunately won't be released until April 2015
hankfnsw wrote on May 02, 2014
Why use a 1976 pic of Elvis in the 3rd volume? I'd prefer a 1970 pics as he's in his prime.
kink56 wrote on May 02, 2014
I hope it delineates all the different mixes and masters and what CD to find them on. For example: the wrong version of I Want To Be Free has been used on CDs for the last 20 years or so (without the spliced ending) Also Elvis Gold Records Vol 2 CD has had the wrong versions of Doncha Think It's Time (single version) and A Big Hunk of Love unspliced (version) since the late 90s. I would love to have this reference where to find all the different mastering and/or mixing versions of each song, and what CDs they appear on.
LarsG wrote on May 02, 2014
Look like this is going to be a killer! Can´t wait. I totaly agree with kink56
wildfishie wrote on May 02, 2014
Shouldn't they wait until FTD has released all classic albums?
claunath82 wrote on May 03, 2014
I expect to have more precisions but it seems to me very interesting, especially the recording sessions with photo albums concerned. The photo of the 3rd volume is not terrible, there are much better for the book cover of the 70s! they should also sell the volumes seperately, 3 at the same time it is expensive.
benny scott wrote on May 03, 2014
Google ' books ultimate elvis' then go to 'Ultimate Elvis - The Elvis Files' ( 4th reference of the list) and you'll find book nr 3 has a different and (imo) better picture on the cover than the picture shown here. Always El.
Biffx wrote on May 04, 2014
Looks like a fantastic book but at a reported 189 euros even Elvis would have given it a Lord Have Mercy reaction. Folk say FTD is expensive this is expensive it prices a lot of fans out of the game completly. Is it greedy author s or / publisher's I dont know but its a shame. Right I am off to see if my fiancée will let me re mortgage the house in order to pay for this book, not holding out much hope though!!!
whetherman wrote on May 04, 2014
I would absolutely love to have a copy of this, but I'm afraid that at that price I'll have to go without. I'll just have to continue using Keith Flynn's great site. (If it comes back on line once this is published - I hope so).
Lou A wrote on May 05, 2014
Thinking about this book , I'd like to get it. I wonder how much this would cost shippied to the USA? I'd guess at least $300.00. It woukld be nice if they got a US distributor. I remember I was able to purchase the King Creole and Jailhouse Rock books from Gracxeland mail order. I'm lookong forward to this , but apprehensive about the preice .