Where No One Stands Alone

I can't understand whose recording bad? who did that mistake. who responsible from that mistake: master sound engineer or remaster sound engineer? or bootlegs engineers did that shame "cleaning the distortions" :) Cleaning such a distortion is not so hard you can do it at home you don't have to be a engineer. Some FTDs done carelessly some of them done perfactly (or by chance) it's just like the Elvis career. Not Elvis but Colonel Still Alive I guess...

This is a great joke Ernst. Want to save a replacement like it was the case with "Easter Special"? This is great 'cause if you pay 22 Euros for a defective CD you don't need a replacement as a customer. So, what you want to say is: The Bootleggers have a better tape than BMG? So, what you want to say is: If so, your great company is not able to filter the few scratches? This is mysterious, because I can. Maybe we should all donor some money for poor BMG so they can afford a new studio with some basic sound-repair effects. Let's get to the point: If you rip CDs with Exactaudiocopy, the ripping speed in securemode is up to 12x. Until it comes to the FTD CDs. Then the speed will drop to 2-4x. That mean the programm has difficulties to read these CDs. It finishes okay, but something seems to be wrong. I wonder how readable these CDs will be in 10 years from now. Resumee: Cheap producing, cheap faulty mastering, shabby excuses and high price.

Maybe it is time for Ernst Jorgensen to be replaced by someone else with new vision etc.?

Does it really matter when the whole CD is so damn awful?? Why on earth should Ernst want to release garbage like this? No one needs to rememebr Elvis like this. Elvis is trying hard but that once peerless voice has become nothing more than hystercial shouting to overcome its shortcomings, struggling on key chanes, lacking any tone whatsoever. On many songs eg My Way, Elvis doesnt even attempt the notes - at the end just pretending to make it while Sherrill Nielsen actually does! What a tragedy, both the man and this CD

I kinda agree with SuziB, I refuse to buy any more shows from these 'bad' periods anymore, I would like to see concerts from the 50s released aswell as more from the 69-70 period

I guess a release as this always will be a little controversial. Some hate it, some love it...it's just the way it is. I've not recieved my copy yet, but i can't wait! I saw somewere that it is better than the baxter release, and that one i love! The sound issue sonds like sloppy work by the FTD-people, i agree that someone that really care should be included in the FTD-team!

I don't know if it's really Ernst who is to blame.Let's not forget he did some magnificent work in the past.Maybe someone else who has more influence at FTD decided this CD had to be released the way it is. Maybe it's " Don't shoot at the pianioplayer ", a traduction of a Duch and Belgian saying. In any case, this CD was on my list, but after reading all the ( negative ) reactions I'll skip this one, and I fully agree with Santa Claus : 22 Euros is a lot of money for a bad CD. Let's hope for better products in the ( FTD) future. Always El !

It´s a shame that digital distorted sound on "Where no one stands alone". If they really care there´ll be a reemplacement (free of course) for that disc. No more words about that,it´s a more important fault that on the past "So High" FTD release.

Can I take Ernst's job? I love to find Elvis' stuff and I can also restore the tracks... Two men in one!

I wonder why so many people call this material garbage while they are all yellin' for the CBS Special to be released at the same time. If you guys go on like this the CBS tapes will rotten in the vaults until forever.

it isn't ernst whose to blame. They made a mistake when they mixed the cd. (Which i think is a great cd). But ernst is probable the messenger and the real quilty party to blame is SONY/BMG. Sorry sony but now you really lost track. Make a mistake, ok can happen, but FIX it. By putting us fans off with such a lowsy excuse is a way of not taking the REAL elvis fans serious. I'll hope you check check double check the next release.. and Jimmy, no you can't take ernst job. He's doing his best within the lines of Sony/bmg.

I don't have this cd yet, but people have to remember Elvis' health problems and that the col. didn't give a hoot about his health .... So enjoy Elvis' performce as he was trying to give his fans his love for them

I understand what you are saying bennie, but why did Ernst state that the song was "recorded badly"?

I appreciate each and every tune I can get that comes from Elvis; and I definitely do not agree with knocking the quality of any of his precious gifts he gave us, as long as he possibly could. So that`s that.

SuziB, taking your logic... then it will be just OK if substandard stuff like movie songs from G.I.BLUES, ROUSTABOUT etc will get the same "treatment" ? I understand that you dislike this CD and late Elvis. This is all OK, everyone have his favourites and also CDs that he hate. But also the CD that some fans dislike must be TECHNICALLY PERFECT. Why ? Because it is full price product, sold on the worldwide market. >>> No one needs to rememebr Elvis like this. - sure better to remember him from Aloha. He died on Jan. 15, 73. >>> voice has become nothing more than hystercial shouting to overcome its shortcomings, struggling on key chanes, lacking any tone - you are true expert, I see. Seems your CD is different from my copy. I can hear Elvis singing just OK.

Aha... recorded badly? How come I have a crystal clear, binaural version of this concert?(without any disortion during "Where no one stands alone"?) Ain't it weird bootleg sources produce better sound than BMG on stuff like this? Cheers, RJ

Stanton - you are a blind follower. Anyone with ears can tell this is plain bad and it deserves to be knocked for what it is. He should have never been on stage in 1977 or much after 1975 for that matter. I would rather give up these 'precious gifts' from Elvis in return for him having time to get better and maybe live to give us the real goods.

Wayup, your comments are facetious and fatuous. To say Elvis died on Jan 15th 1973 is a hideous and diabolical thing to say, and in no way did my comments merit such a response. For your information, my favourite sessions are those recorded at Stax in 73. If you can;t stand criticism of Elvis, that's your problem not mine. Frankly, having purchased over 6,000 Elvis cds and lps, I believe I have earned the right to express my opinion and it is a fact that Elvis in 77 (actually from mid 76) was not in the physical or mental shape to be able to sing and/or perform as he was capable of - the guy was dying for god's sake and that for whatever resason he had to expose himself and be exposed to such public scrutiny is both a scandal and a tragedy. Obviously, we can not rewrite history but It is heartbreaking that 30 years on, we seemly still haven't learnt to protect his dignity.

once again, SuziB comments are valid and I agree with her point of view

It's obvious I agree with SuziB too :-)

i TOTALLY disgree with suzib comments here-especially the delicate/careful and tender toned way Elvis sings MY WAY! what about HURT-thats excellent too!? As FAR AS Ernst AND HIS POORLY RECORDED 'where no one stands alone' i''ll make a personal use only copy of this FTD and substitute in the bootleg crystal clear version of this track-thanks.

We are dealing with products that should not have seen the light of day in the first place. If somebody has obtained a bootleg of these tapes and released them prior to this they might have been lucky to get a "good" copy. Whatever these old tapes have gone through, nobody knows. The copy Ernst has used obviously has damage to it, and could have been left unreleased. Still, Ernst decided to release it for historical reasons. How people even bother to complain about the sound of these soundboards is beyond me. They are soundboards!! Never intended to be recorded professionally or even released as such. There's no way to remix what actually has been recorded on them. The different state in which all these tapes have survived in is something one simply has to live with, if one wants them at all. People do want them! And we get them, as they are! Blaming Ernst for technical errors on these is off target!

bajo, this is NOT error that was on tape. It was created by sound man, ah, sound woman. Means digital error, that did not appeared on original tape but was created during mastering process. Nobody who knows what soundboards are will complain about the quality, often poor mix, mono etc... but why to hell I must accept some "sound engineer" awful job?

SuziB, you really have over 6000 LPs and CDs with Elvis only ??? This is funny. Big collection, indeed. Or you have record store and every CD and LP 100 x. ::: For your information, my favourite sessions are those recorded at Stax in 73. - extremely poor Elvis, right? :-) ::: If you can;t stand criticism of Elvis, that's your problem not mine. - well there is much to criticize when it get to Elvis in late 70s. But this FTD present Elvis in acceptable shape. His voice is not POOR. His version of My Way is solid (as almost ever) and same goes for Unchained Melody and few other tracks. ::: and be exposed to such public scrutiny is both a scandal and a tragedy. - no scandal. Tragedy, yes.

Wayup! How do you know that Ernst has used the original tape? How do you know that it is an engineering error? You have obviously heard a tape copy without these errors. But, how do you know what happened to the "original" source after that! So, if this has been bootlegged, then maybe the bootlegger has the original? So where did Ernst get his copy then? You state as if you know facts! I don't! Remember the AR of the '76 New Years Eve FTD release. Obviously a different source tape than the "original" boot!

bajo wrote: How do you know that Ernst has used the original tape? How do you know that it is an engineering error? - because I am working with the sound since 1998 ? ::: You have obviously heard a tape copy without these errors. - yes. ::: You state as if you know facts! I don't! - yes ::: Remember the AR of the '76 New Years Eve FTD release. Obviously a different source tape than the "original" boot! - no. This is the same source tape. But FTD had better generation because they used the ORIGINAL. And there are similar digital errors created during the mastering. Listen closely CD2. More, these errors can be repaired in few minutes.

I can see why this thread has become such a 'HOT POTATO' because we are talking inferior sound on a track here that has been released better sounding elsewhere-why as 'wayup' says even a copy direct from a bootleg CD would have presented a better experience.Which is what i'm now forced to do to be able to 'enjoy' the whole cd experience!.

Ok wayup, I'll take your word for it! But, since you obviously know how to engineer these things, how did the engineer create this error, or how come he didn't avoid it? To my ears it sounds more like tape damage og magnetic error. How do you go about to avoid it?

SuziB,you are a tragedy. Just like Lene Reidel.

Wayup, I have 6017 Elvis cds and albums to be precise. The rest of your post is so ridiculous I'm not going to waste my time responding.

6017? SuziB, you are a legend... and make my meagre 500ish seem quite acceptably normal. The 1977 stuff always has some magic moments where Elvis outdoes Domingo... I'm still looking forward to receiving my copy. I hope Ernst has a thick skin, cos if he gives it away, this golden era might come to an end... I remember my early hit and miss bootlegs... cost a fortune and a 50/50 chance of reasonable sound... these FTDs are always acceptable at worst. Love you Ernst!

Could somebody explain me why Elvis concerts and even studio are recorded so badly? When I compare it to recordings from other artists at the same period Elvis always has less quality recordings. When I received my copy of FTD "Today" I was really sad that the songs from the original LP are recorded so badly – the outtakes are often better quality. We have this same situation with other recordings. Some of the soundboard recordings are even less quality that the New Years Eve ’76? I really do not understand it…

SuzyB... I supposed you have at least 6200 albums... and only 6017? Well I am pretty sure that in your fantastic collection of Elvis CDs and LPs there is at least 2500 releases much worse than this FTD. Frankly, you are funny person. Kiss you, Suzy.

'SuzyB... I supposed you have at least 6200 albums... and only 6017? Well I am pretty sure that in your fantastic collection of Elvis CDs and LPs there is at least 2500 releases much worse than this FTD' . Where does 6200 come from exactly?? Like everything else you've said complete and utter nonsense....

Can someone please tell me what bootleg the track "Where no one stands alone" has appeared on before. Thanks

loftmanuk, the song has appeared on th 1995 fort baxter release "MOODY BLUE & OTHER GREAT PERFORMANCES" in perfect sound.

Cheers B_H. Much appreciated

to my ear it almost sounds as if a weak or faulty connection wire was being jostled whilst transferring this track from the tape! iv'e heard that sound many times myself with equipment when transferring- could it be as simple as a technitions error in a modern studio??

It is funny the amount of people uneducated in the skill of etiquette who tripe up the same "Ernst this", "Ernst should be replaced" blah blah blah statements. Really, if you have nothing constructive to post you should have your internet privileges revoked. Maybe those people should scour their collections and remove all Ernst related CD product from them...I wonder what you have left? That's right, a bunch of bootlegs and mid 80s CD releases. Get over yourselves already. Also of interest is that for a topic discussing the sound error on this CD there is a member arguing over someone else’s record and CD collection – unbelievable. The fact of the matter is this: “Where No Man Stands Alone” was not recorded badly on the original tape. How does one deduce this? If it had been the version released on ‘Moody Blue & Other Great Performances” would have featured it also. Did FTD use the original tape? Only the producers know. However, it is more likely in this case an incorrect statement to say “it’s recorded badly”. It certainly sounds like a brush off statement without the subject having been investigated. Should this disc be replaced? Of course, as was the policy with So High. Ultimately what this comes down to is quality control, had the disc master been checked the error would have been caught before mass production. But errors like this do happen, in every industry. To hang Ernst up by the rafters is pathetic, moronic, and childish. Lest ye forget that it was his vision that saw the founding of the FTD project in the first place. His painstaking work scouring the vaults to find lost sessions, masters, what’s missing and therefore looking outside the vaults to locate material. Next time someone feels the need to make a statement against Ernst’s abilities in the ridiculous manner often seen here, step back, and think for a second before hitting that send button, you probably have no idea what you’re on about.

Well written Matt W. I agree with you 100%. But we all have to do our job nowadays. Please keep in mind how often I have to get up in the morning earning money to pay FTD. That's 50+ CDs. 22 to 30 Euros each. Adds up to 1500 Euros (1850 Dollars) for a short row of CDs on my shelve. So, we are very thankful for what he has done for us, but he isn't the saviour. The brush away statement he made is what really made me/us angry. That's not how you have to treat a customer. It's his job to release CDs that play okay. Just as it is mine to get the money for them. And 22-30 Euros is not what you call a special offer. And maybe the brush away comment was because he is angry about himself. If you replaced a CD because of sloppy work ("So High") you may be upset if you have to do the same thing again a few month later. But he shouldn't put this burdon on our shoulders. We already payed the CD's highprice.

Santa Claus - I agree it is rather a brush away statement and is certainly one that needs to be followed up on because it is unlikely that the song is "recorded badly". However, the poor manner with which many here conduct their comments is downright rude, unacceptable, often uneducated and it is surprising they are not deleted. It is shocking but unfortunately the case that there are Elvis followers out there that are simply not that nice of people.

Thanks Matt W for bringing back some relevant sanity into this forum (or foray). Without sending Ernst off to hell in a laundry schute I too agree that his 3-worded reply is a cop-out and the problem must be fixed immediately (like was done with 'So High') if they digitally overcooked this track in production. I except the fact mono soundboards are inferior to multi-tracks by and large but if the bootlegs that contain the same recordings are technically superior to FTD's efforts (and I can list more than a few examples) then don't blame the soundboards!! PS. does anyone out there have a copy of the "Snowbird" boot? If so does the title-track suffer the same stretched tape effect that appears on the "Impossible Dream"CD?

Hi, See my comment of Jan 16. I don't think Ernst is to blame.I respect the man and I'm thankful for all the good work he did in the past. Still, this CD should be replaced, just like they did with " So High ", but I fear Ernst himself is not allowed to make this decision. Always El

It's a great release. If you don't like it...? Don't buy it and wait for the next one! Leave Ernst out of it. He brings us fantastic releases!

I like this CD. Sorry if that upsets anyone, but I do. Thank you Matt W for trying to bring back a bit of sanity to this link and I agree wholeheartedly with what you say, all of it! A note to DJB: Yes the tape slip does appear on the "Snowbird" import CD, so no one to blame for that one.

I don't understand all the commotion. The FTD label was created to compete with the bootleggers, and drive them out of the market. With that in mind I can understand the use of material which can't be released on the main label, including some faults. If this would have been a bootleg, there wouldn't be reactions like this.

C'mon Kees... you can't be serious. It IS a bloody shame that the wonderful rendition of Where No One Stands Alone is disturbed like this :-).

I, for one, will give this release a miss

Such controversy....! (Eye-roll)... Well said, Matt W. I've criticized the main RCA/ BMG/ Sony catalog many times, but the way that people get bent out of shape on FTDs ...and Elvis' condition- is out of all proportion. Everyone needs to calm down a little. Threads like this are embarrassing. I'm glad there is an FTD. Constructive-criticism, yes; all out kvetching, save it! :)

Well stated Matt W. I just got my copy today, and in case anyone was wondering, this is # 60 from FTD. 60 releases since 1999, so thank you Ernst. A replacement copy of this CD is called for though. I have also been reading the many comments on this CD since it's release, many of them commenting on how Elvis sounded. He sounds tired and weak on some songs, but he does show life on some as well. It's all part of his musical legacy, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Im not going to worry either way,if this is best they have then ok,but id like a more imformative responce from ernst,this is were i get a little annyoed at him,when he says very little on this and other subjects,with that said i am glad to the collectors label, and i for one think elvis wasnt all bad in these 77 shows, one of my fav imports is moody blue & other great performances,no he doesnt sound perfect but he doesnt sound alful on every track either!

By the way,how bad is the erros on this track,ive not heard anyone mention this,is it bad all way through the song or what?

Paul,i'm afraid you'll be waiting for your replacement forever! This CD is very good basically,this time i'm satisfied even with the cover,but this latest mastering error by Mrs Reidel is a nonsense. Go on a long vacation,Lene! We won't miss you.

Regarding "Lene," are you sure that he is really a "'Mrs.' Reidel"?

Yes,i'm sure. She's a woman,believe me. I don't know why people think that she's a man.

BMG must learn to say the truth about Elvis' music... Do you remember what Gregg Geller say in the 80's??? In his last interviews, Jorgensen sounds like Geller...

Ernst lied again. And he is not just a liar,he is a faker,too. Earlier releases (Essential Elvis vol. 5. etc.) shows it very well.

"Liar," huh? Such negativity, and ingratitude, Fly. He' s not perfect but that's going overboard. Elvisnews guideline #4: "There are personal attacks. Disagreements are fine, but stay to the point and not to the person behind it (aim at the content, not at the person). "

Greg,you may like him,but the fact still remains: he lied again. Otherwise,i don't think that he is a bad guy.He is just unfair.Ok,maybe i'm ungrateful. But why would i be grateful for this screwed up CD? We paid about 35 $ for a faulty CD and they don't offer a replacement.It's not fair and you know it,too.