Go to main content

Standing Room Only Details

February 19, 2009 | Music

On March 23, 2009 the Follow That Dream Collector's label will release a 2CD version of the "Standing Room Only" album. From the pressrelease: "as you know the album was never officially released and it's possible that the version we create was never meant to be, but it's the best way we can present the Las Vegas masters from February of 1972 and the masters and outtakes from the March 1972 sessions at RCA".

The album will also be released on vinyl, it should be released with the FTD April title.

The label is alo planning two more CDs for the first half of 2009; scheduled for release mid-April and mid-May.

Tracklisting Standing Room Only:

Disc 1 -The Album

Side 1

  1. *Separate Ways 2:35
  2. Never Been To Spain 3:25
  3. You Gave Me A Mountain 3:13
  4. *For The Good Times 3:08
  5. *Fool 2:41
  6. The Impossible Dream 2:28

Side 2

  1. *Burning Love 2:50
  2. *Always On My Mind 3:37
  3. *It's A Matter Of Time 3:02
  4. It's Over 2:18
  5. It's Impossible 2:52
  6. *Where Do I Go From Here 2:37
  7. An American Trilogy 4:28

The Bonus Songs

  1. Little Sister / Get Back 1:54
  2. All Shook Up 1:02
  3. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 1:48
  4. Hound Dog 2:11
  5. A Big Hunk O' Love 1:59

*studio recordings

Disc 2 - The Studio Outtakes

  1. Always On My Mind - take 2 3:59
  2. Where Do I Go From Here - take 2 2:37
  3. Separate Ways - takes 1,2,3,4,5,11,12,13, 20 & 21 (undubbed master) 10:27
  4. For The Good Times - takes 1-2 3:40
  5. Burning Love - take 2 3:00
  6. Where Do I Go From Here - takes 3-5 3:28
  7. Always On My Mind - take 3 3:33
  8. Fool - take 1 4:02
  9. Where Do I Go From Here - take 6 2:30
  10. It's A Matter Of Time - takes 1-4 6:08
  11. For The Good Times - take 3 3:16
  12. Always On My Mind - take 4 3:43
  13. Burning Love - takes 3-4 5:35
  14. Separate Ways - takes 22-25 5:16
  15. Where Do I Go From Here - takes 7 & 8 (undubbed master) 4:07
Source:Elvis Unlimited

Related links


Buy at OEPFC
Ronaldv wrote on February 19, 2009
Wow!! This looks interesting to me. A lot of outtakes from seperate ways. Great song. We've been waiting for this for ages! Good news Ernst. The next release in april will be a soundboard from june 1973 ? Thank you in advance guys from FTD.
dannyboy1 wrote on February 19, 2009
A nice selection of alternate takes, although I would have liked the full length version of "Fool" (take 2).
dannyboy1 wrote on February 19, 2009
So this is in fact the final cover? I think it's effective in that this is some kind of attempt to recreate the original project.
whetherman wrote on February 19, 2009
This is great. Been waiting for these outtakes for a long time. Thank you Ernst and Roger.
JerryNodak wrote on February 19, 2009
I'll definitely be buying this release on cd. Don't know about vinyl yet. I'm fine with the cover (if this is it) since this WAS to be the original cover.
marco31768 wrote on February 19, 2009
Maybe FTD forget that this picture was in "Madison Square Garden" album... Great tracklist but bad cover !
Orion wrote on February 19, 2009
I've been anxiously awaiting the tracklisting for this one. After reading over it, I'm very pleased with what Ernst and co. have come up with for this one. I hope the sound is up to par and not sub-standard like the "Today" album. Since this album was shelved by RCA, I really like the way Ernst has found to compile these recordings - not to mention using the original cover idea. It looks like it could be an FTD top 10 in short order. Can't wait to get this one !! Way to go guys !!!!
Herman wrote on February 19, 2009
Looks great, now they also release vinyl maybe it's an idea to release also DVD-audio 5.1 ! All tracks on one disc in superb 5.1 sound !
You Dont Know Me wrote on February 19, 2009
This will be a great release! Although i STRONGLY SUSPECT the 'live' songs are same as we have had before, the extra studio cuts certainly WILL make this very worthwhile, NOT a massive amount thats 'brand new' BUT enough AND a superb complete package- one to collect for sure! Thanks Ernst and Roger!
livingstonsn wrote on February 20, 2009
I'm very pleased with this release. Happy with the cover, happy with the content and happy with the outtakes. It looks like Ernst and company hit one out of the park with this one.
Devon wrote on February 20, 2009
The pic on the cover is from Elvis as recorded at Madison Square Garden, im looking at the album as i write this shame they cant use something else.
RonBaker wrote on February 20, 2009
Take 2 of "Fool" will probably be on the FTD issue of that album (Elvis--Fool). Just guessing...don't know how they will divide the Elvis Now/Elvis Fool sessions....it gets confusing I'm sure....
tornado wrote on February 20, 2009
My guess is that Elvis Now won't be given the 7 inches format treatment. Because everything in there will have been dealt with elsewhere. Already, Sylvia has been released on Love Letters From Elvis. So what's the need for a redundant compilation like Elvis Now. Although, I must say the cover always pleased me. On the other hand, Fool, will be the perfect vehicule for the secular songs from the Nashville 1971 sessions. Then maybe, the song Fool take 2 will be listed in there. But, pardon my ignorance, what's so special about that take 2 ?
Ciscoking wrote on February 20, 2009
I am looking forward to the outtakes of Separate Ways. It took so long to finally have them. Many thought they were lost...
Chop983 wrote on February 20, 2009
This goes on my list as essential purchases, but I hope the live tracks on CD1 differ from the 2000 release of Burning Love.
SnOwMan wrote on February 20, 2009
This will be a great release! CD1 is very good,but not really interesting,but CD2 looks like a winner. I love these sessions!
Orion wrote on February 20, 2009
Just a couple more thoughts based on some comments. Take 2 of "Fool" is the master take which is on Disc 1. No need for a repeat elsewhere unless they offered up an undubbed version. The live tracks on CD1 most likely will not differ from the 2000 release of Burning Love because they are the Masters from those recordings in Vegas which is how the CD is described by Ernst in his press release concerning the album. Disc2 still looks like its worth the price of admission. Another thought - if they used this cover art for SRO I wonder if an upgrade of MSG is planned and if so would they dare change the already standard cover of the LP for a classic FTD reissue ? or perhaps MSG is not on the list of reissues / upgrades in the classic series.
ATG wrote on February 20, 2009
This is a great news! Hope they will decide to present it in digipack-size, not the 7"- mini-lp-Cover. The actual cover could be seen on elvisunlimited: it's the picture they used for MSG. But in that way it's more original and should be released in 72. Can't wait for it.
JerryNodak wrote on February 20, 2009
My thoughts: Yes, I believe they will do an upgrade of The MSG albums(s) on FTD. They will combine the two albums and use the "Afternoon At the Garden" photo as the cover. It is I believe a photo from those concerts. They could always put the original MSG cover photo in the booklet. They won't leave the two MSG albums just swing in the wind. Afternoon At the Garden doesn't sound too bad, for its time, but MSG desperately needs a sound upgrade.
JerryNodak wrote on February 20, 2009
ATG: I think that soundboards are just about the only FTD releases we're likely to see in digipack anymore. Of course, there may be the odd exception here and there, but this release won't be one of them.
Smile:-) wrote on February 20, 2009
Regarding the cover: this is THE original cover intended for the 1972 release of SRO album. If FTD will do a remake of the MSG album I don't think they will change the cover-art since this is an "ORIGINAL albums series". I'm afraid we will have two FTD with more or less the same cover... Before that I'm personally hoping for deluxe versions of albums that for certain never will hit the record stores: Elvis In Concert, E.P.Boulevard Memphis Tennessee, Good Times, Jailhouse Rock (EP), Flaming Star (EP), Roustabout, Stay Away Joe (single + sessions)
Santa Claus wrote on February 20, 2009
A great release for sure. But tons of old material, sometimes again duplicated from previous FTD CDs. But on the other hand there are some last remaining takes from some of the songs still missing. Why must that be?
Jerome-the-third wrote on February 20, 2009
the outtakes of seperate ways and where do i go from here to me is a prayer answered. but shouldn't I'm leaving been included on this album?..
lray wrote on February 20, 2009
No, I'm Leavin' is from 1971. This is not complicated. These are ALL of the 7 studio masters from the March studio recordings and their outtakes on the 2nd disc. Also included on disc one are the live masters from Feb. 72 Vegas. Pretty complete and I believe the sound quality will be fantastic.
Orion wrote on February 20, 2009
Santa Claus - you've asked why there are some outtakes missing. It really depends on your definition of an outtake. Sometimes an outtake occured before Elvis sang a note or two-ten seconds into the song. That creates an outtake, but it's something "most" can live without. I think Ernst has done a great job in selecting the outtakes to present. I'm sure that the really short outtakes (when included on a release) is accompanied by some interesting (?) studio comments or jokes by the booth or Elvis. Hope this clears up why some outtakes numbers are missing. I still can't wait to her nearly 16 minutes of Elvis working on and defining "Separate Ways." If ever a song was his life this has got to be it. Forget "My Way" being his story - this one by Red West was the life that Elvis was living at the time.
John4126 wrote on February 20, 2009
Great selection of tracks and arguably the King still on top of his game. Again the duplication of previously released material grates as far as im concerned. We've already seen 'Standing room only' in the guise of 1999's Burning Love. So CD 1 is superflous to requirements. I really doubt that the sound can be improved - maybe if you have an expensive sound system you may notice a fraction of a difference. What i would have liked to have seen is the studio session released at half the price FTD's sell at. T The answer to all my prayers would be to offer these tracks to download so i could just have the one's that were previously unreleased saving me a small fortune when you consider all the duplication on the FTD releases. That would make me happy but seeing as too many fans would do that the label isn't going to reap the financial benefit of selling at £18 + a pop per cd.
John4126 wrote on February 20, 2009
In fact CD 2 offers the following duplication: Trak 1 - Platinum Track 5 - 6363 Sunset Track 6 - Today tomorrow and forever Track 7 - 6363 Sunset Track 8 - 6363 Sunset Track 10 - Unnumbered alt take on 6363 Sunset Track 11 - Platinum and 6363 SUnset Track 13 - Unnumbered alt take on Platinum Track 14 - Tk 25 on Platinum I stopped looking after that! It's not good value for money and for £18 i do expect more. I really would heve no complaint if these sets were a lot cheaper - i could live with the duplication. If available to download tracks i wanted would cost me 1/6 of the asking price of the CD. Ernst - make that downloading option happen!
circleG wrote on February 20, 2009
disc 1 looks suspect. disc 2 is the one for me - i'm hoping they don't edit out the studio caht like they did with the 'on tour' cd
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 20, 2009
John i agree,i just cant believe that people are so thrilled to buy what they have,i would have liked to have seen either unrleased live tracks on disc one or more from the studio session,did they even include the tracks from the writing for the king book? or are the live songs on disc one the same ones we have seen again and again and again,and may i ask how in the world studios materal ends up on a set called standing room only? this should have been a On Tour set!
Steve V wrote on February 20, 2009
With FTD prices going up I cant believe how thrilled folks are to spend money on what they mostly already have. Good research John! All this money for a few outtakes? If it was a regular priced CD, sure why not? FTD prices? No thanks. Blue Hawaii and this I will pass by.
eric c wrote on February 20, 2009
If this album had been released at the time,you could argue that it would have been his best 70's album and one of his all-time greatest works.The tune Burning Love alone would have rushed it atop the charts.
Ton Bruins wrote on February 20, 2009
John is right, what's new on this release at the end...? Not much...FTD's duplication is very annoying. They did it before.
Ton Bruins wrote on February 20, 2009
In fact, CD 1 is released all ready in his total. CD 2 has a few unreleased tracks. The rest is all ready released...when you tell ordinary people that you gonna buy this set they will say that you have a real problem. :)
Bill (BW) wrote on February 20, 2009
IMO, this is a great release! For those who complain about tracks being previously released, I say this is in the "classic album" series. It is supposed to duplicate a previously released album and gather together previously released outtakes from the same sessons and maybe present a few new ones. It is a "classic album" in the sense that it duplicates an album planned for 1972, but not released. In this regard, it's like "Memphis, Tennessee." Frankly, I would be disappointed if it did not have previously released tracks on it. Why would anyone want the masters of "Separate Ways" or "Burning Love" omitted?
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 20, 2009
Complain? Just dont duplicate what you as a collectors label has already released!
Orion wrote on February 20, 2009
I gotta ask Steve V, Ton Bruins, and mature_elvis a simple question. Do you plan on buying any more FTDs in the future ? I don't see how you could if you are all so dead-set againt buying a release because of "duplication of material." I ask you to name any release that could be a "classic" that hasn't had outtakes released by RCA or FTD. If you can think of one, let me know. It's also obvious that you won't be buying any soundboard on FTD or Madison because 90% of his concerts contained the same basic line-up. So, it's obvious you won't be spending a dime on Elvis ever again. Enjoy your "complete" collection and invest your saved money. I hear the stock market doing well..
Art wrote on February 20, 2009
FTD screwed up big time with the selected tracks. The picture sleeve for the 45 of "American Trilogy" / "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" advertised the new (but never to be) album "Standing Room Only". "American Trilogy" made the cut but what about "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"? In my opinion that 45 could be the rarest RCA single. It was only out for a few months when it was pulled and replaced by the "Gold Standard Series" 45. That had "Trilogy" but a different fliip side. The only way you can buy a copy of "First Time Ever" is to get that 45 or a couple of box sets. I didn't event know Elvis recorded "First Time Ever" until after he died. It took me about 15 years of attending record shows on a regular basis to find the 45 release of it. I also lucked out and got the picture sleeve.
Steve V wrote on February 20, 2009
Orion - probably not since I dont feel spending money on songs I have for the most part is worth it. Not a big fan of the classic series and anyway, I have gotten away from listening to outtakes in recent years. I can hear them once but not repeatedly. I cared more about them years ago, but now not so much unless they are drastically different than the released version which is normally not the case. For instance I bought the Loving You FTD, and I never played the 2nd disc, so I sold it and got the new reissued BMG version for 7.99 which sounded great and had a few outtakes, enough to satisfy me. Great value in my opinion. Thats what I mean , it can be done the right way, not the rip-off way. I suppose I may spring for the Sun box if they ever get around to it. It some of the best music Elvis ever made and its historic, plus they did promise to inlcude everything from that time period. Until then, I need to save my money.
Orion wrote on February 21, 2009
Steve - I gotta laugh because I did the same thing that you did with my "Loving You" on FTD. I also got the BMG reissue and am satisfied with it as well although I don't know the last time I played it. When you say that "it can be done the right way, not the rip-off way", I don't know how that's going to happen since Sony/BMG isn't going to stock most of the "classic releases" nor are they going to add the alt. versions or outtakes to an existing package. I wish that FTD would've started the classic album series when they first started, but FTD hadn't hit upon that idea at the time so we get the duplication from the first 6-8 years of FTD's digipaks. When a classic is released, you can always get your money back via E-Bay for the digipaks with the same outtakes. You when say that you "may spring for the Sun box" - I'm sure you'll be paying for a nice book as all of the tracks on it have been packaged and re-packaged many times over as well.
Lefty wrote on February 21, 2009
I waited a very long time for the official label to release Standing Room Only. Sadly, FTD is a little bit too late. Madison has dominated the production of this material. Therefore, I think FTD's efforts here may be in vain. That's not to say that FTD doesn't have a chance to outshine Madison. All FTD would need to do is release the complete Hampton Concert, and the score would be settled hands down. However, If the past determines the outcome of the present, Madison will beat FTD to the punch again. The Burning Love CD that was released to the main stream market a few years back is still one of my very favorites. It was as close to the real Standing Room Only as anyone could expect. Anyway, it doesn't matter who has the best product. As long as someone can deliver the goods, they'll have my money.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 21, 2009
Like steve i also am not a fan of the classic series,reasons are as follows,storage space,same material i have already bought,masters that have bad sound,what i would like are as follows, cds released in regular jewel style cases,that way if i drop it,it doesnt break and i have no way to replace it,i also would like a booklet,sure i know its about the music,but at least try to make it look like your trying,why have classic releases come with booklets and then put great shows like one night in vegas come in cheap easlily damaged digi packs? as for outtakes,none of us will like the same things,but i liked the outtake disci,im sorry they didnt plan ahead,and now they fill the need to put out what they have already issued,folks this stuff cost about 35 bucks,come on now,doi you not think thats a bit much,wehen i see cd's from madison with nice artwork,and then i see ftd with cheap digi packs with no design quality.i have to ask what is really the bootleg? Oh yea not releasing an On Tour show is the most stupidest move by Ftd,i have bought most of the Ftd,s i just cant afford to buy for no reason,oh yea another thing,why throw cd's in a book? rockin across texas needs a single cd release,not everyone has 70 plus to spend for a book they dont want,and releases like live in la are a joke! so yea alot could be better with this collectors label,have we talked about complete rehearslas? yea this ia collectors label,so there you go just a few tohught from me!
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 21, 2009
lefty dont you find it strange that people are more excited about the chance that Madsin might release the complete Hampton roads show,most have given up on Ftd,and then you have to wonder who will mix the cd if they do choose to release the show,the excuse that were waiting o mgm is so stupid in my view,the fans wont a dvd set, so since they cant have that we also will dissapoint them,i dont get that logic,does Ftd not know that we dont want to buy everything at once, so now is the perfect time to release a On Tour show,id hope for more than one show but as i said have lost faith in Ftd! I really wished i didnt have to say or feel that way but the truth is the trut!
Ton Bruins wrote on February 21, 2009
Orion, the strange thing is that I'll keep buying those FTD's, even when they duplicate. It's because I am a collector and I go for that 1 outtake on a release that I don't have. But isn't it funny that a collectors label duplicates the same versions of songs on different CD's ? I am often disappointed when a tracklist from a CD (like this one) show up. Then I think about it 2 or 3 weeks weither I will buy it or not and after all I will buy it anyway. :) Maybe there will be a real gem on this release and I am satisfied after all. It's a kind of "sickness", you will know what I mean, I guess. About Live releases: We can't blame the FTD label or any other label that Elvis would sing the same songs show after show. Here the same story for me: I'll buy it because I can't miss that fantastic version of a song in a particular show. I just skip the Love Me Tenders, Hound Dogs, Teddy Bears, Don't Be Cruels and hope for a surprise in the tracklist or hope for the fact that Elvis would sing a song in a special fantastic way...for example that fantastic version of "Danny Boy" on "Tucson 76". And sometimes I really skip a FTD release, for example the up coming "Blue Hawaii"...because I don't care for a outtake of "Ku-u-i-po" or "Aloha Oe"...It is wellknown here that I think that those movies were crap and also 90% of the songs in those movies. Just my opnion by tthe way :) Elvis wasted his time during those movies musically. Well, that's it. :)
Lefty wrote on February 21, 2009
mature_elvis_fan75, I totally agree with you! The excuse that everything is locked up by MGM is a bunch of crap. BMG released the entire San Antonio show from On Tour as the fourth disc on Elvis Close Up. So it stands to reason that FTD could release, at least via CD, all of the On Tour shows in the vault. I've never talked to a fan that doesn't want the complete Hampton Concert, one of the very best, if not THE best concert ever. So why does FTD concentrate their efforts on previously released material with a spattering of unreleased tracks put together on the super cheap? My theory is profit maximization. They will squeeze every penny out of a product before giving up something new. It's the nature of the business. It's the way they've always marketed Elvis, from My Happiness all the way through Moody Blue and beyond.
tornado wrote on February 21, 2009
The front cover we see now on SRO is obviously not the one FTD will use. It's only there for convenient presentation. We all know it's coming from a wishful SRO project that never came out. We also know that finally this shot was used for MSG album release that took the place of the previewed SRO by RCA in the 70's. Some websites have prudently refreined from showing any picture of SRO until the label officially makse the street release. Only the website masters should have indicated that this cover is a fake one.
Ton Bruins wrote on February 21, 2009
Lefty is right of course. It's about money. Nothing wrong with that by the way. And we fools keep buying those duplicates all over again for that 1 or 2 outtakes...all the same it's a disgrace for not having On Tour or In Concert on DVD yet...
tornado wrote on February 21, 2009
There are at least two ways of looking at our habit of buying again and again the so-called same material. And when you're a fan, we're always more of less irrational with our hero. Over the years FTD brought us more material and better sounds also. So it's only natural to try to get the latest if only to get the best sound and best packaging. But I agree, it's not mandatory and we are free to spend or not our money over it. I'll probably buy the big special 30 cds Sony project because it will gather all the masters and more, in one package with the ultimate sound quality. FTD will provide the rest. This project is an opportunity to upgrade the 50's, 60's and 70's box-set, and also the Command Performances and Amazing Grace box-sets + the Xmas albums. I know you can only do so much with recordings that were primarily analogs but FTD has proven how good they can do on this matter. Is Sony offering more sophisticated equipment than RCA/BMG? I don't know. We'll have an idea with the coming I Believe Box-set. Wait and see or should I say listen.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 21, 2009
Sure they are in business to make money but theres a difference between profit and greed! And im still waiting for an answer as to why great concert release like one night in vegas are thrown in a digi pack with no booklet while crao such as easy come easy go is shon a little more love!
tornado wrote on February 21, 2009
I don't know if it's a disgrace not to have more on On Tour. Surely, it's becoming frustrating over the years to wait again and again for it. Had it been done in the mid 90's, today there would have been a need to get it again in another package probably and with a better sound and some of us would have argued that here goes RCA,BMG, Sony or FTD again repackaging the same material, only with DSD technology this time. I think before On Tour, SRO had to be treated first. To leave the way clean to an On Tour release and maybe give time for MGM to make something like TTWII with On Tour, wich is not likely, as I understand now. But I understand that Ernst had to do it this way for a while. In the mean time, we got great releases. Memphis Tennessee only to name one. According to Joe Tunzi and other sources, it's seems that the SRO original project was to release the best of On Tour. And for years, the fans of course wanted to have that. Who wouldn't if you're a fan? That's why this SRO thing caused so much expectation because, we tought - and I also believed that - there would have been lots of unreleased material available from On Tour. And then, the rumours went in saying it would be a mix of studiios and lives recordings. (the actual SRO ?) Anyway,I think that Ernst and Roger made the right decision here. They in a way filled the gap in this erratic story. With the FTD version of SRO, we get the Vegas lives of that period and all the studio recordings of the RCA 1972 Hollywood's session. That had to be done. Now, that leaves FTD totally free to deal with the On Tour material, as they wish without being bound to the annoying decisions made in the past by RCA. And that's good news!
eric c wrote on February 22, 2009
i'm looking forward to this one.this is my favorite Elvis period...his voice is top notch.i don't understand why we don't have a deluxe dvd release of Elvis On Tour...a 3 dvd set containing the original documentary,Elvis in the studio and rehersals and all the concert footage...seems to me they are missing out.hopefully,some day soon we'll get the dvd that is LONG over due.i'd also like to see FTD release several of the on tour concerts in cd and book/cd formats.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 28, 2009
How about for next Ftd's,Back in memphis & an aug 1970 show?
John4126 wrote on March 01, 2009
£19 for FTD and no sign of being available to download specific tracks means it's the end of the line for me for purchasing CD's from this label.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on March 02, 2009
John the thing is many fans get upset when comments like yours,they say if u dont like dont buy,thing is when people stop buying the label goes down and for no reason,they could do a much better job but ingore fans and the changes that need to be made,i personally think this is why there pumping out releases so fast now,i think this label is on its way out,im interested in a aug 1970 show,and a few other possible releases,someone said that you should expect to get some of what you have in the classic series,thing is,this label should be about unreleased outtake cd's and unreleased concerts and complete rehearsals!
tornado wrote on March 02, 2009
I think we should support the FTD label. Since Ernst mentionned in an interview from Elvis Unlimited that he considers a span of 3 to 5 years to complete the series, I strongly suggest that we kept being loyal to it if we want it all. Personnaly, I do hope it's going to be over within the next three years from now and not five years. And the once a month release as it has started to be with the February release indicates a positive approach to get it all out faster. Now I don't know if after may release, June and all the following months are going to be a rendez-vous with another release. Let's hope so. But I guess the first four 2009 releases , being: Blue Hawaii,Standing Room Only and the two others, must meet sales expectations. I don't see the point in arguing that you wouldn't buy this one or that one. Just don't buy it, period. Tell us the reasons why you dig this or that release. Aren't we all glad it's coming out? And beside, FTD surely delivers all there is in the best sound quality possible. And by the way, it's legal and official and costly, yes, I admit, it's expensive. But hey, this is a luxury thing in the world of today's financial crisis, wouldn't you think? From what I read too often, many collectors are just spoiled rotten. A lot have been released on FTD over the years, and the Classic series on FTD is a final orderly way to finish the job. I'm not sure to get the point where Mature says FTD ignores the fans and the label is on it's way out. Well I hope they are on their way out for the next three years because it means we are going to get everything within those three years. Now some of us fans would rather have more August 70's lives shows, but others would also want to have the definitive complete How Great Thou Art session on that label as well. And others would prefer to get another movie soundtrack, or the Memphis sessions stuff on the Classic series. Up to now, I see that Ernst and Roger are trying to get a balance between all kinds of recordings. February we get a movie, March we'll get the 1972 studios and lives from Vegas. Who knows? Maybe April will give us How Great Thou Art, a gospel session and May might bring us another Stax album, or Memphis 69 studio recordings. My only hope is that FTD puts the soundboards on a hold for a year to make space for what I call the real recordings. I figure there is about 15 to 20 more Classics to come down the line, including the On Tour session, we all hope to get complete one day. No dead artist is getting that level of care today. Well, no wonder, it's Elvis!
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on March 02, 2009
Spoiled? are they not spoiled that fans will pay for overpriced releases? these releases should be no more than around 18 us dollars,and there never needed to be duplication,and again why put releases in digi packs? As for the sound its not only up to par,again some things need be done to improve,i find the spoiled fans commets to be an insult,i just dont get that view but we all have differt ways of lookig at things!
tornado wrote on March 03, 2009
Mature, it's seems we don't enjoy the same things or the same way our passion with Elvis's Sony or FTD releases. Life is short and I take what's avaiable and I don't feel exploited. FTD is a curiostiy, a luxury thing, a pure fantasy and above all it's fun. And I don't know what kind of Hi Fi you have, but to me, with my middle of the range Denon sound system, FTD sounds just great. I don't use my computer to analyse the sound, I simply use my ears to listen to it at home, in my car and sometime with my headphones. And it's fine. Some around me are surprised that I have so much, "rare" material on Elvis. And some might think I'm addicted. I plead guilty.But that's my preference. But I'm also capable of critizising FTD from time to time. As much as I support FTD, for axample, I think Ernst made a mistake with Frankie and Johnny & Harum Scarum, not using the Double Features mixes, wich are far better than the masters of the FTD versions. That would be the only exception, and I told Ernst about it many times over. Each instrument on the Double Features version of these two movies has a clearer definition. Just listen to the clarinet on the opening number of Frankie And Johnny and compare it with the FTD version. FTD unfortuntly went back to the bad orignal mix and only made it sound a bit clearner and a lot louder. The outtakes are okay though, but the masters sound much better on the Double Feature versions of these two movies. And you don't need an expensive Hi Fi to hear the difference. Girls Girls Girls and Blue Hawaii are by contrast very well remastered on cd on FTD. Superb jobs for these two. I was a little bit disapointed with Follow That Dream also. Ernst could have seperated a complete cleancut version of I'm Not The Marrying Kind just for the pleasure to hear it in full stereo without all the false starts attached to it. I was hoping to get also a cleancut stereo version on the reissue of I Got Lucky of What A Wonderful Life. Sony BMG, although remastered, uses the mono master version.We tend to complain with details and we all have our "beloved" details, we treasure, I know. I have some too as you can see. Let me just close this opinion here on three things you mentionned. First, digi pack are more convenient for the environment. Second, soundwise, we could have an endless discussion about it. I think I made my point. Third, for the price, If they are overpriced, wich I don't think they are, it's worth it. The FTD releases are special products for a rather special small audience completits and there is a price for that. We wanted so bad to have SRO for years, and we wanted it as complete as possible. Now that FTD decided to deliver, are we going to complain?
John4126 wrote on March 06, 2009
Tornado - you're free to spend your money on what you like. But when you make comment that FTD 'not overpriced' - well that's when your credibility ends my friend. Most labels are now repackaging 'classic' albums that contain far more unreleased material and are at least half the pricethan the FTD. The Beatles 'Let It Be' springs to mind. A mainstream release a few years ago it reached the top 10 in the album chart. The fact that Elvis' so called 'classic' albums wouldnt even dent the chart at all speaks volumes. Elvis' record label has always been able to rely on the blind loyalty of the hard core fan who seems to have M - U - G written on the forehead! You pay for the same old staff over and over again - it's a luxury i dont need.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on March 06, 2009
John i so agree 100%,it will be the end of Ftd,more and more buyers are not buying any more Ftds,except maybe the ones that they really find interesting,they found a way to do what the regular label did for a long time,repackage,offer very little material,but this time its at twice the price! I hate the way Elvis material is handled,but i feel i always will,it will never end.the milking with go on and on, and then Ftd will be gone,and dont blame fans for not supporing,blame those in charge for thinking that fans will keep playing the game!