In a continues series of re-releases BMG decided to re-release the Camden release “Almost In Love”. Did they stick to the original?
Design
The cover has a big sticker claiming “original artwork”. When we compared it to our vinyl copy of this album we saw a different back cover. To keep it original, BMG could have decided to use the original cover, including the advertisement of other Camden releases for other artists, on the back side of the booklet to keep as close as possible to the original release. The same could be said for the inside of the booklet, in stead of two empty pages, why not print the original inner sleeve of the album with an overview of Elvis’ catalogue (at that time)?
Content
The Camden releases always were a strange series. The song selection was very much different from the RCA (re) releases and an album would sometimes it contained a different take.
Occasionally something went wrong. This album has "Stay Away Joe" listed as track 10, but the actual song on the CD is ''Stay Away''. That was a mistake in the old days and later issues of the Camden LP actually corrected this by including "Stay Away", and so does this CD. How could this happen, why not have the people in charge of the Elvis catalogue check this? Let’s just say SONY / BMG decided to keep close to the original release for the cover :-)
As for the songs themselves, this compilation is actually a nice mixed bag with one with some good tracks. It contains the originals of the remix hits “Rubberneckin’” and “A Little Less Conversation” and the up-beat “Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On)”. But it also contains more theatrical songs line “Edge Of Reality” and “Charro”. These songs have a totally different sound and feel. Add to this a ballad like “Almost In Love” and the bluesy “Clean Up Your Own Back Yard” and the mixed bag is complete.
The audio on this CD is very good. All tracks have been remastered (according to the sticker on the front), but since there are no liner notes we don’t know which technique was used.
Conclusion
Finally this original album release is available for all fans who want to complete Elvis original catalogue. A nice mixed bag to play again.
Almost In Love
May 30, 2006 | Music
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JerryNodak wrote on
May 31, 2006
Great too have this album finally get an official market-wide cd release, and in excellent sound too. Probably my favorite of all the Camden releases.
PTCJones wrote on
June 01, 2006
Nice budget CD. Apart from the last track being wrongly titled, it's a nostalgic, mellow CD. My Little Friend sounds different from the other versions I have in that there is an echo, but in a good way.
srodriguez wrote on
June 01, 2006
If they wanted to keep up with the idea of being like the original release then RCA should of released Stay Away Joe with this CD. I was disappointed that it was not released with it.
RonBaker wrote on
June 05, 2006
Back in the day...this was my favorite Elvis album. It had songs that were different in a good way. It could have been a regular RCA release. In 2006 it has two #1 songs on it... back then they were poor selling singles. This is still a great cd.
boris wrote on
June 05, 2006
Although I liked the LP when I bought it I just don't understand why they're realising these albums. These CD's have no major interest for a large audience and only add confusion to the newcomers. These CD's are meant to be bought by fans only and this is exactly what FTD is about... I think it's time that Sony/BMG goes back to the roots and only releases appropriate material meant to reach everybody or concentrate on exposing FTD's great work a little more.
JerryNodak wrote on
June 05, 2006
Boris: These are exactly the kind of albums that will hold interest for a large audience because they will find their way into the mass market stores such as Target, Walmart and Kmart. ie: They'll be available to the mass market at a BARGIN price. They will sell in large quantities. This will ultimately be seen in further RIAA certifications for these titles. Don't dismiss these albums so readily. Remember these very same albums were responsible for introducing many fans to Elvis' music more than 30 years ago. It happened once and it will happen again.
Steve V wrote on
June 06, 2006
Agree wth Boris. I dont believe they will win Elvis new fans. I'd feel better if FTD just released them all in one boxset for the die hards who need these on CD. Remember these were never considered 'real' albums when they came out and they shouldnt be thrust into the Elvis public catalog while brilliant albums remain out of print. Although this is the best of the Camden lot, can u imagine young folks turned on by Elvis' music with the recent American idol tribute show? They see these Camdens in the store as new Elvis releases and buy them and get to listen to Do The Vega, Yellow Rose of Texas, Stay Away Joe, etc. Good grief.
JerryNodak wrote on
June 06, 2006
Camden, Camden, Rah! Rah! Rah! Release them, Release them. All, all, all!!!
JerryNodak wrote on
June 06, 2006
Steve V: Let me tell you a little story. I was six years old when Elvis had his first national hit with Heartbreak Hotel. My dad was in his early forties. He thought this Elvis guy was pretty special (a view not shared by most of his friends then). So, I was exposed to all things Elvis at an early age. But you know what, most of it went in one ear and out the other UNTIL my dad brought home the World's Fair album. That's right, the much maligned World's Fair album turned me on to Elvis. After that I statred to investigate my father's collection. Point is, you never know what will turn someone on to Elvis. I personally know many people whose first exposure to Elvis was the Camden albums. Have seen many postings Elvis message boards to that effect as well. To simply dismiss these albums out of hand is short sighted. They brought many people to Elvis the first time around and there is no reason to think it won't happen again.
Steve V wrote on
June 07, 2006
OK - I see your point and its true you never know what may turn on people. But I still think the Elvis Is Back album has a better shot at getting people into Elvis than any Camden out there. I always will believe that simply because the music is far superior. It should never be out of print while the Camdens are in print. Also the Worlds Fair album came out in 1963, much simpler times & simpler music. Dont think today that is likely to turn anyone on.
RonBaker wrote on
June 07, 2006
What you say may be true of most of the Camden albums, but not this one. This is a great collection of Elvis tracks--some of them singles--which had yet to be collected on an album at that point. Had they called this album "Elvis' Golden Records, Vol 5" it would have been pushing the envelope, but it was a great way to collect 'uncollected' singles. It's a great listen also.
Steve V wrote on
June 07, 2006
Ok - I'll give you this one since fans would have to buy the big boxsets and search for OOP sountracks to get some of these songs (and they are good). But I dont want to see Camdens such as Burning Love, Separate Ways thrown into the catalog as new releases. They are awful albums with no theme at all. At least this one flows.
JerryNodak wrote on
June 07, 2006
Steve V; I agree that Elvis Is Back is musically supierior. But back in 1960 it really didn't sell that well (by Elvis standards) and it should have. It didn't even go to Number 1 on the charts. Why?? It wasn't for lack of publicity (free or otherwise) Elvis' name/face was everywhere having just recently come home from the Army and having done the Sinatra special. The album should have been huge at the time, but it wasn't. It's something I've often wondered about.
Steve V wrote on
June 07, 2006
JerryNodak - I've often wondered that too. It was amazing the first LP back from 2 yrs away in the Army didnt go through the roof. I can only put it down to the fact that 'Elvis Is Back' may have been too sophisicated an album at the time for the Elvis world. The blues, strong ballads, plus the album didnt have a hit single (in the USA anyway) to boost it. The next album, GI Blues, with the movie to promote and more light & fluffy songs certainly did the trick. I guess this had a lot to do with the Colonel's decision to push out those soundtracks.
JerryNodak wrote on
June 07, 2006
I agree with the points you. raise. I, too, think having a hit single on the album probably would have boosted sales. But holding back singles for other projects was quite common then for many artist's record labels. Even so, the album should have been a blockbuster. I'm sure the relative "failure" of Elvis Is Back compared to G.I. Blues or Blue Hawaii factored into many decisions that were made. Even so, the movies and their albums went on for to long. They should have ended after Tickle Me in '65. Always nice to chat, Steve. Even if we don't always agree.
Greg Nolan wrote on
June 11, 2006
Keep in mind that "Elvis Is Back" indeed was sucessful by any definition (chart and sales) but was quickly dwarfed by "Blue Hawaii" - for the reasons cited before. As I said on the "Flaming Star" Camden thread, I share the frustration about RCA/Sony/BMG failing to keep classic original albums in print (although the '06 versions of his first three are a start...) but let's not forget that at least a few Camden's were surprisingly effective "hodgepodge" releases and they did occur during his lifetime!
Incidentally, so far, they are not nearly as common as I had hoped (or in some cases, some of you feared) not all Wal-Marts are carrying them and they're so far not in Target or KMart or regular stores like FYE or Borders. So we're talking about a limited release for hard-core fans, by and large. With the exception of a few of them like the original "Burning Love" fiasco, I generally think Jerry's right in that millions were turned on to Elvis via those albums. We may not like it, but it's true. Quite a few of them had lots of zing and were a hell of a lot of fun, to the point that they truly seem like real albums of a sort. RCA/BMG/Sony's recent "Love, Elvis" and other themed releases out-do the Colonel everytime and make the Camdens seem downright authentic and entirely necessary.