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Baby Let’s Play House Spankox Remix – Graceland Edition

By ElvisNews.com/ Kees, July 06, 2008 | Music
A bit harder to pick up in Europe, but available through a few fan clubs for the fans who want this “exclusive” Graceland edition. Should they make the effort?

Design

This Graceland edition is the only edition of this release that actually features Elvis Presley on the cover with the black dotted cover that we know from the European and Japanese releases of this single for the text. A few liner notes with some facts on this and the original release of the song. The blue is a bit brighter than the original.

This is the only version of the mix that is released by Elvis’ own record company, the other versions were licensed to independent – even including the Beatles’ EMI label – labels.

I do wonder why EPE didn’t stick with the CD/vinyl (a CD playable on a classic turntable) format that made the origininal kind of special.

Content

This edition features three tracks; two mixes and the original while the original single release also featured the video clip – o.k. that one might be a bit too explicit for the American standards to add – and a ring tone. Perhaps the latter is not even that interesting, but in some download charts even those count as “sales”.

Do Elvis, a Sun classic, an Italian DJ and some remix equipment make a good combination? In my review of the original release I left that to your own imagination and (good) taste. And I still do ?

I do wonder if EPE really wants this single to become a hit with just a download release through SONY / BMG and an exclusive CD single exclusively available through Graceland’s store. The last singles like “That’s All Right” and “Heartbreak Hotel” only made it to #1 on the sales chart on the sale of physical singles due to the loyal Elvis fans. And I would try to locate this single somewhere else than on-line in EPE's outlet, shipping costs were almost three times the price of the actual single itself.

Conclusion

Should you maker the effort to get this CD? If you don’t like the remix, don’t bother, if you do like it, you can get "more" remix for your dollar with the European releases of this single.

Make up your own mind, listen to a preview of the mix:

  1. Listen to preview of "Baby Let's Play House" (Spankox Re:Version - Highpass Radio Edit) (2:52)

Tracklisting

1. Baby Let's Play House 2:52 (Spankox Remix - Highpass Radio Edit)
2. Baby Let's Play House 5:10 (Spankox Extended Remix - Highpas Extended Mix)
3. Baby Let's Play House 2:15 (Original Album Version)

From the EPE pressrelease

“Anytime Elvis' master recordings are altered, we take a special interest to make sure the new sound is the right sound. Elvis was a pioneer who broke the mold and barriers with his music, this remix does just that with a fresh approach to an Elvis classic,” said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

“Baby Let’s Play House” was originally recorded by Elvis in April of 1955 at Sun Studio in Memphis. Music historians consider the recording of this single as one of the defining moments of Elvis' time with Sun before signing with the RCA label.

Well known Italian DJ Spankox first remixed the track in 2007, over 50 years after it was first recorded by Elvis. “I fell in love with this song, mostly because of Elvis’ superior voice and the song’s title, not really thinking about the true meaning behind the lyrics, but rather how the title “Baby Let’s Play House” relates to the music genre I’ve play as DJ, house music,” said Spankox.

Upon international release, the remix was a huge hit in Italy. The “Baby Let’s Play House” remix topped the single sales charts in Italy for 7 consecutive weeks and held the #1 spot for 8 weeks on the Italian iTunes sales chart.

In addition to the remix, Sony BMG will also release a music video for the track available for digital download and purchase. The video utilizes archival footage of Elvis singing the classic tune from an April 1956 Dorsey Brothers Stage Show performance.

Known for his sometimes controversial on-stage moves, Elvis once said in an interview, “Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together.” The new music video continues in the controversial vein and is sure to have American audiences on their feet and moving to the King of Rock n’ Roll’s new beat.

This re-mix release marks the beginning of a whole year of exciting Elvis activity including four new exhibits at Graceland that chronicle various milestones in Elvis’ career. The excitement culminates with Elvis Week, www.elvisweek.com, in August where Spankox, will appear in front of thousands of Elvis fans from all over the world as a guest speaker at the Elvis Insiders Conference 2008.

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JimmyCool wrote on July 06, 2008
The only good remix from the awful DJ Spankox album! I didn't like it at all at first... but now I think it's better than Rubberneckin' ;)
dressingroomrehearsa wrote on July 06, 2008
naah, forget it.
Harvey Alexander wrote on July 07, 2008
How much longer are they going to try to flog this piece of trash? It's been around for months and has had no impact whatsoever, apart from on some pointless, obscure download charts. It's dead in the water. Just like it should be.
BigVern wrote on July 13, 2008
I get the feeling some folks round these parts are somewhat hostile towards remixes.