FTD’s most recent classic album is Back in Memphis, a strange release back then, since it was first included in the From Memphis to Vegas/ From Vegas to Memphis double album before it got its separate release.
Design
The design is what we’re used to by now: 7” layout, with album labels as CD print. The booklet has a shot of the American Sound Studios on the front and inside the regular background information, candids, labels, covers, song sheets and more memorabilia.
Content
The first CD has the more or less common setup: the original album, bonus track and first takes. The bonus track is Suspicious Minds, which should have been on the original album, just like In the Ghetto was on From Elvis in Memphis.
What can I say about the songs? Guess we all know them by heart. Some of my personal favourites are on it, like And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind, Stranger in My Own Home Town, Without Love and (now) Suspicious Minds. The other songs are enjoyable too, even the lesser ones, if only because of the dedication they are done with.
The second CD starts with two rehearsals, one of which became on the original album, Stranger In My Own Home Town. We got it before, but who cares? Not me, that’s for sure. The second rehearsal is A Little Bit of Green. I’m not too fond of it, because someone’s testing the buttons of the channels, which is pretty disturbing.
Next are the outtakes from the songs recorded in January 1969, followed by those from February. The last 8 tracks are unfinished masters.
All together we get some new outtakes (officially) from a session that is amongst Elvis’ best ever, some even regard it as the best.
Conclusion
A nice 2 CD set with music that to me never gets boring, but too little surprises to make it a real topper.