Another remix album?
Design
A copy of a typical way to use Elvis' silhouette and name. Everyone knows who's music is featured on this disc.
Content
The proper title for this CD could be "Original Songs Updated For The Next Century" as most songs received additional instrumentals using the original songs. Remixing a song means you either remaster a song for better audio quality or create a remix for the dance floor.
The so-called "producers" had to use the songs as they were released so you hear the original instrumentals in the background. Adding instrumentals can work but it has to be done trying to create a certain result. It worked on restoring the Hayride Recordings a few years back and on the JXL remix. O.K. not every fan will agree on this, but you probably get the picture.
The people behind the mixing desk surely did not know Elvis. They added standard sounds, pre-programmed rhythm and echo-effects to the original songs. Elvis never recorded Jazz music, so why add a jazz-themed backing to the slow songs? Or artificial computer generated violins to a classic like "heartbreak Hotel"?
The up-tempo songs get a slightly better update as the producers added a "Stray Cats" kind of rockabilly backing which kind-off keeps pace with the original tempo.
The two extended remixes at the end of the CD are really over the top. They took the drum from Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" and an Hawaiian steel guitar to the up-tempo "Blue Suede Shoes" and a slow bossa-nova rhythm on "Love Me Tender" ... please release me Lord!
Conclusion
I changed the title earlier in this review, but I found the definitive title for this release "Original Songs Which Shouldn't Have Been Remixed For The Next Century". Or "C-R-A-P" as some of the posters on this site would comment on a release like this :-).
I'm sure they spent most of their time making the cover for this CD!
I doubt this is an official SONY release. Probably something like you see all the time on Youtube where some amateur producer puts his touch to it. But there's a simple solution to all this. If you don't like it don't buy it. Simple as that.
I should start by saying that I have not heard this CD and intend to avoid it at all costs. My personal feelings are that releases like this are an abuse of the European out-of-copyright law allowing anybody the freedom to use old recordings. The constant stream of poorly compiled and packaged CD's is bad enough, but this release seeks to improve the recorded output of the world's greatest recording artist by overdubbing. Frankly, this is an impossible task. To me, it is nothing less than taking a spraycan to the Mona Lisa to improve the quality of the painting for the next century.
Being a great fan of Elvis since he first appeared; I bought this CD and then was given a copy for Christmas. I listened to it one time and put my Elvis Christmas album on. The new CD was VERY professional. The singers were good. I do not fault them. But I played my ELVIS christmas LP through the holidays! I may not ever play the mix again. PURE ELVIS is the BEST.
There's rumors that Sony will be doing a soundtrack for the upcoming Cirque Du Soleil show in Las Vegas and will have a 2-cd set featuring 33 overdubbed songs with a mixture of the original recordings and new pieces added in to create new versions of songs. It'll be to promote the show and should be out by fall or early 2010 as the show itself makes its debut in December 09 at the new City Center resort. There's also been a rumor of a new pop duets album featuring the biggest names in today's music generes for this year.
Today I bought this CD. There are only two songs that did not work well: "love me", and "trying to get to you". There is one song of which I am not sure of: "Heartbreak Hotel". Others did work out very well!! My absolute favourite is "Money Honey": this has a really punchy drive! An absolute floorfiller at Elvisdisco's. And finally they've made a proper arrangement for "Love Me Tender". I could not stand this song (because of the Ken Darby Trio!). Now, it has the arrangement which it deserves. A very nice CD. A job well done!
Kees, you should have posted what label this is released on. I assume it's not BMG? And yeah, this looks like C-R-A-P indeed.
