Recently reissued on CD through the import circuit. How sweet are these bootlegged memories?
Design
The design is a simple, reproduction of the original covers; nothing more, nothing less. Some titles are listed twice on these releases, the information on the actual versions is missing, would have been great if this additional info had been added.
Content
The bootleggers are taking over where BMG leaves us fans waiting for more. The started to add additional volumes to the “A Legendary Performer” and “Rare Elvis” series and reissue original releases of which the copyright fell free in Europe (so basically these are legal releases in Europe). But recently the bootleggers took it one step further, releasing RCA and BMG albums that were not (generally) available on CD until now. Two examples are the volumes 1 and 2 of the “Our Memories Of Elvis” compilations by Vernon Presley and The Colonel.
These releases fitted in the theory of the Colonel that it didn’t matter if Elvis was alive or not, he simply continued to sell Elvis and even put himself and the poor Vernon Presley on the cover. I must admit they made one good decision with Joan Deary who coordinated the Elvis releases back then, they used the original tapes of Elvis without the additional overdubs. This gave the fans a chance to actually hear the material as Elvis recorded it in the studio.
With the above in mind it is a brave choice from the Colonel to start with “Are You Sincere?” or is this just my negative view on this late would be soldier? Volume one is an album with a lot of very sad tunes. Listening to it I got a very sad feeling. “It’s Midnight”, “Take Good Care of Her” “She Thinks I Still Care” and “Solitaire” to name a few of the titles from this release don’t raise my spirits on this sunny morning. The additional eight bonus tracks on this volume can’t change the mood I’m falling into either.
Volume two starts of on a different foot with “ I’ve Got A Feeling In My Body” and the sentimental “Green Green Grass Of Home”. “For The Heart”, “Way Down” and the “Don’t Think Twice” jam keep things going. Especially the latter is one of my personal favourites; this upbeat tune just keeps on going. I like it so much I don’t mind the fake edits which lengthen this song over eight and a half minutes.
Conclusion
What to think of these releases? When BMG reissues the Camden compilations a lot of fans are filled with joy; but when done by bootleggers the reactions are usually less enthusiastic. I don’t understand that, I simply enjoy (or not) a release when I’m able to track a copy down, especially with undubbed material like this.
I think it is almost “a kind of decent” the producers didn’t save the bonus material and continued the series with additional volumes three and four … or am I giving someone in the bootleg scene an idea now?
Should you try to track down a copy? Probably only if you like to have all “original” titles in your CD collection and missed out on the – now hard to get – German club editions of these titles which were released many years ago.
Track listing "Our Memories Of Elvis - Volume 1":
1. Are You Sincere / 2. It’s Midnight / 3. My Boy / 4. Girl Of Mine / 5. Take Good Care Of Her / 6. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again / 7. Your Love’s Been A Long Time Coming / 8. Spanish Eyes / 9. Never Again / 10. She Thinks I Still Care / 11. Solitaire /
Bonus Tracks: 12. Sweet Angeline / 13. Mr. Songman / 14. It’s Midnight (2nd Version)/ 15. My Boy (2nd Version) / 16. Girl Of Mine / 17. I Will Be True / 18. It’s Still Here / 19. I’ll Take You Home Kathleen / 20. It’s A Matter Of Time
Track listing "Our Memories Of Elvis - Volume 2":
1. I Got A Feelin’ In My Body / 2. Green Green Grass Of Home / 3. For The Heart / 4. She Wears My Ring / 5. I Can Help / 6. Way Down / 7. There’s A Honky Tonk Angel (Who Will Take Me Back In) / 8. Find Out What’s Happening / 9. Thinking About You / 10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right* / Studio Jam Session /
Bonus Tracks: 11. Shake A Hand / 12. If You Don’t Come Back / 13. If You Talk In Your Sleep / 14. Talk About The Good Times / 15. Help Me / 16. Loving Arms / 17. Thinking About You (2nd Version) / 18. Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
Our Memories Of Elvis Volumes 1 And 2
By ElvisNews.com / Kees, August 25, 2007 | Music
Mofoca22 wrote on
August 25, 2007
I'd love to get them cds I like that woman who produced Elvis while Felton was sick she had great vision for Elvis but the powers that be at RCA at the time were sexist imbeciles and went back with Felton who really didnt let Elvis music come out the way he wanted it to
Steve V wrote on
August 26, 2007
what woman ever produced Elvis sessions? I think you are referring to Joan Deary maybe who was responsible for the silver boxset among other things? She was a not a record producer. Sexist? Over the top comment!
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on
August 27, 2007
And why not. to BMG as the expression says If you Snooze you Loose. If the boot leggers have something to sell and the item is of good quality why should it not be out there. also FTD why is it not in stores? the insult is having to pay shipping on top of a high price on material that has basically been paid for 30 to 40 years ago at a rate so low that the profits margins boggle the mind. casual collectors would buy the items if they became visable. But you cant buy what you cant see.
PaulFromFrance wrote on
August 28, 2007
Jumpin... I don't know where you live, but here the FTD records can be widely found in chain stores like Virgin and FNAC. Their price is quite expensive I may add, so, even with the postage, I pay less in ordering them in Holland.
vegaselvisfan wrote on
August 29, 2007
I never bought these when LPs and so never knew the material , and here they are out on CD. I really appreciate getting this review. Sounds like something I want to get! Thanks for the warning of the low key album. I will play it in the evenings when I am feeling quiet :)
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on
August 29, 2007
Paul ftd is alot cheaper for some folks than others,and i do prefer buying my music in person, so i can pick out what copy i want,instead of dealing with damaged goods,although i have fiannly found a place that does know how to pack a item,as for these cd's,not interested,i don buy imports unless there soundboards and are a worthwhile purchase,i have to draw the line somewere,i had the rca version from the fan club,and it didnt blow me away soundwise,so i sold it and moved on,however if they want to release this on the main label that would be cool along with the This is Elvis soundtrack,but wait we need more compilation's first dont we?
Marten wrote on
August 29, 2007
The "Our memories of Elvis" LP's are definately not from the original undubbed tapes, with maybe one or two exceptions; some overdubs (and even stuff that was there before the overdubs) have been removed afterwards. You can still hear some of the overdubs, try listening with earphones. But the idea was good! I kinda like these albums, in spite of the fake "pure Elvis" sound.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on
September 09, 2007
Fake pure sound? thats funny,and if true makes me not intersted,not that i was in the first place!
JerryNodak wrote on
September 11, 2007
Perhaps one day these albums will be released on FTD from the original undubbed tapes.
If/when that day comes THEN I'll buy them.