I included the standard CD in the picture to give you an idea of the scale. A Boy From Tupelo is a big monster, weighing every bit of the promised 11 pounds.
Needless to say, this is the last time I’ll be posting for awhile. I’ve got a lot of reading and listening to do!
Elvis By Request (original image courtesy of Elvis Australia)
Yesterday, Sony Music Australia’s Elvis By Request: The Australian Fan Edition arrived here – so I thought I’d take a few moments to present a brief review. Worldwide, but with a special emphasis on Australia, fans were able to select from over 800 Elvis performances in online voting earlier this year. The ranked results of that voting determined the contents of Elvis By Request, 40 songs spread over two CDs.
For those of you who are also in the United States, you may be wondering if we can even play an Australian CD in a US CD player. There are no issues. However, you will need to adjust your player’s language settings in order to filter out Elvis’ Australian accent. [Just kidding.]
The number one Elvis song chosen by Australians should come as no surprise. It is that quintessential Australian song, “An American Trilogy.” It’s nearly impossible not to think of Australia when listening to “An American Trilogy.” [Okay, I promise to get serious now.]
Trilogy kicks off Elvis By Request in impressive form, showcasing the power of Elvis in 1972. Rounding out the top five are “If I Can Dream,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Always On My Mind,” and “In The Ghetto.” Stellar performances, all. In fact, one is hard-pressed to find any clunkers on Elvis By Request. That’s because the fans know what they are doing. The only exception is “Wooden Heart,” one of his worst movie songs. I’m not sure how that made it on here and at #14, no less.
Using 2010′s Elvis Presley: 50 Australian Top Ten Hits – 1956-1977 as the benchmark Australian compilation, here are the other fan-voted Elvis By Request choices, in addition to “An American Trilogy,” that did not appear on the older release:
Sound quality is top-notch. This is one of those CDs that you’ll want to keep cranking up louder and louder as the next terrific song comes along.
Since I have most of these songs in this quality on the Elvis: The Complete Masters Collection, I really purchased this CD as a curiosity piece and to support this implementation of the fan-selected CD concept. A track listing was not even available when I pre-ordered it.
However, it turns out that there are a couple of real stand-outs on Elvis By Request for me that I’m actually adding to my collection for the first time at this superb sound quality.
The first is the 1977 live version of “My Way,” first released shortly after Elvis’ death. It has never sounded this terrific on CD before (my previous sources being the Elvis In Concert and Elvis Aron Presley CDs from the 1990s). [March 8, 2013 Update: Upon further review, the version of "My Way" contained on Elvis By Request is actually the April 1977 recording first released on 1997's Platinum: A Life In Music. I apologize for accidentally presenting misinformation here. Despite what the Elvis By Request liner notes say, this is not the June 1977 recording. Follow That Dream Records subsequently made the same mistake on the Hits Of The 70s 2-CD set.]
Also included is the 1994 Heart & Soul mix of Elvis’ 1970 studio version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – which is superior to the one originally released in 1970 that had overdubbed applause to simulate a live recording. Since it focuses primarily on the mixes as released during his lifetime, Elvis: The Complete Masters Collection includes the subpar 1970 mix. I’m thrilled now to have the unaltered studio version in this sound quality on Elvis By Request. [March 8, 2013 Update: Upon further review, the sound quality of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" actually appears to be about the same as on Heart & Soul and Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters. I should have played the versions back-to-back. I was just having such a fun time listening to Elvis By Request!]
Overall, Elvis By Request makes for an interesting, random look at the career of Elvis Presley. It reminds me of listening to Elvis specials on the radio in the 1980s and early 1990s, where local DJs would just play a bunch of Elvis songs in a row for a couple of hours without any real thought to the sequence. It would get boring if every CD presented the Elvis journey in chronological format, so I welcome the randomness in this case.
As far as the song selections themselves, 13 of them also appear in some form on my personal top 40 of Elvis songs, with 8 more appearing in my top 100, so I really can’t complain there, either.
Elvis By Request delivers up exactly what it promises and in fine form. Score one for the fans.
Elvis By Request may be ordered from Elvis Australia.
All right, this will be one of those off-the-top-of-my-head posts – so who knows what you’re gonna get out of reading this.
I’m just sitting here on a rainy Saturday afternoon listening to Elvis. My wife gave me a new receiver and turntable as early anniversary presents. Early because she thought I’d be distracted wanting to configure and play with them if she waited until the actual day (still a few weeks away). She knows me well.
I’m getting back into vinyl after pretty much being all CDs all the time for the last twenty years. I pulled out my old collection, and the first one I played was Blue Hawaii – mostly because it has “Can’t Help Falling In Love” on it, which is our song.
I couldn’t believe how incredible it sounded on record. I sense a new obsession coming on.
The good thing is, I already have about 25 LPs and 25 45s from the old days before I had a CD player, so those should tide me over for awhile.
* * *
So, there were a bunch of great posts around the web for Elvis Week 2012. My favorite was probably Indisposable Johnny’s “When Elvis Moved On” over on The Round Place In The Middle blog. If you haven’t already, be sure to read it.
One post that I didn’t want to read because I knew what was coming was “Treat Me Nice”, a farewell of sorts by Thomas Melin over on his Elvis Today Blog. After five years and 500 posts, he’s taking an indefinite break from blogging about Elvis in order to spend more time with his family. It’s hard to fault him for that. I’m sure gonna miss his posts, though. Best wishes to Thomas.
While Thomas’ absence leaves a huge void, all is not lost. For instance, Sheila O’Malley continues her excellent series of Elvis Essays on The Sheila Variations blog. Meanwhile, artist Joe Petruccio just began a brand new blog called My Elvis Journal. Petruccio’s unique posts are definitely worth checking out.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
August 28 Update: I’ve just found that there is yet another new Elvis blog, and it’s one I definitely want to mention. Elvis audio expert and frequent For Elvis CD Collectors Forum poster elvissessions recently began elvissessions.net, which will cover “Elvis Presley in the studio — and beyond.”
I love his informative FECC posts, so I’m looking forward to following elvissessions’ blog. Here’s a recent entry about obtaining Ernst Jorgensen’s autograph on his copy of A Boy From Tupelo during Elvis Week 2012.
Speaking of FTD’s mammoth SUN project, my copy will supposedly be in the mail this week. No autographs, though. I guess that’s one of the many perks of being in Memphis during Elvis Week. Either way, I can hardly wait for this release.
In observance of Elvis Week and to honor the life of Elvis Presley, this is Part 4 of a countdown of his greatest songs. Read Part 3.
#25 You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ [Live] (1970)
That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition (Disc 2, Track 10)]
Other notable version: 1970 Rehearsal (Elvis Aron Presley)
#24 Just Pretend (1970)
That’s The Way It Is
Other notable version: 1970 Live (Live In Las Vegas)
#23 I’ve Lost You (1970)
Worldwide Gold Award Hits, Volume 2
Other notable version: 1970 Alternate Mix (Heart & Soul)
#22 How The Web Was Woven (1970)
That’s The Way It Is
Other notable version: 1970 Take 1 (The Nashville Marathon)
#21 Lawdy, Miss Clawdy [Live] (1968)
Memories
Other notable versions: 1956 Master (For LP Fans Only), 1968 Rehearsal (Memories)
#20 Tryin’ To Get To You [Live] (1968)
A Life In Music
Other notable version: 1955 Master (Elvis Presley)
#19 Polk Salad Annie [Live] (1970)
On Stage-February 1970
Other notable versions: 1970 Live (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Live (Elvis Aron Presley), 1970 Live (One Night In Vegas), 1970 Rehearsal (The Way It Was)
#18 Baby, What You Want Me To Do [Live] (1968)
Tiger Man [Track 6]
Other notable versions: 1968 Live (Memories [Disc 2, Track 16]), 1968 Live (Memories [Disc 2, Track 7]), 1968 Live (Memories [Disc 1, Track 10])
#17 Good Rockin’ Tonight (1954)
Good Rockin’ Tonight/I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine [SUN Single]
#16 You’ll Never Walk Alone [Take 2] (1967)
A Life In Music
Other notable version: 1967 Master (You’ll Never Walk Alone)
#15 Promised Land [Undubbed Master] (1973)
Promised Land [2011 FTD Edition]
Other notable versions: 1973 Master (Promised Land)
#14 Burning Love (1972)
Burning Love And Hits From His Movies, Volume 2
Other notable versions: 1972 Live (Close Up), 1973 Live (The Alternate Aloha), 1973 Live (Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite)
#13 Baby, Let’s Play House (1955)
Baby, Let’s Play House/I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone [SUN Single]
Other notable versions: 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration [Disc 1, Track 10]), 1955 Live (The First Live Recordings), 1970 Rehearsal (A Life In Music)
#12 Tiger Man [Live] (1969)
Live In Vegas
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis), 1969 Live (Collectors Gold), 1969 Live (Elvis At The International), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Live (One Night In Vegas), 1968 Live Master (Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star And Others), 1968 Rehearsal (A Life In Music)
#11 Santa Claus Is Back In Town (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album
Other notable version: 1968 Live (Tiger Man)
#10 Reconsider Baby (1960)
Elvis Is Back!
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Collectors Gold), 1961 Live (Elvis Aron Presley), 1972 Live (A Legendary Performer, Volume 4)
#9 Are You Lonesome Tonight (1960)
Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3
Other notable versions: 1969 Live ["Laughing Version"] (Elvis Aron Presley), 1960 Take 2 (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1969 Live (Elvis: Viva Las Vegas [2007 Limited Edition]), 1968 Live (Memories), 1969 Live (Elvis At The International)
#8 One Night (1957)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong
Other notable version: 1968 Live (Memories [Disc 2, Track 15])
#7 Love Me (1956)
Elvis
Other notable versions: 1956 Live (Young Man With The Big Beat), 1968 Live (Memories), 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1968 Rehearsal (Burbank 68), 1970 Live (Live In Las Vegas)
#6 Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Elvis’ Golden Records
Other notable version: 1968 Live (ELVIS-TV Special)
#5 Can’t Help Falling In Love (1961)
Blue Hawaii
Other notable versions: 1968 Live (ELVIS-TV Special), 1961 Movie Master (Blue Hawaii [1997 Special Edition]), 1969 Live (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Live (Live In Las Vegas)
#4 Suspicious Minds (1969)
Suspicious Minds/You’ll Think Of Me [RCA Single]
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Elvis At The International), 1969 Live (All Shook Up), 1969 Live (Live In Las Vegas), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition])
#3 Mystery Train (1955)
I Forgot To Remember To Forget/Mystery Train [SUN Single]
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Live In Vegas), 1969 Live (Collectors Gold), 1969 Live (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis), 1969 Live (Elvis At The International), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Live (One Night In Vegas)
#2 If I Can Dream (1968)
If I Can Dream/Edge Of Reality [RCA Single]
Other notable versions: 1968 TV Master (Memories [Disc 2, Track 19]), 1968 Take 1 (A Life In Music), 1968 TV Take 3 (Burbank 68), 1968 Take 4 (He Walks Beside Me)
#1 Always On My Mind [Rehearsal] (1972)
This Is Elvis
Other notable version: 1972 Master (Separate Ways)
May the Music be with us, always.
Elvis, 1977
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
–From “Citizenship In A Republic” by Theodore Roosevelt, Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, 1910.
In observance of Elvis Week and to honor the life of Elvis Presley, this is Part 3 of a countdown of his greatest songs. Read Part 2.
#50 Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
#49 As Long As I Have You (1958)
King Creole
#48 A Mess Of Blues [Take 1] (1960)
A Life In Music
Other notable version: 1960 Master (Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 4)
#47 Witchcraft (1963)
Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 4
#46 Twenty Days And Twenty Nights [Take 3] (1970)
The Nashville Marathon
Other notable versions: 1970 Master (That’s The Way It Is), 1970 Rough Mix (That’s The Way It Is [2008 FTD Edition]), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition])
#45 When It Rains, It Really Pours [Re-recording] (1957)
Elvis For Everyone!
Other notable version: 1955 Take 9 (A Legendary Performer, Volume 4)
#44 Funny How Time Slips Away (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1972 Rehearsal (Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals)
#43 My Baby Left Me (1956)
For LP Fans Only
#42 Amazing Grace (1971)
He Touched Me
Other notable version: 1971 Take 2 (Walk A Mile In My Shoes)
#41 The Wonder Of You [Live] (1970)
On Stage-February 1970
#40 Run On (1966)
How Great Thou Art
#39 Blue Moon (1954)
Elvis Presley
#38 Tomorrow Never Comes (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable version: 1970 Take 2 (The Nashville Marathon)
#37 Power Of My Love (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis
Other notable versions: 1969 Take 3 (A Life In Music), 1969 Take 6 (Memphis Sessions)
#36 I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day [Re-recording] (1971)
Memories Of Christmas
Other notable versions: 1971 Take 4 (A Life In Music), 1971 Master (Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas), 1971 Re-recording Take 9 (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1971 Re-recording Take 2 (I Sing All Kinds)
#35 Walk A Mile In My Shoes [Live] (1970)
Today, Tomorrow & Forever
Other notable versions: 1970 Live Master (On Stage-February 1970), 1970 Live (Polk Salad Annie)
#34 Kentucky Rain (1969)
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1
Other notable version: 1970 Live (Elvis Aron Presley)
#33 Johnny B. Goode [Rehearsal] (1972)
Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals
Other notable versions: 1970 Rehearsal (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1969 Live Master (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis)
#32 Stranger In The Crowd (1970)
That’s The Way It Is
Other notable version: 1970 Rough Mix (That’s The Way It Is [2008 FTD Edition])
#31 That’s All Right (1954)
That’s All Right/Blue Moon Of Kentucky [SUN Single]
Other notable versions: 1968 Live (Memories), 1968 Live (A Legendary Performer, Volume 4), 1970 Live (One Night In Vegas), 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Rehearsal (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1954 Live (The Hillbilly Cat), 1961 Live (Elvis Aron Presley), 1955 Live (The First Live Recordings)
#30 Pledging My Love (1976)
Moody Blue
Other notable version: Take 3 (A Life In Music)
#29 I Really Don’t Want To Know (1970)
I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country
Other notable versions: 1970 Undubbed Master (I’m 10,000 Years Old: Elvis Country [2008 FTD Edition]), 1977 Live (Elvis In Concert)
#28 How Great Thou Art (1966)
How Great Thou Art
Other notable versions: 1966 Take 2 (A Life In Music), 1974 Live [Alternate Mix] (Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis [2004 FTD Edition]), 1972 Live (Close Up)
#27 An American Trilogy [Live] (1972)
This Is Elvis
Other notable versions: 1972 Live Master (An American Trilogy/The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face [RCA Single]), 1973 Live (Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite), 1973 Live (The Alternate Aloha)
#26 Heartbreak Hotel [Live] (1968)
ELVIS-TV Special
Other notable versions: 1968 Live (Memories [Disc 2, Track 5]), 1956 Master (Elvis’ Golden Records), 1969 Live (Collectors Gold), 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration [Disc 1, Track 17])
To Be Continued . . .
In observance of Elvis Week and to honor the life of Elvis Presley, this is Part 2 of a countdown of his greatest songs. Read Part 1.
#75 Stranger In My Own Home Town (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis
#74 Rubberneckin’ (1969)
Almost In Love
Other notable version: 2003 Remix (2nd To None)
#73 Bridge Over Troubled Water [Alternate Mix] (1970)
Heart & Soul
Other notable versions: 1970 Live (That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]), 1970 Live (The Wonder Of You), 1971 Live (Elvis As Recorded At Boston Garden)
#72 So High (1966)
How Great Thou Art
#71 My Babe [Live] (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1969 Live (Elvis Aron Presley)
#70 Runaway [Live] (1969)
Collectors Gold
Other notable versions: 1969 Live (On Stage [1999 Special Edition]), 1969 Live (Elvis: Viva Las Vegas [2007 Limited Edition])
#69 Separate Ways (1972)
Separate Ways
Other notable version: 1972 Rehearsal (Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals)
#68 Bringing It Back (1975)
Today
#67 Early Morning Rain (1971)
Elvis Now
Other notable version: 1973 Re-recording (Mahalo From Elvis)
#66 Any Day Now (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis
Other notable versions: 1969 Take 2 (Memphis Sessions), 1972 Rehearsal (Stage Rehearsal)
#65 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (1956)
Elvis’ Golden Records
#64 I’m Comin’ Home (1961)
Something For Everybody
#63 Little Sister [Rehearsal] (1970)
That’s The Way It Is [2000 Special Edition]
Other notable versions: 1970 Live (Elvis Aron Presley), 1961 Master (Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3)
#62 Money Honey [Live] (1956)
A Golden Celebration
Other notable versions: 1956 Master (Elvis Presley), 1970 Rehearsal (A Life In Music)
#61 Guitar Man (1967)
Clambake
Other notable versions: 1967 Undubbed/Unedited Master (Elvis Sings Guitar Man), 1968 Re-recording (ELVIS-TV Special [Track 1]), 1968 Live (Burbank 68), 1967 Take 5 (Elvis Sings Guitar Man)
#60 Don’t Cry Daddy (1969)
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1
Other notable versions: 1970 Live (Greatest Hits, Volume One), 1970 Live (Polk Salad Annie)
#59 Baby, I Don’t Care (1957)
A Date With Elvis
#58 Hound Dog [Live] (1956)
Young Man With The Big Beat [Disc 3, Track 22]
Other notable versions: 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration [Disc 2, Track 6]), 1956 Master (Elvis’ Golden Records), 1956 Live (The Legend Begins: Elvis Live), 1969 Live (Elvis At The International), 1969 Live (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis)
#57 Don’t Be Cruel [Live] (1957)
A Golden Celebration
Other notable versions: 1956 Master (Elvis’ Golden Records), 1956 Live (Young Man With The Big Beat), 1956 Informal Recordings (The Million Dollar Quartet), 1968 Live (ELVIS-NBC TV Special), 1968 Live (Memories), 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration [Disc 3, Track 11], 1956 Live (A Golden Celebration [Disc 3, Track 16])
#56 I Was The One (1956)
For LP Fans Only
Other notable versions: 1956 Live (Young Man With The Big Beat [Disc 3, Track 15]), 1970 Live (Walk A Mile In My Shoes), 1970 Rehearsal (A Life In Music)
#55 I Feel So Bad (1961)
Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3
#54 I Want You With Me (1961)
Something For Everybody
#53 After Loving You (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis
Other notable versions: 1969 Take 2 (Suspicious Minds), 1969 Take 3 (Memphis Sessions)
#52 Wearin’ That Loved-On Look (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis
Other notable versions: 1969 Alternate Vocal Track (The Memphis Record), 1969 Take 10 (Memphis Sessions)
#51 In The Ghetto [Take 3] (1969)
A Life In Music
Other notable versions: 1969 Take 4 (From Nashville To Memphis), 1969 Take 11 (Memphis Sessions), 1969 Master (From Elvis In Memphis), 1969 Take 20 (Today, Tomorrow & Forever), 1969 Live (Live In Vegas)
To Be Continued . . .
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