Conductor’s Reflections

With FTD Elvis Collector Releases, Do You Get What You Pay For? (Conductor’s Reflections #2)

/ TY / 2 Comments

A comment from Ray on my previous post inspired today’s entry, making me ask, “Are CDs in the Follow That Dream Records collector series worth the price for Elvis fans?”

I’m going to discuss this issue in terms of American dollars and prices because that is the information to which I have easiest access. However, I’m sure that the underlying concepts of what I’m talking about will be applicable in whichever currency you choose to deal in. You’ll just have to do the conversion for yourself, because I’m too lazy to do that.

The cost of your average FTD collector release CD is about $29.98 US. At least here, these releases are not available in stores, so you’re also likely going to be paying for shipping. Standard shipping is going to run you about $6.85. If you buy more than one at a time, which I tend to do, you can often save on overall shipping.

However, to keep our example simple, I’ll include shipping in the price of the CD and assume we’re talking about buying just one release at a time. That brings our grand total to $36.83. For convenience, we’ll even round that up to $37.

At first glance, that seems like a hefty price for a CD release. However, whether it is worth it depends on which FTD you are buying. The recent Good Times release contained 47 tracks spread over two CDs. That works out to about $0.79 a track.

The average price for downloading a music track on iTunes or Amazon is $0.99. You’ve saved $0.20 a track, plus received the full-fledged CD versions in perfect sound and a booklet packaged in a nice case about the length and width of an old 45 RPM record sleeve. In addition, many of these tracks are not even available on iTunes or Amazon (they should be, but that’s an editorial for another day).

The single disc releases, of course, give you less overall value per track. The High Sierra concert release I was talking about in my last post is one CD at 28 tracks. That works out to about $1.32 a track. If it turns out to be a great concert, that is probably worth it. If it’s a dud, then you’re probably better off saving your money for a different release. We won’t know for sure until it’s released and the online reviews start rolling in.

Most of the single disc releases come in a smaller case and do not include a booklet. Coming in at 21 tracks, last year’s single disc The Wonder of You works out to $1.76 a track.

That’s a steal, worth every single penny. This August 13, 1970, performance is one of the best FTD releases thus far. I would have been willing to pay double the price or more.

I don’t buy every FTD release, though. Far from it. At around 12 releases a year, the $37 price tag prevents me from doing that. This is probably a good thing, because it makes me be selective rather than blindly buying every release simply because it has the name “Elvis” on it.

I have found that the best Elvis purchases are CDs and DVDs, so if you’re debating between an FTD CD and an Elvis “collectible” rubber ducky, PEZ dispenser, bobble head, or what have you, do yourself a favor and spend the money on the CD. At least you’re getting something that Elvis had some hand in creating. Who cares about a bobble head?

When you’re buying FTDs, especially those that have already been out for awhile, it’s always a good idea to check online for reviews. Find a reviewer out there that you trust. For me, I go with the opinions of Thomas over at Elvis Today. We tend to agree on most things Elvis – so if he likes a release, I’ll probably like it, too. (By the way, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out his great FTD-related post this week.)

With over 80 FTDs to choose from so far, you’ll find that some are well worth the price and others may spend more time on your shelf than in your CD player.

Finally, we have to remember that this is a collectors label with a very limited distribution. We pay a premium at times, but it sure beats only being able to buy mainstream releases like Elvis 75: Good Rockin’ Tonight or 30 #1 Hits. Or, worse, Elvis bobble heads.

* * *

Thanks, Ray, for inspiring today’s post!

What Graceland’s broken gates reveal about us (Conductor’s Reflections #1)

/ TY / 4 Comments

Over the weekend, I was happy to see a portion of one of Thomas’ Elvis Today blog posts picked up by no less than Elvis Australia, Elvis Information Network, and ElvisNews.com.

While at ElvisNews.com, another story also caught my eye: Graceland Gates Damaged.

In the middle of the night on Friday, a motorist apparently crashed through Graceland’s famous music gates, shouted something to a security guard, and then fled the scene.

Appalling behavior, of course, but what I found even more appalling were the views of some of the Elvis fans that posted reactions on ElvisNews.com.

Attention immediately focused on the suspect’s race, while some called Graceland’s surroundings a “ghetto” and a “hood” and suggested that the whole area be bulldozed and its occupants evicted. To top it off, insults were hurled at the entire city of Memphis.

I have a simple question. How can people who spend so much time listening to Elvis manage never to hear his message?

There was a guy who said one time, he said, ‘You never stood in that man’s shoes, or saw things through his eyes. Or stood and watched with helpless hands while the heart inside you dies. So help your brother along the way, no matter where he starts. For the same God that made you, made him, too – these men with broken hearts.'” –Elvis Presley, 1970, quoting Hank Williams, Sr.

Though often associated with extravagant wealth, Elvis rose out of a poor background. From his early days of fame all the way through to the end, he often gave to his community. Though he eventually had everything, he obviously remembered what it was like to have nothing. 

People don’t you understand? A child needs a helping hand, or he’ll grow to be an angry young man some day. Take a look at you and me, are we too blind to see, or do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?” –From “In The Ghetto,” Elvis Presley song, 1969 (written by Mac Davis)

The answer is not to extend Graceland’s walls out and create an antiseptic Disneyland for Elvis fans. The answer is not to kick out Graceland’s neighbors in the name of “improvement,” but rather to help those same neighbors improve their community.

Yes, there is crime in Shelby County. Yes, there is crime in Memphis. Don’t look too far out of your own backdoor, though, because you might find out that crime is closer than you think.

Graceland is a part of Memphis, just like Elvis once was a part of Memphis. To ignore Memphis, to ignore the context of Graceland – whether in the past when Elvis lived there or in the present day when thousands of fans spend money to visit there – is to turn visiting Graceland into something no more real than visiting the Magic Kingdom. Sure, it’s a lot of fun, but at the end of the day, it’s all meaningless illusions.

Is that really what Elvis fans want for Graceland? I think we can do better.

If I can dream of a better land, where all my brothers walk hand-in-hand, tell me why can’t my dream come true?” –From “If I Can Dream,” Elvis Presley song, 1968 (written by W. Earl Brown)