I was 24 when I wrote this item back in 1999. This is part of a series of archival Elvis writings — informal pieces originally written for family, friends, other purposes, or just me. They reflect how I was engaging with Elvis’ music in the years between The Elvis Beat and my blog writing.

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Sunrise (1999)

• I haven’t had time to compare Sunrise with The Complete 50s Masters to see if the quality is the same, better, or worse. My initial reaction when I played it for the first time a few months ago, though, was that the tracks sounded slightly better than the ones on The Complete 50s Masters. I could’ve been fooling myself, though. I’ve done that before.
• The first four songs on Disc 2 are, of course, Elvis’ historic first acetate recordings. The first three had been released before, but “It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You” was included for the first time here. That’s actually one of the main reasons I bought the set, because I wanted to have the remaining pre-professional recording. I believe that’s the last of them.
• Track 10 on Disc 2 starts mid-song. No explanation was given in RCA’s liner notes. It is, after all, an alternate, so it may be that the beginning of the song did not survive or was unusable. Although I’m not sure RCA considers anything “unusable” anymore, as you’ll find later on Disc 2.
• Tracks 12 and 13 on Disc 2 are acetate recordings of moderate sound quality.
• Tracks 14-19 on Disc 2 are all live acetate recordings. The sound quality is, to say the least, horrible. I’m not sure why RCA chose to release these particular tracks, other than an excuse to slap a “previously unreleased” star beside more songs. The horrendous sound quality makes them of little real value. Clearer live versions of nearly all of the tracks from the same time period were already available. Oh well.

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. That’s All Right
2. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
3. Good Rockin’ Tonight
4. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine
5. Milkcow Blues Boogie
6. You’re A Heartbreaker
7. Baby, Let’s Play House
8. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
9. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
10. Mystery Train
11. I Love You Because
12. Harbor Lights
13. Blue Moon
14. Tomorrow Night
15. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)
16. Just Because
17. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version)
18. Trying To Get To You
19. When It Rains, It Really Pours

Disc 2

1. My Happiness
2. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
3. I’ll Never Stand In Your Way
4. It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You*
5. I Love You Because (alternate take)
6. That’s All Right (alternate take)
7. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (alternate take)
8. Blue Moon* (alternate take)
9. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) (alternate take)
10. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine (alternate take)
11. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) (alternate take)
12. Fool, Fool, Fool
13. Shake, Rattle & Roll
14. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone* (live)
15. That’s All Right* (live)
16. Money Honey* (live)
17. Tweedlee Dee* (live)
18. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine* (live)
19. Hearts Of Stone* (live)

*Previously unreleased