After being merely occupied with technical stuff behind this site for more than two weeks, I finally found the time to put down my thoughts on the last FTD release I received, the book/CD King Creole – The Music
Design
The design is coherent with previous FTD books. I like it when series like this are recognizable like this.
Content
The text is taken from Ernst Jorgensen’s A Life In Music, thus not much new here. There’s a “Who’s who”, with all musicians listed, including photo. A nice idea!
A lot of the pictures were unpublished before. For some that’s obvious, since there is a few that is totally out of focus and blurred. The whole gives a nice impression thou, especially with the CD playing on (nearly) full power! The last one sounds fantastic and made me realize that I didn’t play the soundtrack for too long.
Conclusion
This release made me realize why King Creole is my favourite movie again. It is where Elvis is all about: the rock’n’roller that leaves everybody else far behind him. His later successes were only a tiny echo of what he had been.
KING CREOLE – THE MUSIC CD TRACK LISTING
01 King Creole – take 13 – 2:08
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
02 As Long As I Have You – take 10 – 1:50
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
03 Hard Headed Woman – take 10 – 1:53
Claude DeMetrius
04 Trouble – take 5 – 2:17
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
05 Dixieland Rock – take 14 – 1:47
Claude DeMetrius/Fred Wise
06 Don't Ask Me Why – take 12 – 2:06
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
07 Lover Doll - take 7 – 2:08
Sid Wayne/Abner Silver
08 Crawfish – take 7 – 1:49
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
09 Young Dreams – take 8 – 2:23
Martin Kalmanoff/Aaron Schroeder
10 Steadfast, Loyal And True 1:15
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
11 New Orleans – take 5 1:59
Sid Tepper/Roy C. Bennett
BONUS MATERIAL
12 Danny – take 10 – 1:52
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
13 As Long As I Have You – (movie version) – take 4 – 0:56
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
14 Lover Doll (undubbed EP master) – take 7 – 2:14
Sid Wayne/Abner Silver
15 King Creole (1. version) - take 3 – 2:05
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
16 Steadfast, Loyal And True (1. version) – take 6 – 1:31
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
17 As Long As I Have You (unused movie version) – take 8 – 1:24
Fred Wise/Ben Weisman
18 King Creole (1. version) – take 18 – 2:16
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
19 Steadfast, Loyal And True (undubbed version) – 1:15
Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
I was thinking of buying this but the price is too high, but I agree King Creole was his crowning achievement in both film and soundtrack LP.
$80 for a book and a useless CD? No,thanks!
I've said this before but I'll say it again; why would anyone shell out $80.00 or more for a book and music that, if you bought the 1997 CD edition of King Creole, you've got it all. A book with some of the photos our of focus or blurred? Give me a break. This CD would have sold big time if it were just issued as a Classic Edition FTD CD. That won't happen with this con job unfortunately for we fans. I personally would have shelled out the money for an FTD Edition with attending booklet inside as others I've boughten. Sorry not this time FTD. You've slaughtered the fattened calf for good with this heist.
I've got the music. Don't want the book. Maybe one day FTD will package the CD without the book. Then I might buy the music again for improved sound. I don't listen to this soundtrack very often anyway.
One of FTD's most reqested releases and again fails to deliver!......sure the package is along the lines of previous cd/book combo's but to be honest a huge expence for material we have had for some time. King Creole deserved at least a 7" 2cd set and not a over-priced book package with some rare photo's.
Have to say of course i brought it and after playing and reading the book this will be destined to the top shelf in my Elvis room and may not be looked at for quite some time. At £40 do i feel i had value for money well no,but as a Elvis fan/collector it keeps my FTD up to date.....after all again that's what we do.
Without a doubt, to me, KC was by far his best movie and soundtrack LP. Nothing else comes close (maybe Clambake?). That being said, I find it ludicrous to spend 80.00 on a CD that contains not one new song and a book that has a few new pictures. I think FTD has crossed the 'milk it' line with this release. Fans buy anything and they know that. Those days for me, are long over. In fact, Ive sold most of my FTDs that were collecting dust on a shelf.
Elvis interest is a many different things, of course! I have bought the KC- Combo and I'm glad I did. I dig the photo's and the music, allthough I have some of it some where else!!! This may sound insane to you but I consider myself a collector who are fortunate(to this date) to supply to my E collection.
As someone who actually owns this book all I can say is this is a fantastic release from FTD. The audio CD - simply a companion piece - features the new "2007 remasters" and walks all over the old 1997 BMG CD, which obviously used a lot of noise reduction to remove as much hiss from the sound as possible. This new FTD edition showcases the audio in all its free glory.
The book itself is greatly compiled featuring a large archive of photographs from this classic period. There are not many at all that are "blurred or out of focus". It is always a great joy to gaze over 1950s Presley stills which here are presented in a simple way, letting the images speak for themselves. Great stuff!
As for the price - since FTD books are private publications and not produced by a publishing house I suggest that the retail prices for these projects reflect that actual costs to privately finance their production. Perhaps those complaining all the time about the cost of FTD books should do their own investigations to see how much it would cost them to privately produce their own book projects for sale. This is a A1 product.
Now we have two reviews from people who have actually purchased and seen the product, many thanks Matt and Dan. I have for a long time challenged the people who complain about the prices charged by FTD and Joe Tunzi to do it themselves. Compile the books, pay for the use of the photographs and printing, sell them and wait for the money to roll in. They obviously think that they can do better, so do it. People even complain about the prices it cost to post the very heavy FTD books, as if they have any say or control over postal prices! Somebody below writes that the "King Creole" soundtrack should be given the deluxe 2-CD treatment. I would ask what exactly would fill the second disc, the missing presumed destroyed out-takes?
Dan, Matt and Tony : couldn't agree more ! It's great to read such postings ! I'm with you all the way ! Always El.
I have bought it, and it`s GREAT! Lots of pictures I have never seen before, like the ones from the filming of the song "Danny" (wich I did not know they filmed for the movie..) So thats give hope for some unreleased movie out takes in the future...
If I can find it discounted down the road, I may pick this up as it the reviews are favorable and it is my favorite Elvis movie & soundtrack. I just cant spend 80.00 for it.
Purchased the book when it came out and found it an enjoyable experience. Possibly a little pricey but would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Inside Jailhouse Rock/Inside King Creole books from a few years back. A good quality product.
