Yesterday I felt like a kid in a candy shop when a surprise package was delivered by the postman. The upcoming Memphis Recording Service releases for Record Shop Day arrived. One of the pros of running a site like this... receiving review copies every now and then ;).
MRS decided to release vinyl versions of not only the fairly recent Live In The 50's, but also the older The Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives and Such A Night At Pearl Harbour for the upcoming Record Shop Day (April 16). For full details I'll add the press release below, but not before I give my humble opinion on the items.
It might not suprise you that I like this stuff. I am a vinyl lover in general, but I do skip most of the recent rehashes on vinyl, since it mostly offers nothing new. And of course these albums doesn't either, but it is Elvis live at his very best! And at least some of the material is for the first time on vinyl. Especially Such A Night still impresses me with the improvement the sound made compared to what we were used to all those years (officially!). I played most of the sides (I have to admit I skipped the interview side this time) more than once already and while writing I have to stand up to play the Tupelo evening show for the 3rd time.
Some say it is imagination, but I am happy with my conviction that vinyl DOES sound better than CDs. And these discs underline that for me. While listening to the LPs holding the cover and thumbing through the book give the experience an extra dimension.
The only minor I could find is that very few pictures suffer from the large format... they get a bit grainy. Also in my case the sealing of Such a NIght was a bit to tight, so you see the shape of the record pressed in the cover, but that didn't happen to the other two. So maybe that little flaw happened in the mail.
I can only conclude with the advise to push your record shop to get you a copy, since they will only be sold afterwards if their are copies left in stock. Vinyl lovers will not need this advise probably, but be sure to lay your paws on them if you can! On-line I only saw Such A NIght pop up so far at Amazon.
As promised here are the full details:
Memphis Recording Service will release Limited Edition pressings of Elvis’ entire live concert performance recordings from 1954 – 1961 on 3 exclusive double LP vinyl’s, each with a 24-page gatefold, for Record Store Day on April 16th 2016.
The titles are ‘LIVE IN THE 50’s - THE COMPLETE TOUR RECORDINGS’, ‘THE COMPLETE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE ARCHIVES 1954 – 1956’ and ‘SUCH A NIGHT IN PEARL HARBOR’ with all of the tracks remastered, they will be the best on vinyl for many years to come.
Memphis Recording Service would like to reiterate that these releases are exclusive for Record Store Day retailers ONLY. If any leftovers the week after April 16th can only then, (under RSD rules) be available by your local Elvis dealer.
Details for each release are as follows:
LIVE IN THE 50’s - THE COMPLETE TOUR RECORDINGS (2LP 24 PAGE GATEFOLD)
This LIMITED EDITION 180 gram 2LP set contains for the first time ever, the complete archival live tour recordings of the 1950’s by Elvis Presley. All of the 34 tracks are re-mastered using the most sophisticated technology and includes a bonus track of recently discovered material. The bonus 24 page gatefold photo album has many rare and unreleased photographs and every show listing in the 1950’s.
SIDE A -
19th March 1955 - Eagles Hall, Houston, Texas
01. GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT
02. BABY LET’SPLAY HOUSE
03. BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY
04. I GOT A WOMAN
05. THAT’S ALL RIGHT
6th May 1956 - New Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas NV
06. HEARTBREAK HOTEL
07. LONG TALL SALLY
08. BLUE SUEDE SHOES
09. MONEY HONEY
SIDE B
16th May 1956 - Robinson Auditorium, Little Rock AR
01. HEARTBREAK HOTEL
02. LONG TALL SALLY
03. I WAS THE ONE
04. MONEY HONEY
05. I GOT A WOMAN
06. BLUE SUEDE SHOES
07. HOUND DOG
BONUS TRACK
26th May 1955 - Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi
08. THAT‘S ALL RIGHT
SIDE C
26th September 1956 - Mississippi-Alabama Fairgrounds, Tupelo MS (Afternoon Performance)
01. HEARTBREAK HOTEL
02. LONG TALL SALLY
03. I WAS THE ONE
04. I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU
05. I GOT A WOMAN
06. DON’T BE CRUEL
07. READY TEDDY
08. LOVE ME TENDER
09. HOUND DOG
08. Love Me Tender
09. Hound Dog
SIDE D
26th September 1956 - Mississippi-Alabama Fairgrounds, Tupelo MS (Evening Performance)
01. LOVE ME TENDER
02. I WAS THE ONE
03. I GOT A WOMAN
04. DON’T BE CRUEL
05. BLUE SUEDE SHOES
06. BABY LET’S PLAY HOUSE
07. HOUND DOG
Vancouver Fragments 31st Aug 1957
08. HEARTBREAK HOTEL/ I WAS THE ONE/ I GOT A WOMAN/ THATS WHEN YOU HEARTACHES BEGIN
THE COMPLETE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE ARCHIVES 1954 – 1956 (2LP 24 PAGE GATEFOLD)
This LIMITED EDITION 180 gram 2LP set contains for the first time ever, the complete archival live recordings of the Louisiana Hayride by Elvis Presley from 1954 – 1956 on vinyl. All of the 33 tracks herein are re-mastered using the most sophisticated technology and include recently discovered material, including a live version of ‘I Forgot to Remember to Forget’ and a brand new song ‘Little Mama’, released for the first time ever on vinyl. The bonus 24-page booklet has many rare and unreleased photographs. It contains extensive linear notes, with informative and historical facts on Elvis’s time with the Louisiana Hayride during 1954 - 1956.
SIDE A
16th October 1954
01. Hayride Begins Jingle
02. Introduction/ That's All Right
03. Blue Moon of Kentucky
15th January 1955
04. Hearts of Stone
05. That’s All Right
06. Tweedle Dee
22nd January 22nd 1955
07. Money Honey
08. Blue Moon of Kentucky
09. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine
10. That’s All Right
SIDE B
5th March 1955
01. Tweedle Dee
02. Money Honey
03. Hearts of Stone
04. Shake, Rattle & Roll
05. Little Mama
06. You’re a Heartbreaker
30th April 1955 – Gladewater, Texas (Remote Louisiana Hayride Broadcast)
07. Tweedle Dee
2nd July 1955
08. I’m Left You’re Right She’s Gone
SIDE