Finally a “new” song showed up, is it worth a CD?
Design
The cover is partly based upon the legendary 4LP set Behind Closed Doors, the addition of tapes and a cassette perfectly fits the source – home recordings – of the content.
The 32 page booklet is too thick for a normal CD case. It opens with a picture of Graceland – strange, since none of the recordings were taped there. The informative and interesting liner notes are merely decorated with candid shots, but there are also some publicity shots used.
Content
The CD opens with the “new” material. The sound is okay, better than most home recordings, slightly less than the known 1973 material from Sam Thompson’s house. A funny version of Spanish Eyes precedes Young At Heart, which is just more than a one-liner. Then – drum roll – it is time for – more drums – the new track! Not less than 32 years after his passing Elvis brings us a new song. Let Me Be The One is not really spectacular as song, but the (explicit) humor and Elvis playing with the base line and a pretty good finale makes it all worth while.
That’s about all that can be said about this CD, since the “Sam Thompson stuff” is known, although the quality on this disc is slightly better than on other releases. It is fun to hear every now and then, but not something I return to often.
The 1960 stuff may be in stereo for a part, but shitty sound in stereo stays shitty sound. Especially the beginning is way too loud, which makes listening NOT a pleasant experience. It gets better on the way, but in general it’s not my piece of cake. The songs that I do like (Keep Your Hands Off Of Her, Lawdy Miss Clawdy) are way too short.
Conclusion
The title track will certainly end up on my MP3 player (for a while) and I might gift the 1970’s stuff a few spins, but I will definitely stop the CD when You’ll Never Walk Alone is reached… The new song and the artwork makes this release worthwhile.
Track listing
01. Dialogue / Spanish Eyes #1 / Dialogue ; 02. Young At Heart (partial) / Dialogue ; 03. Let Me Be The One ; 04. Baby, What You Want Me To Do ; 05. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry ; 06. Rocky Top (instrumental); 07. Spanish Eyes #2 (with reprise) ; 08. C. C. Rider ; 09. That's All Right, Mama; 10. Your Life Has Just Begun; 11. Tear Drops / 'sorority songs'; 12. Elvis recites a poem / Dialogue ; 13. You'll Never Walk Alone (partial) * ; 14. If I Loved You * ; 15. The Lord's Prayer / If I Loved You (reprise) * ; 16. I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder * ; 17. An Evening Prayer (partial) * ; 18. Make Believe * ; 19. She Wears My Ring *; 20. Sweet Leilani #1 * ; 21. Sweet Leilani # 2 * ; 22. Sweet Leilani (reprise) ; 23. Beyond The Reef ; 24. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano ; 25. He ; 26. Hands Off ; 27. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (partial)
Tracks 1-3 recorded in Elvis Presley's Home, Palm Springs, CA,- April 1974.
Tracks 4-11 recorded at Sam Thompson home, Memphis, TN - November 1973.
Tracks 12-25 recorded at EP's Residence at Monovale Dr., Hollywood, CA. - November 1960.
* denotes stereo recording
Total running time: 52:15
The new song is worth the disc alone. Elvis is clearly audible and his comments are spicy. A nice song. BTW the unrleased bits and pieces are a nice addition; the booklet is outstanding, so much text and many photos, sound is o.k too
I got this, listened to it a couple of times and resold it. The unknown track (especially elvis his effort at the ending is fantastic) and the other tracks I already know by known. I love to listen to elvis playing around with songs he obviously liked but I must say that I do not like all of these selections..
I'm looking for it allready. Ciscoking is right. The one new song will make it worth buying. And hearing Elvis clowning around will contribute to the enjoyment; also. It wont be the first time I've bought an Elvis CD or record because of one song on it. As much as I love the man; he was forced to record some dud movie songs. I hope they find more.
A new song to me is something that Elvis professionally recorded in the studio with a real band, such as 100 Years From Now, Beyond The Reef, etc. This song is just fooling around. Ive sold my CDs containing home recordings. They are fun to listen to once but basically are a hard listen & become dust collectors.
I am rather an Elvis CD collector than a dust collector...
Well i personally am a cd and dust collector,so i guess i cant go wrong with this release!
I listened to this once - don't think I'll be playing it again. And the sleeve notes just ramble and ramble on. Now I know why FTD have never put out 'Let Me Be The One' - because it's not very good.
But it has Elvis cursing aint that cool enough to make you want it?
Harvey Alexander wrote: Now I know why FTD have never put out 'Let Me Be The One' - because it's not very good. - no. Because they do not have it. They released much worse.
A new "song" always is a good thing and with more or less good sound. And MORE important, to FTD! Please release ALL your releases on vinyl at same time that cds. In my case I'll only buy the vinyl part. Sound is a million times better on vinyl at FTD!!!! (at least in my high fidelity sound system)
I really enjoyed this new song,..I haven`t heard it before and it sounds great..the more spins I give it the more I like it..I never read so many liner notes btw...lol...great disc really..!!!!
The new song is great,i love it! The Sam Thompson recording is also new to me,plus there are unreleased bits and pieces on the 1960 recording,too. Elvis is very handsome on the cover photo. Baby boy. I want more stuff like this. Unreleased and improved home recordings without edits. Wayup is probably right,FTD don't have LMBTW,because they released much worse material (Moonlight Sonata etc). But i'm satisfied even with M.S.,as this is Elvis,maybe not in his best form,but it's Elvis. Love,Erika
Servus Elvis fans, the CD opens not really with a 'new' material because the first track (I call the song SPANISH GUYS) is available on a CD called THE BOY FROM TUPELO produced by Shaun Nielsen Enterprises. Also on the CD is 'Let Me Be The One' sung by Shaun Nielsen.
pelvisb, who is waiting for the singing saw?
Servus Lex, why do you call Elvis a "Singing Saw"? It's only a joke, I know what do you mean. The first release with Elvis singing SPANISH EYES (Guys) - the version we're talking about - was THE BOY FROM TUPELO and later you can hear the same version on SONGS TO SING. And so the first song on the new release LET ME BE THE ONE isn't really a new release.
I was talking about that Nielsen figure.
after listening to Let Me Be The One, I think: He really should have delievered his own version. Sounds great at the end of the tape! Would have been a soulful rendtition and a great live song! Perfectly tailored for Presley's voice.
Great new song. Thank you.