FTD did release a real classic album recently. The soundtrack of Elvis’ fourth movie, King Creole, is now available as a 2CD in the classy 7” format.
Design
The design is as usual, a pretty informative booklet with pictures, sleeves, newspaper and magazine clippings and other memorabilia. Suppose we all know the format by now. Of course the usual mistakes are present too.
Content
In my eyes, or should I say ears, this Elvis’ best soundtrack, although Jailhouse Rock is very close and Loving You not too far away. All others can only take a deep bow for these three. The sound is very clear, of the masters, but also of Thorne Nogar’s live mono mixes. These were taped and mixed at the same time, but not used for the records (those masters were down mixed from the binaureal versions).
All together the first CD gives nothing really special, but it is pure pleasure to listen to. Not enough repetition to get boring, as a matter of fact it has been a long time ago that I played a CD more than 5 times in a row and this one made it!
While putting the 2nd CD – only filled with demos – into the player I said to the mrs. “pay attention, it’s probably the only time you’ll hear it”. Now, having the CD for only 5 days, that turned out to be false information, since I played it a second time since. Actually it is quite funny and interesting to hear how close Elvis stayed with the demo most of the times. Not all versions are great, but all together a fun listen too!
Conclusion
FTD finally made me really happy again, too bad there is not much more and they did not use all they have.
