MRS (Memphis Recordings Service) most recent outing is a book/6CD combination, handling the early 1960s: The Essential 1960-62 Masters, Rare Outtakes & Home Recordings.
Design
The package is, gladly, different from what we are used to. The plastic CD-holders are replaced with thick paper envelopes (pages glued together). So no more flying discs, unless you are really clumsy.
Beside the liner notes of Gordon Minto the book is full with the well-known promo shots, candids, album and single covers and some other memorabilia. Once again a very nice package for the eye by MRS.
Content
The Gordon Minto’s liner notes are enjoyable as always, but we learn nothing new.
The sound is good, at least of most of the official recordings. The home recordings are, well home recordings. I do not enjoy them in general, but the 1966 ones are ok. Talking about that what are they doing in this box of 1960-62 masters? And what is that one track from December 1956 doing here? Not even to mention a terrible sounding phone conversation, is there really anyone interested in that stuff? If so, enjoy it, I didn’t! The days I loved anything Elvis, if they ever existed, are way beyond me.
Anyway, the first 2 CDs are super… Elvis was probably vocally at his best during these years and it is always a joy to listen to. But did we really need two more CDs with this material? The same goes for the outtakes, FTD is rehashing the material for the third time now, do we really need third parties doing the same? Especially when material from years later, but at least mostly 1966 again, is used to fill up the fourth CD.
Conclusion
This is far from MRS’ best release, an incoherent release to say the least, but in a nice jacket.
Tracklisting
CD1 – THE ESSENTIAL 1960 MASTERS
1. Make Me Know It
2. Soldier Boy
3. Stuck on You
4. Fame and Fortune
5. A Mess of Blues
6. It Feels So Right
7. Fever
8. Like A Baby
9. It's Now or Never
10. The Girl of My Best Friend
11. Dirty Dirty Feeling
12. Thrill of Your Love
13. I Gotta Know
14. Such a Night
15. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
16. The Girl Next Door Went A-Walking
17. I Will Be Home Again
18. Reconsider Baby (with count-in)
19. Surrender (with count-in)
20. Milky White Way
21. His Hand in Mine
22. I Believe in the Man in the Sky
23. He Knows Just What I Need
24. Mansion Over the Hilltop
25. In My Father's House
26. Joshua Fit the Battle
27. Swing Down Sweet Chariot
28. I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
29. If We Never Meet Again
30. Known Only to Him
31. Working on the Building
CD2 – THE ESSENTIAL 1961 - 1962 MASTERS
01 I'm Comin' Home
02. Gently
03. In Your Arms
04. Give Me the Right
05. I Feel So Bad
06. It's a Sin
07. I Want You With Me
08. There's Always Me
09. Starting Today
10. Sentimental Me
11. Judy
12. Put the Blame On Me
13. Kiss Me Quick
14. That's Someone You Never Forget
15. I'm Yours (SINGLE UNDUBBED MASTER)
16. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
17. Little Sister
18. Good Luck Charm
19. Anything That's Part of You
20. Night Rider
21. Something Blue
22. Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
23. (Such An) Easy Question
24. Fountain of Love
25. Just for Old Time Sake
26. I Feel That I've Known You Forever
27. Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
28. Suspicion
29. She's Not You
BONUS TRACKS
30. Steppin' Out of Line (With Count-in)
31. I'm Yours (LP DUBBED MASTER)
CD3 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1960 – 1961
1. Make Me Know It (Takes 2LFS, 8
2. Make Me Know It (Takes 14*,16)
3. Soldier Boy (Take 11)
4. Fame and Fortune (Take 1FS x 4 & Comp)
5. Fame and Fortune (Takes 3FS, 6LFS, 7FS & Comp)
6. Fame and Fortune (Take 8)
7. Fame and Fortune (Take 9FS & Comp)
8. Fame and Fortune (Takes 10LFS, 11, 12LFS)
9. Fame and Fortune (Take 14)
10. A Mess of Blues (Take 4LFS)
11. He Knows Just What I Need (Take 9)
12. In My Father's House (Take 8)
13. In My Father's House (Workpart Take 1)
14. I Want You With Me (Tryout)
15. There's Always Me (Take 3FS)
16. Put the Blame On Me (Takes 3FS,4FS)
17. Kiss Me Quick (Take 2)
18. Kiss Me Quick (Take 3)
19. Kiss Me Quick (Takes 5LFS, 6)
20. Kiss Me Quick (Take 7)
21. Kiss Me Quick (Takes 8LFS, 9)
22. Kiss Me Quick (Take 10)
23. Kiss Me Quick (Take 11)
24. I'm Yours (Take 5, Workparts Takes 1,2)
25. Little Sister (Takes 10LFS, 11LFS)
26. For the Millionth and Last Time (Takes 3FS, 4, 5FS & Comp)
27. For the Millionth and Last Time (Takes 8, 9FS,11FS)
CD4 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1961 – 1962
01. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame (Takes 7FS,9FS)
02. Anything That's Part of You (Takes 7FS,3)
03. I Met Her Today (Takes 3FS ,5LFS ,6FS & Comp)
04. I Met Her Today (Takes 10FS, 11FS, 12FS, 13)
05. I Met Her Today (Takes 14, 15FS)
06. I Met Her Today (Takes 17FS,19FS, 20LFS)
07. Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (Take 4)
08. Fountain of Love (Takes 1FS, 2, 3FS FS, 4LFS)
09. Fountain of Love (Takes 5FS, 6)
10. Fountain of Love (Takes 7FS, 8FS, 9)
11. Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (Tryout)
12. Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (Take 3)
13. Suspicion (Take 4 splice w end of Take 5)
14. She's Not You (Take 2FS & Comp)
15. She's Not You (Work-parts Takes 1-3)
BONUS ALTERNATE TRACKS (1966-67)
16. Come What May (Take 1LFS)
17. Down In the Alley (Takes 7,8)
18. Stand by Me (Takes 3,4,5,6,7)
19. Without Him (Takes 4FS, 7FS)
20. Somebody Bigger Than You & I (Takes 2, 4-10)
21. Somebody Bigger Than You & I (Workpart Ending Takes 1-4)
22. Goin’ Home* ( Takes 3,4,5,7,10 – 14)
CD5 – THE COMPLETE 1960’S HOME RECORDINGS
1.You'll Never Walk Alone (incomplete)
2.If I Loved You
3.The Lords Prayer / If I Loved You (reprise)
4.I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder
5.An Evening Prayer (incomplete)
6.Make Believe
7.She Wears My Ring
8.Sweet Leilani (#1)
9.Sweet Leilani (#2)
10.Sweet Leilani (#3)
11.Beyond The Reef (incomplete)
12. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
13.He
14.Hands Off
15.Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (incomplete)
BONUS TRACK (1961)
16. “You’re’ Driving Me Crazy”
CD6 – THE 1966 HOME RECORDINGS
1. After Loving You
2. If I Loved You
3. Show Me Thy Ways, O' Lorde
4. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
5. Hide Thou Me (Rock Of Ages)(#1)
6. Hide Thou Me (Rock Of Ages)(#2)
7. It's No Fun Being Lonely
8. San Antonio Rose
9. Tennessee Waltz (#1)
10. Tennessee Waltz (#2)
11. I've Been Blue
12. Mary Lou Brown
13. Moonlight Sonata
14. Blue Hawaii
15. Oh How I Love Jesus (#1 #2)
16. I, John (incomplete)
17. Write To Me From Naples
18. My Heart Cries For You
19. Dark Moon (Take 1)
20. Dark Moon (Take 2)
21. Indescribably Blue
22. Fools Rush In (Stereo)
23. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
24. What Now My Love (#1)
25. What Now My Love (#2)
26. Five Hundred Miles (#1)
27. Five Hundred Miles (#2)
28. Blowin' In The Wind (#1)
29. Blowin' In The Wind (#2)
30. Suppose (#1)
31. Suppose (#2)
BONUS TRACK (1956)
32. When The Saints Go Marching In