Graceland have just added a new "Special Listening Session and Live Unboxing Taping" event to Elvis Week.
They promise, "Be among the very first to hear previously unreleased Elvis music – and witness the live taping of a special “unboxing” video for a yet-to-be-announced Elvis Presley box set – at this very special panel. Hosted by Tom Brown and mixing engineer Matt Ross-Spang, you can be in the audience while they talk in detail about the background of the new collection and play never-before-heard music!"
The session is on Thursday, August 12. 4pm. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
It is FREE - but you must reserve a ticket.
What could it be ? EOT ? 1971 follow up to the last year 1970 box set ?
Jesus Oliver Marquina...Concerning his 71 recording output, he did have a cold at one session (I believe I heard it was the one in which he recorded 'Its Only Love') and he had suffered from "Vegas throat" part of that year and that is evident when he performs in Vegas that year and sings numbers like 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'. That said, his voice is damn near perfect on 'Merry Christmas Baby' (the ending to this song is phenomenal), 'Lead Me Guide Me and Reach Out to Jesus', among others. The pop material was weaker
and sound more dated than the 1970 songs, but there were some still excellent recordings ('Until It's Time For You to Go', 'I'm Leavin', etc.). There might have also been some indifference in Elvis' voice as he seemed to be growing weary of studio work. The three albums per year was a dumb contact that did not promote artistic growth and RCA had mismanaged his 1970 recordings with their release schedule. Why in the world were two great albums released within six weeks of each other? ('That's the Way It Is' and 'Elvis Country'). In addition, RCA released two budget albums, divided the two record 'From Memphis To Vegas' into two separate releases around the same time. This confused the record buying public and really disrespected his new work and hurt the chart performance and sales of the two new albums. Elvis' 71 output produced enough pop/folk material for a good album. However 'Elvis Now' was a disrespectful representation by RCA as they took three leftovers and his worst sacred recording of 71 ('Miracle of the Rosary') and combined them with six new tracks. The sessions also produced a fine Christmas LP and an uneven but still very good sacred LP. With the mismanagement of his material is there any wonder why he only recorded a handful of songs in 72 and didn't hold another good long session until December of 73?
it sounds like it'll be a box set honoring his '71 nashville sessions.
that'll be cool.
but i still wonder if it's a teaser for Elvis on Tour.
we'll see.
I think the box set will be EOT. Not much was recorded in 1971. Nonetheless, the last time we had such excitement was back in 1997 when they released the Platinum box set. We'll see.
He didn't record much in 71? He recorded at least 40 masters. 11 on the Christmas LP, 12 on 'He Touched Me', 7 of the songs on 'Elvis Now'' 7 of the songs on the 'Elvis' LP (73 album) and three songs released as 45's only. I might be forgetting a few, but those are the ones off the top of my head.
What about the 2 duet-versions of 'The first time ever I saw your face' from 1971? I think they never "officially" saw the light?
It seems that this will be the unveiling of a new Nashville box set, similar to last year's release. There's a countdown to it on Elvis" YouTube channel.
Response to Deanol: Look at the recording dates of the songs and not the release date of the albums.
Psilopechtris: I am, all of the songs mentioned were recorded in 1971. All 11 songs for the Christmas LP, all 12 songs for He Touched Me, 14 songs from Elvis Now and Elvis and the singles It's Only Love, I'm Leavin and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face were recorded in May/June of 1971. I think the studio version of My Way was also recorded in June of 71 as well as the impromptu versions of Lady Madonna, The Lord's Prayer and I Shall Be Released.
The 2 LP set Elvis back in Nashville is already on preorder at Amazon U.S. Releasedate November 12th.
Elvis Back In Nashville" tracklist:
CD1
The Country / Folk Sides:
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Take 11 - 12) - Amazing Grace - Early Mornin' Rain - (That’s What You Get) For Lovin' Me - Help Me Make It Through The Night - Until It’s Time For You To Go - Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Unedited Version)
The Piano Recordings:
It’s Still Here - I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen - I Will Be True
The Pop Sides:
Padre - Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) - My Way (Take 2 - 3 Master) - I’m Leavin’ - It’s Only Love - We Can Make The Morning - Love Me, Love The Life I Lead - Until It’s Time For You To Go (Remake)
CD 2
The Religious Sides:
He Touched Me - I’ve Got Confidence - Seeing Is Believing - He Is My Everything - Bosom Of Abraham - An Evening Prayer - Lead Me, Guide Me - There Is No God But God A Thing Called Love - I, John - Reach Out To Jesus - Put Your Hand In The Hand - Miracle Of The Rosary
The Christmas Sides:
O Come, All Ye Faithful - The First Noel - On A Snowy Christmas Night - Winter Wonderland - The Wonderful World Of Christmas - It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (Without You) - I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day - If I Get Home On Christmas Day - Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees - Merry Christmas Baby (Unedited) - Silver Bells - I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day (Remake)
CD 3
It’s Only Love (Take 8 & 9) - Love Me, Love The Life I Lead (Take 5 & 6) - We Can Make The Morning (Master With Backing Vocals) - I’m Leavin’ (Take 1) - Johnny B. Goode (Impromptu Performance) - Padre (Take 1 & 11) - Lady Madonna (Impromptu Performance) - Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) (Take 6) - Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Fragment - Impromptu Performance) - I Will Be True (Take 1 - 2) - It’s Still Here (Take 1 & 3) - Help Me Make It Through The Night (Take 1 - 3) - (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me (Take 1) - Until It’s Time For You To Go (Take 5) - Early Mornin’ Rain (Take 1 &11) - I Shall Be Released (Impromptu Performance) - Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Remake) - Put Your Hand In The Hand (Rehearsal & Take 1) - Amazing Grace (Take 1 - 2)
CD 4
The Religious Outtakes:
Miracle Of The Rosary (Take 1) - The Lord’s Prayer (Impromptu Performance) - He Touched Me (Take 1 - 2) - I’ve Got Confidence (Take 1) - An Evening Prayer (Take 1 - 2) - Seeing Is Believing (Take 1, 2 & 4) - A Thing Called Love (Take 3) - Reach Out To Jesus (Take 1, 2 & 9) - He Is My Everything (Take 1) - There Is No God But God (Take 1 - 2) - Bosom Of Abraham (Take 2 - 3)
The Christmas Outtakes:
I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day (Take 3) - It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (Without You) (Take 1 & 6) - If I Get Home On Christmas Day (Take 3) - Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees (Take 4) - Silver Bells (Take 1) - I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day (Take 4) - Winter Wonderland (Take 7) - O Come, All Ye Faithful (Take 2) - I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day - remake (Take 1, 4, 5 & 10)
I have hoped for the recordings to ve devided in "styles" not in order of recording. The 71 folk and pop songs are the most forgotten and they should be highlighted here. So I think if this set is the way Brummi is writing it would be the best way to present the whoke sessions.
Previously unreleased Elvis music???
1971 was not a good year for Elvis as far as good new material and his chart positions suffered. And his voice was noticeably weaker than 1969-70. I'm good with the gospel and Christmas stuff I already own. For me, the great comeback and promise of new challenges from 1969 was basically over. I will pass on this.
I feel that the main reason 1971 wasn't a good year for Elvis was because the right songs weren't chosen for his singles. "Where Did They Go, Lord"; "Life"; and "I'm Leavin" were not hit material and therefore weren't good choices, in my opinion.