Recently MRS released G.I. Blues The Café Europa Sessions. This is possible since the recordings are in the public domain due to European copyright laws. Is it the definitive G.I. Blues collection?
Design
About the design I could be very short: stunning! The 4CDs, all with either a red or blue border are attached to the front and back of the 100 page book. The first two discs carry promo shots for the movie, the other two pictures of the recording sessions.
The book, which is on the same format as the BMG boxes like Platinum and Close Up. It contains tons of pictures, from both the movie and the sessions. Many of them I never saw before. There are textual contributions by Ray Walker of The Jordanaires and Sid Tepper (forward, an unfortunate print error). The text gives many background details on the movie and sessions. Of course there is a complete overview of the sessions and the tracklisting of the the CDs.
The book also has sections with memorabilia, movie posters, lobby cards and record sleeves.
Content
The set brings the masters and most of the outtakes in perfect sound quality, although sometimes it sounds a bit high in my ears. I said most of the outtakes, since the outtakes that were released by RCA/ BMG/ Sony in later years are omitted, probably due to the before mentioned European copyright laws.
I found myself bored by these – sometimes very repeating – “complete” sessions the last couple of years. Maybe because I am less fanatic than I was 20 years ago, or just because I’m spoilt by now. For some reason I found It easy to sit through these 4 CDs. Of course the material isn’t the strongest, but in general I think it is the last decent soundtrack. I always liked the title track and Shoppin’ Around very much. Blue Suede Shoes isn’t as strong as 4 years earlier, but still a very good rocker. Didja’ Ever and Frankfort Special are fun and I think Doin’ The Best I Can and Pocketful Of Rainbows are quite beautiful songs and the remaining is at least acceptatble, maybe beside the huge hit Wooden Heart, which I really dislike, maybe because it seems to turn up on every collection and I just heard it too much over the years.
The behind the scenes look during these sessions are funny. Elvis is still practising his German every now and then (Achtung!) and it is really amazing how polite he is to the people in the boot.
Conclusion
Regarding package it is the definitive G.I. Blues release, Sony/ FTD will never be able to beat it. Unfortunately it is not complete and we are missing several takes on this set. Still the remaining 4+ hours gave me a lot of pleasure.
Tracklisting
CD 1 (67:16)
Master Recordings
1. Shoppin´ Around
2. Didja´ Ever
3. Doin´ The Best I Can
4. G.I. Blues
5. Frankfort Special
6. Tonight Is So Right For Love
7. Big Boots
8. What´s She Really Like
9. Blue Suede Shoes
10. Wooden Heart
11. Pocketful Of Rainbows)
Studio Outakes
12. Shoppin´ Around (Instrumental Takes 1,2)
13. Shoppin´ Around (Instrumental Take 4)
14. Shoppin´ Around (Version 1, Takes 2,4,6 - 9)
15. Shoppin´ Around (Version 1, Take 10)
16. Shoppin´ Around (Version 1, Take 11)
17. Doin´ The Best I Can (Takes 1,2,4,5 - 8)
18. Doin´ The Best I Can (Take 13))
19. G.I. Blues (Takes 2,3,4)
20. G.I. Blues (Take 7)
21. G.I. Blues (Takes 8 -10 Pickup)
22. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 4)
23. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Takes 5,6)
24. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 7)
CD 2 (73:51)
1. What´s She Really Like (Takes 1 - 4)
2. What´s She Really Like (Take 5)
3. Frankfort Special (Takes 1,3 - 7)
4. Frankfort Special (Take 8)
5. Frankfort Special (Takes 9 -12)
6. Frankfort Special (Take 13)
7. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 8)
8. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 9)
9. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 10)
10. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 11)
11. Whistling Blues (Take 1)
12. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Music & Chorus) (Takes 1 - 3)
13. Tonight Is So Right For Love (Music & Chorus) (Take 4)
14. Big Boots (Fast Version) (Take 2)
15. Big Boots (Fast Version) (Take 3)
16. Big Boots (Fast Version) (Take 4)
17. Big Boots (Fast Version) (Take 5)
18. Big Boots (Fast Version) (Take 6,7)
19. Big Boots (Slow 1st Version) (Take 1)
20. Big Boots (Slow 1st Version) (Take 20)
21. Big Boots (Slow 1st Version) (Take 4)
22. What´s She Really Like (Takes 6 -10)
23. What´s She R eally Like (Take 11)
24. What´s She Really Like (Takes 12,13)
25. What´s She Really Like (Takes 14 – 16)
26. What's She Really Like (Different Key&Beat) (Take 17-18)
27. What's She Really Like (Different Key&Beat) (Take 19)
CD 3 (63:44)
1. What's She Really Like (Different Key&Beat) (Insert) (Take 20)
2. What's She Really Like (Different Key&Beat) (Insert) (Take 21)
3. What's She Really Like (Different Key&Beat) (Insert) (Take 22)
4. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 1)
5. Blue Suede Shoes (Take 1)
6. Wooden Heart (Take 4)
7. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 3)
8. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 4 - 6)
9. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 7)
10. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 8)
11. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 9)
12. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 10)
13. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 11,12)
14. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 13,14)
15. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 17)
16. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 18,19)
17. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 20)
18. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 1,23,24)
19. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Takes 25,26)
20. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 28)
21. Big Boots (Mid Tempo) (Take 2)
22. Shoppin´ Around (Version 2) (Takes 1 - 3,6)
23. Shoppin´ Around (Version 2) (Take 7)
24. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 1)
25. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Take 2)
CD 4 (45:05)
01.Frankfort Special (Medium tempo) (Takes 1 - 3,6,7)
02.Frankfort Special (Medium tempo) (Take 8)
03.Frankfort Special (Medium tempo) (Take 9)
04.Frankfort Special (Medium tempo) (Take 10)
05.Tonight´s All Right for Love (Take 1
06.Tonight´s All Right for Love (Take 5a)
07.Tonight´s All Right for Love (Take 5b)
08.Tonight´s All Right for Love (Take 6)
09.Tonight´s All Right for Love (Take 8)
10.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Take 9)
11.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Takes 10, 11)
12.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Takes 12, 16)
13.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Insert) (Takes 1, 2)
14.Big Boots (Slow 2nd Version) (Takes 1 - 5)
15.Big Boots (Slow 2nd Version) (Take 6)
16.Big Boots (Slow 2nd Version/Insert) (Takes 1 - 4)
17.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Instrumental) (Takes 1 - 3)
18.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Instrumental) (Take 4)
19.Tonight’s All Right for Love (Instrumental) (Take 5)
Bonus
20.Radio Spot 1 (UK)
21.Radio Spot 2(UK)
22.Radio Spot 3 (UK)
23.Radio Spot 4 (UK)
24.Radio Spot 1 (Australia)
25.Radio Spot 2 (Australia)
26.Movie Trailer Soundtrack 1
27.Movie Trailer Soundtrack 2
It looks beautiful, but I must agree, I am also less fanatical about outtakes than I was 20 years ago, especially on movie songs. For that reason, I would get bored by the 3rd time I heard some of these songs in particular Big Boots. Just give me a few alternates and I am happy especially if they are very different which in most cases they are not. Now if they had the sessions for Hound Dog, All Shook Up, Don't or other classics, I could sit through it.
I'll wait for the FTD version, thanks. The sound will be better as MRS didn't have original tapes to work from, just copies. I'm sure the book is great, but I can live without that. I also understand that the FTD version will be complete - this one's not.
...But outtakes are not of public domain... Anyway this is a fantastic release !!!
I wonder when 'Tonight Is So Right For Love' was first released in Europe. Does anybody know? As far as I know it wasn't on the original European pressings of GI Blues, but substituted by 'Tonight's All Right For Love'. It seems MRS made a mistake here by using a song that wasn't released over 50 years ago (besides all the outtakes).
BTW, this set looks great. I wonder what FTD will come up with, and when...
I'm not a completist. I'll wait for the FTD 2 disc version. The sound will be better and that will be enough of these sessions for me.
It would be more completer when they put all these tracks on a extra 5.1 audio dvd disc !
Cost wise this set was well worth the money i paid (£27.99). Package wise-well produced and FTD will have to do some homework on this if they want to give fan's what they want. Sound wise-impressed and of course will look forward to FTD's GI Blues before i can make a comparison.?....but i still enjoyed MRS's.
Maybe as Elvis fans we have become a bunch of boring old farts and are at the stage where we all moan and groan about every little detail about imports/official releases, but at the end of the day are we not lucky to have all this material at our hands to sit back and enjoy.
"Tonight Is So Right For Love" was on the UK edition of the soundtrack in 1960, we had the US version of the album and the film itself rather than the version released across mainland Europe. This means that the master take of that song is now out of copyright but as mentioned earlier, the out-takes definitely are not. The makers of this set appear to have re-written the law to suit their own interests.
It's not just a case of those outtakes being in the public domain or not - the recordings are owned by RCA / Sony Music and those releasing them are basically selling stolen property.
Amazon are showing this as release date, 25th April. Has it already shipped out , if so where and from whom?
I am a little bit lost here. Isn't RCA the only and lawfully owner of this material? Or has it become public domain recently? Somebody might want to educate me here. I don't understand. The Man and His Music annouced in their March 2011 issue that FTD would release G.I.Blues this year. It might very well be in the last portion of the year. ETMAHM never did false announcement. Trevor Cajiao ,the editor, is very professional and he must have had the information from the FTD. After the release of Guitar Man, we can expect some announcement from FTD about future release and hopefully for G.I.Blues.
Let just say that FTD will have the best sound quality for this session, no doubt in my mind. I suport them because they did a fantastic job up to now. Sure they might have done a few mistakes here and there but they learned from experience and both Roger and Ernst are true fans of Elvis. And they went the extra mile to get everything they could. Now, I prefer to wait and pay once for the best sources and that's FTD. Besides, it bugs me to see that those who sells Café Europa don't pay a dime to the musicians and composers who made that music we still want to pay for today, Finally remain the fact that Amazon.com seems to have the rights to sell this product. Maybe they are legal or maybe not. I'd like to kow.
I have no idea what is missing, but it is a wonderful release. I like Lex' statement about being spoiled. Indeed, at first it was all so new to get all the outtakes. But now we are used to getting it (practically) all. Some are more exciting (early sessions) than the other (the sixties). Anyway, I am not so sure whether or not FTD will be better but I guess, yes soundwise, no design and package. For me the music is number 1 and the rest just a nice extra. Yet for my aging ears I am not sure I will notice the difference anymore. after being a fan of almost half a century, I don't feel like waiting any longer. Btw, I am not bored. Just bored with feeling bored :-)
To clarify a couple of Tornado's points, Ernst himself announced the forthcoming FTD release of "G.I. Blues" several weeks ago, which would have been where "Elvis - The Man and His Music" got their information from. You mention MRS not paying the musicians or composers for use of this material, these are two separate items. The musicians generally do not ever get royalties because they were paid a flat fee to play on the session at the time. The composers do still get paid, it is only the artist copyright that has lapsed. As for Amazon selling the product, that is what they do unless instructed not to. If Sony decide to take action against MRS, the release will be withdrawn for sale as was the earlier MRS set containing 1956 out-takes which they claimed were out of copyright but were not. I would suggest that anybody intending to buy the new MRS set do it sooner rather than later as it could we be pulled.
Hmv UK have it listed as a pre-order for the 25th April so still available on the www if you want to order??.........not sure how some set's are available from some places and others are taking pre-orders,the history between MRS and Ernst is well documented and have the feeling MRS have released 'Cafe Europa' with a big two fingers up to Ernst etc.Shame these two parties cannot get on as MRS has released some really worth while projects......so again not sure where all the friction kicked off and really hope a kiss and make up is on the horizon.
No it cant be pulled, all of the outakes contained in this package were NOT officially released during the 50 years, so they are out of copyright. Hence, notice that on this package the outtakes that were on Command Performances and the GI Blues expanded Digi pack from RCA etc are not in this MRS package, that is because those WERE released within the 50 year period which is why MRS cant use those and why are excluded.
and just to clarify Tony, from what I read on an a JP interview, the NY sessions were put back and are still on the shelves with the original tracklist as it was proved they were indeed out of copyright as recordings before June 1957, is 50 years from recording date. After this date it goes first release date provided it is released within 50 years. If recordings are not released at all during the 50 years it falls out of copyright, hence this is why MRS is able to do this.
Just to clarify drjohn, are you saying you already have this release. If so, could you tell us who's supplying it now before Amazon etc. as I'd like to get it ASAP.
yes i got mine. From what I understand, all the Elvis dealers got it at least 3 weeks before the stores to let the die hard fans get them first, it is officially released on the 25th according to Amazon, Play and HMV.
Tornado, and all others who think this is not legal, read carefully, It is legal!! If HMV, Amazon, Cd Universe etc, etc, are selling it, this means it is legal, in no way would these online sites sell this wonderful set if it was not legal. And FTD will never come close to this package, maybe in sound it will be better, but price wise, and package wise, FTD cannot hold a candle to MRS. This 4 cd set sells for 25-27 pounds, while FTD will be selling a 2 cd set of GI Blues for about the same price, with a 12 page booklet, compared to 100 pages for MRS.
VivaLasDavies, check your email and you will find the info you need? and yes i have had mine for some time now and as already posted well worth getting hold of a copy. Now i wait and see what FTD come up with.
Thanks Tony C, your comments help me to understand more about the regulations and laws behind this whole entertainment business. If musicians are done with any payment, I understand that some dues are still in force for the composers for a certain period of time.Public domain takes over, after that. I'm not sure to get the difference between royalties and artist copyrights though. Anyway, I'll survive to that ignorance. At least with FTD, some profits go to the composers, it's better than nothing in my book. James69 is probably right about the quality of the package of Café Europa: bigger booklets, lots of clean photos and everything, but maybe they can afford that because they don't have to pay any royalties, while FTD has to. On my part, I prefer the sound quality as oppose to packaging. The booklets of the Classic FTD is quite enough for me. I dig the songs first and above all.
With regard to the MRS set of 1956 studio out-takes, it was indeed put back on sale, but with the offending tracks removed.
Public domain releases must still pay composer royalties as well. There is nothing FTD pays for that is extra that PD releases dont. FTD also does not pay anything to anyone, maybe a little bit to Sony, thats it. In regards to NY by MRS, the release with removed tracks was a temporary release until it was proved all tracks before recorded before June 1957 regardless of recorded or release date is PD. The NY with full tracks is still selling today.
Hi marc wilson : sorry I have to correct your statement. A composer ( music) and an author (lyrics) NEVER gets "royalties". The money they get is called "copyright". Only a "performer" (normaly the singer) gets "royalties", depending on the deal that was made between the performer and the record company. The "royalty" is the amount the performer gets per copy sold. If the performer is the composer and/or author at the same time, he will NOT obtain "copyright" once the song became PD, but he well still get some "royalties" (as the performer) as long as the song sells.
The distribution of the "copyrights" is, in most cases, as follows : Publishing Company : 50% / Composer : 25% / Author : 25% . That's what I got during the years I was a composer/author/performer myself,but other distributions can be made, depending on the deal closed between the different people involved. As for the musicians doing recording sessions : in general they get paid a flat fee, like Tony C wrote . I know that the expressions "royalties " and "copyright" are frequently mixed-up, so " no harm done from your side", I'm just trying to explain how it works . Always El.
I read somewhere they will also bring out a Clambake release. Can't wait!!..
Scotty Moore was in dispute over payments from BMG a few years ago in a situation that I could only side with BMG. He had been paid at the time for playing on the recordings, but he then decided that he should be paid again if an out-take of a song were released. BMG stated that the fee was for recording the song in as many takes as it took, not just for the master. It sounds harsh, but that is the way things work in the music business and why musicians are rarely rich people.
You're absolutely right Tony ! Always El.
In my posting addressing marc wilson I should have used the word "repartition" instead of "distribution" with reference to "copyright(s)". Always El.
A big thank you Benny Scott. It's much clearer in my mind now. Still, if MRS can release Café Europa and Amazon distributes it, then this material must be PD today. Right? Or is it really.? That's still remain unclear to me. Maybe, the master takes are now public domain, but not a good portion of if not all the outtakes. I'd like to know.
Hi Tornado, I'm quite sure MRS choose to take no riscs releasing Café Europa.. and released what could be released without breaking the law.That's also the reason (IMO ) why this release can be ordered at Amazon. Like Lex wrote in his review (first lines of "content" ), the outtakes released by RCA/BMG/Sony in later years still not crossed the 50-years period so they were omitted. I'm waiting for the FTD release now where hopefully the untill now unreleased outtakes will see the light of day. Always El.
that is correct Benny, MRS did not the risk, however, with this MRS release, it now means every out take from the Cafe sessions has now been released through, RCA and MRS. There is nothing left unreleased.
Thanks for the info Marc, I really did not keep score what had been released and what not. Anyway,that won't stop me buying the forthcoming FTD release. Question is, will there be an FTD release ? Hope there will be one, and the sooner the better. Best regards. Always El.
Legal as it can be, I still think FTD produces the best sound today and for that reason, I don't know about you guys, but I don't have enough money to buy both. So I'll stick to FTD official release in autumn probably with the best sound possible. Happy Easter!
At my age I have better things to do with my time than listen to endless takes of Big Boots & Pocketful Of Rainbows.
Tornado, first of all, I bet you would not be able to hear the difference between the MRS sound and the sound of FTD, and secondly FTD will be totally different release, as these outtakes from MRS will not be on the FTD version...As for not having enough money, arent you the one that said on this board that you bought The Complete Masters $1000 Box set??? Or was very tempted by it??? So please, I dont think money matters in your case, if you were tempted or did indeed buy the Complete Masters, money is not an issue....And to finish this MRS release will complement the FTD release, as you will have all the masters, and all the outtakes and documentation side by side.
Benny, you are (again) incorrect when it comes to explain legal definitions - ie your attempt to explain the differences between copyright and royalties. A royalty is recognisable income arising from the owner, licencee, controller, manufacturer etc allowing the usage in some way of material he owns / controls. The income based upon ownership of copyright, therefore, legal is defined as a royalty. You are confusing the income from copyright with the copyright itself - ie there is no such thing as copyright as an income, it relates to the actual ownership/control...
SuziB : the money I received since 1975 as an composer/author is called in our Dutch language " Auteursrechten".
The money I got as a recording artist for each record that was sold is called in my country "Royalties" (yes, the same spelling as in English) Try to find a decent translation in English for the Dutch word "Auteursrechten" will you ? The TRANSLATION I FOUND was the word "Copyright" so I used it in my previous posting, and I don't give a damn how you call it in English . All I know is that there is a difference between money paid to an composer and/or author and the money paid to the singer (performer) on a record for each copy sold . It's as simple as that . So IF you can let me know how YOU translate "Auteursrechten" from Dutch to English then I'll gladly use that word in the future . If you can't then leave it as it is and stop picking on me. All I'm trying to say is that there is a difference in money paid to a composer/author for each copy sold and the money paid to a singer for each copy sold, these are completely different figures of repartition. The name given to these two different forms of payment maybe is different in some other countries, but I couldn't care less. I think the most important thing is the fact that some members of this site know now the difference in money payed to someone who writes songs, be it the music and/or lyrics, and an artist having his name on a reordlabel as "performer". I'm a shareholder of SABAM for over more than 36 years, Sabam being the Official Belgian Company paying the songwriters and singers . Like Sam Philips , in 1954, during a (Sun)-session once said to Elvis "...and don't make it too damn complicated.." But I guess making things complicated is part of a lawyer's mentality.( or is it an irrisistible urge ?) Always El.
So why try correct people when: 1) You are wrong not them 2) You haven't got a clue what you're talking about. Complicating? It's very very simple. Copyright pertains to ownership. Royalties to rights of income arising from ownership.
Where's your translation I asked for ? It's so easy ,and above all, cheap to say " you are wrong and I am right" and "you haven't got a clue what you're talking about". Here we're talking about expressions in the music-business, and as far as know money payed to recording artists for recordsales has always been called "royalties" in my country and without any doubt in ma, and this has nothing to do with YOUR definition and description of the word .( ownership) As for the money paid to composers and/or authors , give that money a name IF YOU CAN. Stop your mambo-jambo lawyer-talk with all it's pompousness.
...and without any doubt in many other countries. Happy Easter SuziB ! And pls do me a favour : come down to earth and step off your " I know it all"-cloud. In the meantime, I'm still waiting for the translation I asked for, but you seem to overlook and ignore that, deliberately, and as long as you're not capable to give me that translation of the Dutch word "Auteursrechten" you can be sure I'm not gonna change one letter of my posting. Over and out ! Always El.
Maybe these terms are translated differently depending in what country we are talking about. I must admit, I'm lost in this discussion, but this is holy week and a time to play some Elvis gospel, so Happy Easter everyone!
The English translation of a Dutch word is completely irrelevant - as you simply can not use straight definitions in Law, as local languages use approximated meanings based upon their own words. As for bing pompous - I'm not the idiot who tried to correct someone when they were right. End of discussion - you're not worth it, and it's wasting my time, I'd rather watch the grass grow than engage in a debate with the brain dead.
Hi Benny i think the word your looking for is " copyrights" that's the translation, Happy Easter to you and to all the others as well..Always El.
SuziB the way you talk ..was this needed?
Constructive discussions are welcome, others are not. What about rule 10? Why so negative? This is a site for those ENJOYING listening to Elvis. I hope and wish we all get back to that soon.
Jesse, probably not. However, I'm not the one who demonstrated their ignorance and pomposity to the world by correcting someone around legal definitions when the original poster was right. Benny, as invariably he always does when he tries to demonstrate his misguided belief in his knowledge, is just 100% incorrect. Copyright (under EU law and indeed all International Law) never means income streams arising form the ownership of an asset - it relates to ownership only.
Jesse and Natha and also dgirl. Thanks for your reaction ! Jesse : the word "copyright" is exactly the word I used in my posting to marc wilson on 20th april,( have a look at it ) but apperently is not accepted by SuziB. And yes Dgirl, you may be right, probably or possibly these expressions are translated differently in some others countries. But why I've been slammed and "corrected" for using the words used here in Belgium is something I don't understand, the more that in her last posting SuziB writes " .. you simply can not use straight definitions in Law, as local languages use approximated meanings based upon their own words." Natha, in my first posting to marc wilson I was, using the expressions used in my country, trying to be constructive and trying to explain how repartition is done in the music-business, so why was I attacked, meaning well? I didn't ask for it. Oh well, I won't loose sleep anyway. In spite of all this : Happy Easter to all of you too . Always El.
Benny, in your reply to Marc Wilson - you were arguing a principle of law - ie the difference between 'royalties' and 'copyright' - did you ask which country he is from? No! Not that it would have made any difference as you are simply wrong under all Law. Copyright law, recognition of income etc is standard across all EU States. If you don't want to admit you're wrong that's up to you. You never do. End of....
In my reply to Marc is was trying to explain the difference between income as a composer/author and income as a performer (singer) who's name is on the recordlabel ,because the repartition of the rights is very different in both cases. That's all ! I never was arguing a principle of law,even that's how apperently you saw it. And that difference in repartition is still valuable and will always be, whatever the name you give to this repartition.
...damn keyboard.. I even NEVER wrote the word LAW in my reply to Marc. You stick to your point of view, that's OK with me. I'll stick to mine . Hope you can bring up the fair-play to respect that. Let's now close this subject. Have a Happy Easter after all ( and this is NOT meant as a sarcastic remark) Always El.
So you never said the following: "Sorry I have to correct your statement. A composer ( music) and an author (lyrics) NEVER gets "royalties". The money they get is called "copyright". Only a "performer" (normaly the singer) gets "royalties", depending on the deal that was made between the performer and the record company. The "royalty" is the amount the performer gets per copy sold'". Which is factually 100% incorrect. Composer and author do indeed earn royalties. There is no revenue flow ever called copyright - as I have now said several times, copyright relates to ownership not revenue. So royalties is the correct terminology for income arising from copyright.
Boys and Girls: stop this, right here and now, or I will delete ALL reactions. Dogfights belong in your personal mailbox!
Whether anyone receives royalties (or something like it) or not and whether the recordings are in the public domain or not - the fact that they were stolen (or, to use the legal term, borrowed) from the RCA vaults probably makes this release somewhat illegal.
Martin DJ, you have a point there ! Always El.
I am afraid to wade out into this swamp... I may be wrong, but I'm waiting for this set to arrive. I purchased it from Amazon - so if Sony wants to go after MRS for money (albeit royalties or copyright infringement) - then Amazon can send them some of my money. I'm just a humble collector and as such I have and do support MRS, Venus, Ft. Baxter, Madison, AND FTD. These are the labels that over the last few years have provided hours and hours of enjoyment. If FTD wanted my money they woud've issued this set long before the 50 year copyright expired. Lex (and others) have called this set stunning - that's good enough for me. Even though FTD may have a scant few additional recordings that they can issue from these sessions (not found on the MRS release), I will go on record to say this will serve as my definitive purchase of this material. Even if FTD does a Vol I & II of the material, this release will undoubtedly be superior in packaging and equal in sound quality as well as cheaper than two $45.00 releases from FTD. I'm sorry that FTD missed the chance to supply this collector, but I think I coming out the winner by purchasing this set.
what's all the talk about copyright laws? what's that's got to do with the music let's not get to personal
Orion. nice comments and makes good sense,i am sure FTD's release of GI Blues be it 1 or 2 volumes will be as good sound wise and of course may contain additional material not on MRS but as you have stated cost wise MRS has produced a top class,well produced package for what we are paying.As for Ernst and FTD well they knew this was coming and dispite a delay due to other legal matter's regarding TFC and EPE haD amble opportunity to at least give us the fan's some notice of a future release of GI Blues from them......but what have we has 'NOTHING!!!'....so of course fans are going to buy sets like these,don't think sales will have a knock on effect for FTD if/when they decide to release GI Blues as like you i will and many other fans will always continue to support FTD and all they do........if only they could keep us a little more informed. Meanwhile the sun is out and i have some time of work....yippee....so plenty of Elvis and look forward to what the rest of 2011 will bring us.
I will wait for the FTD. Not a big fan of 1) bootlegs and 2) duplication in my collection. Lord knows I have had enough cds with the same songs on them for years & years. I also don't like paying for the same material over & over. I gave up this practice years ago and would rather spend on music I have never heard before.
Just received an e-mail from Amazon saying that my order was being dispatched. I'll let you all know what I think when the set is my my hands. Oh, Steve, I did spend a little money on music I haven't heard. I also picked up Sir Cliff's "Bold As Brass" with the MRS set.
That's cool. That's what I'm talking about. I just got a Mahalia Jackson comp (whom Elvis loved) and Louis Armstrong. It doesn't have to be 'new' music, just stuff I want to discover & listen to instead of buying the same old, same old. It is certainly been a mind broadening experience so far these last few years.
Steve - great purchases on your part. Louis' "Wonderful World" chokes me up, and Mahalia... what can I say ? Aretha is amazing, but Mahalia is otherworldly. Elvis did indeed have great taste in music. I recall a picture of Elvis meeting her on the set of "Change of Habit."
So apart from the above, what cd's do I need to have the complete sessions. According to Keith Flynn PFOR on Collectors Gold is tk17, yet tk17 is on the above. Re mind broadening, check out 'Odetta sings Dylan' (where Elvis got his 'Tomorow is a long time' version from).
To drjohncarpenter0117: Actually FTD did give us notice of a future release of G.I. Blues from them: It was published on the For Elvis CD Collectors Forum and added to the ElvisNews website on January 25th, a day after the MRS package was first announced. This news item 'Information From FTD' has some interesting info: FTD say they have been working on their G.I. BLUES project for a while and have gone back to the original 3-track tapes and re-mixed all the material for optimum sound quality. FTD also say that the FTD release will include EVERYTHING. That's quite a promise! It means FTD's G.I. Blues will be more than a "simple" 2-cd Classic album.
Theo, I hope you're right ! Would be great having it really complete. Always El.
Lex began his review by posing this simple question: Is it the definitive G.I. Blues collection? My answer is Yes - is it 100 percent complete? No. Will FTD ever release a session for any release that is 100 % complete? No, so why complain about a very few takes that have been released by Sony or FTD that are readily available elsewhere. I just listened to CD2 while reading the book and can feel confident in my belief that even FTD newly-mastered versions of these tracks will not be significantly better and thus cause me to think twice about skipping the up-coming FTD release of this material. In other words, I think that MRS presentation of this chapter of Elvis' recorded history is the winner. Lex is spot on when he says that "Sony/ FTD will never be able to beat it." Bottom line: This should be in every serious Elvis' collector's collection.
Orion, interesting posting! Would like to have your opinion and the reason why you think FTD will never release a session that is 100% complete.(Like I wrote before : it would be nice after all). I'm absolutely willing to believe you ,but I'm really interested in what could be the reason FTD would never release something complete. BTW, I have the MRS-release and think it's great ! Agreed that you and Lex are right about this beauty ! Best regards. Always El.
The sound on the MRS set is pretty good overall but it is not as good as Sony/FTD. For example, the 'Close up' outtake of PFOR sounds fuller and more balanced than the MRS outakes. The MRS outakes of PFOR sound (to me) a bit tinny and compressed by comparison.
I am happy with the quality of the bootleg. And let's not mislead the fans and possible buyers (consumer behaviour...! needs to be guaranteed amongst EP-folk, right Loes?): Whisteling Blues is just an instrumental; Elvis does NOT sing it !!
Trailers and radio spots are OK but I don't listen to them ... 50 years later ! Too bad FTD opted not to release much more outtakes, working parts and altern. versions of GGGirls & BHawaii songs (great tunes I listen to regulary...very funny)
When will we ever get from FTD the missing last 5 movies' outtakes (all of them+WPs) and Promised Land album ???
Hurry folks...the hearing of many 'potential buyers' is diminishing...
There will be a 2 cd ftd, do you really need more, yes i know some fans do, i dont understand. What i dont understand is ftd letting bottleggers stay ahead of them and then once they release the same item, they screw up the sound artwork etc. wake up ftd!!
yes Mature, the 2 cd set from FTD will be more than enough and I agree why does FTD let the bootleggers always get a jump on them? I cant undertsand FTDs philosophy.
