Raised On Rock

Worth buying alone for the outtakes 4,5,6,7 from "For Ol' Times Sake". Most of the time his voice is rather weak and indeed should not have been recording at all in July 1973. There is something wrong with him at that time. And yes he is cursing a lot...

This is one for me. I have to have it. Can´t wait. Super.

Been waiting for this one. Highly recommended by Elvis Express Radio, UK. I will probably purchase copies for all of my 'mates'.

I enjoyed this set very much. I would agree that Elvis was struggling against boredom and sometimes below par material, but he turns in some good performances. Some of the bits where he swears are very funny! The instrumental tracks are interesting, but there is nothing much to cause excitement as "Fire Down Below" did. Did we get an explanation as to why no unreleased takes of "Raised on Rock" are included? Perhaps that particular reel of tape could not be located.

Tony: It's my understanding from what I've read elsewhere that the tape containing the "Raised On Rock" outtakes is "lost."

Elvis may have not been too interested in recording at this time. But l like the album cover and the songs seem to be different to what he had been recording. Remember this was recorded at Stax and if you listen most of the songs have that old feel blues side with an edge of country. My favorite is the simple song Just A Little Bit which is very romantic and sexy. Has anyone listened to the new Raised ON Rock. I love to hear all reviews.

"The third FTD release this month"... OMG. It's just too much, way too much. I miss the days when a new Elvis release was an event. Now I don't even bother buying them. Sad!

EspenK, when you stop buying those beautiful (most of the time) FTD releases you really miss some great Elvis material mate !

I know! But the stream of CDs are endless - there are no time to digest. It's like getting flushed with fine wine from a firetruck - it simply is too much! I mean, THREE CD's this month is almost a new cd every WEEK. This is madness, no less. I do not see how anyone can enjoy this much material unless they have no life, no job, no family or no friends and only listen to Elvis music 24/7. So what if I buy this CD - in a week or two there's probably a new release with stuff I should hear. I got, I dunno, at least 10-12 Elvis CDs that I haven't even listened to *once*, and that is so meaningless that I've stopped buying FTDs a long time ago - even the goal of having a complete collection isnt any fun anymore with this release rate. It is a waste of good material, it deserves more than this ridiculous race we see here. Whats the friggin rush?

Well Lex i'm glad you played this right through and even 'liked' some of it! I agree For Ol times sake is very, VERY good and the break-up at the end of Take 7 is just about the funniest swearing i have ever heard from Elvis in the studio. Even a far below par Elvis was still professional, fun and interesting in the studio in July 1973. For myself this 2 CD FTD does what the Jungle Room Sessions did. I find the instrumental tracks 'comforting' to hear at the end of many outakes.Agree that even a real Lemon like Three Corn Patches is more 'enjoyable/sweeter' after hearing 'outakes'I can hardly stop listening to this set as its overall 'SOUND' is excellent(to my ears!) if the sound had been an 'issue' here i couldn't have rated this so highly but with the material available(rememberring the title song has had its outakes lost) i simply cannot rate this double CD any less than 10/10, NOT for the material itself but for presenting us a really complete representation of July and September sessions in the 'best possible and complete package' even 'I miss you' is really good here! Rodger and Ernst have REALLY put out an outstanding realease with this one!BUY IT NOW- don't delay!

I haven't receive mine in the mail yet (should be any day now), but am really anticipating these new FTDs, especially after the lackluster releases from earlier in the year. Here's hoping FTD is quick to release Good Times and Promised Land, not to mention the Sun box, Pot Luck, How Great Thou Art, some good '71 soundboards, and....well, you get the idea! Keep 'em coming!

EspenK, a single surprising reorganisation at Sony, and FTD could be history, so that we would have plenty of time to listen to what we got so far.

EspenK, I don't know how old you are but from your comments you seem to be young (good for you) so you have all the time you need to wait for any unreleased material not yet available. But alas I'm approaching 60 soon! So time is NOT on my side and I do want to hear ALL that is left unreleased, including all the TTWWI and On Tour material! I'm sure I speak for a lot more fans my age. So please Ernst, can we have 4 FTD releases every month!

Well I'm not that young, I'm soon 40, and thus in a period in life where I have no economical worries, I could have bought multiple sets of every FTD release if I so wanted. The problem is, as stated, that I never get a chance to enjoy them. And while I know this may sound very cynical, from a marketing point of view it makes no sense to build their release strategy towards the segment of the market who will be gone soon anyways. They are burning the candle in both ends nowadays, and I do not understand why! Do they consider Elvis to be a dying product, and therefore press the pedal to the metal and "get the money while they can"?

I was waiting to se this album on FTD for a long time. The sound is very, very good. I would like to say the same about "Easy Come, Easy Go", but I can't... it has a kind of muffled sound, with a stereo channel separation like on the "Viva Las Vegas" soundtrack that I dislike (Band on one channel and backup vocals on the other one, but with some instruments leaking on the backup channel, with Elvis on the center, very upfront). But, that's all they can do, it was the way it was recorded back then... Although I tried to mix the band with the backups on the backups channel on my PC and it sounds much better to me that way. Anyway... about "Raised On Rock"... I was a little bit dissapoint with the outtakes... they didn't sound very different from the master... I was hoping from some gems, some alternates to be better than some masters, but it didn't happen. And I agree with Lex, the reviewer, I got bored listening to "Girl Of Mine" so many times on both CDs, so I has to skip it. One thing I liked, was the longer fades on some rough masters. Instrumentals are OK, and the track of Sweet Angeline seems to be an alternate take too. I liked this CD and enjoyed it, but of the three CDs, "I Sing All Kinds" is the better one to me.

P.S.: I forgot to metion that I missed the songs "I've Got A Thing About You, Baby" and "Take Good Care Of Her", with their alternates takes. I know they didn't apear on the original album, but "It's Diff'rent Now" and the instrumentals didn't either, and they're all from the same sessions.

JimmyCool: What that tells us is that FTD is saving "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" and "Take Good Care Of Her" plus their outtakes for a "classic" release of the "Good Times" album in the future.

EspenK - you may have nailed the FTD strategy. I agree. It has and always will be about the money concerning Elvis.

i enjoyed all 3 well done ftd this is all we r gonna get guys.......enjoy!

"this is all we r gonna get guys" - uhm... well, it's not. That's the problem. Another week, another release.

I also enjoy this cd a lot. Although I must say, as some of you also reported, Elvis sounds tyred but also so unsatisfied and even angry sometimes (not only the cursing but the tonality in his voice). He was in a dark period in his life. But still i enjoy the cd; I love the other mix of "Raised" with the 20 seconds extra. And i always loved "I miss you" where he sounds (in spite of the words) a bit brighter and more cheerful.

I'm still waiting for my CD's. I would like if somebody would create a wallpaper based on the Raised On Rock cover, because I like that image.

i meant no new songs so enjoy outtakes......and im 46 and i want 2 hear everthing before im gone...more please

such a great release and we must be so happy to have such a label bringing this to us. And sure some songs like Three Corn and Girl of.. are represented too much for some people. But for a classicalbum this is really complete and I get the feeling, while listening, that I really get an insight into the recording of the songs. No one should criticize this release or else.. not buy it or throw it away..

Thank you Ernst for this one!. Stax Studio july 1973...i took Ernsts A Life In Music from the shelf opened page 364, put my headphones on, slipped CD 2 into the player and skipped to track 7 (first song of the session). Sat down in my favourite chair and started to follow the session song by song, feeling Elvis mood both with my ears and in the text, wow!, Stax Studio july 1973, i was almost there...

Yes, it's a great release. Who could think of such a release 20 years ago ? FTD is a fantastic label for Elvis fans !

I have heard so many people say this wasnt a good release. I don't agree. For ol times sake was very touching, If you dont come back was very contemporary for its time and had a nice edge to it not to mention a nice guitar solo, and If you talk in your sleep was very inspired and a new direction for him not to mention done very well ( by the way where is this song on here?? I have the original album and its not on this release???), the alternate version of three corn patches is MUCH better than the original with so much more energy musically and vocally, the alternate version of Girl of mine has a much nicer feel to it than thre original and would have made a nice single release at the time ( sounded alot like Charlie Rich). I think all in all as a fan of his 70's music this release was in the top half of that period. I just wish someone would take the time to remix some of his 70's music with the same quality they did on 30 #1 hits. Even though these say they are remixed I really dont heaqr much difference. But I have heard a few of his 70's songs remioxed where you could hear him so much betyter and I couldnt beleave the difference.

Just receved the cd set yesterday. I am crazy about it the sound is perfect and even if Elvis wanted to be some place else like the review says Elvis sound's good. Alot of the outtakes sounds way better than the original.

kbd the song if you talk in your sleep is on the the album promised land!

Let's be honest : Raised on Rock had never been among my favorite records. It looked a little boring and uninteresting especially while growing up. Up tempo songs didn't sound much like rock'n'roll to me and ballads sounded a little weak and broken the lack of energy was obvious and the mood wasn't reflecting my state of mind at 17 or 20. Never say never I listened to the album in this brand new version very carefully many many times since I got it about 2 weeks ago and I came to love it almost as much as From EP Blvd Memphis, Tn or Elvis Now or Moody Blue which puts right behind my favorite Elvis albums. Not bad for a boring album! Rock never meant much to Elvis he was more into gospel, blues, rythm'n'blues and country and on that album it shows. Who cares? Certainly not Elvis who doesn't seem to pay much respect for that kind of material in 1973 although he gives them a professional drive even apparently enjoying it sometimes through the sessions (too much cursing for my taste on an "official" release but let's live with our time). And those who want the "rock'n'roll" king will always have the 50's. So what happened? First of all I think a fantastic job in restoring the original tapes with a major "hit": Elvis' voice is full and deep and large and incredibly "present" which makes every feeling and every emotion of his more accessible more visible than on most previous releases. Then I think some songs, just like wine, need time (mainly life experience) to be appreciated. And on ROR we've got some of these : I miss you and Are you sincere are great ballads and Elvis's feelings can't be missed nor misunderstood (how great to listen to the outtakes in that sound quality almost like being in Palm Springs that september). I never spotted Sweet Angeline before and I was surprised to discover that we have here a delicate and tactful ballad worth more than one fugitive listening. Finally we have For ol' times sake : I don't think Elvis was ever more perfect a singer than singing this song. The way he sings it with emotion and restraint, control and sincerity is just incredible. The outtakes we get here show that his voice was tired that he was more broken than revitalized but what a song we have in the end. Never in the past did it seem so obvious to me than on this release. If you add the best cover FTD ever released, a nice booklet with interesting material (see for a picture of a document called : "main points covered by col. Parker..." where we get to know why Elvis didn't want I've got a thing about you and Take good care of her on the album) and you'll know why ROR is one of my favorite FTD albums by now.

FlamingPacer: Keep you shirt on, buddy. Relax! They'll get around to what you (or anyone else) wants in due time. Remember, just because you don't care for a certain release that doesn't mean someone else doesn't. Personally, I'm glad to have "Raised On Rock" and "Easy Come, Easy Go." Speaking of getting too old: I'm 57. How old are you? I certainly don't feel like "I've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel."

Hey I am 56 and for once agree with JerryNodak. Relax. Every release is not for every Elvis fan. They will get around to what each of us wants eventually I hope. If not, there is nothing we can do about it but to sit back and decide if the next release is something we want in our collection. I personally dont care if they ever release another live show past 1970, except one I was at in 1975 when ELvis sat down & played piano on You'll Never Walk ALone. I wonder if they have that one? Uniondale, NY 1975 PLEASE!

I for one have never understood the need for shows past 70 in vegas,lets say the taho shows for example,some of the shows from the june and july tour from 75 are the exception when it comes to shows id to see released past 1970,it would be cool to know what they do have,and its true that most well probally get what there wanting,the only live shows id be excited to get would be from on tour,since the imports give us uncomplete shows except for greensboro,speaking of 1970,id like to have the complete show that has the polk salad annie version from the Elvis aron presley silver box set,as for classic albums,the ones im intersted in are promised land and the 69 sessions!