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50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong

CD

50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
Rating:
3.9 / 5
Released: 2007/04/01 by FTD
These reissues feature original album cover art and great additional recordings not included on the original release. The included entire June 10, 1958 sessions to give you the experience of following Elvis through a whole night of sessions.

ElvisNews review

For those that did not notice yet: a real classic album is released in this FTD series. Let’s try to answer the quickpoll question of the moment “Is this release also a classic?”.

Design

Whether you like it or not, this cover is a real classic. Probably one of the most imitated album covers ever. So FTD could hardly go wrong here… but they did it again: unfortunately it isn’t the real original artwork That cute little HMV doggie has gone out and is replaced with the old RCA logo. Probably it has to do with the disclaimer at the back of the cover “The enclosed record graphics are simulated to reflect the original issues. While every effort is made to replicate artwork, some original logos, labels and wording have been changed for legal reason”. It’s understandable, but still ridiculous!

The booklet was missing in my copy, but gladly I could manage to borrow it from someone (who doesn’t know yet ;-)). It is nice with lots of session info and great memorabilia. The only minus in my eyes is the strange halo that Elvis has on the two pagesize colour pictures. I know he is almost holy to a lot of fans… but it goes too far for me.

Content

Music wise FTD could not go wrong with this album, at least not for me… since this is Elvis at his best. I used to have the album on a cassette tape back in the seventies and had to replace it pretty soon with the album (unfortunately the stupid European version). I wore out the tape completely. There was only one song I didn’t really dig at the time: I didn’t like the high howling in “My Wish Came True”. To be honest, I still think it is one of his weakest songs, certainly of the 50s.

This is the only slightly negative thing I can come up with on this album (ouch, that hurts!). Even the (other) ballad “Don’t” was a beauty in my ears – while I was not at a ballad age at all, normally everything had to rock.
The bonus masters “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, “Ain’t That Loving You, Baby” and “Doncha’ Think It’s Time” (single master) are obvious additions and on the same level as the original album.

With a lot of full session discs there is almost always a point that I get a bored nervousness over me and I have to abort it. That’s why I liked “Totally Stung!” so much. Still with these songs I don’t get that feeling, I played both discs twice today without having the urge to press the stop, skip or whatever button.
I already saw some complaints that there isn’t too much new on these discs, but I have to stress it once more: not every fan has access to bootlegs or wants them. It’s the job of FTD to make this material available to everyone!!

On the sound I can say only two words: “Kevan Budd”. Thank God, Buddha, Allah or even Elvis himself for not having that woman with the same initials as me behind the equipment!

Conclusion

I have one: “alter your votes for the FTD Top 40!”, at least I will. Thanks Ernst & Co!

Tracklisting


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Aarons wrote on April 29, 2007
I've just recieved this album and it sounds and looks brilliant it's worth buyin. I hope FTD does something like this with From Elvis In Memphis album. Now that would be fantastic.
Rating: 5 / 5
JerryNodak wrote on May 09, 2007
I'm not into listening to the same song(s) over and over again. Therefore, I've only listened all the way through once. But I've listened to the first 15 tracks numerous times. Solid gold!! Thanks, FTD team.
Rating: 5 / 5
Mofoca22 wrote on June 28, 2007
i hav ethe regular release so i will rate that instead cuz i aint carried away with having to buy this one with the same song over and over again but i love the gold records cd's altogether reall from volume 1-5 they are all great. though number 5 could use a real upgrade or make a volume 6 separate 5 and 6 use elvis hits from 1967-1972 on it and the post 1972-posthumous releases on it.
Rating: 5 / 5
Theo wrote on April 09, 2008
Great to have all the songs that have survived froms these sessions in one cd-set. And in this terrific sound quality, even the songs from actetates. Great work from FTD!
Rating: 5 / 5
OtisBlue22 wrote on July 03, 2008
Pot Luck (FTD) was a 5-star release. This isn't. It IS asking a lot to listen to the same song 20 times in a row, no matter how good. Unlike Pot Luck, all the studio banter has been cut out (or was never recorded). Therefore, it is not a "fly on the wall" experience, nor is it like following Elvis through a whole night of sessions. We hear laughing at various points, but we don't get the joke. Another weakness is that there are less songs on this album (12 songs which we have already bought on various occasions) than Pot Luck and I must say that I prefer the material on the latter. As for the artwork inside, why the white glow around Elvis and why not the original photos?! Some liner notes would have been welcome. So, if you want "fly on the wall", go for Pot Luck!
Rating: 3 / 5
Cruiser621 wrote on January 17, 2010
This was a stop gap move by the Colonel and RCA to put product out as a holding pattern until Elvis got out of the Army. All the songs were released as singles during 1958 and 1959 and only Hard Headed Woman with it's other side Don't Ask Me Why were withheld for this original LP; the obvious reason RCA had released a soundtrack album with it included. The highlight of this FTD issue are the many outtakes, especially I Got Stung-my personal favorite as to the outtakes. In any event the last dying gasp of rock 'n roll is really what this CD is about. Never again, would we hear real rock as sung by Elvis. The sixities were coming and with it a complete change from rock to pop. Good in some instances, but never like the golden age of the 1950's.
Rating: 4 / 5
Sandman wrote on February 01, 2010
The second compilation. A must, because of the gold suit.
Rating: 3 / 5
TheMemphisFan wrote on May 30, 2015
Fabulous release with brilliant sound and a top-notch booklet. I'm hoping Ernst Jorgensen will find a way to issue an FTD version of the more famous first volume, "Elvis' Golden Records" (1958).
Lex wrote on January 14, 2021
Just great!
Rating: 4 / 5