ELVIS BMG CD REVIEWS

DOUBLE FEATURES: FLAMING STAR / WILD IN THE COUNTRY / FOLLOW THAT DREAM 66557-2

In 1993 RCA Decided to market most of Elvis’ Soundtracks on CD’s with other soundtracks. Basically it was 2 for the price of 1. The soundtracks would end up taking up 10 CD’s. This release was from the last 3 released. The original 3-track masters were used (except on Follow That Dream). The CD contained original cover art on the cover, movie information and pictures in the booklet. I will review these movie by movie. None of these soundtracks, came with a complete soundtrack album. Most of these would be released on budget albums in the 70’s

Flaming Star was originally going to be titled Black Star. The Producers decided that Black Star probably wouldn’t be that appealing to movie goers so they decided to rename it. The entire soundtrack was recorded on August 8, 1960, except for Flaming Star which would be recorded in October, after the change was made.

Black Star was the first song to be recorded. This song would sit in RCA’s vaults until 1991. The song would be released on Collector’s Gold, with the end-title version. On this release we only get the original take without the end version. Black Star would not appear in the film, for obvious reasons.

Summer Kisses, Winter Tears was recorded next. This was a beautiful ballad. It would be released on an extended play with the song Flaming Star, in 1961 but only because the demand was so high for the song Flaming Star. A version with drums beating (also known as the movie version) was tried out. It was cut from the final print when there was some snickering about it during the preview. The movie version appears on this release for the first time.

Britches was tried out next. It’s a ridiculous song. Imagine having to be the one to sing this song. It’s pathetic. The sad part is Elvis was suppose to sing this song while riding on a horse. Fortunately it was cut from the film. It did not get released until 1978’s Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Volume 3.

A Cane and a High Starched Collar was also not that great of a song, but better than the song Britches. It was released on Elvis A Legendary Performer, Volume 2 in 1976.

On October 7, 1960, Elvis and the band went back to Radio Recorders and re-cut the title track, which the only change was Flaming Star instead of Black Star. Flaming Star was not going to be released by RCA but the fans sent so many request that RCA put it out on an extended play 33 and added the songs Summer Kisses, Winter Tears / Are You Lonesome Tonight and It’s Now or Never. It also was the Title of a 1969 Budget Album Elvis Sings Flaming Star and Others!, no other song from the movie appeared on that album.

The end-version of this song was released here for the first time. It was only 29 seconds!

It’s too bad better songs couldn’t had been used. Then again this explains why RCA didn’t want to release this soundtrack in 1960. It’s a wonderful movie.

Wild in the Country was another Elvis film that didn’t have a soundtrack of any kind. This session started on November 7, 1960. The first song recorded was called Lonely Man.2 versions of this song were tried out. The first version was released on the flip side of the song Surrender. The second version featured only Elvis and his guitar. This version was released in 1991 on the Collector’s Gold, Box set. The solo version was to be in the film, and the trailer for the movie even had the song in it, but it was cut from the film.

The next number was a song called In My Way. It was a short song that features only Elvis and a guitar. It would be released on the Elvis for Everyone! LP in 1965.

Wild in the Country was recorded next. This was the title track to the movie. This was not a very good song. However it was released on the flip side of the Single I Feel So Bad.

The next song also appeared on the Elvis For Everyone! album. This to featured Elvis and a guitar. Forget me Never was one of the songs that didn’t make the film.

On November 8, 1960 2 different version of I slipped, I stumbled, I fell were tried out. The first version was in the film and released on the Something for Everybody LP. It was considered a bonus Track. The second version was done in a lower key. It first appeared on the 1991 box set, Collectors Gold.

Wild in the country featured a half way decent script for Elvis. Too bad they had throw songs into it. At least the songs weren’t not as bad as they would soon become.

The Follow That Dream soundtrack was recorded in one day! On July 2, 1961 Elvis walked into RCA’s Studio B, in Nashville and started recording. The first song that Elvis recorded was a ballad called Angel. Angel was a beautiful song. It would be released on the Budget LP C’Mon Everybody in 1971 and on the EP from the movie.

For some reason most of the stereo masters to the Follow That Dream soundtrack, have been lost. The title track is released here, but in mono. Outtakes do exist in stereo.

What a wonderful Life, and I’m not the marring kind also are missing there stereo masters. So just like the song follow that dream, they are released here in mono. All three of these songs appeared on the Follow That Dream EP!

What a Wonderful Life was tried out for this picture. For whatever reason, the song was abandoned and not used in the film. It would be re-recorded for the KID GALAHAD Soundtrack. This version would be shelved until 1991 when it was released on Collector’s Gold.

The last song that was recorded, would have been better off, if it hadn’t been recorded. Sound Advice, is not a good song. It doesn’t do any justice to the film. The song would be released on the Elvis For Everyone! LP. As with most of the songs from this session, the stereo master of this song is missing.

Three wonderful movies are featured here. Too bad better songs weren’t tried out. These cannot be considered Elvis’ best work. However these songs were ment to fit into story lines, not for commercial record release.