I would like to start off by saying that I cannot compare this to the original CD that was released, as I do not have the original, so I will be reviewing the 1999 re-issue that was part of the artist of the century campaign.
Surrender starts this re-issue off. Surrender was based on the song Torna A Sorrento. It was to be the follow up to It’s Now or Never This would be the only non-spiritual song recorded at Elvis’ October 30 - 31, 1960 recording session. Rumor has it that engineer, Bill Porter, was ill and this is why it sounds like Elvis was singing into a tin can. Also Neil Mathews of the Jordanaires showed Elvis a breathing exercise to help Elvis hit the high note at the end of the song as Elvis was having trouble hitting it. It is the first of two number one hits on this CD.
In November Elvis started work on the Wild in the Country Soundtrack. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell from the film appeared on this soundtrack as ‘bonus track’. Like most of the songs from the Film it was basically thrown onto the b side of a single or just added as filler to albums.
In March Elvis went back to Nashville and recorded what would be the bulk of this album. First song tried out at the session was a rocker called I’m Coming Home. I’m Coming Home is an uptempo song that really gets this album moving.
Gently is a brilliant ballad that really fits in great with the rest of the material chosen. However this far from being one of my favorites.
In My Arms was another uptempo song that was recorded for this album. The next song would be a bluesy number called Give me the Right, It has kind of a country / blues feel to it. The next song recorded at this session did not appear on this album originally. I Feel so bad was a top 10 single. It’s now at home on this album, where it should have been.
It’s a sin is a beautiful country ballad. This shows how at ease Elvis was trying out country songs. It’s one of my personal favorites off of this album. Elvis went from country to blues during this session. Elvis no more got done with It’s a Sin then he breaks into I Want you With Me.
Elvis really loved There’s Always Me and the finished product proves what a wonderful delivery Elvis could give to a song he really believed in. You can’t help but like the powerful ending of this song.
Starting Today and Sentimental Me are both ballads. Starting today is more of a country type song whereas Sentimental Me is more of a Love Song. Elvis does a wonderful job with both.
Judy is a great uptempo song. Judy would be released as a single with There’s Always me in 1967.
Unfortunately the single did not chart.
Put the Blame on me is one of my favorite tracks on this CD. It was used in the 1965 film “Tickle Me”. “You just did what I Made you do, you love me and I love you to.....”. The way the song is phrased makes it a classic.
Between March and June Elvis would start work on Blue Hawaii and give two benefit performances. Little did anyone know that these two concerts would be the last for eight years.
On June 25 Elvis returned to Nashville studios to recorded more album tracks. For some reason none of the songs from this session never appeared on the original album. Most of the tracks would make it on the POT LUCK LP. So why His Latest Flame and Little Sister appear on this CD are beyond me. Although they do fit in well here. Little Sister was released as a single with His Latest Flame. Both Sides Hit the top ten. They appear here as bonus
tracks
.
In October of 1961 Elvis returned to Nashville again. From this session songs were used for 2 different albums, 1962’s Pot Luck , and 1965’s Elvis For Everyone! The session produced the single Good Luck Charm and Anything That’s Part of You. Good Luck Charm Hit number one on the Billboard Chart. Elvis knocked the single Johnny Angel, sung by Shelly Fabres, off of the number one spot. Fabres would appear in 3 Elvis films. These songs appear here as bonus
tracks.
From this point on, it’s sad to say, but all of Elvis’ studio albums became more of hodge podge of everything.
2002/09/05 George Nelson / Ep.Gold.Com