ELVIS BMG CD REVIEWS

ELVIS’ GOLDEN RECORDS, VOLUME 3 was originally released in 1963 at the time it only had 12 tracks on it. In 1990 it was released on CD. It only had a one page insert in it and a copy of the front cover and just a black backing with white lettering. The speed on that release was a little bit sped up. Not really noticeable. In 1997 during the Artist of the Century campaign RCA was doing they released an expanded version of all the Gold record (1 - 5). This version had a picture on the back insert, the original copy of the back of the album on the back of the booklet and it featured an 8 page booklet. The CD even looked like a record. There were also six bonus songs. This review will be on the 1997 version.

The sound on these new releases was improved drastically. After Elvis returned home from the army Elvis was to do a recording session at RCA’s Studio B, in Nashville. On March 21, 1960 Elvis recorded the song “Stuck on You.” Take 3 was selected as the master and was released on a single backed with another song on this release, “Fame and Fortune.” “Fame and Fortune” was recorded the same day, the master was a splice of take 15 and 14. Pre-orders were taken for this release and it had sold over 1,000,000 before it was even recorded. It would go to the number one spot. Elvis would perform both songs on the Frank Sinatra Show a few days later.

On April 3, 1960 Elvis recorded the song “It’s Now or Never”, based on the Italian song “O Sole Mio”. It took Elvis 4 takes to get the song the way he wanted it. Later overdubs of piano and claves were done. The single to this went to number 1.

On April 4, 1960 Elvis would record “The Girl of my Best Friend”, take 10 was selected the master and was released on the ELVIS IS BACK! LP in the US and was released as a single overseas. “I Gotta Know” was also done at the same session and was released on the flip side of “Are you Lonesome Tonight?” also recorded at this session. The Single went to number 1. 

April 28, 1960 Elvis recorded the song “Wooden Heart” for the paramount picture G.I. BLUES. It appeared on the soundtrack and was released as a single overseas and became a number one hit. Here in the US it was not released as a single until 1965 and did not chart. This is bonus song.

During the gospel recording session on October 30, 1960 Elvis did one secular song. “Surrender”. “Surrender” was spliced as Elvis had to do the ending several times to hit the high note. Interesting note, the sound on this session isn’t that great as the engineer, Bill Porter, was sick during this session and had to keep going in and out of the control room.

November 7, 1960 Elvis was recording song for the film “Wild in the Country”. The title song, a bonus track on this CD, was the flip side of the song “I Feel so bad”. “I feel so bad” was recorded on March 12, 1961. It only took 2 takes for the song to be completed.

Elvis recorded “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on March 23, 1961 for the Paramount film BLUE HAWAII. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” did not appear on the original LP because of the fact that it had all ready appeared on an album. At the time the GOLDEN RECORDS series was basically to put singles onto an album.

On June 25, 1961 Elvis recorded “His Latest Flame” and “Little Sister” both songs were on the same single. The single hit the top ten and even hit number one in the UK 

July 2, 1961 Elvis recorded “Follow That Dream” for the United Artist Film FOLLOW THAT DREAM. The original stereo master of this song was lost and still remains lost. It is not noted on the CD but take 4 was used on this release, the master was take 6. The original “Follow That Dream” was released on an extended play soundtrack with the same name. The version used on this CD is in stereo and was originally issued on COMMAND PERFORMANCES, also unnotated.

On October 15, 1961 Elvis would record another single. “Good Luck Charm” and a ballad “Anything That’s Part of You” This single would go to number one, and would be the last single to do so until 1969.

The United Artist film KID GALAHAD featured 6 songs, all fairly decent. The soundtrack was released as an extended play. Just like “Follow That Dream” a song from the EP became a huge hit. “King of the whole Wide World”. The version this release is the original edited version. An Unedited version was first released in 1986 on THE ROCKER RETURNS CD.

This is one of the better releases. Sound is great. Get all 5 volumes they are worth the money.

2003/05/05 George Nelson / Ep.Gold.Com.