ELVIS BMG CD REVIEWS

In 1984 RCA released the 5th and final edition of the “Golden Records” series. It had been 16 years between Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 4 and this edition. The would also be the first “new” compilation released on CD and widely distributed. The inside of the booklet contained titles of other RCA CD’s available. and the back featured the same art as the album. The shortfall of this album was the fact it only had 10 tracks. Some mixes were different than the originals had been and no liner notes were done up for the album, although that would be something that didn’t happen often, until the 1990’s. Moving forward to 1997 RCA re-released all the Golden Record release for the 20th anniversary of Elvis’ death. The 1997 contained a booklet of liner notes, with pictures, 6 bonus tracks and improved sound. As with most of my reviews this one will be on the upgraded version, however if you come across the original version and can afford it, I’d highly recommend it. 

The album features songs that went gold, obviously, from the years 1967 - 1977. The CD starts out with the number one single “Suspicious Minds”. “Suspicious Minds” was recorded at the famous American Studios Sessions in January of 1969. Elvis did not want to record this song, thankfully some people around him convinced him to record the number. A lot of speculation has been done on why the song fades out and then fades back in again to fade out a few seconds later. One Story is that the colonel wasn’t happy about Elvis recording the song, because of the publishing, and decided to have the song faded to discourage DJs from playing the song. Another story is that Felton Jarvis had faded it out to make it sound like Elvis was performing it in Vegas.

“Kentucky Rain” was written by the then unknown, Eddie Rabbit, who would become a famous country singer. It was a toss up that either Eddie could have recorded the song himself and chance a flop on the song, or have Elvis record it and get money from the publishing. For some reason Eddie choose to let Elvis record it and it became yet another major hit for Elvis. This song was also recorded at American Studios during the February 1969 sessions.

“In the Ghetto” was yet another number recorded the January 1969 American Studios sessions. The song was actually kind of risky for Elvis to record because of content of the song, and probably one of the most “secular” songs Elvis ever recorded. Elvis had a top ten hit with this song.

The next song was a movie song. “Clean up your own backyard” was recorded for the film “The Trouble With Girls (and how to get into it).” The song sounded as if it was recorded at the American Studio sessions. It was the only movie song to be released on the original 1985 version of the CD. 

1972 was a bad year for Elvis, as far as his personal life goes. Elvis was not interested in recording any rock and roll songs. At his only recording session in 1972 Elvis recorded mostly ballad type songs. Then Elvis was presented with the song “Burning Love”. Elvis had to be coached into recording the song. Later that year during the new York press conference Elvis was asked why he didn’t record any hard rock songs. Elvis replied “It’s very difficult find any good hard rock songs.” Little did he know he had basically just recorded one. Unfortunately the song was used on a budget album, instead of a regular album.

In 1973 Elvis was recording at Stax Studio in Memphis. After a disastrous session in July Elvis had a fairly decent session in December. The song “If You Talk in your Sleep” had been written by Elvis’ body guard Red West. It was a good song for Elvis and reached the top 40.

1976 saw a different Elvis. RCA had decided to take a mobile recording unit up to Graceland and have Elvis record at his home. Elvis recorded a Session in February and then one in October. 

“For the Heart” and “Moody Blue” were both recorded at the February session. “For the Heart” was the flip side of “Hurt” (not on the CD). It was received well, but nothing like before. It didn’t become a huge hit until the Judds recorded it in the 1980’s. “Moody Blue” became a huge country hit, and even went to number one on the country charts. It’s interesting to note that Mark James who wrote “Suspicious Minds” also wrote “Moody Blue”

From the October session we get Elvis’ last hit, (while he was alive). “Way Down” was on the charts the day Elvis died. The song was probably the funkiest song Elvis had recorded. The highlight of the song is when JD Sumner hits the really low note at the end of the song.

The remaining songs were bonus tracks on the upgraded version of the CD. “Big Boss Man” and “Guitar Man” were recorded at the same session in 1967. They were probably the songs that signaled Elvis’ comeback, as they were the first non-soundtrack songs recorded in almost 4 years. Both songs appeared as singles and then appeared on the Clambake soundtrack. Jerry Reed was called in to help with “Guitar Man”.

The “US Male” was recorded in January 1968 in a split session between RCA and MGM. This song hit the top 40. It appeared on the Camden album, Almost in Love.

1970 saw “You don’t have to say you love me” It was featured on the “That’s the way it is” soundtrack. It also appeared as a single and reached the top 20.

“Edge of Reality” was recorded for the film “Live a Little, Love a Little”. The entire movie only had four songs and three of them were good songs. This song was as psychedelic as they come. Very different for an Elvis recording.

Recording for NBC TV’s “ELVIS”, Elvis recorded two hit singles. “Memories” and “If I Can Dream.” “Memories” has a mono audience track dubbed onto the ending and beginning of the song to make it sound live. “If I can Dream” was released on the original CD, however it did not contain the overdubbed applause, which this updated CD does.

If you’re looking for a CD of 1967 - 1977 period this would be a great start.

2003/06/14 George Nelson / Ep.Gold.Com.