Deleted Elvis Catalogue on FTD Label

As a direct consequence of BMG’s current streamlining of the world wide Elvis catalogue, a fair portion of Elvis’ original music becomes unavailable. It’s been agreed that Follow That Dream will re-release these masters in order that they will always be available to “real fans”. To make this attractive FTD is re-releasing the original albums along the following lines: 1) 7” format cover (like a single or EP) 2) Original back and front cover 3) 3 panel Gatefold sleeve 4) 8 page booklet with photos and memorabilia 5) Original album with original album EQ 6) Additionally all previously released outtakes (if space permits) 7) Additionally previously unreleased outtakes (when available and space permits) The first 3 titles are: “It Happened At The World's Fair”, “Fun In Acapulco” & “Girl Happy”. It Happened At The Worlds Fair ( 82876504092 1) Beyond The Bend - Relax* - Take Me To The Fair - They Remind Me Too Much Of You - One Broken Heart For Sale - I’m Falling In Love Tonight - Cotton Candy Land - A World Of Our Own - How Would You Like To Be - Happy Ending* - One Broken Heart For Sale (takes 2,3,1) - They Remind Me Too Much Of You (take 1) - I’m Falling In Love Tonight (take 1-4) - Beyond The Bend (take 1, 2) - Cotton Candy Land (take 1,2,4) - How Would You Like To Be (take 2) - They Remind Me Too Much Of You (take 4) - Beyond The Bend (take 3) Take Me To The Fair (take 6) - I’m Falling In Love Tonight (take 6) - They Remind Me Too Much Of You (take 6,7) - Relax (take 5,6,7*) - Happy Ending (take 4,5,6*) - Take Me To The Fair (August master-from acetate*) Compilation produced by Roger Semon & Ernst Mikael Jørgensen Mastered by Lene Reidel at Tocano Recorded August 30* & September 22, 1962 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood Original engineer: Dave Weichman Musicians: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Billy Strange: Guitar, Tiny Timbrell: Guitar, Ray Siegel: Bass, D.J. Fontana: Drums, Frank Carlson: Drums, Dudley Brooks: Piano & Organ, Don Robertson: Piano & Organ, Clifford Scott: Sax, The Mello Men-: Vocals(September 22) , The Jordanaires- Vocals(August 30) Girl Happy (82876504082 2) Girl Happy – Spring Fever – Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce - Startin’ Tonight – Wolf Call – Do Not Disturb – Cross My Heart And Hope To Die – The Meanest Girl In Town – Do The Clam – Puppet On A String – I’ve Got To Find My Baby – You’ll Be Gone – Puppet On A String (takes 5,6,7) – The Meanest Girl In Town (takes 7,8,9) – Spring Fever (take 4) – Do Not Disturb (takes 24,25,26,27) – Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (take 4) – Girl Happy (takes 1,2,3,4) – Puppet On A String (take 10) – Spring Fever (takes 18,19,21) – The Meanest Girl In Town (take 11) - Do Not Disturb (take 35) – Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (take 9,10,11) – Girl Happy (take 13 and take 4 of ending) Compilation produced by Ernst Mikael Jørgensen & Roger Semon Mastered by Lene Reidel at Tocano Original engineer: Dave Weichman Recorded June 10-12, 1964 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood Musicians: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Tiny Timbrell: Guitar, Tommy Tedesco: Guitar, Bob Moore: Bass, D.J.Fontana: Drums, Buddy Harman: Drums, Frank Carlson: Drums, Floyd Cramer: Piano, Boots Randolph: Sax, The Jordanaires: Vocals, The Jubilee Four (“ Do The Clam” & “ Wolf

Call” ): Vocals, The Carole Lombard Trio ( “ Do The Clam” ): Vocals Track 12: Recorded March 19, 1962 at RCA’s studio B, Nashville. Musicians at session: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Harold Bradley: Guitar, Grady Martin : Guitar and Vibes, Bob Moore: Bass, D.J. Fontana: Drums, Buddy Harman: Drums, Floyd Cramer: Piano, Boots Randolph: Sax and Vibes, Millie Kirkham: Vocals, The Jordanaires: Vocals. Original engineer: Bill Porter. Original A&R: Steve Sholes. Fun In Acapulco (82876504072 3) Fun In Acapulco - Vino, Dinero Y Amor – Mexico – El Toro – Marguerita – The Bullfighter Was A Lady – (There’s) No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car – I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here – Bossa Nova Baby – You Can’t Say No In Acapulco – Guadalajara – Love Me Tonight – Slowly But Surely – Mexico (take 7) – The Bullfighter Was A Lady (remake take 17) – I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here (remake takes 18,19) - Bossa Nova Baby (takes 1,2) – The Bullfighter Was A Lady (takes 4,5,6) - Marguerita (take 6) – I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here (take 1) - Mexico (takes 1,2) – You Can’t Say No In Acapulco (takes 1,2,3,4) – Guadalajara (take 2) - Bossa Nova Baby (take 3) - Mexico (take 6) - I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here (takes 11,12,13-remake) - Guadalajara (takes 3,4) Compilation produced by Ernst Mikael Jørgensen & Roger Semon Mastered by Lene Reidel at Tocano Original engineer: Dave Weichman Recorded January 22 & 23, 1963 Radio Recorders, Hollywood Scotty Moore: Guitar, Tiny Timbrell: Guitar & Mando lin, Barney Kessel: Guitar, Ray Siegel: Bass, D.J. Fontana: Drums, Hal Blaine: Drums, Emil Radocchia: Percussion, Dudley Brooks: Piano, Anthony Terran: Trumpet, Rudolph Loera, The Jordanaires: Vocals, The Amigos: Vocals and Guitars Track 12 & 13 recorded at RCA’s Studio B, Nashville on May 26 & 27, 1963 respectively. Musicians at session: Scotty Moore: Guitar, Harold Bradley: Guitar, Grady Martin: Guitar, Jerry Kennedy: Guitar, Bob Moore: Bass, D.J. Fontana: Drums, Buddy Harman: Drums, Floyd Cramer: Piano, Boots Randolph: Sax, Vibes & Shakers, Millie Kirkham: Vocals, The Jordanaires: Vocals. Original engineer: Bill Porter. Original A & R: Ste ve Sholes Source: Elvis News/Elvis Unlimited

FTD News

The FTD label will release from April 1st, all (or most) deleted RCA releases! These will be extra FTD releases and will come in a 7 inch card-box with the original tracklist and some outtakes with some never released tracks! These cd's come together with a 7/8 page booklet. The first releases are the movie soundtracks as they were released on the double features series. Source: It's Elvis Time/ FECC Messageboard

Promotional Presentation DVD

We have received a better scan of this rare promo. This is a promotional presentation DVD for " Elvis 30 #1 Hits ". It was issued to the HMV retail chain for in store play. This was a very limited pressing of just over 100 copies by BMG Canada, and Embassy Productions Inc. Canada.

Source: Barry McClean

Elvis - New Year's Eve FTD Delayed

We have just received a word from Ernst M. Jorgensen that the shippings of this extra FTD release will be done on March 6th. It means that most dealers will have them within the next few days depending in what country they are.

Source: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen

Follow Up To 30 #1 Hits Confirmed

BMG UK confirmed the next big Elvis project. There will be a follow up for the Album “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits” which will have the same big worldwide promotion as the E 1 Album. Source: Elvis News

Elvis - New Year's Eve FTD Delayed

This FTD release was due out for March 3rd but has been re-scheduled for March 15th.

Surce: FTD label

Elvis 30 #1 Hits DVD audio from Brazil

The cover art is the same as the US version except for the tag warning the consumer that this disc won't play in car stereos and cd-players, which is written in Portuguese. The Brazilian version doesn't come with the booklet.

Source: Sergio Luiz

BMG Country Radio Compilation #7 Promo CD

This five (5) tracks promo has been issued by BMG Canada and contain one song by Elvis ( Burning Love ). The promo has a back cover ( shown above ) but no front cover. There's a gold sticker on the jewel case with " Demo " written on it. The CD itself and back cover also mention it's a " Not For Sale " item.

Source: Barry McClean

Chinese Promo CD for ELV1S 30 #1 H1TS

Here we have the artwork for Chinese Promo CD for ELV1S 30 #1 H1TS with great Picture Disc. This is super rare and is impossible to find. Source: HT Long

Special Edition of the "50 Greatest Hits -The Classics"

New rare Elvis Special Edition of the "50 Greatest Hits -The Classics" Double CD-album. This one is from Mainland China, even though it has BMG Hong Kong on its label. A real quality release -comes in a beautiful jewel case plus a very nice bonus Slip-Case Box. This is completely different to the BMG Taiwan release. Source: HT Long

BMG- American Airlines Promo for Elvis 30 #1 Hits CD

BMG has issued this promo for the major flight company in Canada. The same has been done in the USA for " American Airlines " but contains only three (3) tracks instead of four (4) tracks as featured on the " Air Canada " promo.The tracks are : Burning Love (sound comparison), Burning Love ( from the CD 30 #1 Hits ) and Suspicious Minds ( from the CD 30 #1 Hits ). The back cover shown above at right contains the mention " A Special gift for First Class and Business Class customers courtesy of RCA Records. Source : Barry McClean

NEW BMG/ARGENTINA PROMOTIONAL ONLY CD'S

As part of BMG/Argentina campaign to promote the ELV1S 30 #1 HITS CD, all of the above various artists promotional only CD's include one Elvis song. PCD-468 also includes two radio spots with Elvis music and a speaker in Spanish. Elvis' songs included are: Burning Love; A Little Less Conversation; It's Now Or Never and Suspicious Minds respectively. CD's were sent to selected radio stations. They are extremely hard to get. Source: Carlos Ares

Elvis - New Year's Eve

We’re finally ready with the announcement for this release. A lot of RCA work (something to

look forward to, we can assure you) and a few additional road blocks delayed this release a few weeks. We aim to ship first week of March ( March 3rd ).This is a 2 CD-set of the complete concert “NEW YEAR’S EVE” 1976 in Pittsburgh.

CD #1: 2001 Theme; C.C. Rider; I Got A Woman / Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; Fairytale;You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse Rrock; It's Now Or Never; My Way; Funny How Time Slips Away; Auld Lang Syne; Introduction of Vernon and Lisa Presley; Blue Suede Shoes; Trying To Get To You; Polk Salad Annie.

CD #2: Introduction of the band; Early Morning rain ;Solos; Love Letters; School Days; Fever; Hurt; Hound Dog; Are You Lonesome Tonight?; Reconsider Baby; Little Sister; Unchained Melody; Rags To Riches; Can't Help Falling In Love; Closing Vamp.

VERY IMPORTANT. This is an audience recording - NOT a soundboard. We have searched for years to find a soundboard, but without success. As most of you know, this show has been bootlegged over and over, and we want to make sure that the many fans who don’t buy bootlegs, get a chance to experience this historic concert. The sound quality is both noisy, hollow, and loaded with crowd noises, but this is a historic moment and probably the best quality we are ever going to get. However, let’s all make sure we don’t sell this under false pretences.

Source: FTD label

Studio B- Nashville Outtakes 1961-1964

The April 1st FTD release is a straight follow up to last year’s “FAME AND FORTUNE”, “STUDIO B” covers Elvis’s non-movie sessions at RCA’s studio B in Nashville. The time period is June 1961 through January 1964. 23 cuts total – we believe everybody knows exactly what to expect (and yes, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that there will be a volume 3 covering 1966-68 in 2004)

1) Kiss Me Quick -take 1 - 2:59 (Pomus/Shuman) 06-25-61,2) That’ s Someone You Never Forget - take 5 – 2:51 (West/Presley)06-25-61 3), I’m Yours -take 4 – 2:24 (Don Robertson) 06-25-61,4) His Latest Flame -takes rehearsal & 2 – 4:05 (Pomus/Shuman) 06-25-61,5) Little Sister -takes 1,2,3 – 3:39 (Pomus/Shuman) 06-25-61,6) For The Millionth And The Last Time -take 1–2:06 (Tepper/Bennett)10-15-61,7) Anything That’s Part Of You -takes 4,5 – 2:33 (Don Robertson) 10-15-61,8) I Met Her Today -takes 8-9 – 3:04 (Don Robertson) 10-15-61, 9) Something Blue -takes 3,4 – 3:25 (Evans/Byron) 03-18-62, 10)Gonna Get Back Home Somehow -take 1 – 2:37 (Pomus/Shuman) 03-18-62,11)(Such An) Easy Question -take 3 – 2:47 (Blackwell/Scott) 03-18-62, 12) Fountain Of Love -takes 1,2 – 2:51 (Giant/Lewis) 03-18-62,13) Just For Old Time Sake -takes 3-4 – 2:51 (Tepper/Bennett) 03-18-62, 14) Night Rider -takes 2-3 - 2:56 (Pomus/Shuman) 03-18-62, 15) You’ll Be Gone -take 1- 2:31 (Hodge/West/Presley) 03-18-62,16) I Feel That I’ve Known You Forever -take 1 - 1:42(Pomus/Shuman)03-19-62,17)Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello -take 2 – 1:55 (Leiber/Stoller) 03-19-62, 18) Echoes Of Love -takes 2-3 – 3:01 (Roberts/McMains) 05-26-63, 19) Please Don’t Drag That String Around-take, 2-2:06(Blackwell/Scott)05-26-63, 20) Love Me Tonight -take 3 & 4 – 2:38 (Don Robertson) 05-26-63, 21) Western Union -take 3 - 2:25

(Tepper/Bennett) 05-27-63, 22) Memphis Tennessee -take 1 - 2:44 (Chuck Berry) 01-12-64,23) Ask Me -take 8-9 – 2:43, (Modugno/Giant/Baum/Kaye) 01-12-64.

The July 1st FTD release will be a soundboard concert – several options – and we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for fan preferences within the repertoire available to us.A few surprises are being worked on – announcement will follow as soon as we are ready.

Source: FTD label

Elvis - New Year's Eve '76

We have just been informed by the FTD label that the forthcoming " Elvis - New Year's Eve '76 " double CD set won't contain any bonus cuts. As fas as we know this CD is still scheduled for the end of February.

Tracklisting: 2001 theme; C. C. Rider; I got a woman / Amen; Big boss man; Love me; Fairy tale;You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse rock; It's now or never; My way; Funny how time slips away; Auld lang syne; Introduction of Vernon and Lisa Presley; Blue Suede Shoes; Trying to get to you; Polk salad annie; Early morning rain; Love letters; Hail hail rock and roll; Fever; Hurt; Hound Dog; Are you lonesome tonight; Reconsider baby; Little sister; Unchained melody; Rags to Riches; Can't help falling in love.

Source: Ernst M. Jorgensen

BMG - Air Canada promo for ELV1S CD

We put on this section awhile ago the back cover of the " BMG - Air Canada promo " for Elv1s CD. Now we have a better scan of the back cover but as well the CD itself and the front cover. BMG Canada issued this promo for the major flight company in Canada. It mentions on the back cover " Exclusively available in Air Canada Executive First/Executive Class ". This promo contains 4 tracks : Burning Love (old and new version), Suspicious Minds (old and new version). This is certainly a rare CD and a collector's dream. Happy Hunting!

Source: Barry Mc Clean

The Classic Album Series

Here's the artworks of the four CDs re-released on January 7th by BMG (U.S.A.) on the " Classic Album Series ". There's a note on front saying " Mixed and mastered from original source tapes using DSD technology for optimum sound quality ". The back covers has an advertisement for the recent hit CD " Elvis 30 #1 Hits ".

Source: Barry McClean

ELV1S 30#1 India

Of all the ELV1S 30#1 Hits released worldwide, the most interesting one must be from BMG India. The disc inside in quite different in design to the rest of the world. Source: HT Long

Elv1s From BMG Taiwan

This is the BMG Taiwan of the " Elvis 30 #1 Hits " and sold in China ( Shanghai ). The CD itself isn't gold but blue as shown above.

Source: Barry McClean

Elvis - New Year's Eve '76

The title of the next FTD release (not a regular release from FTD but an extra) will be " Elvis -New Year's Eve '76 ". However they haven't ruled out the possibility to add " Pittsburgh " in the title and will advise if it's the case. The bonus tracks haven't been revealed yet and we'll give more informations to our readers when becoming available. This extra release by the FTD label is scheduled for the end of February 2003.

Tracklisting: 2001 theme; C. C. Rider; I got a woman / Amen; Big boss man; Love me; Fairy tale;You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse rock; It's now or never; My way; Funny how time slips away; Auld lang syne; Introduction of Vernon and Lisa Presley; Blue Suede Shoes; Trying to get to you; Polk salad annie; Early morning rain; Love letters; Hail hail rock and roll; Fever; Hurt; Hound Dog; Are you lonesome tonight; Reconsider baby; Little sister; Unchained melody; Rags to Riches; Can't help falling in love ; Bonus tracks not revealed at this time

Source: Roger Semon ( FTD label )

Brazil Promotional material for Elvis 30 #1 Hits

This very special promotional kit from Brazil contains three different posters : the official promo poster of the CD with half of Elvis' face and the writing " antes que alguem fizesse alguma coisa, Elvis fez tudo " ( before anyone did anything...), the Elvis FBI badge and autographed Muhammad Ali boxing gloves. These posters were given away to customers buying the Elvis 30 #1 Hits CD. Other products from Brazil shown on the picture above are : the Elvis 30 #1 Hits, the JXL single and the Burning Love single.

Source: Sergio Luiz

Pittsburgh 76 on FTD

The next FTD release due for February 2003, will contain the much talked about new years eve. Show from 1976. FTD found a tape recording of this show earlier this year. This recording should be far better than any of the recordings that have been released un-officially releases over the years. This release will also mark the first complete audience recording released by RCA, BMG or FTD. FTD would like to state that the reason for this release is not that they have run out of good studio and soundboard recordings. It just a matter of the historical importance and a great demand for this great show show. You can read more about this release on this site later. We will also have a title and the release date soon.

The second FTD release for 2003 will be a studio CD. This time will be taken back to Nashville from 1962 to 1968. There is no information about the tracklist for this release yet. We will have more info about this release soon on this site. Source: Elvis Unlimited

mega rare advance Canadian promo

This is the mega rare advance Canadian promo for ELV1S CD. The CD contains 12 tracks, the old sound and the new remastered sound so there's two versions of the following songs : Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, All Shook Up, Return To Sender, Suspicious Minds and Jailhouse Rock. The strange thing about this promo is that it was pressed and printed in the U.S.A. for BMG Canada ( pressed by Sonopress USA ). Source : Barry McClean

New Elvis new CD's from China

Just located 2 Elvis new CDs from China. (See colour scans) The ELV1S 30 #1 Hits has a beautiful Digipack type gatefold Slip-case and is different to the rest of the world as it is the only version that DOES NOT include A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION. Both CDs are only available in SHANGHAI, CHINA and not in Taiwan or H ong Kong. Source: HT Long

BMG - Air Canada promo for ELV1S CD

BMG Canada has issued a promo for the major flight company in Canada. This promo contains 4 tracks : Burning Love (old and new version), Suspicious Minds (old and new version). More informations when we have it. Happy hunting for the collectors Source : Barry McClean

Dinner At Eight

Crazy Canuck ( November 2002 )

The latest release from the FTD label is " Dinner At Eight " and contains the December 13, 1975 dinner show in Las Vegas. The overall artwork is very attractive and done with taste. The use of Sue McCasland's photographs of the actual concert is a big plus too as far as I'm concern. There's a small misprint inside with " Polk Salad Annie " being listed as " Poke Salad Annie ", not really a big deal and we can live with that.

The inside cover mentions this show was recorded on a " reel-to-reel tape " in mono and has a few weak spots during the first two songs. The sound quality is pretty good and doesn't suffer of distortion as the import CD " Just Pretend ", which was recorded a few hours later ( midnight show ). This is most likely that other shows from that season were also recorded on a " reel-to-reel tape ", and have yet to be located. I wouldn't mind to hear one day the opening show of December 2, 1975 in this quality.

I have always enjoyed the December '75 shows and this one is no exception. Elvis is up for the show and sounds pretty good throughout the whole performance. My favourite tracks being ; Help Me Make It Through The Night, Trying To Get To You, And I Love You So, America and How Great Thou Art. The unusual performance of this show is " Wooden Heart ", not really a bad version but Elvis skipped a few German lines.

The FTD producers ( Ernst Jorgensen & Roger Semon ) did an excellent job to this day, and the forthcoming " Elvis At The International " ( Au gust 23, 1969 midnight show ) should be

another winner. In the meantime I'll play " Dinner At Eight " often, and no doubts you'll do the same!!!!

You can order " Dinner At Eight " through our Elvis Shop.

Statement From Ernst Mikael Jorgensen

There's a lot of speculation on the FECC messageboard about the persons involved with " Elvis 30 #1 Hits " CD and other BMG related products. Here's a statement from BMG producer Ernst Mikael Jorgensen about all this.

There is no personnel drama in relation to Elvis 1. The original idea ( not very original-but it works ) was developed by Schmalenbach, Omansky, Semon and Jørgensen back in 2000. When BMG decided to create the HERITAGE division in the summer of 2001, it was decided that The Elvis Presley catalog would go to this division. Obviously Semon and Jørgensen would work for HERITAGE with an immediate brief to develop TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER (Omansky and Schmalenbach left the company). The 1 album remained with RCA since it's whole basis was a MAJOR marketing effort - a task too big for the newly started HERITAGE division -both financially and from a staf fing point of view. When RCA president Jack Rovner started working on the project he had to use his own people as Jørgensen & Semon wasn't working for RCA any longer. When Jack Rovner left the company in February, Jørgensen & Semon were asked to come back to work on the project after finishing TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER. David Bendeth was already in the process of producing the album, and Jørgensen & Semon were working in other areas like photo search and clearances, RIAA certifications, legal matters, web-site and much more. There are plenty of real life dramas in the recording business - this is NOT one of them.

Source : Ernst Mikael Jorgensen

Elvis At The International

We received the info from Ernst that the final title will be "Elvis at the International" for the January FTD release containing the 1969 show. Of course you can order all the FTD's through our website Source: Ernst Jorgensen

30 # 1 goes gold in Brazil

Elvis 30# 1 hits got the gold certification here in Brazil, with 180.000 copies sold. To achieve the gold status here in Brazil, the artist have to sell 100.000, so Elvis is almost 2x gold. The MTV magazine of november has a little article about this and also says Elvis is the best seller International artist this year, beeing ahead of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Alanis Morissette. Also, BMG and MTV are doing a contest that will give away a free Elvis cd ( 30# 1) and a Volkswagen Polo Elvis. The car has the same color of the cover of the cd and has ELV1s logo on doors and front. Source: Sergio Luiz

New CD single "Burning Love" in Chile

BMG has released in Chile the single "Burning Love" and the above picture is the promo CD including this track. The 30 #1 Hits is the biggest seller CD in Chile. The CD was #1 in the chart for 7 weeks, and now dropped at # 2. The new site of the Official Chilean club will be open next Saturday night with a great party/show with the club members. Our new site is www.elvischile.cl and new mail elvischile@elvischile.cl Source: Mario Silva

Elv1s Gold Promo Boxset - Australia

This is the Elv1s 30 # 1 Hits BMG Australia staff only gold box-set containing the Australian pressing of E1, the one track Burning Love promo, the Patrick Humphrey's E1 book & the E1 t-shirt. Source: Evan Mueller

Elv1s 30 #1 HITS gold in poland

The CD "ELV1S 30 #1 HITS" gold has received the golden status in Poland. Source: Tomek Michalczyk

Elvis '56 re-release

We are planning to re-release Elvis '56 in January ( tentatively scheduled for commercial release on 1/703 ). The record will be digitally remastered in a similar format to what we have accomplished for Elv1s 30#1 Hits and will include a new package ID logo that will call out the current imagery that we have created/posted for the E1 release. Elvis '56 will be accompanied by Elvis Great Country, Heart and Soul, and Can't Help Falling In Love that will all have the same digital sound applications and logo ID look. Look out for more information on these reissues as well as our E1 DVD 5.1 Audio. A series of these initiatives will be underway for the New Year ... Source : BMG/ Kevan Budd

Dinner At Eight

Here we have the front and back cover of the new FTD "Dinner At Eight". This CD contains the December 13th 1975 dinner show in Las Vegas. The photograph on the cover is from the actual show. C.C. Rider - 3:10 I Got A Woman/Amen - 9:47 Love Me – 2:21 Help Me Make It Through The Night – 3:06 Trying To Get To You – 2:33 And I Love You So – 3:34 All Shook Up – 1:13 (Let Me Be Your)Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel – 4:32 Wooden Heart – 2:03 You Gave Me A Mountain – 3:13 Polk Salad Annie – 4:41 Band Introductions – 8:40 How Great Thou Art - 3:11 Softly, As I Leave You – 2:54 America – 2:24 MysteryTrain/Tiger Man –2:43 Blue Christmas – 3:03 Can’t Help Falling In Love.

You can order this CD from this website. You can write to us at fecc@elvis-collectors.com for further details. Source: It's Elvis Time

ELV1S 30 #1 Hits DVD

Good news for Elvis fans who are DVD audio enthusiasts. On December 10, ELV1S 30 #1 HITS will be issued on DVD audio. The disc will come in a regular CD size case with alterations to the cover art to distinguish it clearly from the regular CD release. DVD audio discs provide an even greater sound quality experience. They work in all DVD players - both in audio DVD players and video DVD players. (They do not work in regular CD players.) EPE applaud RCA/BMG for taking this extra step of reaching the new and growing DVD audio market in promoting the worldwide smash ELV1S 30 #1 HITS.

The regular E1 CD presents the songs in chronological order. The DVD audio disc will present them in reverse chronological order. The songs on E1 that take the greatest advantage of DVD audio are those that were originally recorded in multi-track - the later recordings. It's good to put those first on the DVD for maximum initial impact for the listener. The DVD audio disc will have all of the content of the regular E1 CD plus several very special bonus tracks.

You'll hear "A:B" comparison samples of three songs: A - a sample of the original mix of the song, B- a sample of the song with its newly remastered sound as commissioned for the ELV1S 30 #1 HITS CD release. You'll also hear out-takes of three songs: Elvis' own self-harmony track with his "Sing the song, man, sing the song!" shout of encouragement to himself on Suspicious Minds; studio banter, laughter and a false start on Crying in the Chapel; and the exquisite, spine-tingling isolated Elvis vocal track from In the Ghetto, which emerged as the remastering engineers' favorite example of Elvis' perfect pitch and overall magnificence as an artist. The Six Special Bonus Tracks are NOT 5.1 DVD - Audio Multi - Channel, they are all in stereo.

Ray Bardini and David Bendeth have discovered a new which has not been used before with any artist until now. Elvis will be the first artis t on the 5.1 DVD Audio Multi-Channel where this new technique on the mono tracks will be used. Until now the Z 1 Sound was used on mono tracks but this sounds quite electronical. With the mono-tracks on Elvis 30 # 1 Hits this technique gives a pure, acoustic, new surround sound.

David Bendeth fixed the pop on the song 'Hound Dog' and the band silence after 'In The Ghetto', it was 11 seconds and is now the normal 4 seconds. On not using the original track of 'The Wonder Of You' we should hear why with this release. Source: EPE / Elvis News

Elvis At The International

>Here we have the track listing of the January FTD release with a 1969 concert which RCA recorded at Elvis comeback in Las Vegas. This release contains the August 23, 1969 (Midnight Show) recording. The working title seems to be "Elvis At The International" (74321 977132). Blue Suede Shoes , I Got A Woman , All Shook Up , Love Me Tender ,Jailhouse Rock/Don’t Be Cruel ,Heartbreak Hotel ,Hound Dog , Memories ,Mystery Train/Tiger Man , Monologue ,Baby What You Want Me To Do , Runaway ,Reconsider Baby ,Are You Lonesome Tonight? ,Yesterday/Hey Jude,Introductions of the band, In The Ghetto, Suspicious Minds , What’d I Say , Can’t Help Falling In Love. Source: FECC messageboard

Audio DVD ELVIS 30 #1 Hits

The audio DVD for ‘ELV1S 30 #1 Hits’ is now available for pre-order. The expected release date for the first Elvis audio DVD is December 10. The extras are : Burning Love (A:B Test) ;Return To Sender (A:B Test); (You're The) Devil In Disguise (A:B Test) ;In The Ghetto (Elvis' isolated vocal); Suspicious Minds (Elvis' self-harmony vocal and comment); Crying In The Chapel (with banter, laughter, false start). The A:B tests are the comparisons between the old and new mixes. Source : EIN / FECC messageboard

2.000.000 copies sold in Europe

According to the IFIP.org the compilation ' ELV1S 30 # 1 Hits ' officially sold in excess of 2 Million copies in Europe. Source : IFIP

Dinner at 8th

After all the ”1” activities, things are slowly getting back to normal. We are aiming at November 15 release of “DINNER AT EIGHT” – the 19th volume of the FOLLOW THAT DREAM series. This time we were lucky to find a tape in private possession of Elvis’ dinner show in Las Vegas on December 13th, 1975. Different to most of what we call “soundboards”, this concert was recorded on a reel-to reel tape, and not the usual cassette. The show is still in mono though, and there are a few tape problems along the way, but in general it sounds good. The picture above is actually the back of the CD with tracklisting

Tracklisting: 1) C.C. Rider - 3:10 2) I Got A Woman/Amen – 9:47 3) Love Me – 2:21 4) Help Me Make It Through The Night – 3:06 5) Trying To Get To You – 2:33 6) And I Love You So – 3:34 7) All Shook Up – 1:13 8) (Let Me Be Your)Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel – 4:32 9) Wooden Heart – 2:03 10) You Gave Me A Mountain – 3:13 11) Polk Salad Annie – 4:41 12) Introduction – 8:40 13) How Great Thou Art - 3:11 14) Softly As I Leave You – 2:54 15) America – 2:24 16) MysteryTrain/Tiger Man –2:43 17) Blue Christmas – 3:03 18) Can’t Help Falling In Love

You can pre-order this CD and all the others FTD CD's at our FTD Shop. The January release will be one of the 1969 concerts RCA recorded at Elvis comeback in Las Vegas. If anybody has a great idea for a title – please let us know. Source: FTD

Louisiana '55

This double CD set will be released on October 29th and contained a 24 pages booklet. It's released by NMC Music Ltd and not a BMG product.

CD1:Heartbreak Hotel - Long Tall Sally - I Was The One - Money Honey - I Got A Woman - Blue Suede Shoes - Hound Dog - Baby Let's Play House -Maybellene - That's Alright Mama - Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Good Rockin' Tonight - I Got A Woman - Tweedle Dee.

CD 2:Several Interviews from 1955 - 1957

source : Elvis News/ FECC message board

Burning Love promo

An interesting item for the promo collectors. Here we have the one track Australian promo " Burning Love ".

Source : Elvis News

FTD Dinner at Eight & Follow-up

The 19th release from Follow That Dream is tentatively set for November 15, 2002 and is entitled Dinner at Eight. This time we were lucky to find, in private possession, a tape of Elvis’ dinner show in Las Vegas on December 13, 1975. Different to most of what we call soundboards, this concert was recorded on a reel-to reel tape, not the usual cassette. The show is still in mono though, and there are a few tape problems along the way, but in general it sounds good.

The first-quarter 2003 release in January will be one of the concerts RCA recorded during Elvis’ triumphant 1969 engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Details to come.

Track Listing for Dinner at Eight:

C.C. Rider - 3:10 I Got A Woman/Amen - 9:47 Love Me – 2:21 Help Me Make It Through The Night – 3:06 Trying To Get To You – 2:33 And I Love You So – 3:34 All Shook Up – 1:13 (Let Me Be Your)Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel – 4:32 Wooden Heart – 2:03 You Gave Me A Mountain – 3:13 Polk Salad Annie – 4:41 Band Introductions – 8:40 How Great Thou Art - 3:11 Softly, As I Leave You – 2:54 America – 2:24 MysteryTrain/Tiger Man –2:43 Blue Christmas – 3:03 Can’t Help Falling In Love

Also we received the info that the January release will actually be out before Christmas. Source: EPE / Peter Haan

Chinese 31 #1 Hits update

The 31 #1 Hits is actually Made in China and distributed to various Asian countries. It is on sale in Hong Kong, Malaysia,Thailand, Indonesia etc. Like all the others Chinese CD's they are NOT BMG copies. You can call it boot if you like. Actually the real Elvis 30 #1 Hits boot from Malaysia is a yelow greenish Cover with a different back cover. Elvis faint picture in Gold Suit is on the back cover. It has no picture disc (see picture above). This release is very rare, and hard to get.

ELVIS 30 #1 HITS goes Platinum

ELVIS 30 #1 HITS reigns supreme at #1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States for the third week. Sales worldwide are outstanding, nearly 6 million units. In America alone, the record has sold over 1 million units and will be certified platinum by the RIAA. Sales awards for ELVIS 30 #1 HITS will be presented at Graceland on January 8th as part of the Elvis Birthday Celebration.

Following is a press release issued today from RCA/BMG:

THE KING STILL ALIVE… ATOP THE CHARTS ELV1S 30 #1 H ITS SELLS NEARLY 6 MILLION WORLDWIDE Album Stays No. 1 in Europe and U .S. RCA Records’ Presley Collection Continues to Astound, Reaching Top of the Charts in 24 Territories New York, NY -- October 16, 2002 – BMG and RCA Records announced today that ELV1S 30 #1 HITS has sold nearly 6 million units worldwide, having reached the top spot in an astounding 24 countries and the top five in five others. In addition, ELV1S 30 #1 HITS held its No. 1 position in the U.S. for the third consecutive week and in Europe for the second consecutive week. The album was released worldwide on September 24th. Source: EP

#1 CD in Canada

The 30 #1 Hits has been two weeks in a row on the Albums : Top 100 and the Country : Top 50 in Canada and expected to remain at the top spot for a third consecutive week. The BMG box-set " Elvis : Today, Tomorrow And Forever " is also #15 on the Country: Top 50 and featured on this chart for 8 weeks. The single " A Little Less Conversation " has been on the Singles : Top 50 in Canada for 15 weeks including 11 weeks at the number one spot. The single has dropped on the chart but now climbing again from #32 to #27 on the week ending on October 6th.

Dinner At Eight

The upcoming FTD release, that will feature a soundboard recording from December 13th, 1975 Dinner Show, which was postponed until November will have the title "Dinner At Eight". The song "My Heavenly Father" by Kathy Westmoreland will not be featured because of contractual problems. Source: The United Elvis Presley Society

#1 CD in India

The ELVIS #1 CD is No. 1 on the "Planet M" Sales Charts this week - "Planet M" has the largest chain of music retail stores all over India. Source: Arjan deelen

Chinese Elvis 31 #1 Hits

Above you see the artwork of the Elvis 31 #1 Hits (yes - it is titled; Elvis' Thirty-One Number One Hits). This is from China & the picture disc is simply marvelous! Both Cover & Picture disc are different from the rest of the world. Source: HT Long

"Malaysian ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits"

Here you have the BMG Malaysia's Special Bonus Folded Cover Sleeve. Source: HT Long

The King Reigns Again On Billboard Charts

Elvis Presley returns to the throne as "ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits" (RCA) sold more than 500,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, and bows at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 -- his first title to ever debut atop the stateside chart and the largest arrival of an archival album in two years. The reign of the King is an international one, as the compilation of Elvis' hits tops the album charts in 16 other countries, including the U.K., France, Spain, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

Presley's compilation missed the benchmark set by the Beatles' "1" (Capitol) in November 2000 with debut week sales of 595,000 units, and later 1.26 million during that year's Christmas week. But while the Fab Four topped just The Billboard 200, Presley's set also enters at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums tally. Of the album's 31 songs, 16 have appeared on the Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Source: Billboard

The 30 #1 CD is released in Turkey same time other countries. And 'A Little Les Conversation' single become number one in Turkey. Source: Ahmet Gulen

Japanese ELV1S 30 #1

Here we have the artwork for ELV1S 30 #1 Japanese release first edition, which features an exclusive bonus EP of "A Little Less Conversation": Original Version, Extended Remix and the music video. Source: Jean-Marc Juilland

Elvis 30 #1 Hits Hits No.1

More than 25 years after his death, 20th century pop music icon Elvis Presley has set a new record by debuting at No. 1 in 14 territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Austria, France, Australia and Brazil. "Elvis 30 #1 Hits," the definitive Presley collection that was released by RCA on September 24th, thus becomes the first-ever album by Presley to open at the top of the charts in the U.S. The album’s release marks the first time RCA has produced a compilation of the definitive No. 1 singles of Elvis Presley’s legendary career. With the full participation of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., the record is the culmination of a year’s work that has focused renewed attention on Presley. Earlier this year, the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" reached No. 1 in the U.S. in its first week of release, and was No. 1 worldwide. Because of overwhelming demand, the tune was added as a special bonus track to "Elvis 30 #1 Hits."

Source : BMG New-York

Elvis 30 #1 Hits Debuts at #1!

As expected, Elvis 30 #1 Hits has debuted at #1 in Australia, Britain and Ireland. Buoyed by advance sales of more than 3 million worldwide the album is going to be a mega hit, particularly with the important Christmas sales period only two months away! In Australia, the album is #1 on the ARIA album chart and the various store charts including Sanity and Virgin.

The album is already double platinum in both the US and Australia and more than 500,000 units have been shipped in Britain. Several retailers are predicting that the release will outsell The Beatles '1' album. That release has sold around 10 million units worldwide and in

Australia is 7xP with unit sales over 500,000.

In Australia, The King's chart prominence also includes:

The Definitive Elvis: #1 on the ARIA music video chart The Definitive Elvis: #2 on the ARIA music DVD chart Elvis vs JXL: #27 on the ARIA singles chart (and #4 on the United World Singles chart) Burning Love: dropped out of the Top 50 after one week (#37) on the ARIA singles chart Lilo & Stitch soundtrack: #12 with a bullet on the ARIA album chart (The A-Teens single from the soundtrack, Can't Help Falling in Love, is at #39 on the singles chart) All eyes are now on the US where the new Billboard album chart will be published later this week. Source: EIN

Chilean 30 #1 CD

The 30 #1 CD hits has also been released in Chile. The cover is the same but it features two stickers. The CD is available through the Official fan club of Chile. New e-mail address is elvischile@elvischile.cl Source: Maro Silva

Burning Love Spanish Promo

Radio stations in Spain received a promo for the " Burning Love " single. This single contains two tracks ; the new mixed version for the Elv1s 30 #1 hits and the original version. This is not known if the single will be released in Spain though. It was done by BMG Spain with the mention " Disco Promocional, prohibida su venta ".

Source: Elvis Fan Club from Spain

Elv1s 30 #1 Hits Released in Argentina

Out next week!!! ELV1S 30 #1 HITS Argentinean pressing. We have already heard the album and believe me, it sounds FAN-TAS-TIC!!! The alternate take of 'The Wonder Of You' will blow your mind!! An in-house FULL-TRACK promo CD for BMG employees has also been produced!!! Source: Carlos Ares

European 30 #1 Hits

The event was for introducing the 30 #1 Hits to the press & media. This included a talk from Roger Semon where he mentioned, in a recent survey BMG discovered only 1 in 10 people owned an Elvis greatest hits album, therefore justifying the need for such a release. He also played before & after versions of Suspicious Minds & In The Ghetto, before playing a short film which showed James Burton, DJ Fontana & Glen D Hardin listening to and giving their approval on the new cleaned up versions. This ended with free Budweiser lager available (sponsors) while the entire album was played back. Roger Semon told me later that both Aloha (new camera angles etc.) & '68 special are both

definitely being re-worked for release on DVD in early 2003. Source: Jeff Walker

Malaysian Elvis Road Tour

BMG Malaysia is currently promoting ELV1S 30 #1 HITS very heavily through the radio, TV & even their "ELVIS Road Tour" is getting much publ icity in the newspapers etc. They've also issued lots of Promotional material.."Elvis 30 #1 T-SHIRTS", "Elvis 30 #1 POSTERS", "ELV1S 30 #1 Giant Car Stickers", and the best of all is that the first 1,000 copies of the CD will have a unique Elvis Cover Sleeve which can be opened up into a mini-Poster featuring 5 Elvis color and 4 black and white photos. Really nice! It is already predicted by the Press to be a mega seller in Asia. This will be on sale from September 24th, 2002 onwards. You can click on the left picture above to see the poster enlarge Source: HT Long

ELV1S 30 #1 Hits press sample

I received today the BMG press sampler for the ELV1S 30 #1 Hits upcoming CD. The sampler contains 5 tracks mixed by compilation producer David Bendeth and Ray Bardini. The tracks featured are : Burning Love, Suspicious Minds, Can’t Help Falling In Love, In The Ghetto and Love Me Tender.

There were such a build up about the sound quality of this upcoming CD that I was afraid to be a bit disappointed. Was I disappointed ? No, in fact I’m just simply impressed with their works. Besides being there while it was recorded this is certainly the CLOSEST you can get.You can hear ALL the details (all the instruments and backing vocals) and Elvis’ voice sounds better than ever. We all know that Elvis had a great voice and this CD will let you hear

why he was such a great vocalist.

“Burning Love “ is a great rock song but always felt it sounded a bit flat. Not anymore, this is really a true rockin’ song and too bad it took 30 years before hearing Ronnie Tutt and all the band cookin’ like this. Yeah ! the “ temperature was risin’ “ in the Hollywood R.C.A. studio that day. The purity of Elvis’ voice during “ In T he Ghetto “, “ Can’t Help Falling In Love “ and “ Love Me Tender “ is really coming through on this release. Sting from the ex-Police group would agree that you can hear “ every breath he takes “.

A long time ago I bought all the Elvis’ releases on vinyl, later on I did the same when they came out on CD. David Bendeth and Ray Bardini are sound MAGICIANS and wouldn’t hesitate to buy them all over again with such a great sound quality, and yes I would buy again the soundtrack of “ Harum Scarum “ too.

BMG has decided to treat his #1 artist as a King on every levels with this release. There will be a huge campaign for the “ Elvis 30 #1 Hits “, so let’s keep Elvis #1 and make sure to buy a copy. You won’t be disappointed !!!!!

A video came with the CD sampler. I guess this is an edit version of what could be shown on TV in the near future. It is somewhat a “ making of the 30 #1 Hits “ CD.

D.J. Fontana, James Burton and Glen D. Hardin were invited by David Bendeth and Cie. At the Hit Factory Studio in New-York for getting an aural experience of the hard work done in studio on these tracks. All these gentlemen seemed impressed with what they’ve heard and agreed the new “ mixes “ done from the master recording reels were quite an improvement over the older mixes.

They have also repeated the same experience with some teenagers. They played to them the “older mix “ of “ Burning Love “ and then switched to the “ new mix “. The teenagers agreed the song was good but sounded “ old “ while the newer one sounded better as if it was recorded today.

There’s also some clips showing Elvis and some advertisements for this CD. It looks like a very informative program and hope it’ll be shown unedited on TV.

Make sure to read the David Bendeth’ interview done by Kevan Budd and published on our website a few days ago.

I’d like to thank Mr. David Bendeth for providing t he CD and video sampler for our website.

The Crazy Canuck. September 2002

Update FTD

The upcoming FTD release that will feature a soundboard recording from December 13th, 1975, Dinner Show has been delayed until November because of the release of the 30 #1 Hits that is set to be out on September 24th. At this moment there is no title decided for this CD. The next FTD release will be out in January. Source: Peter Haan