Live a Little, Love a Little (CD - FTD, 2015)

Title:

Live a Little, Love a Little

Label:

FTD [FTD 147] [506020 975088]

Format:

CD

Number of trackas:

21

Running time:

77:00

Type of album:

Soundtrack / Recording session

Linked to:

FTD discography; Live a Little, Love a Little, 1968

Year:

2015

Recording date:

March 7 & 11, 1968

Release date:

November 2015

Singles:

"Almost in Love/Little Less Conversation" (Sept. 3, 1968)

Had it existed, Live a Little, Love a Little would have been Elvis' 28th soundtrack album and would have covered the four songs recorded for the production, released in theaters on October 23, 1968. With no other leftovers to include on the proposed album, the only option would have been to invest in an EP almost two years after that format had gone out of fashion and been abandoned by major artists. To avoid this, RCA chose not to release all the songs, focusing instead on selling only two singles. The remaining songs would be released on budget LPs over the next two years.

Elvis was at a point where he could no longer accept working with music as mediocre as the ones he had recorded since 1965, and this was evident, as the singer spared no effort to demonstrate his dissatisfaction with everything and everyone involved in the decisions regarding scripts and soundtracks. It was necessary to please Elvis, but it was also necessary to make his fans happy by bringing him into the present and removing him from the terrible music that surrounded him.

Live a Little, Love a Little was the first film that really had a solid, modern soundtrack. Brazilian Bossa Nova was an international hit, so Elvis would record "Almost in Love" by the incredibly talented Luiz Bonfá, the only Brazilian composer to be recorded by the King of Rock; psychedelic rock and punk rock were also on the rise, so he would record "Edge of Reality" and "A Little Less Conversation"; "Wonderful World" would be the only more pop song, which was in keeping with the times.

The songs had their singles, but only saw a proper release on LP from 1969 onwards in budget editions. "Wonderful World" was introduced in Elvis Sings Flaming Star that year; the other three would only be sold in the album Almost in Love, from 1970. A release of the entire soundtrack together would only occur through FTD in November 2015.

Although all the tracks have been released previously, either officially or as bootlegs, it's only with this FTD release that they've reached the market together and with quality sound. The CD consists of the four songs from the film, but the various outtakes are the heart of the release, showcasing an Elvis excited about the new possibilities. FTD completes the album with a tri-fold cover and a 12-page booklet with photos, memorabilia, recording dates, and behind-the-scenes information.

The album features the following tracks:

SOUNDTRACK

1. Wonderful World

2. Edge of Reality

3. A Little Less Conversation

4. Almost in Love

OUTTAKES

5. Wonderful World (Take 1)
6. A Little Less Conversation (Takes 1, 2)
7. Edge of Reality (Takes 1, 2)
8. Almost in Love (Takes 1, 4-6)
9. Wonderful World (Takes 2, 3)
10. Edge of Reality (Take 3)
11. A Little Less Conversation (Takes 4-9)
12. A Little Less Conversation (Take 10 - Record Version)
13. Almost in Love (High key, Instrumental - Rehearsal)
14. Wonderful World (Take 7 - Movie Version)
15. Edge of Reality (Takes 5, 6)
16. Almost in Love (High key 2007 - Take 2, 2011 V. O. - Take 4)
17. Wonderful World (Takes 14, 15)
18. A Little Less Conversation (Takes 11, 12, 16 - Single Version)
19. Edge of Reality (Take 8 - Record Version)
20. Almost in Love (2006 - Take 4, 2012 V. O. - Takes 2, 3 - Record Version)
21. Wonderful World (Takes 16, 17 - Record Version)

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RECORDING SESSIONS

Date:
March 7 & 11, 1968

Studio:
Western Recorders Studio 1

Location:
Hollywood, Califórnia

Musicians:
Voice: Elvis Presley
Electric guitar: Charles Britz, Neil Levang, Joseph Gibbons, Al Casey
Bass: Charles Berghofer, Larry Knechtal
Drums: Hal Blaine
Piano: Don Randi
Percussion: Gary Coleman
Trombone: Lew McCreary, Thomas Shepard, Richard Leith, Dick Hyde
Trumpet: Roy Caton, Oliver Mitchell
Saxophone: James Horn
Violin: Lou Raderman, Sidney Sharp, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, William Kurasch, Tibor Zelig, Jerome Reisler, James Getzoff, Harry Bluestone, Arnold Belnick, Bernard Kundell, Stanley Plummer
Viola: Harry Hyams, Joe DiFiore, Leonard Selic, Louis Kievman, David Burke, Gareth Nuttycombe
Cello: Jesse Ehrlich, Armand Kaproff, Joseph DiTullio, Victor Sazer, Frederick Seykora, H.G. Bemko
Backing Vocals: B.J. Baker, Sally Stevens, Bob Tebow, John Bahler

Sound engineer / Recording engineer:
Billy Strange, Charles Britz

MARCH 7, 1968
                                Wonderful World (Movie Version)
                                Wonderful World (Record Version) WPA1 5768-17
                                Wonderful World (Unused Movie Version)
                                Edge Of Reality WPA1 5769-08
                                A Little Less Conversation (Record / Album Version) WPA1 5767-10
                                A Little Less Conversation (Movie / Single Version) WPA1 5767-16
                                A Little Less Conversation (Dubdown)
                                Almost In Love
                                Almost In Love (Low Key - Track)
                                Almost In Love (High Key - Track)

MARCH 11, 1968
                                Almost In Love (Vocal Overdub - Unused Movie vVersion)
                                Almost In Love (Vocal Overdub - High key)
                                Almost In Love (Vocal Overdub - Low key) WPA1 5766-03

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SESSION LOGS

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RELATED SINGLES AND LPS TRACKS (RCA, 1968)

ALMOST IN LOVE (SINGLE)

September 3, 1968

1. Almost in Love

2. A Little Less Conversation

ELVIS SINGS FLAMING STAR (LP)

October 19, 1968 (promo)
March 28, 1969 (official)

1. Flaming Star

2. Wonderful World

3. Night Life

4. All I Needed Was the Rain

5. Too Much Monkey Business

6. Yellow Rose of Texas / Eyes of Texas

7. She's a Machine

8. Do the Vega

9. Tiger Man

IF I CAN DREAM (SINGLE)

November 29, 1968

1. If I Can Dream

2. Edge of Reality

ALMOST IN LOVE (LP)

November 1970

1. Almost in Love
2. Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)
3. Edge of Reality
4. My Little Friend
5. A Little Less Conversation
6. Rubberneckin'
7. Clean Up Your Own Back Yard
8. U.S. Male
9. Charro
10. Stay Away, Joe*
*replaced by "Stay Away" on reissues from 1973 onwards

LYRICS: King of the Whole Wide World

Album:

Kid Galahad

Lyrics / Music:

Ruth Bachlor / Bob Roberts, 1961

Catalog number:

EPA 4371

Recording date:

October 27, 1961

Release date:

August 28, 1962

Observation:

- Part of the soundtrack to the film "Kid Galahad" (1962)

- The original Master release is "Version 2", recorded on October 27, 1961

- Re-released on "C'mon Everybody" (1971)

- "Version 1", recorded the same day, was only released on "Kid Galahad " (FTD, 2004)

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LYRICS

A poor man wants the oyster

A rich man wants the pearl

But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

Come on, let's sing

Sing, brother, sing

'Cos the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

The rich man wants the princess

The poor man just wants a girl

But the man who keeps singin' when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

Come on, let's sing

Sing, brother, sing

'Cos the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

A poor man wants to be a rich man

A rich man wants to be a king

But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

Come on, let's sing

Sing, brother, sing

'Cos the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

Come on, let's sing

Sing, brother, sing

'Cos the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing

He's the king of the whole wide world

Of the whole wide world

Of the whole wide world

 

A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action: Live a Little, Love a Little

LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE

(US, 1968)

Original title:

Live a Little, Love a Little

Filming date:

April 1 - May 1, 1968

Release date:

October 23, 1968

Running time:

90min

Production company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Budget:

US$ 3 million

Box office:

US$ 3 million

Main cast:

Elvis Presley

Michele Carey

Sountrack:

"Almost in Love" (single)
[b/w "A Little Less Conversation"]
(September 3, 1968)
"Elvis Sings Flaming Star" (LP)
(October 18, 1968)
"If I Can Dream" (single)
[b/w "Edge of Reality"]
(November 29, 1968)
"Almost in Love" (LP)
(November 1970)
"Live a Little, Love a Little" (CD)
(FTD, november 2015)

Live a Little, Love a Little is Elvis' 28th film. In it, Greg Nolan plays a photographer driven to the edge of reality by a mysterious woman full of surprises and a devilish dog. This production marks Elvis' return to (more or less) serious films, something he hadn't made since 1958.

Based on the novel "Kiss My Firm But Pliant Lips", written by Dan Greenburg in 1965, and with a screenplay co-written by him, this was the first film to completely deviate from the standard mediocre productions Elvis had appeared in since 1964. There were still songs, some fights, and funny situations, but the production had a more mature tone, with strong language, drug references, and an implied sexual encounter.

Elvis, Michele Carey and Brutus (Lisa Marie's dog) on scene

Unlike many previous films that involved Elvis in a studio performing in front of a chroma key, in this one he was able to shoot more scenes in real locations than usual. Most of them were captured around Hollywood, along the Malibu coast, and at the Los Angeles Music Center. The opening scene was filmed without the use of professional stunt doubles, with Elvis and Red West performing all the dangerous stunts. Filming began on April 1, 1968, two months after Lisa Marie's birth, and ended on May 1, Elvis's first wedding anniversary.

During a break in filming a scene, Elvis was pushed and thrown to the ground by a group of women who rushed toward him. To everyone's surprise, they had no interest in him and simply wanted an autograph from singer and supporting actor Rudy Vallée.

The production co-starred Michele Carey and Dick Sargent, and featured Elvis' father, Vernon, in an uncredited cameo. Several Memphis Mafia friends, such as Red West and Joe Esposito, also appear. Despite much conflicting information, the dog seen in the film was actually Brutus, owned by Elvis and acquired for Lisa's protection. Directed by Norman Taurog, this was his farewell to filmmaking.

Released on October 23, 1968, the film failed to impress most critics or audiences, and grossed only what it cost—$3 million on top of its $3 million budget (of which $850,000 went to Elvis' fee, who also received 50% of the gross). Due to its disappointing performance in the US, the film was not released in other countries at the time.


SOUNDTRACK

This being the second of Elvis' final five films during the 1960s to feature only a handful of musical numbers, the recording session for the four songs featured in the film took place at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, on March 7, 1968. The producer in charge of the session, Billy Strange, who had worked with both Frank and Nancy Sinatra, and in tune with current trends in popular music, brought in a group of musicians from outside Elvis' usual comfort zone and produced a sound that was far from the mediocrity of his film scores to date.

"Almost in Love", the only song by a Brazilian (Luíz Bonfá) to be recorded by Elvis, "Edge of Reality" and "A Little Less Conversation" would become hits from the film. The latter was released as a single, with "Almost in Love" on the B-side, on September 3, 1968, entering the Billboard Hot 100. More than three decades later, in 2002, a remix of "A Little Less Conversation" would become a global hit, although the original version was actually the re-recording Elvis made for his 1968 special.

"Edge of Reality" appeared on October 29, 1968 as the B-side of the single "If I Can Dream", the song used to close his television special that would air later that year. "Wonderful World", heard during the film's opening credits, had appeared on the compilation "Elvis Sings Flaming Star",on October 18, 1968. All three tracks released as singles have resurfaced remastered on the box set "Command Performances: The Essential 60's Masters II" in 1992.








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SUPPORTING CAST

MICHELE CAREY

Carey was born on February 26, 1943, in Annapolis, Maryland. At a young age, Michele proved to be a piano prodigy, winning a national competition at age 13 and performing with the Rochester Symphony.

While studying, she married quickly, had a son, and moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to pursue a modeling career, with an interest in acting. Aided by her beauty, she soon caught the attention of Hollywood producers and made her debut in "El Dorado" in 1966.

After "Live a Little, Love a Little" with Elvis and "Dirty Dingus Magee" (1970) with Frank Sinatra, she had numerous guest roles on series such as "Gunsmoke" (1972) and "Starsky & Hutch" (1975). Her last role was in "The Stay Awake" in 1988, retiring that year.

The actress passed away of natural causes on November 21, 2018, at the age of 76. Her parents and son predeceased her.

DICK SARGENT

Born Richard Stanford Cox in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on April 19, 1930, Dick graduated in theater and appeared in hundreds of productions since his film debut in "Prisoner of War" (1954).

His greatest contributions were to television, where he played several characters in successful series, such as Darrin Stephens in the series "Bewitched" (1964-1972) during its final four seasons. In film, Sargent has made a few appearances, such as in "Operation Petticoat" (1959).

Throughout the 1980s, he joined actress Sally Struthers as an advocate for the Christian Children's Fund and was diagnosed with prostate cancer that weakened his health in 1989. On National Coming Out Day in 1991, he publicly declared his homosexuality.

After his diagnosis, doctors were initially optimistic that he could be treated; However, the disease continued to spread and led to his death on July 8, 1994, at the age of 64.

RUDY VALLÉE

Rudy Vallée was born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, on July 28, 1901. After playing drums in his school band, Vallée played clarinet and saxophone around New England and was a regular member of the band at the Savoy Havana Hotel in London from 1924 to 1928.

He then returned to the United States and formed the band "Rudy Vallée and the Yankees from Connecticut", being discovered in 1928 and becoming the first of a new style of popular singer—the crooner. In 1929, Vallée made his first feature film, "The Vagabond Lover", for RKO.

The next 30 years were entirely dedicated to his recordings and film. In fact, "Live a Little, Love a Little" was the last film in which he starred, appearing in only five more. On television, Vallée appeared in series until 1984, when he retired from acting and music.

Rudy Vallée died of cancer at his home on July 3, 1986, at the age of 84.

CELESTE YARNALL

Born on July 26, 1944, in Long Beach, California, Yarnall had a prominent television career beginning in 1964, when she won the national Miss Rheingold pageant with 20 million votes. This led to numerous television roles, in series such as "Hogan's Heroes", "Bonanza", "Land of the Giants", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", and her most memorable role, Yeoman Landon on "Star Trek" (1966–1969), in 1967. The following year, she co-starred in "Live a Little, Love a Little" with Elvis.

Although Celeste had a few film roles in the 1970s, she began to focus on other pursuits. In 1979, she opened her own real estate business, specializing primarily in helping entertainment companies lease or purchase office buildings. Celeste earned a PhD in Animal Nutrition and wrote several books on the subject.

The actress passed away on October 7, 2018, at the age of 74, due to ovarian cancer.

Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star and Others (LP - RCA Camden, 1968/69)

Title:

Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star & Others

Label:

RCA Victor (1968) / RCA Camden (1969)

Format:

LP

Number of tracks:

9

Running time:

20:30

Type of album:

Studio / Compilation / Budget 

Linked to:

Official discography; Change of Habit, 1969

Year:

1968-69

Recording date:

October 7, 1960 - June 27, 1968

Release date:

October 18, 1968 / March 28, 1969 (official)

Singles:

---

Elvis Sings Flaming Star is Elvis' 58th LP, his first budget album, and his 151st audiophonic work (including EPs and singles). Apart from "Flaming Star", which gives the album its title and opens it, it compiles neglected songs from separate studio sessions and soundtracks recorded between 1960 and 1968.

When Elvis committed to filming the "'68 Comeback Special", NBC-TV and the sewing machine manufacturer Singer had reached an agreement with the Colonel to also produce a feature film (Change of Habit, 1969) and an LP. The album was called "Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star and Others" and, from its release on October 18, 1968, it spent five months on promotional sale only in Singer stores.

On March 28, 1969, RCA Camden released the album nationally, now renamed Elvis Sings Flaming Star. The album had some strong points, such as the opening track, Chuck Berry's 1956 hit "Too Much Monkey Business", and "Wonderful World", which would be used in the opening credits of his next film, "Live a Little, Love a Little". "Tiger Man", recorded on June 27, 1968 during the filming of the '68 Comeback Special, closed the album and received the honor of being the first live song by Elvis to be released in his entire career.

1969 re-release cover

The album peaked at #96 on the new Billboard 200 chart (which replaced the more restrictive Billboard 100) and came as a surprise to RCA. With this feat, Elvis Sings Flaming Star was the first of 17 budget albums released between 1969 and 1976. The formula, which aimed to sell LPs with fewer tracks and at a more affordable price, proved to be a success because it also required less production costs on the part of RCA.

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RECORDING SESSIONS

Date:
October 7, 1960 - June 27, 1968

Studio:
Radio Recorders Studio B
Paramount Studio Recording Stage
RCA Studio B
Western Recorders Studio 1
 NBC Studio 4

Location:
Hollywood, California
 Nashville, Tennessee
 Burbank, California

Musicians:
Voice: Elvis Presley, George McFadden
Acoustic guitar: Elvis Presley
Lead guitar: Scotty Moore, Billy Strange, Howard Roberts, Hilmer J. 'Tiny' Timbrell, Charlie McCoy, Chip Young, Jerry Reed, Peter Drake, Charles Britz, Neil Levang, Joseph 'Bobby' Gibbons, Al Casey
Bass: Michael 'Myer' Rubin, Bob Moore, Charles Berghofer, Larry Knechtal
Drums: D.J. Fontana, Bernie Mattinson, Frank Carlson, Murray 'Buddy' Harman, Hal Blaine, Curry Tjader, Larry Bunker
Piano: Dudley Brooks, Floyd Cramer, Calvin Jackson, Don Randy
Saxophone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph, William Green, Jerry Scheff, Meredith Flory, William Hood, James Horn
Trumpet: Oliver Mitchell, James Zito, Mike Henderson, Anthony Terran, Roy Caton
Trombone: Herb Taylor, Randall Miller, Wyman 'Butch' Parker, Lew McCreary, Thomas Shepard, Richard Leith, Dick Hyde
Percussion: Hal Rees, Roy Harte, Larry Bunker, Frank Flynn, Michael Sylva, Gary Coleman, Alan Fortas
Organ: Charlie McCoy
Harmonica: Charlie McCoy
Accordion: Jimmie Haskell
Tambourine: Lance Legault
Violin: Gordon Terry, Lou Raderman, Sidney Sharp, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, William Kurasch, Tibor Zelig, Jerome Reisler, James Getzoff, Harry Bluestone, Arnold Belnick, Bernard Kundell, Stanley Plummer
Viola: Harry Hyams, Joe DiFiore, Leonard Selic, Louis Kievman, David Burke, Gareth Nuttycombe
Cello: Jesse Ehrlich, Armand Kaproff, Joseph DiTullio, Victor Sazer, Frederick Seykora, H.G. Bemko
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires, Elvis Presley, B.J. Baker, Sally Stevens, Bob Tebow, John Bahler

Sound Engineer / Recording Engineer:
Thorne Nogar, David Wiechman, James Wright


OCTOBER 7, 1960
                                Flaming Star M2PB 1987-06
                                Flaming Star (End Title Version) WPA5 2547-SP

JULY 9, 1963
                               Night Life WPA1 8023-14
                               C'mon Everybody (Record Version) RPA3 0389-05
                               If You Think I Don't Need You RPA3 0387-13
                               Viva Las Vegas (Tryout)

JULY 10, 1963
                               I Need Somebody To Lean On RPA3 0386-20
                               Do The Vega WPA1 8025-07
                               Santa Lucia (Track)
                               Viva Las Vegas RPA3 0234-07
                               The Climb (George McFadden) HRA1 8687-09
                               Yellow Rose Of Texas / The Eyes Of Texas WPA1 8024-09
                               C'mon Everybody (Movie Version)

SEPTEMBER 29, 1966
                               She's A Machine (Movie Version)
                               She's A Machine (Record Version) WPA1 8027-15
                               She's A Machine (Dubdown to Track)
                               The Love Machine (Record Version) UPA3 3806-12
                               The Love Machine (Movie Version)
                               Yoga Is As Yoga Does UPA3 3807-12
                               You Gotta Stop (Track)
                               Leave My Woman Alone (Track) WPA3 1039-05

OCTOBER 1, 1967
                                Stay Away, Joe (Movie Version)
                                Stay Away, Joe (Record Version) (Track)
                                Stay Away, Joe (Record Version) (Track - Intro)
                                Stay Away, Joe (Record Version) (Track - Composite)
                                All I Needed Was The Rain (Track)
                                Stay Away, Joe (Record Version - Vocal Overdub) ZPA4 1054-NA
                                All I Needed Was The Rain (Vocal Overdub) WPA1 8026-NA
                                Dominick WPA5 2503-05

JANUARY 15, 1968
                                Too Much Monkey Business
                                Too Much Monkey Business (Overdub) WPA4 1800-05
                                Goin' Home WPA1 1001-30

MARCH 7, 1968
                                Wonderful World (Movie Version)
                                Wonderful World (Record Version) WPA1 5768-17
                                Wonderful World (Unused Movie Version)
                                Edge Of Reality WPA1 5769-08
                                A Little Less Conversation (Record / Album Version) WPA1 5767-10
                                A Little Less Conversation (Movie / Single Version) WPA1 5767-16
                                A Little Less Conversation (Dubdown to track)
                                Almost In Love
                                Almost In Love (Low key - Track)
                                Almost In Love (High key - Track)

JUNE 27, 1968 (8:00 PM)
                                Heartbreak Hotel CPA5 5140
                                Baby, What You Want Me To Do (#1) CPA5 5141
                                Introductions CPA5 5142
                                That's All Right (OPA1 4832) WPA1 8115
                                Are You Lonesome Tonight? (OPA1 4837) WPA1 8116
                                Baby, What You Want Me To Do CPA5 5143
                                Blue Suede Shoes (OPA1 4833) WPA1 8117
                                One Night (CPA5 5144) WPA1 8043
                                Love Me (OPA1 4836) WPA1 8118
                                Tryin' To Get To You (OPA1 4842) WPA1 8119
                                Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (KPA5 9564) (OPA1 4834) WPA1 8031
                                Santa Claus Is Back In Town CPA5 5145
                                Blue Christmas (OPA1 4840) (CPA5 5178) WPA1 8042
                                Tiger Man (OPA1 4839) WPA1 8028
                                When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again CPA5 5146
                                Memories (Vocal Overdub of June 23 Track) CPA5 5147

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SESSION LOGS

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LP TRACKS (RCA / RCA CAMDEN, 1968-69)

SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS SINGING FLAMING STAR AND OTHERS / ELVIS SINGS FLAMING STAR (LP)

October 18, 1968 (promo)

March 28, 1969 (official)

1. Flaming Star

2. Wonderful World

3. Night Life

4. All I Needed Was the Rain

5. Too Much Monkey Business

6. Yellow Rose of Texas / Eyes of Texas

7. She's a Machine

8. Do the Vega

9. Tiger Man