Out in Hollywood (CD - FTD, 1999)

Title:

Out in Hollywood

Label:

FTD [FTD 002] [74321 69677 2]

Format:

CD

Number of tracks:

22

Running time:

55:00

Type of album:

Recording session

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

1999

Recording date:

May 7, 1957 - March 7, 1968

Release date:

October 1999

Singles:

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Out in Hollywood was the second CD released by the Follow That Dream (FTD) label, in October 1999. It featured 22 alternate takes of songs recorded for films between 1957 and 1968. This release is currently out of the label's catalogue.

There's nothing really remarkable about this work, just the novelty of being a record where almost all the alternate takes were previously unreleased. Many of the songs had been released on bootlegs or imports over the years, but never the versions heard here.

In a way, the work serves more to hear Elvis relaxing in the studio or trying to breathe new life into songs using different techniques in different takes than really as a collector's item.

Below is a review of the material available on the CD.

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- 1. Mexico (Take 7): Coming from the sessions for "Fun in Acapulco", this version is actually very different from the one released on the 1963 LP (Take 5), as Elvis sings every part of the lyrics. It's interesting to hear Elvis sing the full song in this version released here for the first time.

- 2. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die (Take 6): Coming from "Girl Happy", it's interesting because there's no piano intro at the beginning of the song. This also saw its first release on this CD.

- 3. Wild in the Country (Take 11): Quite different from its Master (Take 19) in that the backing vocals seem to sound a little upset and there is no feeling. There also seems to be a beat throughout the song, as if someone is playing a guitar, which can be annoying.

- 4. Adam & Evil (Take 16): Coming from "Spinout", Elvis must have been really tired after 15 incomplete takes, and it shows. After a few seconds of "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" and a few improvised lines at the start of the take, Elvis launches into yet another attempt. Even though this take is complete, Elvis did four more until he got the song just the way he wanted it for the Master (Take 20).

- 5. Lonely Man (Take 4, Record Version): First released here, it's much slower than the version sold at the time (Take 13) and sounds much better. We can even hear the sound engineer saying "wow, that's beautiful", and Elvis answering "thank you", at the end of the recording. It's a shame FTD didn't include Take 1 or 3 of "Lonely Man (Solo)" on this CD, especially as this was the version that was supposed to be used on "Wild in the Country" and it even appears on one of the first trailers for the production.

- 6. Thanks to the Rolling Sea (Take 3): From ''Girls, Girls, Girls'', Elvis almost stumbles over the lyrics towards the end of the take, but manages to keep up until the end. It's not much different from the Master version (Take 5).

- 7. Where Do You Come From? (Take 13): Also from "Girls, Girls, Girls", it only differs slightly from the released version in that Elvis almost trips over the lyrics.

- 8. King of the Whole Wide World (Take 3): Coming from "Kid Galahad", the only differences from the EP version (Take 4) are the saxophone and the longer ending.

- 9. Little Egypt (Take 21): Recorded for "Roustabout", it should have been called "Little Egypt #2", as it was recorded the day after the Master. Elvis seems much more relaxed, singing much slower - and much better than he did on the Master. He also jokes around a bit at the end of this take.

- 10. Wonderful World (Take 7): The version released in 1968 (Take 17) was the same one heard over the opening credits of "Live A Little, Love A Little". This one isn't much different from the released version, just having a longer ending.

- 11. This is My Heaven (Take 4, Overdub Vocal): Recorded for "Paradise, Hawaiian Style", it is quite different from its Master, as Elvis can't seem to reach the high notes needed for this song. Elvis must have had problems with the other takes as well, as the Master is a splice between takes 6 and 8.

- 12. Spinout (Take 2): Coming from the eponymous movie, it's not much different from the released version (Take 5), except the ending. In this take, Elvis doesn't end the song with the phrase "well, let me tell you, spinout".

- 13. All That I Am (Take 2): Also from "Spinout", it is quite different due to the fact that there are no horns in this take. The vocals are very similar to the Master version (Take 5), which suggests that the piano was added to the Master through an overdub.

- 14. We'll Be Be Together (Take 10): Another song from "Girls, Girls, Girls", it resembles the released version (Take 11). We can hear Elvis himself say that he knew he had to do another one.

- 15. Frankie and Johnny (Take 1): Coming from the film of the same name, it is the only complete take of this song other than the released version (Take 6), and Elvis is just testing it out here. He doesn't even sing the last part of the song, but this is another welcome alternate version.

- 16. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Take 8): From "Viva Las Vegas", it has different backing vocals and piano, but it's basically the same arrangement as the Master (Take 20). This is the only other take of this song to be released, so it's also welcome.

- 17. The Meanest Girl in Town (Take 9): Another song from "Girl Happy", it's a little slower than the released version (take 13), and Elvis doesn't seem to be having as much fun as he does on the Master.

- 18. Night Life (Take 3): From "Viva Las Vegas", brings Elvis uncomfortable with the music, and you can hear that he even sings the wrong lyrics after the instrumental break, but he manages to keep it up until the end. The released version (take 14) has a much livelier feel, but he had to do eleven more takes to get it his way. It is also the only version released besides the Master.

-19. Puppet On a String (Take 7): The third song from "Girl Happy" to appear on the CD differs from the released version (Take 11). From this take, the tempo increases slightly and Elvis gives that extra help.

- 20. Hey Little Girl (Takes 1 e 2): Coming from the movie "Harum Scarum", it is a livelier version than the one marketed at the time of the original release and Elvis fumbles at the beginning of take 1, managing to recover and make a great complete take 2.

- 21. Edge of Reality (Take 6): The second song from "Live a Little, Love a Little" sounds slower than the Master (Take 8) heard on the original 1968 single.

- 22. (Youre So Square) Baby I Don't Care (Overdub Vocal #2, Take 6): The only song from a 1950s movie, "Jailhouse Rock", is heard here a cappella. It was first released by RCA in 1986, but it remains strange to hear just the vocal overdub, without the instruments. Elvis liked to "record live" (voice and band together), but due to his massive schedule of filming and studio sessions at that time and later, it became common for him to add his vocals later on to pre-recorded instrumental tracks.