The Way it Was
Label:
FTD [FTD 012 / FTD 012RI] [74321 84216 2]
Format:
Book + CD
Number of tracks:
25
Running time:
75:00
Type of album:
Rehearsal / Concert
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2001 / 2008
Recording date:
July 14 - August 13, 1970
Release date:
August 12, 2001 / 2008
Singles:
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- 16. Sweet Caroline [August 10, 1970 OS]: Neil Diamond's hit in the previous year, it was always sung masterfully by Elvis. Present in the repertoire since January 1970, it was one of the songs that most excited the audience - and here it is no different.
- 17. Hound Dog [August 11, 1970 DS]: The usual routine of telling the "sad story" before launching into a heavy version of his 1956 hit is modified a bit for the obvious reason to avoid profanity or sexual innuendos in the renditions that could appear in the film, but it's still funny.
The Way it Was is FTD's twelfth CD and first book. It contains concert and rehearsal excerpts recorded for "That's the Way it is" between July 14 and August 13, 1970. The work is also the first to contain a booklet with photos and backstage information. The work is currently out of print at the label.
On July 31, 1969 Elvis returned to the stage to consecrate himself as the King of Rock and Country for the next eight years. The reception was so warm and extremely expected that the queues to try to buy tickets for the Las Vegas shows were miles long. When there were no queues, the explanation was obvious: all tickets had been pre-sold.
With the success, Colonel Parker, who did not miss any opportunity to earn money, began to set up a film project the following year that would take Elvis's sales to a level never seen before. It didn't take long for MGM to green light the project. And it is in the same studios that, after the opening of the film, production is concentrated.
On July 14, 1970 rehearsals for the film and concerts began on the MGM lot in Culver City, California. Hollywood cameras recorded five rehearsals before opening night on August 10th, including a test run of the full show with backing vocals, orchestra and band onstage at The International on August 7th.
Elvis was keen to expand his repertoire for the film, as over 60 songs were rehearsed over the period, and his band worked tirelessly to arrange the songs in the singer's style, emphasizing the desire to share what he loved with his audience.
In 2001, FTD released a revolutionary work that united reading and listening. The 96-page book had explanatory texts with details of the production of "That's the Way it is" and photos, some of which have never been seen before, in high resolution. The other part of the experience was the CD with excerpts from rehearsals and concerts that had never been officially released until then (previously, they were only heard on bootlegs).
In 2008 the label re-released the CD without the book, keeping the same matrix number and only modifying the cover.
Below is a review of the material available on the CD in both versions.
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- 1. Words [July 14, 1970]: We begin with Elvis rehearsing the lyrics to the Bee Gees' 1969 hit while Glen Hardin tries to find the right arrangement on the piano.
- 2. The Next Step is Love [July 14, 1970]: One of the best songs on the LP "That's the Way it is" is rehearsed in full, though without repeating stanzas. If Elvis had chosen to keep it in his performances, it would have been a true "showstopper", but for one reason or another, he only played it at the opening show, on August 10th, and withdrew it from the repertoire.
- 3. Ghost Riders in the Sky [July 15, 1970]: Most likely this song would not be used on stage, but Elvis rehearses it in a relaxed way as it was a hit for his friend Johnny Cash at the time.
- 4. Love Me [July 15, 1970]: A novelty in the repertoire (it had only been performed live twice until then), it is played with a much more pronounced Glen Hardin piano and an arrangement quite different from what we would get used to from then on. Unknowingly, Elvis was rehearsing one of the songs that would become a signature part of his shows.
- 5. That's All Right [July 24, 1970]: Another that had also only been performed twice live, it would become the opening track at concerts from 10 August 1970 until mid-1972, later being used as part of the 1950s medley. Here, Elvis rehearses the opening for the first time and finds the perfect beat.
- 6. I Got a Woman [July 24, 1970]: Chosen by Elvis to follow the beginning of his shows since the first return to the stage, on July 31, 1969, it has a bluesy ending after a slight break. Beginning in September 1970, Elvis would add the song "Amen" in place of that snippet, which would become an irremovable medley on his performances.
- 7. I've Lost You [July 24, 1970]: Performed for just 25 shows between August 10th and September 14th, 1970, it's a beautiful song that deserved more space than it got. The arrangement without the orchestra that we hear in this rehearsal is very close to that of the Master released as a single ten days before.
- 8. I Can't Stop Loving You [July 24, 1970]: Used sporadically between 1969 and 1977, with a greater permanence in 1973 and 1974, the song is rehearsed as we are used to hearing it.
- 9. Just Pretend [July 24, 1970]: As he had just recorded it, Elvis has a little difficulty reaching the right keyes and his voice sometimes sounds a little hoarse from the effort. In fact, in 1970, Elvis would only sing it on August 11 and 12, and then very rarely in 1971 and 1972, placing it in the fixed repertoire only in the December 1975 Vegas season. Above all, this was an indication that the singer didn't get it right or didn't have a predilection for the song.
- 10. Words [July 29, 1970]: Unlike the excerpt that starts the CD, here we have a complete version of the song. It's pretty clear that there's still a lot of work to be done, as Elvis and his band are running it much slower than we'd hear at concerts.
- 11. I Just Can't Help Believin' [July 29, 1970]: Elvis, they say, didn't like BJ Thomas very much, and if he did, he hid it well. This song was one of which he was most afraid to perform, always for fear of forgetting some part of the lyrics; that, after all, never happened 25 of the 26 times he yielded the song—the last one, on December 2, 1976, was off-the-cuff and without any concern for hit or miss. Here, Elvis rehearses the parts of the song that are most difficult for him twice.
- 12. Something [August 4, 1970]: A hit by The Beatles, the song was one of Elvis' favorites among all that became hits during the British Invasion. Live, it was performed nearly 30 times (as far as is known) and was always received with enthusiasm by the audience. The best known version is the one from "Aloha From Hawaii", but perhaps the best of all was the last one, in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 24, 1975.
- 1. Words [July 14, 1970]: We begin with Elvis rehearsing the lyrics to the Bee Gees' 1969 hit while Glen Hardin tries to find the right arrangement on the piano.
- 2. The Next Step is Love [July 14, 1970]: One of the best songs on the LP "That's the Way it is" is rehearsed in full, though without repeating stanzas. If Elvis had chosen to keep it in his performances, it would have been a true "showstopper", but for one reason or another, he only played it at the opening show, on August 10th, and withdrew it from the repertoire.
- 3. Ghost Riders in the Sky [July 15, 1970]: Most likely this song would not be used on stage, but Elvis rehearses it in a relaxed way as it was a hit for his friend Johnny Cash at the time.
- 4. Love Me [July 15, 1970]: A novelty in the repertoire (it had only been performed live twice until then), it is played with a much more pronounced Glen Hardin piano and an arrangement quite different from what we would get used to from then on. Unknowingly, Elvis was rehearsing one of the songs that would become a signature part of his shows.
- 5. That's All Right [July 24, 1970]: Another that had also only been performed twice live, it would become the opening track at concerts from 10 August 1970 until mid-1972, later being used as part of the 1950s medley. Here, Elvis rehearses the opening for the first time and finds the perfect beat.
- 6. I Got a Woman [July 24, 1970]: Chosen by Elvis to follow the beginning of his shows since the first return to the stage, on July 31, 1969, it has a bluesy ending after a slight break. Beginning in September 1970, Elvis would add the song "Amen" in place of that snippet, which would become an irremovable medley on his performances.
- 7. I've Lost You [July 24, 1970]: Performed for just 25 shows between August 10th and September 14th, 1970, it's a beautiful song that deserved more space than it got. The arrangement without the orchestra that we hear in this rehearsal is very close to that of the Master released as a single ten days before.
- 8. I Can't Stop Loving You [July 24, 1970]: Used sporadically between 1969 and 1977, with a greater permanence in 1973 and 1974, the song is rehearsed as we are used to hearing it.
- 9. Just Pretend [July 24, 1970]: As he had just recorded it, Elvis has a little difficulty reaching the right keyes and his voice sometimes sounds a little hoarse from the effort. In fact, in 1970, Elvis would only sing it on August 11 and 12, and then very rarely in 1971 and 1972, placing it in the fixed repertoire only in the December 1975 Vegas season. Above all, this was an indication that the singer didn't get it right or didn't have a predilection for the song.
- 10. Words [July 29, 1970]: Unlike the excerpt that starts the CD, here we have a complete version of the song. It's pretty clear that there's still a lot of work to be done, as Elvis and his band are running it much slower than we'd hear at concerts.
- 11. I Just Can't Help Believin' [July 29, 1970]: Elvis, they say, didn't like BJ Thomas very much, and if he did, he hid it well. This song was one of which he was most afraid to perform, always for fear of forgetting some part of the lyrics; that, after all, never happened 25 of the 26 times he yielded the song—the last one, on December 2, 1976, was off-the-cuff and without any concern for hit or miss. Here, Elvis rehearses the parts of the song that are most difficult for him twice.
- 12. Something [August 4, 1970]: A hit by The Beatles, the song was one of Elvis' favorites among all that became hits during the British Invasion. Live, it was performed nearly 30 times (as far as is known) and was always received with enthusiasm by the audience. The best known version is the one from "Aloha From Hawaii", but perhaps the best of all was the last one, in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 24, 1975.
The first live rendition of the song would take place on August 10, 1970, and so here we are lucky enough to hear Elvis working his backing vocals and band to achieve perfect transitions between verses.
- 13. Polk Salad Annie [August 7, 1970]: Present since the first concerts of 1969, it was part of the portion of the show in which Elvis went off and put the women in delirium with his pelvic movements before introducing the members of his band. The rehearsal is relaxed, but still observing the cohesion between voice and instruments.
- 14. Mary in the Morning [August 7, 1970]: Although it was never performed live, Elvis masterfully rehearses one of the most beautiful songs on the LP "That's the Way it is" after playing with his friends for a while.
- 15. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' [August 10, 1970]: Hours before his first show for "That's the Way it is", Elvis does a general rehearsal of the entire concert to put the finishing touches on whatever was necessary, since many songs, like this one, would be performed for the first time for an audience of 2200 people.
- 13. Polk Salad Annie [August 7, 1970]: Present since the first concerts of 1969, it was part of the portion of the show in which Elvis went off and put the women in delirium with his pelvic movements before introducing the members of his band. The rehearsal is relaxed, but still observing the cohesion between voice and instruments.
- 14. Mary in the Morning [August 7, 1970]: Although it was never performed live, Elvis masterfully rehearses one of the most beautiful songs on the LP "That's the Way it is" after playing with his friends for a while.
- 15. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' [August 10, 1970]: Hours before his first show for "That's the Way it is", Elvis does a general rehearsal of the entire concert to put the finishing touches on whatever was necessary, since many songs, like this one, would be performed for the first time for an audience of 2200 people.
Although it appears here with great audio improvements, this rehearsal was already well known in Brazil since 1989, when it was released in an unprecedented way on the LP boxset "Good Rockin' Tonight - The Best of Elvis, Volume 2", released exclusively in the country by S.P.E.P.S..
- 16. Sweet Caroline [August 10, 1970 OS]: Neil Diamond's hit in the previous year, it was always sung masterfully by Elvis. Present in the repertoire since January 1970, it was one of the songs that most excited the audience - and here it is no different.
- 17. Hound Dog [August 11, 1970 DS]: The usual routine of telling the "sad story" before launching into a heavy version of his 1956 hit is modified a bit for the obvious reason to avoid profanity or sexual innuendos in the renditions that could appear in the film, but it's still funny.
After a version of just one minute and freed from the pressure of putting on a good show for the cameras, Elvis tells the full version of his story with Ed Sullivan and lets the audience know that MGM is filming the show.
- 18. Heartbreak Hotel [August 11, 1970 DS]: In the continuation, Elvis talks about his first national success. At first he and his band don't meet at the correct time, which generates a false start, but in the sequence we have a clean and complete version.
- 19. Don't Be Cruel [August 11, 1970 MS]: Since the first concerts in 1969, this song used to come as part of a medley with "Jailhouse Rock" or "Teddy Bear". That's what makes this "solo" rendition such a priceless gem on this CD.
- 20. Blue Suede Shoes [August 12, 1970 DS]: Used as the opening of the entire 1969 season, it later became part of the presentations infrequently. The version is short, less than a minute long, and just to remind the audience of that 1956 hit.
- 21. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me [August 12, 1970 DS]: Based on the 1965 Italian hit "Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te" by Pino Donaggio, and elevated to English-language hit status by Dusty Springfield the following year, the song was featured in nearly 160 concerts from August 10, 1970 to July 22, 1975. This, however, is the best-known and best-performed version.
- 22. Mystery Train / Tiger Man [August 12, 1970 MS]: Some reliable records say that, even before recording "Mystery Train", in 1955, Elvis would have made a version now considered lost of "Tiger Man". Whether true or not, the second only returned to his repertoire in the 1968 special and continued in it until the last shows of 1977 in the medley in question. The version we have here is famous as it is seen and heard under the opening credits of "That's the Way it is".
- 23. The Wonder of You [August 13, 1970 DS]: Present in the repertoire since February 1970, it was performed in only this one among the 6 shows recorded for "That's the Way it is". It's a common and even subpar version, and maybe that's why it didn't appear in the movie.
- 24. One Night [August 13, 1970 DS]: A small hit from 1957, it was not used much in his performances and most of the shows where it was covered are concentrated in the August 1970 season on the occasion of the recordings for "That's the Way it is". It's a bluesy version, like "Heartbreak Hotel", well performed and only used to remind the fans of it.
- 25. All Shook Up [August 13, 1970 DS]: One of the most enduring songs in Elvis' repertoire, it ran for 405 performances between 1969 and 1977. After opening the February 1970 season in Vegas, it became part of the medley of hits from the 1950s with a short duration of just one minute until 1977, rather than appearing in its full version as in 1969.
- 18. Heartbreak Hotel [August 11, 1970 DS]: In the continuation, Elvis talks about his first national success. At first he and his band don't meet at the correct time, which generates a false start, but in the sequence we have a clean and complete version.
- 19. Don't Be Cruel [August 11, 1970 MS]: Since the first concerts in 1969, this song used to come as part of a medley with "Jailhouse Rock" or "Teddy Bear". That's what makes this "solo" rendition such a priceless gem on this CD.
- 20. Blue Suede Shoes [August 12, 1970 DS]: Used as the opening of the entire 1969 season, it later became part of the presentations infrequently. The version is short, less than a minute long, and just to remind the audience of that 1956 hit.
- 21. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me [August 12, 1970 DS]: Based on the 1965 Italian hit "Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te" by Pino Donaggio, and elevated to English-language hit status by Dusty Springfield the following year, the song was featured in nearly 160 concerts from August 10, 1970 to July 22, 1975. This, however, is the best-known and best-performed version.
- 22. Mystery Train / Tiger Man [August 12, 1970 MS]: Some reliable records say that, even before recording "Mystery Train", in 1955, Elvis would have made a version now considered lost of "Tiger Man". Whether true or not, the second only returned to his repertoire in the 1968 special and continued in it until the last shows of 1977 in the medley in question. The version we have here is famous as it is seen and heard under the opening credits of "That's the Way it is".
- 23. The Wonder of You [August 13, 1970 DS]: Present in the repertoire since February 1970, it was performed in only this one among the 6 shows recorded for "That's the Way it is". It's a common and even subpar version, and maybe that's why it didn't appear in the movie.
- 24. One Night [August 13, 1970 DS]: A small hit from 1957, it was not used much in his performances and most of the shows where it was covered are concentrated in the August 1970 season on the occasion of the recordings for "That's the Way it is". It's a bluesy version, like "Heartbreak Hotel", well performed and only used to remind the fans of it.
- 25. All Shook Up [August 13, 1970 DS]: One of the most enduring songs in Elvis' repertoire, it ran for 405 performances between 1969 and 1977. After opening the February 1970 season in Vegas, it became part of the medley of hits from the 1950s with a short duration of just one minute until 1977, rather than appearing in its full version as in 1969.
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