Silver Screen Stereo (CD - FTD, 2001)

Title:

Silver Screen Stereo

Label:

FTD [FTD 014] [74321 89294 2]

Format:

CD

Number of tracks:

26

Running time:

71:30

Type of album:

Recording session

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

2001

Recording date:

February 14, 1957 - October 24, 1968

Release date:

November 18, 2001

Singles:

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Silver Screen Stereo was only the fourteenth CD released by Follow That Dream (FTD) in the distant year of 2001. Filled with alternative takes of songs recorded for the soundtracks of various films between 1957 and 1968, the work proposes to be an "Out in Hollywood, Volume 2", so to speak, bringing tracks with the highest possible audio quality and rarities that were out of reach of fans for years.

In terms of content, FTD's only sin was not providing a booklet with the CD. However, it is understandable that the record company did this, since the material covers a space of 10 years and other works of the time, such as "Ester Special", had already brought many photos and rarities that would not be welcome if repeated in upcoming releases.

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

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- 1. Loving You (Fast Version - Take 14) [February 14, 1957]: The CD begins in 1957 with the "Loving You" soundtrack and a version that became rare after the 1992 RCA box set, which gains new colors here and sounds brighter. The drums and piano are notable above all the instruments, which seems to be extremely right for the rhythm.

- 2. Jailhouse Rock (Take 5) [April 30, 1957]: Once again we notice the drums and piano very present, with an emphasis on Scotty Moore's guitar for the title song of "Jailhouse Rock". Elvis' voice is still warming up, but his range is excellent.

- 3. Don't Leave Me Now (Takes 16, 17 & 18) [February 23, 1957]: Elvis produces an excellent version of the song, which leaves us wondering if this should have been sold instead of the original single.

- 4. Tonight is So Right For Love (Takes 1 & 2) [April 27, 1960]: We jump to 1960 and Elvis delivers a solid version of the song used in the American version of the film "G. I. Blues" (in Europe the song was replaced with "Tonight's All Right For Love" due to copyright issues).

- 5. Frankfort Special (Take 13 - Master, Unused) [April 27, 1960]: The much faster pace than the film or Master version is a welcome touch in this take. which became an unused Master.

- 6. Doin' the Best I Can (Take 3) [April 27, 1960]: Slower than the Master, the version is melodious and full of new instruments. To some extent, this should be the one that appears in the film or even on the LP.

- 7. Shoppin' Around (Take 1) [April 27, 1960]: It's just the first attempt, but Elvis has already produced a classic in which the drums dictate the rhythm of the music.

- 8. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Takes 8 & 9) [August 9, 1960]: Representing indigenous rhythms and the 1960 film "Flaming Star", percussion is brought to the front of the other instruments. The audio clarity is magnificent.

- 9. In My Way (Take 1) [November 7, 1960]: A very melodious version of this classic from the 1961 "Wild in the Country" soundtrack.

- 10. Hawaiian Wedding Song (Take 1) [March 22, 1961]: Maybe we're passionate about first takes, but again we have the impression that this could very well be the movie version for 1961's "Blue Hawaii". Elvis pronounces 'Ōlelo Hawai'i in a masterful way.

- 11. Island of Love (Takes 7 & 8) [March 22, 1961]: This is a welcome addition, as here we get these takes for the first time in stereo. Elvis seems much more relaxed than in the Master (Take 13).

- 12. Angel (Take 2) [July 2, 1961]:  Jumping to "Follow That Dream" in 1962, this is a beautiful song, but it's nothing new, as all the takes have been released before, in stereo, on bootlegs, and in inferior sound qualities.

- 13. I Got Lucky (Alternate Master - M5) [October 27, 1961]: Still in 1962, this song from "Kid Galahad" is sung more slowly than on the Master (Take MX 2) and Elvis doesn't sing the third verse, making it much shorter. Elvis almost trips over the lyrics, and you can hear him laughing. This is also released here for the first time in stereo.

- 14. Home is Where the Heart is (Takes 13 & 14) [October 26, 1961]:  Elvis is stumbling through the first line of the song, also heard here for the first time in stereo. This take is sung a little slower than on the Master (Take 21), but it's just as good.

- 15. Riding the Rainbow (Take 1) [October 26, 1961]: Elvis sings a wrong line and notices it immediately, but he finishes the take anyway. The backing vocals seem to struggle a bit to keep up, but again this is another version released for the first time in stereo.

- 16. The Bullfighter Was a Lady (Alternate Master - Take 6) [January 22, 1963]: This is the version heard in the 1963 film "Fun in Acapulco", and has a completely different arrangement and tempo than the Record Master. It should be noted that all the other tracks on the soundtrack (except "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here") are identical to the Master version present on the film's LP, but this one is completely different and released here for the first time.

 - 17. I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here (Alternate Master - Take 1) [January 22, 1963]: Again, it is very different from the Record Master version.

- 18. Viva Las Vegas (Takes 1 & 2) [July 10, 1963]: Finally we get some new takes of the title song from the 1964 film "Viva Las Vegas", and we get a true gem. Take 1 is fantastic and when you listen to the intro it's impossible to believe that it's the same song we all know. With the simplest of backings and sung at a much slower tempo, it really feels like a completely different song. It really would have been great if Elvis had finished this take, but he was having trouble with the lyrics. Take 2 uses the same arrangement and tempo as the Master.

- 19. The Lady Loves Me  (Take 9) [July 11, 1963]:Quite similar to the Master (Take 10), this take was released in 2000 on Ann-Margret's newest CD.

- 20. You're the Boss (Take 3) [July 11, 1963]:  Also released on Ann-Margret's CD, it actually sounds quite different from the Master, as it is sung in a more relaxed way. What's amazing about the song is that for many years, RCA denied that this song was ever recorded. So to get an alternate take on it is fantastic.

- 21. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Takes 3 & 4) [July 11, 1963]: What we actually get here is the Master (Take 4) with a false start. This mix brings the maracas and guitar more to the forefront, which makes the song feel a little different.

- 22. C'mon Everybody (Takes 1, 2 & 3 - Alternate Master) [July 11, 1963]: The versions sound a little different from the Master (Take 5), as they are sung a little slower and in a much more relaxed way. Elvis needs to ask to hear the drums when he needs to whistle during a part of the song, so as not to lose the correct tempo. Here we also get the "blues ending" heard only in the movie and never released before.

- 23. Kissin 'Cousins ​​(Hillbilly Overdub) [August 13, 1963]: Quite fun to listen to in its own right, this is the vocal that was added to "Kissin' Cousins"' track to make it sound like a duet with two Elvises on the soundtrack to the 1964 film of the same name.

- 24. There is So Much World to See (Alternate Master - Take 1) [June 28, 1966]: Skipping ahead to "Double Trouble" in 1967, this song was first released on bootlegs, but taken from an old acetate. It was long thought that this version only existed in such a format and that the session tapes were never delivered to RCA by MGM, but it's great that they have now been found (or delivered).

- 25. Clambake (Take 11 - including reprise - Take 1) [February 23, 1967]:  A version of the title song from the 1967 film of the same name that is great to hear, especially because Elvis dies laughing in the studio and starts singing a different song and swearing, showing his human side that RCA tried to hide for so many decades.

- 26. Almost (Take 11) [October 24, 1968]: Heard in the film "The Trouble With Girls", it doesn't sound much different from the Master (Take 31), but is still a great addition to this CD.