EAP Index World: Viva Las Vegas (Single/EP

Title:

Viva Las Vegas

Label:

RCA Victor [EPA 4382]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

10:30

Type of album:

Soundtrack

Linked to:

Official discography; Viva Las Vegas, 1964

Year:

1964

Recording date:

July 9 - September 4, 1963

Release date:

May 8, 1964

Singles:

"Viva Las Vegas / What'd I Say" (April 28, 1964)

Viva Las Vegas is Elvis' fifteenth soundtrack album, his 29th EP and 41st album. Its content covers just four of more than 40 songs recorded, whether by Elvis, Ann-Margret or others, for the 1964 film of the same name.

The recording sessions for the songs heard on the EP took place on July 9, 10 and 11, 1963, at Radio Recorders, in Hollywood, California. However, other songs were worked on in August and September.

During this period, the demands of films and soundtracks were beginning to overlap each other and just six weeks after the aborted sessions in May 1963, Elvis' usual composers already needed to submit a dozen more songs for yet another film. This caused the quality of the songs to decline due to the need for volume and, in addition, the singer's filming schedule made it difficult to record and edit salable material without this interfering with the fulfillment of his obligations.

Fifteen songs were recorded for the film and nine were used, but only six were released on records. This was because the idea of an LP was not even considered by RCA and the Colonel, who wanted to save as much as possible by following the low standards established for the previous soundtrack, "Kissin' Cousins".

As a result, the record company chose to release a single on April 28, 1964, with "Viva Las Vegas" on side A and "What'd I Say" on side B, which, although it positioned itself well in the charts (21st and 29th positions, respectively) was seen as a disappointment.

Then another reasons arose not to pursue the idea of an LP and only four more songs would be released on May 8, 1964 in the EP format, almost completely out of use at the time.

Songs used in the film, but not released, and others that were cut from the plot, such as "Night Life" and "Do the Vega", would only be united in 1969 on the budget LP "Elvis Sings Flaming Star". "Santa Lucia" would be sold in "Elvis For Everyone!", in 1965, but "The Lady Loves Me" would only appear in "Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 4", in 1983, and another duet between Elvis and Ann-Margret , "You're the Boss", cut from the film, would only see the light of release in "Elvis Sings Leiber & Stoller", from 1991. The duet in "Today, Tomorrow and Forever", released on the soundtrack with only Elvis' voice, and "The Climb" by George McFadden, were never officially released by RCA until 2014.

The EP, released during Beatlemania and the beginning of the "British Invasion", made no impact on the new direction in which popular music was moving. Even the most Jazz-infested song of Presley's illustrious career, "I Need Somebody to Lean On", went virtually unnoticed.

In 1993 the album was re-released as part of RCA's Double Features collection, featuring all twelve songs from the original soundtrack remastered. In January 2010, as part of Elvis' 75th birthday celebration, Sony Music finally released a nearly complete official album for the first time on CD, but omitting the film version of "C'mon Everybody", the duet "Today, Tomorrow and Forever" and "The Climb" with Elvis on backing vocals. The album also excludes the songs sung solo by Ann-Margret, "My Rival" and "Appreciation".

FTD was responsible for compiling all the material available in its discography. In 2003, the label released its version of the 1993 album with new alternative takes and some versions of "The Climb". A double LP was released in 2010 with a few more unreleased takes and all the recording sessions for the film - including the songs sung only by Ann-Margret - would finally reach the public officially in CD boxes in 2018 and 2019.

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RECORDING SESSIONS

Dates:

July 9 - September 4, 1963

Studio:

Radio Recorders

MGM Sound Stage

Location:

Hollywood, California

Musicians:

Voice: Elvis Presley, George McFadden (The Climb), Ann-Margret (The Lady Loves Me, You're The Boss, Today, Tomorrow & Forever, My Appreciation, My Rival)
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore, Billy Strange, Hilmer J 'Tiny' Timbrell, Alton Hendrickson, Glenn Campbell
Bass: Bob Moore, Keith Mitchell, Ray Siegal
Drums: DJ Fontana, Murray 'Buddy' Harman, Frank Carlson, Charles Flores
Percussion: Hal Rees, Roy Hart, Larry Bunker, Frank Flynn, Michael Sylva
Piano: Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks, Calvin Jackson, Artie Kane
Organ: Homer 'Boots' Randolph, Calvin Jackson
Saxophone: William Green, Gus Bivona, Ronald Laninger, Don Lodice, Gene Cipriano, Steve Douglas
Trumpet: Oliver Mitchell, James Zito, Uan Rasey, George Werth, Manuel Stevens
Trombone: Herb Taylor, Randall Miller, Richard Noel, Karl De Karshe, Elmer Schneider
Harp: Dorothy Ramsen
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires, Elvis Presley (The Climb)

Sound engineer / Recording engineer

Dave Wiechman, Fred Mulculpin

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)

JULY 11, 1963
The Lady Loves Me (Duet with Ann-Margret) NPA5 5825-10
You're The Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret) WPA5 2511-16
Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Duet with Ann-Margret) OPA5 8215-02
Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Track)
Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Record Version) RPA3 0388-06
Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Track Dubdown)
Santa Lucia (Vocal Overdub)
Today, Tomorrow & Forever (Movie Version - Vocal overdub)
Bongos (Instrumental)

AUGUST 28, 1963
Appreciation (Ann-Margret - #1 Short Version)
Appreciation (Ann-Margret - #2)
Appreciation (Ann-Margret - #3)
My Rival (Ann-Margret)

AUGUST 30, 1963
What'd I Say RPA3 0235-04

SEPTEMBER 4, 1963
I Need Somebody To Lean On (Movie Version)

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SESSION LOGS

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RELATED EP AND SINGLE TRACKS (RCA, 1964)

LOVE IN LAS VEGAS

(EP - UK)

April 28, 1964

1. If You Think I Don't Need You

2. I Need Somebody to Lean On

3. C'mon Everybody

4. Today, Tomorrow and Forever

VIVA LAS VEGAS (SINGLE)

April 28, 1964

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. What'd I Say

VIVA LAS VEGAS (EP)

May 8, 1964

1. If You Think I Don't Need You

2. I Need Somebody to Lean On

3. C'mon Everybody

4. Today, Tomorrow and Forever

VIVA LAS VEGAS (CD)

2010

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. What I'd Say

3. If You Think I Don't Need You

4. I Need Somebody To Lean On

5. C'mon Everybody

6. Today, Tomorrow And Forever
7. Night Life

8. Santa Lucia

9. Do The Vega

10. You're The Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret)

11. The Yellow Rose Of Texas/The Eyes Of Texas

12. The Lady Loves Me

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FTD VERSIONS

Title:

Viva Las Vegas

Label:

FTD [FTD 28] [82876 50412 2]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

79:00

Type of album:

Soundtrack

Linked to:

FTD discography; Viva Las Vegas, 1964

Year:

2003

Recording date:

July 9 - September 4, 1963

Release date:

November 2003

Singles:

---

Hugely profitable and entertaining, Viva Las Vegas has been waiting to release its soundtrack in a form worthy of its status since 1964, and that's what FTD has done. Just as Elvis created a feeling of intimacy for those who listened to the EP, the record company worked to remaster rare tapes to present that same feeling years after they were recorded.

Here, officially, FTD brings for the first time some spectacular takes of "C'mon Everybody" and the even rarer "The Climb", as well as unreleased takes of the duets between Elvis and Ann-Margret, "Today, Tomorrow and Forever" and "You're the Boss". FTD also provides a booklet with 12 pages of rare behind-the-scenes photos, information about the film and its score, and rare memorabilia.

The CD contains the following tracks:

ORIGINAL SINGLES

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. What I'd Say
ORIGINAL EP

3. If You Think I Don't Need You

4. I Need Somebody to Lean On

5. C'mon Everybody

6. Today, Tomorrow and Forever
BONUS TRACKS

7. Night Life

8. Santa Lucia

9. Do the Vega

10. You're the Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret)

11. The Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas

12. The Lady Loves Me

OUTTAKES

13. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (with Ann-Margret) (Takes 1, 2)

14. Viva Las Vegas (Takes 1, 2)

15. Night Life (Take 3)

16. C'mon Everybody (takes 1, 2, 3)

17). I Need Somebody to Lean On (Take 8)*

18. The Lady Loves Me (with Ann-Margret) (Take 9)*

19. You're the Boss (with Ann-Margret) (Take 3)

20. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Takes 3, 4)*

21. What'd I Say (Takes 1, 2)

22. If You Think I don't Need You (Takes 5, 7)*

23. C'mon Everybody (Takes 6, 7)

24. Do the Vega (Take 1)

25. The Climb (Take 9)

*previously unreleased takes

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Title:

Viva Las Vegas

Labeç:

FTD [FTD 293] [506020 975032 3]

Format:

2x LP

Number of tracks:

Running time:

84:30

Type of album:

Soundtrack / Recording sessions

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

2010

Recording date:

July 9 - September 4, 1963

Release date:

December 2010

Singles:

---

In 2010, FTD released all of the Masters on a double LP for vinyl fans, including a selection of the best outtakes from the recording sessions.

The work includes the following tracks:

LP 1

SIDE A

ORIGINAL MASTERS

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas

3. Night Life

4. The Lady Loves Me (Duet with Ann-Margret)

5. C'mon Everybody

6. Today, Tomorrow and Forever

7. The Climb (George McFadden - Take 9, Master)

SIDE B

MORE ORIGINAL MASTERS

8. What'd I Say

9. Santa Lucia

10. If You Think I Don't Need You

11. I Need Somebody to Lean On

12. You're the Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret)

13. Do the Vega

14. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Duet with Ann-Margret)

LP 2

SIDE A

BEST OUTTAKES

1. Viva Las Vegas (Takes 1, 2)

2. You're The Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret, Take 3)

3. C'mon Everybody (Takes 1-3)

4. The Lady Loves Me (Duet with Ann-Margret, Take 9)

5. I Need Somebody To Lean On (Take 8)

6. If You Think I Don't Need You (Take 2)

SIDE B

MORE OUTTAKES

7. C'mon Everybody (Takes 6, 7)

8. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Duet with Ann-Margret, takes 3 & 4)

9. If You Think I Don't Need You (Takes 5, 7)

10. Do The Vega (Take 1)

11. What'd I Say (Takes 1, 2)

12. The Lady Loves Me (Duet with Ann-Margret, take 2)

13. Night Life (Take 3)

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Title:

The Viva Las Vegas Sessions

Label:

FTD [FTD 174] [506020 975122]

Format:

3x CD

Number of tracks:

Running time:

235:00

Type of album:

Soundtrack / Recording sessions

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

2018

Recording date:

July 9 - September 4, 1963

Release date:

August 2018

Singles:

---

In 2018, FTD finally completed extensive tape recovery work to bring the complete soundtrack sessions to the public, including the songs on which Ann-Margret sings lead vocals. The box was accompanied by a 28-page booklet with various details and rarities.

The work includes the following tracks:

CD 1

SOUNDTRACK

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas

3. The Lady Loves Me (Duet with Ann-Margret)

4. C’mon Everybody

5. Today, Tomorrow and Forever

6. The Climb (Planned Record Version Master - Take 3)

7. What’d I Say

8. Santa Lucia

9. If You Think I Don’t Need You

10. I Need Somebody to Lean On

BONUS

11. Night Life

12. Do the Vega

13. You’re the Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret)

FIRST TAKES

14. Viva Las Vegas (Take 1)

15. Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas (Take 7)

16. The Lady Loves Me (Takes 1-2)

17. C’mon Everybody (Take 3)

18. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Takes 1-3, 5 & 4)

19. What’d I Say (Takes 1-2)

20. Santa Lucia (V.O. take 1)

21. If You Think I Don’t Need You (Takes 1-2)

22. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Takes 1-2)

23. Night Life (Take 2)

24. Do the Vega (Take 1)

25. You’re the Boss (Duet with Ann-Margret, takes 1-3)

26. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Duet with Ann-Margret, 2012 takes 1-2)

CD 2

OUTTAKES

1. Night Life (Takes 1 & 3)

2. Night Life (Takes 4-8)

3. C’mon Everybody (Takes 1-2 & 4-5 [Master])

4. If You Think I Don’t Need You (Takes 3-7)

5. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Takes 3-5)

6. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Takes 6-8)

7. Do the Vega (Take 2)

8. Santa Lucia (Track, takes 1-2)

9. Viva Las Vegas (Take 2)

10. The Climb (Takes 1-2 & 4-7)

11. Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas (Takes 1-4)

12. Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas (Takes 5-6 & 8-9 [Master])

13. The Lady Loves Me (Takes 3-6)

14. You’re the Boss (Takes 4-8)

15. You’re the Boss (Takes 9-10)

16. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (2012 take 6, instrumental)

17. Santa Lucia (Vocal overdub, take 2)

18. Santa Lucia (Vocal overdub, take 3)

19. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Movie version, vocal overdub 2016, take 8)

20. What’d I Say (takes 3-4 [Master])

CD3

MOVIE VERSIONS

1. C’mon Everybody (Movie version, take 7 with overdubs)

2. Today, Tomorrow and Forever(Movie version, V.O. take 10, edited)

3. The Climb (Movie version - take 9, edited)

4. Santa Lucia (V.O. take 6 [Master], movie version)

5. Appreciation (Ann-Margret, take 3 & pickup take 2)

6. My Rival (Ann-Margret)

MORE OUTTAKES

7. Night Life (Takes 9-10)

8. Night Life (Take 11)

9. Night Life (Takes 12-13)

10. If You Think I Don’t Need You (Takes 8-10)

11. If You Think I Don’t Need You (Takes 11-13 [Master])

12. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Takes 9-15)

13. I Need Somebody to Lean On (Takes 16-19)

14. Do The Vega (Takes 3-7 [Master])

15. Viva Las Vegas (Takes 3-7 [Master])

16. The Climb (Take 8)

17. The Climb (Take 9)

18. C’mon Everybody (Takes 6-7 [Master], movie version)

19. The Lady Loves Me (Takes 7-9)

20. You’re the Boss (Takes 11-12)

21. You’re the Boss (Takes 13, 15 & 14)

22. Santa Lucia (Vocal overdub, take 5)

23. Today, Tomorrow and Forever (Movie version, 2016 vocal overdub take 10 [Master])

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Title:

The Making of Viva Las Vegas

Label:

FTD [FTD 222] [506020 975141]

Format:

Book + 3x CD

Number of tracks:

Running time:

106:00

Type of album:

Soundtrack / Recording sessions

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

2019

Recording date:

May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964

Release date:

November 2019

Singles:

---

In 2019, FTD innovated by bringing a 400-page book with all possible information about the film and its soundtrack along with three CDs. In them you can listen to the Masters with original mono sound, in addition to most of the demo versions recorded as a guide by composers, some of which were never worked on in the studio.

The difference in this box, although unnecessary, is the presence of the songs that would be used for the album "Elvis Sings Memphis, Tennessee", an idea canceled after the May 1963 sessions, as a bonus.

The work includes the following tracks:

CD 1

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK IN MONO

1. Viva Las Vegas

2. What'd I Say

3. If You Think I Don't Need You

4. I Need Somebody to Lean On

5. C'mon Everybody

6. Today Tomorrow and Forever

7. You're the Boss

8. Night Life

9. Do The Vega