Title:
The "Lost" Album
Label:
RCA Victor [07863 61024 2]
Format:
CD
Number of tracks:
15
Running time:
32:00
Type of album:
Studio
Linked to:
Official discography
Year:
1991
Recording date:
May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964
Release date:
1991
Singles:
---
The "Lost" Album was a CD/LP first released by RCA in the United Kingdom under the title "For the Asking: The Lost Album", on October 18, 1990. The work brought to the public for the first time the album that had been abandoned in 1963 and would be released the following year.
In 1963, Elvis' film career was consolidated and sales of his LPs, EPs and singles were still on the rise. Soundtracks had become the focus of attention in recording sessions, leaving work for independent LPs aside due to the exorbitant sales of the songs heard in the films. Without realizing it, by using this "gold mine", the Colonel and RCA were writing the initial chapter of what would become a sharp drop in Elvis' sales and popularity within two years.
The King of Rock, in turn, had great contributions and ideas to record, but always encountered obstacles with denials from Parker and RCA. After much fighting, Elvis reached a truce and was authorized by the Colonel to conduct sessions for a new album to be released later that year, which would feature songs that suited his taste or that were popular at the time. It was a break from the infamous saccharine and meaningless songs for the films and a great advance in Elvis' power over his career, albeit for a limited time.
With that, Elvis went to RCA Studio B in Nashville, where he had produced several of the gems from the beginning of his career. The team of in-house musicians was excellent, the opportunity was good and the songs were, although not all of them, great.
Starting on the night of May 26, 1963, the singer did two sessions that produced 14 songs, showing that he still had the rhythm to mass produce and meet the standards expected by fans. From these sessions, Elvis had a predilection and worked with real enthusiasm on "(You're the) Devil in Disguise", "Memphis Tennessee", by Chuck Berry, and "Ask Me", by the Italian Domenico Modugno.
It was in the early hours of May 28th that things changed direction. After the resounding success of the "Fun in Acapulco" LP, the Colonel was convinced that soundtracks sold and would sell infinitely more than individual songs and ordered the immediate abandonment of the project. It was a blow that would change Elvis' view of his recordings and begin to bring about his musical downfall during that period.
The singer seemed to understand the situation, even if in reality he was completely disgusted, but his discontent was visible. The mediocre tracks recorded from then on would also convince him that the path followed was wrong, but there was nothing that would change the minds and greed of Parker and RCA executives.
The recordings from those days were later released as singles and compilation LPs, but without the same appeal they would have had if they had been released as a single work. Beatlemania and the British Invasion also played a big role in all of this, since the general public began to like that style of music more, with rhythm and without worrying about the lyrics, than the melodious songs with almost no rhythm that the Americans were doing. Elvis' sales began to plummet, with the exception of a hit here and there, such as the "Roustabout" soundtrack in 1964.
When 1965 arrived, Elvis' popularity was so low that it was already raising doubts about how much longer his career would last. The films weren't successful enough, especially after The Beatles released their own, the soundtracks were gathering dust on store shelves and the few singles were sinking in the charts due to all these factors. Without a number 1 single in a long time and with his last independent LP at number one in the charts dating back to 1962, Elvis saw his reign being increasingly threatened and could only wonder if it would have been different if the album recorded in 1963 had been released.
Although they are present in several works over the years, the first time that all the songs recorded in May 1963 were officially released together was in 1990 on the CD/LP "For the Asking: The 'Lost' Album", although in UK only. The record company also took the opportunity to include the solo track recorded on January 12, 1964, "It Hurts Me", during the remake sessions for "Ask Me" and "Memphis Tennessee".
The album's success generated RCA's interest in releasing it worldwide in 1991, on a CD with the same tracks as the British version, which was renamed simply "The 'Lost' Album". FTD released its version of the album with extras on a double CD in 2008 and on a double LP in 2019, both titled "Elvis Sings Memphis Thennessee". The complete recording sessions for the album would only be brought to fans by Follow That Dream in the box set "Devil in Disguise: The 'Lost Album' Sessions", in 2022.
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RECORDING SESSIONS
May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964
Studio:
RCA Studio B
Location:
Nashville, Tennessee
Musicians:
Musicians:
Voice: Elvis Presley
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore, Thomas 'Grady' Martin, Harold Bradley, Jerry Kennedy
Bass: Bob Moore, Henry Strezelki
Drums: DJ Fontana, Murray 'Buddy' Harman, Kenneth Buttery
Piano: Floyd Cramer
Tambourine: Hoyt Hawkins
Saxophone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Vibraphone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Maracas: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires, Millie Kirkham
Sound engineer / Recording engineer:
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore, Thomas 'Grady' Martin, Harold Bradley, Jerry Kennedy
Bass: Bob Moore, Henry Strezelki
Drums: DJ Fontana, Murray 'Buddy' Harman, Kenneth Buttery
Piano: Floyd Cramer
Tambourine: Hoyt Hawkins
Saxophone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Vibraphone: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Maracas: Homer 'Boots' Randolph
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires, Millie Kirkham
Sound engineer / Recording engineer:
Steve Sholes, Bill Porter, Chet Atkins, Ron Steele
MAY 26 / 27, 1963
Echoes Of Love PPA4 0290-10
Please Don't Drag That String Around PPA4 0291-06
(You're The) Devil In Disguise PPA4 0292-06
Never Ending PPA4 0293-03
What Now, What Next, Where To PPA4 0294-01
Witchcraft PPA4 0295-03
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers PPA4 0296-03
Love Me Tonight PPA4 0297-08
MAY 27 / 28, 1963
Memphis, Tennessee PPA4 0302-02
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Single Version) PPA4 0303-01
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Album Version) PPA4 0303-02
Ask Me PPA4 0304-02
Western Union PPA4 0305-04
Slowly But Surely PPA4 0306-05
Blue River SPA4 6768-02
Blue River SPA4 7357-SP
Ask Me (Alternate Master) PPA4 0304-06
JANUARY 12, 1964
Memphis, Tennessee (Remake) RPA4 1004-06
Ask Me (Remake) RPA4 1005-11
It Hurts Me RPA4 1006-05
FOR THE ASKING: THE LOST ALBUM (CD/LP)
MAY 26 / 27, 1963
Echoes Of Love PPA4 0290-10
Please Don't Drag That String Around PPA4 0291-06
(You're The) Devil In Disguise PPA4 0292-06
Never Ending PPA4 0293-03
What Now, What Next, Where To PPA4 0294-01
Witchcraft PPA4 0295-03
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers PPA4 0296-03
Love Me Tonight PPA4 0297-08
MAY 27 / 28, 1963
Memphis, Tennessee PPA4 0302-02
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Single Version) PPA4 0303-01
(It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Album Version) PPA4 0303-02
Ask Me PPA4 0304-02
Western Union PPA4 0305-04
Slowly But Surely PPA4 0306-05
Blue River SPA4 6768-02
Blue River SPA4 7357-SP
Ask Me (Alternate Master) PPA4 0304-06
JANUARY 12, 1964
Memphis, Tennessee (Remake) RPA4 1004-06
Ask Me (Remake) RPA4 1005-11
It Hurts Me RPA4 1006-05
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SESSION LOGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL CDS/LPS TRACKS (RCA, 1990/91)
October 18, 1990
1. Long Lonely Highway
2. Western Union
3. Witchcraft
4. Love Me Tonight
5. What Now, What Next, Where To
6. Please Don't Drag That String Around
7. Blue River
8. Never Ending
9. Devil In Disguise
10. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers
11. Echoes Of Love
12. Slowly But Surely
13. It Hurts Me
14. Memphis, Tennessee
15. Ask Me
THE LOST ALBUM (CD)
1991
1. Long Lonely Highway
2. Western Union
3. Witchcraft
4. Love Me Tonight
5. What Now, What Next, Where To
6. Please Don't Drag That String Around
7. Blue River
8. Never Ending
9. Devil In Disguise
10. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers
11. Echoes Of Love
12. Slowly But Surely
13. It Hurts Me
14. Memphis, Tennessee
15. Ask Me
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FTD VERSIONS
Elvis Sings Memphis Tennessee
Label:
FTD [FTD 073] [88697 29699 2]
Format:
2x CD
Number of tracks:
53
Running time:
145:00
Type of album:
Studio / Recording sessions
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2008
Recording date:
May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964
Release date:
August 2008
Singles:
---
Elvis Sings Memphis Tennessee was FTD's seventy-third CD. It brings together tracks recorded in 1963 and 1964 for the album of the same name, which ended up being discarded before release.
The work includes the following tracks:
CD 1
ORIGINAL ALBUM
1. Witchcraft
2. Please Don't Drag That String Around
3. Love Me Tonight
4. Slowly But Surely
5. It Hurts Me
6. Echoes of Love
7. (It's a) Long Lonely Highway
8. (You're the) Devil in Disguise
9. Never Ending
10. Ask Me (1964 Version)
11. Memphis, Tennessee (1964 Version)
12. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers
13. Western Union
14. Blue River
15. What Now, What Next , Where to
REJECTED MASTERS
16. Memphis, Tennessee (1963 Version)
17. Ask Me (1963 Version)
FIRST TAKES
18. Witchcraft (Take 1)
19. Please don't Drag That String Around (Take 1)
20. Love Me Tonight (Take 1)
21. Slowly But Surely (Take 1)
22 It Hurts Me (Take 1)
23. Echoes of Love (Take 1)
24. (It's a) Long Lonely Highway (Take 1 - Single Master)
25. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Take 3)
26. Never Ending (Take 1)
27. Ask Me (1964 Version) (Takes 1 & 2)
28. Memphis Tennessee (1964 Version) (Take 1)
29. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Take 1)
30. Western Union (Take 1)
31. Ask Me (1963 Version) (Take 1)
CD 2
MAY 1963 SESSIONS
1. Echoes of Love (Takes 2, 4, 5 & 3)
2. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 2)
3. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Takes 3, 4 & 5)
4. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Takes 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 - Master)
5. Never Ending (Take 2 & 3 - Master)
6. Witchcraft (Take 2)
7. Finder Keepers, Losers Weepers (Takes 2 & 3 - Master)
8. Love Me Tonight (Takes 2, 3 & 4)
9. Love Me Tonight (Takes 6 & 5)
10. Memphis, Tennessee (Take 1)
11. Western Union (Takes 2 & 3)
12. Slowly But Surely (Takes 2, 3 & 4)
13. Blue River (Takes 1 & 2)
14. Ask Me (Takes 3 & 4)
15. Ask Me (Takes 5 & 6 - Alternate Master)
16. Echoes of Love (Takes 6 & 7)
17. Echoes of Love (Takes 9 & 8 - Alternate Master)
JANUARY 1964 SESSIONS
18. Memphis, Tennessee (Takes 2, 3, 4 & 5)
19. Ask Me (Take 3)
20. Ask Me (Takes 4, 5, 6 & 7)
21. Ask Me (Takes 8, 10 & 9)
22. It Hurts Me (Takes 2, 3, 4 & 5 - Master)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title:
Elvis Sings Memphis Tennessee
Label:
FTD [FTD 323] [506020 975137 5]
Format:
2x LP
Number of tracks:
27
Running time:
75:00
Type of album:
Studio / Recording sessions
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2019
Recording date:
May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964
Release date:
October 2019
Singles:
---
Elvis Sings Memphis Tennessee was a double LP released by FTD in 2019. It brings together the main tracks recorded in 1963 and 1964 for the eponymous album.
The work includes the following tracks:
LP 1
SIDE A
1. Memphis, Tennessee (1963 Rejected Master)
2. Ask Me (1963 Rejected Master)
3. Echoes of Love (Take 1)
4. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 1)
5. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Takes 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 - Master)
6. What Now, What Next, Where to (Take 1 - Master)
7. Never Ending (Take 1)
SIDE B
8. (It's a) Long Lonely Highway (Take 2 - Album Master)
9. Witchcraft (Take 1)
10. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Take 1)
11. Love Me Tonight (Take 1)
12. Memphis, Tennessee (1964 Version, Take 1)
13. Ask Me (1964 Version, Takes 1 & 2)
14. Western Union (Take 1)
15. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 2)
LP 2
SIDE A
1. Slowly But Surely (Take 1)
2. Never Ending (Takes 2 & 3 - Master)
3. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Take 3)
4. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Takes 3, 4 & 5)
5. Witchcraft (Take 2)
6. Ask Me (Takes 5 & 6 - 1963 Alternate Rejected Master)
SIDE B
7. Blue River (Takes 1 & 2)
8. Memphis, Tennessee (1964 Version, Takes 2, 3 & 5)
9. It Hurts Me (Takes 2, 3, 4 & 5 - Master)
10. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Takes 2 & 3)
11. Love Me Tonight (Takes 2, 3 & 4)
12. Slowly But Surely (Takes 2, 3 & 4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devil in Disguise: The 'Lost Album' Sessions
Label:
FTD [FTD 199] [506020 975168 9]
Format:
3x CD
Number of tracks:
64
Running time:
174:00
Type of album:
Studio / Recording sessions
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2022
Recording date:
May 26, 1963 - January 12, 1964
Release date:
July 2022
Singles:
---
Devil in Disguise: The 'Lost Album' Sessions was a CD box set released by FTD in 2022. It brings together the complete recording sessions of all tracks recorded in 1963 and 1964 for the abandoned album "Elvis Sings Memphis Tennessee".
The work includes the following tracks:
CD 1
THE SINGLES
1. (You're the) Devil in Disguise
2. Please Don't Drag That String Around
3. Witchcraft
4. Love Me Tonight
5. Slowly But Surely
6. It Hurts Me
7. Echoes of Love
8. (It's a) Long Lonely Highway
9. Never Ending
10. Ask Me (1964 Version)
11. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers
12. Memphis, Tennessee (1964 Version)
13. Blue River
14. What Now, What Next, Where to
15. Western Union
CD 2
MAY 26, 1963 SESSIONS
1. Echoes of Love (Take 1)
2. Echoes of Love (Takes 2 & 3)
3. Echoes of Love (Takes 4-7)
4. Echoes of Love (Take 8)
5. Echoes of Love (Takes 9 & 10 - Master)
6. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 1)
7. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 2)
8. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Takes 3-5)
9. Please Don't Drag That String Around (Take 6 - Master)
10. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Takes 1-3)
11. (You're the) Devil in Disguise (Takes 4-6 - Master)
12. Never Ending (Take 1)
13. Never Ending (Takes 2 & 3 - Master)
MAY 27, 1963 SESSIONS
14. What Now, What Next, Where to (Take 1 - Master)
15. Witchcraft (Take 1)
16. Witchcraft (Take 2)
17. Witchcraft (Take 3 - Master)
18. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Take 1)
19. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Take 2)
20. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers (Take 3 - Master)
21. Love Me Tonight (Take 1)
22. Love Me Tonight (Takes 2-4)
23. Love Me Tonight (Take 5)
24. Love Me Tonight (Takes 6-8 - Master)
CD 3
MAY 27, 1963 SESSIONS (CONTINUED)
1. Memphis, Tennessee (Take 1)
2. Memphis, Tennessee (Take - Master)
3. (It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Take 1 - Single Master)
4. (It's A) Long Lonely Highway (Take 2 - Album Master)
5. Ask Me (Take 1)
6. Ask Me (Take 2 - Alternate Rejected Master)
7. Western Union (Take 1)
8. Western Union (Takes 2 & 3)
9. Western Union (Take 4 - Master)
MAY 28, 1963 SESSIONS
10. Slowly But Surely (Take 1)
11. Slowly But Surely (Takes 2-4)
12. Slowly But Surely (Take 5 - Master)
13. Blue River (Takes 1 & 2)
14. Ask Me (Takes 3 & 4)
15. Ask Me (Takes 5 & 6 - Master)
JANUARY 12, 1964 SESSIONS
16. Memphis, Tennessee (Take 1)
17. Memphis, Tennessee (Takes 2, 3 & 5)
18. Memphis, Tennessee (Take 6 - Master)
19. Ask Me (Takes 1 & 2)
20. Ask Me (Take 3)
21. Ask Me (Takes 4-7)
22. Ask Me (Takes 8 & 9)
23. Ask Me (Takes 10 & 11 - Master)
24. It Hurts Me (Take 1)
25. It Hurts Me (Takes 2-5 - Master)
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