EAP Index World: Frankie and Johnny (Single/LP

Title:

Frankie and Johnny

Label:

RCA Victor [LSP/LPM 3553]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Raunning time:

26:40

Type of album:

Soundtrack

Lonked to:

Official discography; Frankie and Johnny, 1966

Year:

1966

Recording date:

May 12-14, 1965

Release date:

April 2, 1966

Singles:

"Frankie & Johnny/Please Don't Stop" (Mar. 1, 1966)

Frankie and Johnny is Elvis' twentieth soundtrack album, his 21st LP for RCA, and his 48th audiophonic release (including singles and EPs). Recorded at Radio Recorders on May 12, 13, and 14, 1965, it contains the complete soundtrack for the film of the same name.

To match the film's 19th-century setting, extensive traditional song material was used for the soundtrack. For example, "When the Saints Go Marching in", an old spiritual that became a standard associated with traditional New Orleans hot jazz, was paired with "Down By the Riverside", another traditional spiritual that dates back to the relevant period. Both are in the public domain, and the Giant/Baum/Kaye team obtained all necessary licenses through Freddy Bienstock and Colonel Tom Parker.

The title song, "Frankie and Johnny", is a variant of the American folk song first published in 1904 and credited to Hughie Cannon. With changed lyrics, it is another publication guaranteed by Elvis's publisher, Gladys Music.

Twelve songs were recorded in the sessions for "Frankie and Johnny", and all were used and issued on the soundtrack. The title song was issued as a single, with "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" on the B-side, on March 1, 1966, reaching numbers 25 and 45, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The LP, released on April 2 of the same year, peaked at number 20, the lowest position since Elvis' return from Germany.

The album was re-released in December 1976 on the budget label Pickwood, with a new cover and omitting three songs. In 2003, FTD released its own version, which featured the original album with the tracks intact for the first time since 1975 and several outtakes. The album was not re-released in its original format by RCA until 2010.

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RECORDING SESSIONS

Date:

May 12-14, 1965

Studio:

Radio Recorders

Location:

Hollywood, Califórnia

Musicians:

Voice: Elvis Presley
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore, Hilmer J. Timbrell, Charlie McCoy
Bass: Bob Moore
Drums: DJ Fontana, Murray Harman
Piano: Larry Muhoberac
Trumpet: George Worth
Trombone: Richard Noel
Tuba: John Johnson, Robert Corwin
Saxophone: Gus Bivona
Backing Vocals: The Jordanaires

Sound engineer / Recording engineer:

Dave Wiechman

MAY 12, 1965
Come Along (Track)
Beginners Luck (Track)
Down By The Riverside / When The Saints Go Marchin' In (Track)

MAY 13, 1965
Come Along (Vocal Overdub) SPA3 7374-01
Beginners Luck (Vocal Overdub) SPA3 7380-02
Down By The Riverside / When The Saints Go Marchin' In (V.O.) SPA3 7381
Please Don't Stop Loving Me SPA3 7384-19
Shout It Out SPA3 7382-07
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Part 1 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Part 2 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 3 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 4 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 5 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 6 - Track)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 7 - Track)
What Every Woman Lives For (Track)
Hard Luck (Track)

MAY 14, 1965
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Part 1 - Vocal Overdub)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 3 - Vocal Overdub)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version Section 6 - Vocal Overdub)
Frankie & Johnny (Movie Version - Composite) TPA3 3997-SP
What Every Woman Lives For (Vocal Overdub) SPA3 7377-08
Petunia, The Gardener's Daughter
Petunia, The Gardener's Daughter (Insert)
Petunia, The Gardener's Daughter SPA3 7375-06
Look Out Broadway SPA3 7379-12
Everybody Come Aboard SPA3 7385-15
Chesay SPA3 7376-07
Frankie & Johnny (Record Version) SPA3 7378-06

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SESSION LOGS

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RELATED LPS AND SINGLE TRACKS (RCA, 1966 / 1976)

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (SINGLE)

March 1, 1966

1. Frankie and Johnny

2. Please Don't Stop Loving Me

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (LP)

April 2, 1966

1. Frankie and Johnny

2. Come Along

3. Petunia, the Gardener's Daughter

4. Chesay

5. What Every Woman Lives For

6. Look Out, Broadway

7. Beginner's Luck

8. Down By the Riverside / When the Saints Go Marching in

9. Shout it Out

10. Hard Luck

11. Please Don't Stop Loving Me

12. Everybody Come Aboard

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (LP)

December 1976

1. Frankie and Johnny

2. Come Along

3. What Every Woman Lives For

4. Hard Luck

5. Please Don't Stop Loving Me

6. Down By the Riverside / When the Saints Go Marching in

7. Petunia, the Gardener's Daughter

8. Beginner's Luck

9. Shout it Out

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FTD VERSION

Title:

Frankie and Johnny

Label:

FTD [FTD 030] [82876 533702 1]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

72:00

Type of album:

Soundtrack / Recording session

Linked to:

FTD discography

Year:

2003

Recording date:

May 12-14, 1965

Release date:

November 12, 2003

Singles:

---

Although FTD wanted to do a good job, the record company once again erred in taking the audio directly from the LP mix instead of editing and remastering the original tapes, leaving the CD sound somewhat lacking in depth, as had happened with "Harum Scarum".

It is clear that no work was done on the material, which even has the same background noises as the LP, the muffled sound of the mono release and even a metallic sound of what would be Elvis' watch hitting the microphone at 1:57 of "What Every Woman Lives For", one of the songs with the most politically incorrect lyrics of his career. Surprisingly, FTD edited and considerably improved the audio of the outtakes.

As always, the work ends with a beautiful 12-page booklet containing behind-the-scenes details and information about the recording sessions, memorabilia, posters, album covers from around the world and rare photos.

The work includes the following tracks:

ORIGINAL LP

1. Frankie and Johnny

2. Come Along

3. Petunia, the Gardener's Daughter

4. Chesay

5. What Every Woman Lives For

6. Look Out, Broadway

7. Beginner's Luck

8. Down By the Riverside / When the Saints Go Marching tn

9. Shout it Out

10. Hard Luck