MRS 'Elvis: Back In Living Stereo'

Memphis Recording Service (MRS) is long established as one of the premier organisations producing high quality Elvis audio, video and book releases. Its latest set focuses on Elvis’ recordings between 1960 and 1962 and comes as a hardcover comprising 6 CDs and an 100 page book.

As with a number of other MRS releases, noted Elvis historian, Gordon Minto, provides the narrative for the book.

A strength of Minto’s writing is that he sets the background context and foreground meaning around what was happening when Elvis recorded:

The narrative brings to life each session and allows the reader a “fly on the wall” perspective:

At other times, Minto meaningfully comments on what was happening in Elvis’ career in a relative sense:

The range of archival material included will delight Elvis musicologists. Session sheets with their minutiae of information will undoubtedly hold a fascination for many readers - although we did notice the page about 'Make Me Know It' / 'Soldier Boy' repeated on pages 14 and 16. Various press articles, Top 40 charts, and items such as a letter to Elvis from RCA on March 1, 1960 amending the details of his recording contract with the company also impress.

The text is also balanced by various photos, and high quality paper stock allows the glorious images to resonate. Many of the images are promotional portraits. Yes, we have seen them before but they are appropriately reflective of the 1960-62 period. Strangely, given the set's focus, the visual element lacks photos of Elvis in the recording studio. While there is not an abundance of images of Elvis in the studio during 1960-1962, some do exist. Regardless, the images and archival material are a wonderful complement to the narrative and music.

The book also includes a one page Epilogue which offers an interesting overview of Elvis in the studio from 1962 to 1969. However this does not include any text about Elvis' Home Recordings and why they are combined together in a book about Elvis' 1960-1962 masters.

Similarly a few words about why the Bonus 1966 Alternate Tracks are included here (along with 'Goin' Home' outtakes in very poor quality) would have been more satisfactory.
Some fans would also surely be bewildered by the Anita Wood phone call and what it is doing in this set.
Perhaps this set should have been split into two smaller MRS releases, one focusing on the wonderful early years of 1960-1962 and one on Elvis 60's Home Recordings.

A 'ELVIS: 60's Home Recordings' combo would have nicely matched the MRS release 'Made In Germany' and with some more text from Gordon Minto about Elvis' private recordings contrasting against his movie soundtrack commitments - plus some great mid-sixties photos - would surely have been a welcome release.

The set, thoughtfully designed by Kevin Reape, is compact sized (14 x 2 x 19 cms), and the two column page design for text works well with strong borders and use of blank space. Each page of narrative is backgrounded by a faint and unobtrusive Elvis related image.

Our in-depth look at the musical content of the full-to-the-brim six cds is posted below.

Package Verdict: Elvis’ recording sessions between 1960 and 1962 were important for several reasons, principally that after a two-years hiatus from recording, he had to re-establish his musical credentials with both his record buying public and the music media, not to mention satisfy himself that he still had what it takes. The book component of Elvis Back In Living Stereo offers an appropriately strong complement to the various sessions and audio recordings it discusses, and facilitates a greater understanding of Elvis in the studio and the key factors driving each session. Musically the packed cds present a stunning look at Elvis recording in the early sixties before the shine wore off. The "Master" sessions nicely contrast with the looser "Outtakes" discs and with Elvis getting even more uninhibited on the Home Recordings. Seven hours of Elvis singing his heart out - including plenty of officially unreleased material - will keep any collector happy. Overall, this latest set from MRS maintains the high quality expected of it and is another welcome inclusion in the organisation’s bourgeoning catalog of Elvis titles.

THE MUSIC
In March 1960, straight out of the army, Elvis returned to Nashville's RCA Studio B to lay down some of the most important music of his whole career. Elvis' future career as an entertainment superstar would hinge on just two nights of recording. And for the first time "In Living Stereo".
The session began with the exciting blast of Otis Blackwell's 'Make Me Know It' nicely contrasted by the cool doo-wop of 'Soldier Boy' and with solid gold then wrapped up in the million-seller 'Stuck On You', 'Fame & Fortune' 'A Mess Of Blues' and the-end-of-the evening's blues 'It Feels So Right'.
With his confidence cemented Elvis would return the following month to lay down the million sellers 'It's Now Or Never', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight', 'Girl Of My Best Friend' as well as classics 'Fever', 'Such A Night' and 'Reconsider Baby'.
Elvis' chart success was assured and he would continue with a string of US and UK number ones through to 'Good Luck Charm' and 'She's Not You' in mid 1962.

These key 1960-1962 recordings are the corner-stone of this "Back In Living Stereo" release and are featured over two CDs of 'Essential Masters' and two CDs of 'Selected Outtakes'.
As a "Bonus" two discs of Home Recordings are also included, placed at the back of the book.

Audio Quality: As in previous MRS releases the audio quality is impressive, although as these sixties tracks always sounded fantastic (unlike the hissy/rumbly fifties recordings) there is little to improve on. MRS audio engineer, 'Studio D', as usual tends to push both the bass and treble ends of these recording while also applying audio compression and loudness. As with previous MRS releases this means that the songs have more audio "punch" for today's "smaller speaker" generation.
The notable audio improvements here are actually on the "Bonus" Home Recordings and a clean-up on some of the outtakes that have previously been out on bootlegs.

DISC 1: The Essential 1960 Masters - 79 minutes
This is a neat trick, all of Elvis' 1960 non-soundtrack masters all on one disc.

This, of course, starts in the same way as RCA's 'From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters' box-set but that selection excluded Elvis' Gospel recordings.
Here we get all of Elvis' key "Elvis Is Back" recordings followed by the classic number 1 'Surrender' and then his 'His Hand In Mine' recordings.
Elvis' creative magic is beautifully sustained here by neatly ignoring Elvis' fluffy soundtrack sessions for G.I. Blues (April 1960) and Flaming Star (August 1960) that also took place within this period.

The creative statement that "Elvis was Back" was never bolstered by recordings such as 'Big Boots', 'Didja' Ever', 'A Cane And A High Starched Collar' or 'Britches' no matter how much you love his movie songs.
Gordon Minto's text brilliantly proves just how good these classic recordings were by the number of singles culled from them over the years.
Of course Elvis collectors will already own these classic cuts but having them collected in this chronological order is a very sweet listening experience.

For those technically interested, below is a direct audio comparison of 'Fever' between this MRS version (top) and the RCA 'The Complete Masters' release. You can see the lift in audio level and compression.

DISC 2: The Essential 1961-62 Masters - 73 minutes
Elvis' 1961 studio commitments started in March with his sessions for slick studio follow-up to 'Elvis Is Back', the May 1961 album 'Something For Everybody'.
Charlie Rich's 'I'm Comin' Home' neatly kicks off this CD followed by all the album tracks (except the tacked on the out-of-place 'I Slipped I Stumbled I Fell'). With 'Give Me The Right', 'I Feel So Bad', 'Judy', 'There's Always Me' etc Elvis was still demonstrating his post-army magic-touch.

Again Elvis' lightweight soundtrack commitments are left-out (Blue Hawaii, Follow That Dream, Kid Galahad) meaning that the "single" sessions that follow, 'That's Someone You Never Forget', 'I'm Yours', '(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame', 'Little Sister', 'Good Luck Charm', and 'Anything That's Part Of You' really bolster the overall feel of Elvis' creative streak.

In reality Elvis' 1962 sessions were mostly given over to movie soundtracks (Girls! Girls! Girls! and World's Fair) but he did find time to finish off his May 1962 'Pot Luck' album which again contributes some quality material to the end of this disc including 'Gonna Get Back Home Somehow', 'Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello', 'Suspicion', and the UK #1 'She's Not You'.

Including the Bonus Tracks, 'Steppin' Out Of Line', and 'I'm Yours' LP version, these thirty-one tracks help demonstrate that had Elvis held back on the fluffy movie songs and instead followed his own creative interests then his chart career would probably not have taken the fast dive in quality that inevitably happened.

It's notable that 'For The Millionth And The Last Time' and 'I Met Her Today' masters are missing since they were not released until 1965 and so not 'Public Domain', yet they both are included in the outtakes discs.

DISC 3: Selected Alternate Outtakes 1960-1961 - 79 minutes
A packed disc of 79 minutes this includes various session outtakes from the 'Elvis Is Back' session through to 'For The Millionth And The Last Time'.
I personally enjoy hearing Elvis at work in the studio and having fun with his colleagues and this selection is certainly worth a spin.

These outtakes have to be in the 'Public Domain' so they don't include outtakes from every track (only four songs are featured from the 'Elvis Is Back' sessions) and sometimes we only get false starts with no 'Complete' takes.
However there are plenty of gems here.

'Make Me Know It' was all important for being Elvis' first post army recording. Take 2 which starts the CD is surprisingly good for such an early take, although Scotty Moore's guitar goes off at a tangent, and near the end Elvis slips into a cartoon voice telling everyone to "Hold It". Take 8 gets similarly derailed near the end when Elvis starts giggling, "I'm sorry, damn!". Take 14 is also a sensational version and shows just how incredibly well Elvis and the band would work together at this first post-army session. Elvis unbelievably misses the final line on the fade out - "Oh, shit" he exclaims. This is a classic for any collector!
Similar gems follow and you can feel the excitement and fun of the session.

'Fame And Fortune' took fifteen attempts and here we get eight outtakes. Some like Take 7 are near perfect, while complete Take 8 is sublime - I love Elvis' additional backing vocal "wah-oo, wah-oo" @1.56 but this version has no lead guitar fill at all.

'A Mess Of Blues' Take 4 has to be a highlight "Yeah" says Elvis right at the start as he clicks his fingers. It was never going to be the master but the feeling is all there until Elvis fluffs the ending, "Bullshit" he exclaims. Why RCA/FTD never put this out on early releases I don't understand.

Talking of which there are several outtakes included here that have never been officially released by RCA or FTD. Highlights are the short and rockin' 'I Want You With Me' (tryout) "Hot Damn!"- , 'There's Always Me (take 3)' and 'Put The Blame On Me' takes 3 & 4 "Yeah" -. It's a surprise that these cool short workouts weren't included in FTD's 'Something For Everybody' release.

Similarly 'Kiss Me Quick' complete takes 7, 10 and 11 have not been officially released as yet.
A final rocking highlight has to 'Little Sister' Take 10 which has the power and excitement of the final single until D.J. mistakenly misses a beat halfway through.

DISC 4: Selected Alternate Outtakes 1961-1962 - 79 minutes.
Continuing in the same vein as the previous disc we get 15 tracks from Elvis' 61-62 sessions from 'His Latest Flame' to 'She's Not You'.
'Anything That's Part Of You' is gorgeous. Take 7 is a short false start, "I'd like to start it again" while Take 3 is exquisite with the acoustic guitar higher in the mix than on the final release. It is hard to believe that Elvis wanted to do better. (Take 10 would be the master).

There are a pile of Don Robertson's 'I Met her Today' outtakes and the delight here is to listen in to Elvis snapping his fingers in time and singing with such sincerity. There are multiple outtakes here that also have never been officially released, including the very final takes 19 and 20 that were recorded after the master take 18.

Officially unreleased outtakes of 'Fountain Of Love', a fast tempo tryout of 'Just tell Her Jim Says Hello', work-parts of 'She's Not You' and a cute 'Suspicion' splice are featured. Some in notably poorer audio quality than others. However hearing Elvis saying, "If Lamar can get his big ass and sit down, then we can make it" before 'She's Not You' take 2 is worth the price of admission alone!

At this point the CD jumps to some previously unreleased 1966 Bonus outtakes.
Two cracker outtakes of 'Down In the Alley' are included as well as the delight of the beautiful 'Stand By Me'.

Finally the packed CD ends with 8 minutes of crazy 'Going Home' 1967 outtakes.
While these capture Elvis and the band in a drunken "squirrelly" mood they are definitely not in "Living Stereo" - in fact terrible audio quality.
"Very explicit language throughout" the sleeve states and it is right!
Elvis starts with, "Put a little life into the Mother- f*****, man, Don't play it like a dead-ass war dance!" and this craziness continues through the eight attempts.
So while I understand MRS' interest in putting out all of these officially unreleased outtakes, the creative impact of Elvis in 1961-1962 certainly isn't part of this session. I feel this poor quality session actually lessens the impact of the previous musical magic and what the "General Public" will make of this craziness I truly wonder.

DISC 5: 1960 Home Recordings - 28 minutes - plus 25 minute Anita Wood phone-call.
In November 1960 Elvis was truly back at the top and had plenty of reasons to relax at home and just have fun. Elvis had met Nancy Sharpe while working on Flaming Star and they were still good friends when he filmed Wild In The Country in late 1960.
It was at his Bel Air home that this personal recording captures Elvis, Nancy Sharpe and best buddy Red West jamming on some favourite songs. Perhaps the real surprise is that so many of them are Oscar Hammerstein classic show tunes.
Unfortunately the tape starts off with a very distorted short grab of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' (understandably not officially released) followed by a cool attempt at 'If I Loved You' both from the Broadway show 'Carousel'.

Luckily the quality improves and the real delight is hearing Nancy Sharpe, who has a truly beautiful soprano voice, duetting close with Elvis.
The brilliant 'Sweet Leilani' #2 (an old Bing Crosby cover) captures them in a pure lovey-dove mood. Hearing Elvis purring on the left channel with Nancy Sharpe purrs on the right channel is a real delight. It reminds me of Elvis and Ann-Margret recording 'You're The Boss' - and I am sure they were going to head upstairs together afterwards and not just to play cards!

It is the interaction between these two - as well as Red West - that makes this tape so fascinating.
Another showtune 'Make Believe' (from ShowBoat) captures them in a similar loved-up mood.
Several of these songs were released by FTD on 'In A Private Moment' but here they not only sound better but are (mostly) in STEREO, in the correct sequence and are complete.

Here 'When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano' (The Ink Spots) lasts the full 2:48 whereas the FTD version faded at 2:14 missing out Nancy Sharpe trying to get Elvis to play the right piano chord!

Other highlights are a neat 'I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder' and the country 'She Wears My Ring' played at home a full 13 years before Elvis recorded it in the studio.
The rockin' 'Hands Off' followed by an incomplete 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy' all go to show what a fine mood Elvis was in when left to jam in private.

Following this is the 'You're Driving Me Crazy' (Anita Wood calls Elvis Presley).
The audio quality is so poor that some EIN readers thought there was a fault on their CD.
In fact it is nearly two minutes of noise and static before Elvis even answers.
This particular track was heavily promoted by MRS being previously unreleased but it has nothing to do with the glory of Elvis in 1961-1962 and is as far from "Living Stereo" as you can get.
With no explanation in the text or sleeve notes as to why it is included in the set (obviously for collectors of everything) the "general public" would surely wonder what on earth they are listening to. It would certainly have made more sense in a separate "Sixties Home Recordings" MRS release with relevant photos and text.

DISC 6: 1966 Home Recordings - 78 minutes
A packed 78 minutes capturing some real delights once again as Elvis jams with Red West, Charlie Hodge and others, all recorded at Elvis' Rocca Place home while he was suffering through some of the worst RCA soundtrack recordings of his career.
These songs have all been released officially (albeit some edited short) but spread across various releases (Platinum, Home Recordings, Private Moment) whereas here we get them all in sequence.

Kicking off with the fabulous 'After Loving You' (an Eddy Arnold number that Elvis would record for F.E.I.M.) and touching on everything from gospel to folk, Bob Dylan, country, to doo-wop and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata it makes you cry that Elvis at the time was stuck recording such awful soundtracks.
At RCA he was recording 'Old MacDonald' and 'Smorgasboard' while at home he was singing Dylan's 'Blowing In the Wind'!

'Hide Thou Me' #2 for example is stunning and one of the most passionate recordings Elvis laid down on tape and MRS have cleaned up the original tape overload as best they could.
Other tracks are in fabulous quality for Home-Recordings and listening to Elvis bond with his close friends, creating cool harmonies is a real treat. All the more poignant now that Red West has passed on and his input is so prominent.

The humour and friendship is palpable especially when you consider what Col Parker was forcing Elvis to record for RCA release.
'Tennessee Waltz #2', recorded in fine quality, features some fine harmonies as well as the joy of friends singing together with real humour and ending with, "yes, I lost my little britches, to them old sons-of bitches, a beautiful Tennessee horse"!

There's also the fascination of hearing Elvis and the gang singing along to tracks from instrumental folk albums. (Yes, Elvis should have done a themed "Folk" album in the 70s).
'Blowing In The Wind' (two very different versions) , 'Five Hundred Miles', 'Fools Rush In' and 'It's A Sin To Tell A Lie' couldn't be musically further from the Double Trouble soundtrack he was recording at the time.

Other highlights include 'Show Me Thy Ways, O' Lord', ' Write To Me From Naples', 'Dark Moon', 'Indescribably Blue' and what a blast to hear Elvis singing 'What Now My Love' six years before he would include it in his set-list.

'Suppose' is one of Elvis' more haunting songs ("Imagine" anyone?) and he tried it out at home months before it would finally be recorded for the 'Speedway' soundtrack. Whether it was Elvis' spiritual quest that got him interested in this song we don't know but Charlie Hodge plays the piano here just as Elvis requested at the 'Speedway' soundtrack session. Two delightful renditions, there's probably more emotional involvement at stake here than we know.

For some reason a very strange 'Fools Rush In' is included with a newly added Nelson Riddle orchestra overdub. The real home-recording is on FTD's 'In A Private Moment'. How this slipped through MRS's quality control I have no idea.
Despite this one oddity this packed CD of 78 minutes is a great compilation of Elvis relaxing at home singing songs he truly enjoyed. - This album will definitely get more spins from me than Double Trouble!

Overall Music Verdict: Overall this is a stunning set of Elvis performing in the sixties. The "Master" sessions nicely contrasting with the looser "Outtakes" discs and getting even more uninhibited with the Home Recordings. Personally I would have been happy to have these as two MRS combo sets. The four cds of 1960-1962 sessions really do stand alone in demonstrating Elvis sublime post-army sessions work.
While the Sixties Home Recordings are a cool bonus they would have made more sense in a package on their own with more Gordon Minto insightful text and some great mid-sixties photos.
Having said that, purchasers do get seven hours of Elvis singing his heart out - and including plenty of officially unreleased material and that is not including the phone call.
Combined with the stylish book that has to be damn good value for anybody.

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Review by Nigel Patterson / Piers Beagley.
-Copyright EIN January 2020
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.

CD1 – THE ESSENTIAL 1960 MASTERS - 'Make Me Know It' through to 'Working on the Building'
CD2 – THE ESSENTIAL 1961 - 1962 MASTERS - ' I'm Comin' Home' to 'She's Not You' (plus 2 bonus tracks)
CD3 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1960 – 1961 - 'Make Me Know It' to 'For the Millionth and Last Time ' alternate takes
CD4 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1961 – 1962 - '(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame' to 'She's Not You' plus extras including 'Goin’ Home' outakes
CD5 – THE COMPLETE 1960’S HOME RECORDINGS
CD6 – THE 1966 HOME RECORDINGS

CD1 – THE ESSENTIAL 1960 MASTERS
1.         Make Me Know It
2.         Soldier Boy
3.         Stuck on You
4.         Fame and Fortune
5.         A Mess of Blues
6.         It Feels So Right
7.         Fever
8.         Like A Baby
9.         It's Now or Never
10.        The Girl of My Best Friend
11.        Dirty Dirty Feeling
12.        Thrill of Your Love
13.        I Gotta Know
14.        Such a Night
15.        Are You Lonesome Tonight?
16.        The Girl Next Door Went A-Walking
17.        I Will Be Home Again
18.        Reconsider Baby (with count-in)
19.        Surrender (with count-in)
20.        Milky White Way
21.        His Hand in Mine
22.        I Believe in the Man in the Sky
23.        He Knows Just What I Need
24.        Mansion Over the Hilltop
25.        In My Father's House
26.        Joshua Fit the Battle
27.        Swing Down Sweet Chariot
28.        I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
29.        If We Never Meet Again
30.        Known Only to Him
31.        Working on the Building

CD2 – THE ESSENTIAL 1961 - 1962 MASTERS
1         I'm Comin' Home
2.        Gently
3.        In Your Arms
4.        Give Me the Right
5.        I Feel So Bad
6.        It's a Sin
7.        I Want You With Me
8.        There's Always Me
9.        Starting Today
10.        Sentimental Me
11.        Judy
12.        Put the Blame On Me
13.        Kiss Me Quick
14.        That's Someone You Never Forget
15.        I'm Yours (SINGLE UNDUBBED MASTER)
16.        (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
17.        Little Sister
18.        Good Luck Charm
19.        Anything That's Part of You
20.        Night Rider
21.        Something Blue
22.        Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
23.        (Such An) Easy Question
24.        Fountain of Love
25.        Just for Old Time Sake
26.        I Feel That I've Known You Forever
27.        Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
28.        Suspicion
29.        She's Not You
BONUS TRACKS
30.        Steppin' Out of Line (With Count-in)
31.        I'm Yours (LP DUBBED MASTER)

CD3 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1960 – 1961
1.         Make Me Know It (Takes 2LFS, 8
2.         Make Me Know It (Takes 14*,16)
3.         Soldier Boy (Take 11)
4.         Fame and Fortune (Take 1FS x 4 & Comp)
5.         Fame and Fortune (Takes 3FS, 6LFS, 7FS & Comp)
6.         Fame and Fortune (Take 8)
7.         Fame and Fortune (Take 9FS & Comp)
8.         Fame and Fortune (Takes 10LFS, 11, 12LFS)
9.         Fame and Fortune (Take 14)
10.        A Mess of Blues (Take 4LFS)
11.        He Knows Just What I Need (Take 9)
12.        In My Father's House (Take 8)
13.        In My Father's House (Workpart Take 1)
14.        I Want You With Me (Tryout)
15.        There's Always Me (Take 3FS)
16.        Put the Blame On Me (Takes 3FS,4FS)
17.        Kiss Me Quick (Take 2)
18.        Kiss Me Quick (Take 3)
19.        Kiss Me Quick (Takes 5LFS, 6)
20.        Kiss Me Quick (Take 7)
21.        Kiss Me Quick (Takes 8LFS, 9)
22.        Kiss Me Quick (Take 10)
23.        Kiss Me Quick (Take 11)
24.        I'm Yours (Take 5, Workparts Takes 1,2)
25.        Little Sister (Takes 10LFS, 11LFS)
26.        For the Millionth and Last Time (Takes 3FS, 4, 5FS & Comp)
27.        For the Millionth and Last Time (Takes 8, 9FS,11FS)

CD4 – SELECTED ALTERNATE OUTTAKES 1961 – 1962
1.        (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame (Takes 7FS,9FS)
2.        Anything That's Part of You (Takes 7FS,3)
3.        I Met Her Today (Takes 3FS ,5LFS ,6FS & Comp)
4.        I Met Her Today (Takes 10FS, 11FS, 12FS, 13)
5.        I Met Her Today (Takes 14, 15FS)
6.        I Met Her Today (Takes 17FS,19FS, 20LFS)
7.        Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (Take 4)
8.        Fountain of Love (Takes 1FS, 2, 3FS FS, 4LFS)
9.        Fountain of Love (Takes 5FS, 6)
10.        Fountain of Love (Takes 7FS, 8FS, 9)
11.        Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (Tryout)
12.        Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (Take 3)
13.        Suspicion (Take 4 splice w end of Take 5)
14.        She's Not You (Take 2FS & Comp)
15.        She's Not You (Work-parts Takes 1-3)
BONUS ALTERNATE TRACKS (1966-67)
16.        Come What May (Take 1LFS)
17.        Down In the Alley (Takes 7,8)
18.        Stand by Me (Takes 3,4,5,6,7)
19.        Without Him (Takes 4FS, 7FS)
20.        Somebody Bigger Than You & I (Takes 2, 4-10)
21.        Somebody Bigger Than You & I (Workpart Ending Takes 1-4)
22.        Goin’ Home* ( Takes 3,4,5,7,10 – 14)

CD5 – THE COMPLETE 1960’S HOME RECORDINGS
1.You'll Never Walk Alone (incomplete)
2.If I Loved You
3.The Lords Prayer / If I Loved You (reprise)
4.I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder
5.An Evening Prayer (incomplete)
6.Make Believe
7.She Wears My Ring
8.Sweet Leilani (#1)
9.Sweet Leilani (#2)
10.Sweet Leilani (#3)
11.Beyond The Reef (incomplete)
12. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano
13.He
14.Hands Off
15.Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (incomplete)
BONUS TRACK (1961)
16. “You’re’ Driving Me Crazy”

CD6 – THE 1966 HOME RECORDINGS
1. After Loving You
2. If I Loved You
3. Show Me Thy Ways, O' Lorde
4. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
5. Hide Thou Me (Rock Of Ages)(#1)
6. Hide Thou Me (Rock Of Ages)(#2)
7. It's No Fun Being Lonely
8. San Antonio Rose
9. Tennessee Waltz (#1)
10. Tennessee Waltz (#2)
11. I've Been Blue
12. Mary Lou Brown
13. Moonlight Sonata
14. Blue Hawaii
15. Oh How I Love Jesus (#1 #2)
16. I, John (incomplete)
17. Write To Me From Naples
18. My Heart Cries For You
19. Dark Moon (Take 1)
20. Dark Moon (Take 2)
21. Indescribably Blue
22. Fools Rush In (Stereo)
23. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
24. What Now My Love (#1)
25. What Now My Love (#2)
26. Five Hundred Miles (#1)
27. Five Hundred Miles (#2)
28. Blowin' In The Wind (#1)
29. Blowin' In The Wind (#2)
30. Suppose (#1)
31. Suppose (#2)
BONUS TRACK (1956)
32. When The Saints Go Marching In

'Elvis - Made In Germany’ In-Depth Review: The new MRS 'Elvis - Made In Germany – The Complete Private Recordings’ 4CD set contains more than 3 hours of the private recordings Elvis made while off duty in Germany when he was serving as a soldier in the US army during the 1958 -1960 period and, includes rare tracks from a recently discovered tape comprising over an hour of unheard personal recordings.
The 152-page hardback book contains rare photographs and documents plus a comprehensive text provided by Gordon Minto, which discusses each of Elvis’ RCA studio (non-film) recording sessions held during 1957-58, before focusing on the private recordings he made in Germany.
The BONUS CD features the essential RCA studio masters from 1957-58.

With such an expansive book, along with hours of Elvis jamming with his friends in Germany, there is plenty to discuss as well as finding out what extra material this set contains over the official releases.

Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson & Piers Beagley provide an in-depth review of this new MRS release

(Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

EIN's reviews of other MRS releases:

The Complete 50s Movie Masters Session Recordings

Elvis Studio Sessions '56 The Complete Recordings

The Complete Works 1953-1955

Elvis On Television 1956-1960

Elvis Live in the 50s The Complete Concert Recordings

Off Duty with Private Presley

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley

Memphis Recording Service Volume 2 'The Rise of Elvis Presley' 1955

Memphis Recording Service Volume 1 'The Beginning of Elvis Presley' 1953-1954

'The Complete ‘50s Movie Masters And Session Recordings' In-Depth Review: This MRS 'The Complete ‘50s Movie Masters And Session Recordings' 5CD/Book combo pays tribute to Elvis Presley’s complete music recordings made for his movies during the 1950s.
The 5CDs contain the complete works of the master and session studio recordings made for each of Elvis’ movies during the 1950s, and all tracks have been remastered.
The 200-page book focuses on each of the recording sessions held for the four motion pictures made between August 1956 and March 1958.
The comprehensive text is complemented by rare and previously unseen photographs and documentation.

So what surprises will collectors discover in this new set, what is in this new collection that FTD have missed and how good will the audio sound.

Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson & Piers Beagley provide an in-depth review of this new MRS release

(Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

‘ELVIS: Studio Sessions 1956' In-Depth Review: MRS newest release, a massive 3CD/172 page book compilation "Elvis Studio Sessions ‘56 The Complete Recordings". The 172-page book, with text by Gordon Minto, focuses on each of Elvis’ studio recording sessions during his first year of national stardom - from the first one in January, held in Nashville, then later in New York, before finishing his final session of the year in Hollywood in September. The full and comprehensive text is complemented by rare and previously unseen photographs and pieces of documentation.
The 3CDs contain the complete archival master and session studio recordings of Elvis Presley from 1956, along with bonus interviews. All 90 tracks have been remastered and restored. Also for the first time on CD is the complete ‘The Truth About Me’ from an original US 45rpm flexi-disc. Also included are all the out-takes from this interview.

Once again MRS release a first putting all of Elvis' key 1956 Studio Session masters onto one disc, with the addition of two other fully-packed cds of 1956 material and a stunning 172 page book. But what does this set offer over other previous releases
Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson and Piers Beagley check out this new volume from MRS to find what is on offer. Includes stunning example photos & a detailed audio investigation.
(Book Review: Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

'Elvis: Back In Living Stereo'

The Essential 1960-62 Masters, rare outtakes and Home Recordings

MRS Book / CD

- Review by Nigel Patterson / Piers Beagley

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