Review by Keith Flynn
Released now is the new CD from Follow That Dream entitled Silver Screen Stereo, a sort of Out In Hollywood volume two, if you like. It has a good mixture of songs, and contains, like the title suggests, stereo outtakes, or alternate takes, from Elvis' movies spanning from his second movie Loving You (1957) up to The Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) (1968). I thought I would take the opportunity of reviewing this CD, as I personally love alternate takes and recording sessions stuff. I actually prefer this sort of thing to live concerts.
The CD starts with 'Loving You' (fast version - Take 14). We've actually had all twenty-one takes of this version and all twelve takes of the slow version for years on the bootleg Loving You Recording Sessions, but not in this great quality. Out of the twenty-one takes it took Elvis to get the song the way he wanted it, there are fifteen complete takes. Of these complete takes, 1, 8 and 21, along with false start take 20, were released officially on Essential Elvis and Take 13 (with faded ending) was released on the ‘50s Masters box-set The King Of Rock 'n' Roll. Now we have this new Take 14 in beautiful binaural stereo, and it's been well worth the wait. Now that BMG have re-discovered (or re-purchased) these "lost" session tapes, maybe we'll get more alternate takes from this session. By the way, of the slow version of this song, there are six complete takes, and only three of these takes have been released officially. Now we might get them again in this great binaural stereo quality.
'Jailhouse Rock' (Take 5) was also first released on Essential Elvis but again, this time it is in binaural stereo. How different this song sounds, now it is released this way with unedited intro and ending. Superb!!! It's like hearing this song again for the first time.
Next is 'Don't Leave Me Now' (hit record version - Takes 16, 17 and 18). After two false starts, we get complete Take 18, and again in binaural stereo. With these ‘50s tracks now released in binaural stereo, I wonder if BMG now have all of these "lost" session tapes back in their hands. I hope so as it would be great to hear binaural versions of 'Treat Me Nice', 'I Want To Be Free' and '(You’re So Square) Baby I Don't Care', which were recorded at the same session as 'Don't Leave Me Now'. I don't know how Ernst Jorgensen can say that the sound quality on these ‘50s binaural tracks is bad - these sound fantastic.
The next four songs we've had before on the five disc bootleg set Café Europa Sessions. They too were in stereo, but not in this sound quality. First we get takes 1 and 2 of 'Tonight Is So Right For Love', with Elvis getting told off for "snapping" his fingers during the intro. Then we get Take 13 of 'Frankfort Special' (fast version). This was actually first released on Elvis - A Legendary Performer Volume 3, but it was wrongly stated as being Take 2. Here we get this take complete with studio chat and unfaded ending. The mix here really brings the bass and guitar into focus, much better in my opinion. 'Doin' The Best I Can' (Take 3) is next, and Elvis sings this slightly slower than the master (Take 13). Also the backing music and vocals here are actually quite different. As this was the first complete take of this song, you can see that it needed working on to get it right. This is still a nice take nevertheless. By the way, Take 9 which was released officially on the 1997 upgraded CD version of G.I. Blues. ‘Shoppin' Around’ (first version - Take 1) is next, and Elvis is just getting the feel of this song. Nevertheless, this is a great first attempt, but it did need working on to get it to the originally unused master (Take 11) stage. Takes 3 (false start) and 5 were released on the Elvis Aron Presley box-set some years back, but this take just seems much better in sound quality.
It's great to get another unreleased take of 'Summer Kisses, Winter Tears'. Here we get takes 8 (false start) and 9. Take 14 was released on Collectors Gold in 1990. The drums on this take are a little overpowering, and Elvis' voice doesn't seem as sincere as the master (Take 20). I actually prefer the master to this take, as it doesn't have those annoying drums up front.
'In My Way' (Take 1) we've had before, on the bootlegs Behind Closed Doors, and Wild In The Country Sessions, but not in stereo as we have here. Take 2 was released in stereo on the bootleg Elvis Meets Presley, but again, not in quality like this. Also the left and right channels were crossed on that CD.
'Hawaiian Wedding Song' (Take 1) is great to hear in stereo, too. As there are only two takes of this song (Take 2 is the master) this is a welcome addition to this CD. 'Island Of Love' (takes 7 and 8) were also first released on Behind Closed Doors, but here we get these takes for the first time in stereo, and it's great to listen to. Elvis seems much more laid back singing this take than the master (Take 13), and much more relaxed.
Take 2 of 'Angel' is next. This is a beautiful song, which I've always liked, so it didn't matter which take they put on this CD, I love them all. All takes of this song have been released before in stereo, on bootlegs, and in sound quality nearly matching this.
'I Got Lucky' (M5 Take 1) is sung slower than the master (MX5 Take 2) and also Elvis doesn't sing the third verse here making it a lot shorter. Elvis nearly stumbles on the line "I'm afraid the love I've found, just might get lost", and you can hear Elvis almost laugh on the next line "So won't you tell me that you love me", but he continues and finishes the take. This is also released here for the first time in stereo. 'Home Is Where The Heart Is' (takes 13 and 14), with Elvis stumbling on the first line of the song, is also released here for the first time in stereo. This take is sung a little slower than the master (Take 21) but in my opinion, it is just as good, if not better than the master. This is another beautiful song that is welcomed on this CD. 'Riding The Rainbow' (Take 1) is next, and Elvis sings the line "I'm living to love, I'm loving to live" the wrong way round, and realises straight away, but he finishes the take nevertheless. The backing vocals seem to need polishing up a bit to get this song to the master stage, but again this is another outtake released here for the first time in stereo.
'The Bullfighter Was A Lady' (alternate master) is actually the movie version of the song (Take 17) which was recorded the day after the record version master (spliced from takes 9 and 7) was recorded, and has a completely different arrangement and tempo to the released version. I have noticed that all other soundtrack vocals, (except for 'I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here') are identical to the record versions from Fun In Acapulco, but this is completely different. I really like this version and it's released here for the first time. Also, for the first time here, we get the alternate master of 'I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here', and again, it’s the movie version of the song (spliced from takes 18 and 19), and it's very different to the released record version.
Finally we get some new outtakes from Viva Las Vegas, and we come to a real gem. Take 1 of 'Viva Las Vegas' is fantastic. When you listen to the intro, you wouldn't believe it is the same song we all know. With the simplest of backings, just piano, guitar etc, and sung at a much slower pace, it really sounds like a completely different song. I really wish Elvis had finished this take, but he was having trouble with the lyrics singing at this slow pace. Take 2 uses the same arrangement and tempo as the master. This is what I love about alternate takes, how a song can sound completely different from one take to the next and sound like a completely different song. Take 9 of 'The Lady Loves Me' is next, and is quite similar to the master (Take 10). This take was also released recently on the new Ann-Margret CD, so this now means we don't have to buy the Ann-Margret CD to get this version. Another good addition to this CD is 'You're The Boss' (Take 3), also released on the new Ann-Margret CD. This actually sounds quite different to the released versions, as it's sung more laid back. What's amazing about 'You're The Boss' is that for many years RCA denied that this song was even recorded. So to get an alternate take of this song is fantastic. I actually wrote to RCA in 1987 regarding this song (and many more), and got a reply from Roger Semon, who said that the master tape had recently been located and would be released on a Viva Las Vegas soundtrack album in the near future. It still took them until 1990 to release the song (on Collectors Gold). Until that time it was only released (in very bad sound quality) on the bootleg Elvis Rocks And The Girls Roll.
'Today Tomorrow And Forever' (2013 Takes 3 and 4) is next, and what we actually get is the alternate master (Take 4) and a false start. This mix brings the maracas and guitar more to the front, which makes it sound a little different. To be honest, I was expecting to find the duet version of this song on this CD when I heard that these session tapes had been re-discovered. I mean, on this CD they have put out alternate takes of 'The Lady Loves Me' (2010), 'You're The Boss' (2011) and now 'Today, Tomorrow And Forever' (2013), so what's happened to the duet version (2012)? Only time will tell I guess. 'C'mon Everybody' (takes 1, 2 and 3) sound a little different to the master (Take 5), as it is sung a little slower, and much more laid back. Elvis has to have the drums in the "whistle a little a little tune like this" part of the song, before he can get it right. It also has a great bluesy ending to the take. A thrill to hear!
'Kissin' Cousins' (hillbilly overdub) is quite funny to listen to on its own. This is the vocal that was overdubbed to 'Kissin' Cousins' to make it sound like a duet with two Elvis'.
'There's So Much World To See' (alternate master) was the first unused version of the song recorded. It had been speculated that this alternate master only existed on acetate, and that the actual session tapes weren't handed over to RCA from MGM. It's great that these tapes have now been found (or handed over), and we might now get the original master of 'Could I Fall In Love' (without overdubs), which was recorded at the same session.
‘Clambake’ (Take 3b, but listed as Take 11) plus reprise (Take 1) is great to listen to, as I really do love it when Elvis "cracks up" in the studio, like he does at the end of this take, and starts to sing a different song. In this mix, Elvis' voice is brought much more to the front, and he seems much more relaxed singing this song. Finally BMG realise Elvis was only human, (and we fans have heard Elvis swear before) and release the bits we weren't supposed to hear. At the end of the take Elvis says "Oh shit!" Twice!.
Last up on this CD is 'Almost' (Take 11), and it doesn't sound much different from the master (Take 31), but it is still a nice addition to this CD.
So there you have it, Silver Screen Stereo is a great addition to anyone's collection. If you like alternate takes or not, I think you'll like this CD. The highlights for me have to be the stereo version of 'Jailhouse Rock' (which is like hearing this song for the first time), also Take 1 of 'Viva Las Vegas' (when you listen to the intro, you wouldn't believe it could be the same song), and not forgetting the great bluesy ending to 'C'mon Everybody'. This CD is a must have!
