Review by Piers Beagley - Elvis Information Network
This was the thirteenth FTD extended movie soundtrack, with the twelve tracks of the original 1957 LP and another nineteen “Bonus Masters” on the first disc and, for the first time in this FTD series, a second “Bonus CD” containing an additional forty- eight versions of the song ‘Loving You’!
Many Elvis fans would have previously purchased this soundtrack on the original vinyl, the RCA CD, Essential Elvis Volume 1, and even the very recent 2005 BMG re-issue. There is no doubt that FTD are presenting the "ultimate collection" here, but is it really worth buying again? Here we continue an in-depth look at the soundtrack series.
Loving You - (CD1 - 31 tracks, 69 minutes / CD2 - 48 tracks, 67 minutes).
Elvis' second movie for Paramount needs little introduction as the film basically parallelled his own rags-to-riches story. A far more suitable vehicle than his first film, Love Me Tender, it gave Elvis a chance to show off his personality and dynamite magnetism. Even better, it was in glorious colour! When Elvis started filming he was already a rock ’n’ roll sensation even though he had only had five major hit singles in his career.
There was suitable exciting tension between Elvis and various co-stars, Elvis got his first on-screen kiss (with Jana Lund) and dated co-star Yvonne Lime for a while. The real "Blue Moon Boys" got to play his backing band, Elvis parents appeared in the film, and Elvis got to rock out with ‘Mean Woman Blues’. January 14 1957 was a momentous occasion when Elvis had his hair dyed black for the role before filming.
On the very first day of filming the wily Colonel somehow convinced producer Hal Wallis to pay Elvis a $50,000 bonus, which was three times more than Elvis’ $15,000 signed contract to do the film! He need not have worried as Loving You reached #7 top grossing film and was subsequently re-released in 1959 while Elvis was in the army.
Elvis even named his pet cat “Wendell” after co-star Wendell Corey who played Tex.
The FTD sleeve and booklet contains the usual mix of excellent photos and memorabilia. There are some great Japanese sleeves as well as some beautiful photos. Some of the pictures of Elvis in this period are just sensational, capturing the boy becoming the star. There is a real innocence, enthusiasm, youthfulness and intensity in Elvis’ eyes that will soon disappear. To fully appreciate this ride I can thoroughly recommend the Ger Rijff/Chris Giles book Inside Loving You.
The FTD booklet's “Off Camera” timeline and session Information is very detailed and informative. Of interest is the fact that there were two more Lieber/Stoller songs originally selected for the film, ‘Without You’ and ‘Live It Up’. These were dropped when Hal Wallis heard Elvis record ‘Mean Woman Blues’ and ‘Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do!’ for potential singles at the previous weekend’s recording session.
Original releases
'Teddy Bear‘/’Loving You’ single released in June 1957 makes #1 in the US charts.
Loving You EP 1 makes US #1
Loving You EP 2 makes US #4
Just For You EP with four more tracks from the LP makes #2
Loving You the LP makes #1
In England there was a conflict between the final HMV releases and RCA’s which started with the ‘(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear’ single. (HMV released ‘Paralysed’/‘When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again’ in competition).
The Just For You EP was only released in the US but instead there was an extra UK single - ‘Party’/‘Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do!’ which was issued in October 1957, making #2 in the charts. As a side note ‘Mean Woman Blues’ made it as a 45rpm single, along with ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’ in Japan.
The first CD features the original LP and “New Bonus Masters”. The real positive is that the audio restoration has been done by Kevan Budd (Elvis At Sun) which guarantees a perfect sounding disc. The audio quality is the same as the excellent work he did on the 2005 BMG re-issue, but with a couple of differences. On the BMG release there was no “pre-take” banter and there is a real delight here in having Elvis’ cool countdown of "1,2,3,4" leading in to ‘All Shook Up’.
The earlier BMG releases (like the ‘50s box-set) had an odd added echo over the whole track that tended to take the edge of the recordings. Here songs like ‘(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear’, ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’, ‘Is It So Strange’, ‘When It Rains, It Really Pours’ etc really sound crisp and clear as from the master studio tape.
There is however a definite audio difference between these versions and the ones on the mega-selling Elvis 30 #1 Hits. These have a warmer, flatter natural sound, whereas the Elvis 30 #1 Hits brought up Elvis' vocal and the higher frequencies for a more modern “punchier” effect.
For fans who are concerned about paying BMG yet more money for the same product, it’s worth noting the major difference which is that Disc 1 runs 69 minutes (and you also get the “bonus disc” of the ‘Loving You’ session!), whereas the 2005 mainstream BMG release ran only forty-one minutes. This is also the first FTD extended soundtrack release that features the "Special Edition" by-line.
As Ernst Jørgensen noted, it was only recently that he managed to track down an original tape of the 1957 Paramount song edits. Not only did this provide a better tape-generation source, but also gives us a fabulous new version of ‘Mean Woman Blues’ and an exquisite new ‘Loving You’.
Let's face it, Elvis' third LP from 'Mean Woman Blues', through 'Blueberry Hill' to 'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You' and 'I Need You So' was a great release, especially considering that it was Elvis' first soundtrack album.
Looking closer at the outtakes... Disc 1
‘Loving You’ (J Take 16) - A new outtake from the Paramount tape and this is a real find. One of the sweetest versions of ‘Loving You’ you will ever hear. There’s a lovely smoky atmosphere to this one. Imagine only Scotty, Bill Black and Elvis in a small jazz bar just singing it to you. A lovely sparse arrangement (with no harmonica) Elvis slides across the vocal with a lazy late-night coolness. It’s magnificent.
‘Loving You’ (K Take 3) - Elvis was distinctly unhappy with the atmosphere at the Paramount Sound Stage recordings, compared to the intimacy and sound of his usual recording studios. This Paramount session is notable however for being the first time guitarist Tiny Timbrell and pianist Dudley Brooks joined Elvis’ band. This track nicely reflects Elvis’ frustration at the session and begins with him saying, "I’ll get out here man, I just gotta get through this shit. OK, let’s take it." This is actually another fun version, featuring DJ Fontana and Dudley Brooks, with Elvis throwing in some distinct mannerisms on "don’t be blue", as well as a cute stutter @1.56 with "There is only (one).. One for me".
‘Loving You’ (HX Take 14) - Another new Paramount Sound Stage recording with Elvis trying the harmonica “farm version”. Nicely understated, this is reminiscent of the later ‘'farm'’ versions.
Elvis’ vocal (and the mix) sounds less dynamic that the Radio Recorders’ versions which, I guess, is a factor of being on a Sound Stage.
‘Mean Woman Blues’ (BX Take 7) - A wonderful discovery of the complete Sound Stage version. While the beginning and end will sound familiar, since they were spliced into the movie version, this is in great quality. At a faster tempo and sounding a little ragged at points (check out the messy guitar work!) this has a sound of a first take. A great find indeed.
‘Blueberry Hill’ (studio tryout) (acetate) - This is a revelation due to the fantastic work by Kevan Budd! Previously featured on the Platinum - A Life In Music box-set where it ran too slow and off key, you cannot believe that it is the same track. With the acetate noise masterfully cleaned-up and playing at the correct speed I would call this version “Previously unreleased”. It is that different, and that impressive.
‘Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do!' (D Take 17) (acetate) - Yet another surprise as, once again, it is hard to believe this is the same crackly, noisy version that was issued on the Today, Tomorrow And Forever box-set. This is great restoration work and you could easily believe that this was from a studio tape.
Disc 2 - February 14 ‘Loving You’ sessions.
If the thirty one takes of ‘Hound Dog’ were discovered everyone would over-praise the complete session being featured on one CD. So why is there so much negativity about this ‘Loving You’ session? Possibly, I believe, because we have been spoilt with so many alternates already having been released. So maybe it wasn’t Elvis’ most creative release, but at least they tried out several dramatically different tempos and arrangements.
This Loving You CD features twelve "Farm" HZ versions, plus twenty-one "Main" KX versions, along with another fifteen binaural KX versions. While most of the important takes have been previously issued, the sound has been greatly improved since the ‘50s box-set or Essential Elvis Volume 1 and it is an interesting journey hearing the song develop over the day’s work.
It is also great to hear some new unissued outtakes (a couple that have become firm favourites of mine) and once you have selected your preferred takes then program them on your CD player. It’s not as if we have a continuous LP record here (as some people imply) that stops you being inventive in your listening!
Here are some new selected highlights.
‘Loving You’ (HZ Take 4) - Sparse version with just guitar and harmonica ends half way through with Elvis fluffing a line and adding, "Oh, shit!"
‘Loving You’ (HZ Take 5) - Elvis discusses the tempo being a little rushed. . . “just a little bit”. A very delicate version. There’s a cute hesitation with Elvis singing, “and you, uh, you know who”. The tempo here has been slowed down with Elvis carefully pronouncing the words at the start. Take 6 is similar and near perfect. At the start Elvis comments, "The feeling's good. Felt better to me". (Note - Although Take 6 was listed as being on Today, Tomorrow And Forever this was in fact the slower take HZ-03)
‘Loving You’ (HZ Take 8) - Elvis begins to rush the first line at this point. After the false start of Take 7, Elvis is getting naughty and sings, "You know that I’ll always be blowing you" with a delightful laugh.
‘Loving You’ (HZ Take 9) - In an appealing way Elvis stops singing before getting to the end of the song, leaving the band playing alone. Nice.
‘Loving You’ (HZ Take 11) - Ernst selected Take 10 for Essential Elvis Volume 1 and Take 12 for the ‘50s box-set and they are great versions with improved audio here. But new Take 11 is a fabulous new addition with basically just lots of studio banter leading into Take 12. Elvis says, "Might as well as we can’t dance" and harmonises with George Fields on harmonica. There’s a fabulous definitive, "OK men, let’s take it from the top" and Elvis being naughty singing, "I will spend my whole life through eating you". A great addition - showing the group interacting.
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 1, 2 and 3) - The excellent slower-tempo Take 1 was first released on Essential Elvis Volume 1. Take 2 is a short false start with Elvis saying, "Just pick up the tempo just a little bit men". Take 3 is a new favourite. Elvis adds a nice "Ha, loving you" into the first verse and a very “Bing Crosby” take on "Boh, Boh, Boh, Boh, Always true, true to you" @ 1:09. With some fabulous jazzy piano work from Dudley Brooks and Scotty Moore trading some great guitar licks this has to rate as an all-time favourite. Elvis adds a nice, "No, No, No" at the end.
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 6 and 7) - The band increases tempo and Scotty begins a more prominent rhythm guitar. Take 6 was released on Flashback and new Take 7 here is similar.
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 8, 9 and 10) - With a different arrangement, D.J. Fontana now adds a driving beat. Take 9 is a false start but Take 10 is another interesting addition. Dudley Brooks adds some nice piano thrills to his arrangement. Elvis adds at the end, "That didn’t feel like anything Thorne" to studio engineer Thorne Nogar. However, the piano actually makes it a great take.
‘Loving You’ (KX Take 11) - There’s not much progress with the next take, but Elvis adds the all-important comment at the beginning of the take, "Funny but we’ve never had this much trouble with a song before. I can’t figure this shit out. You know what I mean?"
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 12 to 15) - These “uptempo” versions have all been previously released. Take 13 was on the ‘50s box-set but here we not only get the speed corrected (it ran too slow on the box-set) but we also get a nice walking-bass line practice from Bill Black before they start. The guitar and piano play off each other and it’s a great version. Even better in binaural which we have never had before. A favourite.
‘Loving You’ (KX Take 16) - Elvis now adds a cool back-slap on his guitar to the mix. Elvis laughs beforehand and the vibe seems to continue through the track. There’s a really rough feel to this version; Scotty’s guitar goes astray, and Elvis adds a "What, oh, What I do" to the lyric. The ending is sloppy - and I love it! Another great new addition.
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 17 to 19) - Elvis stops Take 17, saying to D.J, "You’re dragging D.J, Don’t pick up tempo, you were just behind us." Still playing the back of his guitar, there’s a slight laugh in his voice. By now Elvis’ vocal seems to be over-compensating a bit.
‘Loving You’ (KX Takes 20 and 21). Previously out on Essential Elvis Volume 1. This is where Elvis starts joking saying, "Huh? No, - OK, No, No, I really can’t dance" and then bursts out laughing. It flows perfectly into the main version final master. These make a great pair together.
After this there is the bonus of KX Takes 1 to 15 in binaural stereo. Note that some of the studio banter is not on the binaural versions.
So stop complaining about Disc 2; get inventive and program yourself something creative! As a suggestion try selecting the following tracks 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 34, 14, 15, 43, 23, 46, 28, 32 and 33, to create twenty-two minutes of fun. And when you see Elvis tell him I chose them!
Verdict: Reviewing this as a Collector’s Edition, how can anyone complain about a double CD for the same price as all the other FTD soundtracks - including Double Trouble at just fifty-four minutes? The first CD is an essential sixty-nine minutes with stunning sound improvement, packed with great takes and five new "alternates" that are essential for your collection.
The booklet is one of FTD's best and I consider Disc 2 as worthy bonus that you can program to your own taste.
OK, so the real disappointment is that you might have bought the BMG 2005 Loving You CD, but this is also the first FTD extended soundtrack release that features the "Special Edition" logo - and I can only agree. If you didn’t buy the BMG 2005 version, then this is made for you and it’s great value for money.
