Review by David Tinson
Celebrating Elvis's first motion picture, Follow That Dream present Love Me Tender in the 2xCD 7" extended soundtrack format - and its stunning audio and visual content is highly impressive.
The Love Me Tender 45rpm single release sold over 1 million copies, and Elvis' acting debut in the movie was his first foray into Hollywood in 1956, becoming a starting post for a successful movie career on the silver screen. Deservedly, critical plaudits eluded him with a tired movie formula by the mid-sixties.
However, the 20th Century-Fox movie Love Me Tender, and the string of great celluloid classics that followed showcased a great raw talent. Influenced by movie giants, Marlon Brando, James Dean and Tony Curtis, his performance as Clint Reno in the Civil War themed western is sincere, and more than justifies the studio’s faith and backing in the Tupelo born rock ‘n’ roll sensation.
A promotional poster reads: “The great adventure of the notorious Reno Brothers - and the girl they fought for!”
The extended soundtrack, containing only four original songs, plus bonuses, includes catchy pop songs that complement the movie, and Follow That Dream present the material in the best possible light.
The soundtrack (Disc one) includes: “The Original EP” - “Bonus Tracks” - “Outtakes” - “Stereo Masters” - and a compelling interview in two parts - ‘The Truth About Me’, recorded August 22 1956 - on the set of Love Me Tender - and originally available on the Elvis Answers Back! (78rpm), and Teen Parade (45rpm) magazines (see notes). Elvis mentions his Cadillac which set-fire and burnt out while driving near Texarkana.
The sound here is warm, detailed and full, on the soundtrack’s original EP recordings.
Bonus Tracks: ‘Love Me Tender’ (end title), end of movie version, and 'The Truth About Me' (2.12) are followed by - The Outtakes: ‘Were Gonna Move’ is a first-rate tune. Note: Furthermore, a particular highlight is ‘Poor Boy’ 3rd verse (Take 6) which includes a gorgeous a-cappella vocal performance. Disc one finishes with the stereo masters, and 'The Truth About Me' complete interview which caps a superb listening experience.
The Live Shows - (Disc two - afternoon and evening shows at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show-Fairgrounds, Tupelo September 26 1956) - are scintillatingly full of vim and vigour - a captivating snapshot of the era and a time-capsule to Elvis Presley mania - blowing like an unstoppable whirlwind through 1950s’ conservative America.
Highlights: The whole shebang! I really can't enthuse enough about these historic shows. Scotty Moore is on fire throughout and you can feel the electricity in the air from the first announcement: “Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and everybody else. The great moment you've all waited for - the one and only - ELVIS PRESLEY”.
Elvis sings: “Well, well, well, well -- well, since my baby left me” - on a fantastic ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. Then he teases the audience before launching full-throttle into the Little Richard classic ‘Long Tall Sally’ and you can imagine the pelvic gyrations and dynamic presence of the man known as The Atomic Powered Singer! The shows were performed just a few weeks after the Love Me Tender soundtrack recording sessions, and include the title track single.
The only downside for possible audiophiles is the glorious delight and enthusiasm of the excited crowds of screaming girls hungry for their hero, which tends to slightly overpower the music. That said, a new remaster of the live shows is not evident here, and besides, it's questionable whether anything new could be brought to the table (the historical live recordings were originally released on, the A Golden Celebration box set in 1984).
However, the live recordings do sound fabulous considering their obvious vintage status, and perfectly capture the band’s hot dynamics in 1956, and the crowds wild hysteria (screaming fans notwithstanding).
The first two to three songs are missing from the evening show because they are not in RCA’s possession and, in all probability, were not recorded. However, there are additional interviews mid-disc with Vernon and Gladys, actor, Nick Adams, dizzy fan, Judy Hopper, and polite as ever, wearing his heart on his sleeve, Elvis.
More standouts: Scotty Moore's delicious rhythm and blues soaked chunky riff on a sparkling ‘Don't Be Cruel’; an extended ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ with mini drum solo; a full-on rockin' ‘Baby Let's Play House’, with cutting guitar solos, and the, “a famous philosopher once said” intro on a brilliant extended version of ‘Hound Dog’, that without doubt would've guaranteed original singer Big Mama Thornton was bopping with endless delight.
More: Booklet elements add stacks of information and photos - RCA Victor Love Me Tender 45rpm sleeves, posters; original movie lobby cards; movie synopsis; Love Me Tender RCA single label from Argentina; promo label of the original EP; plus great behind the scenes photos from the movie set including Elvis fooling around pointing his pistol at Colonel Parker, a familiar photo but great to view in context.
Insightful interview segments, in addition to the first discs interviews, form a big part of the Love Me Tender FTD listening experience, and add the cherry on the cake.
The amount of information over the two discs and booklet is breathtaking and immersing myself in the soundtrack album has been a revelation in terms of the aforementioned high quality visual and audio elements. The upshot is with its eye-catching design, the material has been presented with tremendous care and thought. Case in point: the gorgeous original HMV Love Me Tender EP cover graces the front of the attractive booklet.
All things considered, Love Me Tender’s combined elements add weight and interest to a fascinating release.
If you enjoyed the superb mainstream release box-set Young Man With The Big Beat, and Follow That Dream's excellent book A Boy From Tupelo, you will indeed find lots to enjoy here.
