Follow That Bootleg!

[NEA]

Hi

I've been looking at a number of Threads relating to Bootleg CD's such as 'Here I Go Again', 'Desert Storm', 'Burning in Birmingham', 'Event No.8', etc. etc.

What are the chances that these soundboard/audience recordings will eventually end up being released on the Follow That Dream or BMG labels officially?

After all, we eventually got the wonderful New Years Eve 76 show released officially and that was kicking about on various bootleg labels for goodness knows how many years!

Is it true that the other material already available on the Follow That Dream label CD's such as 'Studio B', 'So High', 'The Impossible Dream', 'Takin' Tahoe Tonight', etc. were already available on Bootleg albums/CD's over the years?

I'm very interested in hearing from you all about this subject. Many thanks.

[buttonhead]

interesting post NEA,...maybe we need ' petition ', i dont know something like when the fans would like to have elvis face put on the stamps..something like that,..but hey 'its the matter of time..' maybe next couple of years BMG would eventually released those bootleg,..i pray i would still alive by then.. :D ;)

[NEA]

Yes, Buttonhead, I see what you mean. So, it's just a matter of time before such bootlegs become available officially then?

I'm curious as to why a petition spearheading such a project hasn't been started many years ago?!

[buttonhead]

I'm curious as to why a petition spearheading such a project hasn't been started many years ago?!

i dunno why..either NEA, but thats just my thought, ..it would be great if elvis fan do the same thing like elvis stamps, for the released of bootlegs by BMG,..i have DESERT STORM and Burning in Birmingham CDR, and both are awesome ..too bad its only some or may be few of elvis fans who got the CD since it was 'bootleg' , its always about 'legal' wise with BMG until ALL elvis fans could have bought it at their local CD stores.. :'(

[spinout-designs]

In the case of 'The Impossible Dream' FTD are to be commended in chosing a previously unreleased show and adding standout tracks from that same season as bonus material.

The midnight show from the same day (28th January 1971) had already been released on the import CD 'Lean Mean And Kickin' Butt'

With 'Takin Tahoe Tonight' the collectors label presented us with a show sourced from the soundboard which had previously only been available on import as an audience recording.

One hopes that, wherever possible, FTD will always opt for an unreleased show (in soundboard quality or better) if it has it as opposed to something previously available in similar quality, although of course they are by no means obligated to do so.

There could be an argument made to say that certain standout shows should be made available even if it is already available in soundboard quality (August 1974 opening night for instance) but I certainly would hope if it comes to something like the short December 1976 tour, they would release either Whichita or Atlanta (if they have it on soundboard) rather than re issuing Birmingham or Dallas, as terrific a show as they both surely are.

In conclusion, 'The Impossible Dream' disc would indicate to me that they perhaps would choose to opt for an unreleased show wherever possible at this time.

[spinout-designs]

Further examples would also set a similar precedent - for example 'Dinner At Eight' (ftd label) and the import CD 'Just Pretend' both contained different shows from the same day in Las Vegas, 13th December 1975.

On the Live In Las Vegas box set (BMG) disc one contained the dinner show performance from the same day as the midnight show found on the import CD 'Here I Go Again (wrongly labeled as the dinner show at it's time of release)

If you consider that certain shows are already 'out there' so to speak, official releases may represent the last chance for some previously unreleased concerts to finally be heard.

Given the remit of the label was said to be to cover each tour and Vegas/Tahoe season, even if there were duplication of shows already available on import, it would be hard to predict which shows they would be as it would also be dictated by what they had available to them at the time.

If I remember rightly, Dinner At Eight for example was a surprise aquisition on a reel to reel tape that wasn't previously in the labels archives.

[Sonny]

The chances on an official "Desert Storm" release are very little I guess, mainly because of Elvis' mood during this particular concert.

It's a shame really, because some of the versions (Big Boss Man f.i.) are among the better ones.
Even the band introductions are really great, with James Burton "Shaft-like" guitar picking!

Sonny

[NEA]

Hey Spinout-Designs, thank you much for sharing your information on this thread - very thorough indeed....you too, Sonny.

I suppose in retrospect, it is still a worthwhile decision to seek out any import material to purchase, such as some of the titles we have mentioned in this thread.

[spinout-designs]

Just to add to my second post above, it should be noted that for instance on the Close Up box set, BMG did indeed issue the San Antonio 1972 recording, which had previously been available on import as a soundboard recording.

One other point of interest, although on the Live In Las Vegas box set disc 1 was a different show to anything available previously, disc 3 of the same set was material which had all been issued by the BMG label themselves on the On Stage re-issue and the Burning Love 1972 compilation.

Given the issue of alternate 'On Stage' performances on the recent FTD 'Polk Salad Annie' one could be forgiven for wondering if these recordings were available at the time, why they were not issued in place of the original 'On Stage' material on that third disc of the LILV box set.

I guess one reason for that could be the original 'On Stage' contained more serious performances than some found on 'Polk Salad Annie' and afterall, the LILV box set was to be a showcase of performances so that being the case choosing solid performances could well have been the priority.

So whilst there may infact be no hard and fast rules as far as previously released material, given a lot of enthusiasts of the FTD collector label are likely also hardcore import collectors, perhaps what has been available previously on import is more of a consideration on the collectors label than the main catalogue label.

[NEA]

You're right about the no rules situation, Spinout-designs...I suppose somewhere along the line BMG will possibly pull out the stops and consider releasing something that is available on import already e.g. The San Antonio 'On Tour' concert (which has already been done).

I suppose the FTD label is more geared towards the avid import collectors. But, if one label doesn't catch you...the other will!