The end of Follow That Dream label on the horizen?

[vivaelvis]

While the new Boston 71 show is a strong release, although already out on the bootleg market, it's evident that the label has ran its course as far as good quality of unreleased material is concerned. As good as the Boston show is, it's also a sign that there's no soundboards from 1971 in RCA's vaults as we had all hoped for.:'( There's also most likely none from July 73 as well. Unfortunately all I see FTD releasing from here on out is what's already been bootleged in the past. I see no new exciting unheard shows in the forseeable future. Therefor, I see the end of the label not far behind. It's also been heavily documented by Ernst in the past that RCA had over 200 soundboards of live shows in their vaults. That was obviously a lie because out of those 200 or so, something unique and intriguing would have appeared for them to have put out instead of the Lake Tahoe show and the Closing Night 73 discs. Those should have been spared. Elvis wasn't in good spirits those nights and RCA should have done a better job searching for rarities and choosing material for their releases. What they should have done to start with was a best of disc of the 73 live stuff like Southern Nights and Spring Tours. I don't think Ernst understands what the die hard fans really want anymore. It seems to be all about him and his wants moreso than those who pay his income. It's OK to release full length concerts, but eventually even the truest fans get tired of the same ol setlists and want it mixed up.

Here's an idea, what about a fantasy concert using the previously unreleased material from different tours of each year available. For instance, a fantasy show for 72, 74, 75, 76, and 77. At least it would be something new and creative and might actually push units enough to keep the fans who buy those expensive discs still interested. Come up with something or otherwise they can begin to count their final days with the label.

[rickb]

Sadly our main man isn't recording anything new.
Still there are treasures olike a Promised Land upgrade still to come.
The bootleggers seem to be cornering the market with the Jungle
Room Sessions.
I hope FTD lasts for a long time

[dennyelvis]

I agree theres plenty of life left in FTD, maybe them releasing more older boots isnt such a bad thing. At least then the newer fans who cant buy these old boots anymore can enjoy many great shows and outtakes, also i believe the future could be in upgrades too, new sound and even backing maybe, as long as the "originals" are improved too, after all who doesnt really want the new SONY set ? ... know i do .........

[Tigerman1975]

I think that they are going to have to be a little more selective about what they put out from now on. Someone, somewhere out there is sitting on some vintage Elvis stuff and they are just waiting for the right dollar amount I'm sure.

[Sonny]

And aren't we all waiting for a cool mix and new edit (without that fake applause at certain points) of Elvis In Concert, and/or the two complete shows: Rapid City and Omaha?

The FTD label is the label that should do this. The FTD label is a fan label, 90% of us fans will buy such a set.

And where is Hawaii Benefit 1961 in improved sound quality? Also a cool release for the FTD label.

I think most of us can come up with examples like I just mentioned.

[monk37]

I don't think it's so hard to give fans what they want

which is everything.

I'm sure there's more home recordings than have been released - I recall a photo of Elvis at the piano with Priscilla holding baby Lisa and a big honking microphone on the piano- he must have crooned some baby songs to her.

[KPM]

While the new Boston 71 show is a strong release, although already out on the bootleg market, it's evident that the label has ran its course as far as good quality of unreleased material is concerned. As good as the Boston show is, it's also a sign that there's no soundboards from 1971 in RCA's vaults as we had all hoped for.:'( There's also most likely none from July 73 as well. Unfortunately all I see FTD releasing from here on out is what's already been bootleged in the past. I see no new exciting unheard shows in the forseeable future. Therefor, I see the end of the label not far behind. It's also been heavily documented by Ernst in the past that RCA had over 200 soundboards of live shows in their vaults. That was obviously a lie because out of those 200 or so, something unique and intriguing would have appeared for them to have put out instead of the Lake Tahoe show and the Closing Night 73 discs. Those should have been spared. Elvis wasn't in good spirits those nights and RCA should have done a better job searching for rarities and choosing material for their releases. What they should have done to start with was a best of disc of the 73 live stuff like Southern Nights and Spring Tours. I don't think Ernst understands what the die hard fans really want anymore. It seems to be all about him and his wants moreso than those who pay his income. It's OK to release full length concerts, but eventually even the truest fans get tired of the same ol setlists and want it mixed up.Here's an idea, what about a fantasy concert using the previously unreleased material from different tours of each year available. For instance, a fantasy show for 72, 74, 75, 76, and 77. At least it would be something new and creative and might actually push units enough to keep the fans who buy those expensive discs still interested. Come up with something or otherwise they can begin to count their final days with the label.
I do not think we can blame Ernst or even Sony for the set lists, Elvis just rarely made huge changes in his sets, even the few deviations from his regular sets are usually audience requests that Elvis gives a quick stab at. From my listening to concerts from the early 70s.... even then he just did not deviate much from his normal show-so it may be that they do have many soundboards still in the vaults-but not many with any real set changes.

[Jungleroom76]

While the new Boston 71 show is a strong release, although already out on the bootleg market, it's evident that the label has ran its course as far as good quality of unreleased material is concerned. As good as the Boston show is, it's also a sign that there's no soundboards from 1971 in RCA's vaults as we had all hoped for.:'( There's also most likely none from July 73 as well. Unfortunately all I see FTD releasing from here on out is what's already been bootleged in the past. I see no new exciting unheard shows in the forseeable future. Therefor, I see the end of the label not far behind. It's also been heavily documented by Ernst in the past that RCA had over 200 soundboards of live shows in their vaults. That was obviously a lie because out of those 200 or so, something unique and intriguing would have appeared for them to have put out instead of the Lake Tahoe show and the Closing Night 73 discs. Those should have been spared. Elvis wasn't in good spirits those nights and RCA should have done a better job searching for rarities and choosing material for their releases. What they should have done to start with was a best of disc of the 73 live stuff like Southern Nights and Spring Tours. I don't think Ernst understands what the die hard fans really want anymore. It seems to be all about him and his wants moreso than those who pay his income. It's OK to release full length concerts, but eventually even the truest fans get tired of the same ol setlists and want it mixed up.

Here's an idea, what about a fantasy concert using the previously unreleased material from different tours of each year available. For instance, a fantasy show for 72, 74, 75, 76, and 77. At least it would be something new and creative and might actually push units enough to keep the fans who buy those expensive discs still interested. Come up with something or otherwise they can begin to count their final days with the label.

I am sure it's true that RCA has that many (or more) soundboard tapes in the vaults of Elvis' live shows. But how many of those tapes are damaged so that trying to fix the audio quality of them enough to warrant a release are there? After all, those tapes at least 30 years old and many of them don't appear to have been recorded on anything more than a common standard cassette tape, so I am sure that many of them are not still in pristine (or anything close to that) condition.

Secondly, as already commented on, Elvis seldom changed his set-list up substantially enough to warrant a release of many shows. First and foremost, I am an Elvis fan and would love to hear as much unreleased stuff as I possibly can. But how many times can concerts be released with the same song lineup before the fans lose interest? There has to be something new, or at least different, on the concert CD's to make them more appealing to the fans so that they don't feel like they are paying $35 for a show with the same song lineup as the other releases they already own.

As fans we want to hear something new and exciting from Elvis. But we also have to face reality...Elvis hasn't recorded anything new in over 33 years, and thus there are limits to what is available to be released. Eventually, the end will come...hopefully later rather than sooner... :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[KPM]

Here is one list which supposedly gives all the soundboards that are in the RCA/Sony vaults:
1969
International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
7/31/69-8/28/69 Exact Dates Unknown Reel to Reel #1
7/31/69-8/28/69 Exact Dates Unknown Reel to Reel *2
8/23/69 .Show 1 Reel to Reel *3
8/24/69. Show 1 Reel to Reel *4
1970
01/26/70 Reel to Reel show 1
01/26/70 Reel to Reel show 2
02/01/70 Reel to Reel show 2
02/23/70 Reel to Reel show 1
02/23/70 Reel to Reel show 2

1971
01/26/71 Reel to Reel show 1
01/26/71 Reel to Reel show 2
01/27/71 Reel to Reel show 1
01/27/71 Reel to Reel show 2
01/28/71 Reel to Reel show 1
01/28/71 Reel to Reel show 2

1972
Las Vegas Hilton
01/26/72 Reel to Reel Show 1
08/11/72 Reel to Reel Show 2
09/04/72 Reel to Reel Show 2

1973
01/27/73 Show 1
02/02/73 Reel to Reel Show 1
02/02/73 Show 2
02/05/73 Show 1
02/17/73 Show 1
02118/73 Show 2
02/21/73 Show 1
02/22/73 Show 2
02/23/73 Show 2
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
02/??/73 Reel to Reel
5/12.13/73 Lake Tahoe {Marked Damaged Tape)
08/11/73 Show 2
08/19/73 Show 1
08/20/73 Show 1
08/20/73 Show 2
08/30/73 Show 2
09/02/73 Show 1
09/02/73 Show 2
09/03/73 Show 2

1974
01/27/74 Show 1
01/28/74 Show 1
01/28/74 Show 2
01/29/74 Show 1 & Show 2
01/30/74 Show 1 & Show 2
01/31/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/01/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/02/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/03/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/04/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/05/74 showl & Show 2
02/06/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/07/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/08/74 Show 1 & Show 2
02/09/74 Show 1 & Show 2
03/08/74 Monroe, LA Show I
03/09/74 Charlotte, NC
03/15/74 Knoxville, TN
03/16/74 Memphis, TN Show 1
03/16/74 Memphis, TN Show 2
03/17/74 Memphis. TN Show 1
03/18/74 Richmond, VA
03/19/74 Murfreesboro, TN
03/20/74 Memphis, TN
05/10/74 San Bemadino, CA
05/11/74 Los Angeles, CA
05/12/74 Fresno, CA
05/13/74 San Bemadino, CA
05/16/74 Lake Tahoe Opening Night Show 1
05/17/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 &. Show 2
05/18/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 &. Show 2
05/19/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 & Show 2
05/20/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 &. Show 2
05/21/74 Lake Tahoe (backup vocals only)
05/21/74 Lake Tahoe Show I &. Show 2
05/24/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 &. Show 2
05/27/74 Lake Tahoe Show 1 &. Show 2.3 A.M.
06/16/74 Ft. Worth. TX Show 2
06/17/74 Baton Rouge, LA
06/19/74Amarillo,TX -
06/20/74 Des Moines, lA
06/21/74 Cleveland. OH
06/23/74 Philadelphia, PA Show 1 & Show 2 ~ Tape Twisted
06/24/74 Niagara Falls, NY Show 1 &. Show 2
06/25/74 Columbus, OH Show 2
06/26/74 Louisville, KY
06/28/74 Milwaukee, WI
06/27/74 Bloomington. IN
06/29/74 Kansas City, MO Show I & Show 2
06/30/74 Omaha, NE Show 1 &. Show 2
08/19/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/20/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/20/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
08/21/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show I
08/22/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/23/74 Las vegas Hilton Show 1
08/24/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/24/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
08/25/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/25/74 Las vegas Hilton Show 2
08/27/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/27/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
08/28/74 Las Vegas Hllton Show 2
08/29/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/29/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
08/30/74 Las Vegas Milton Show 1
08/30/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
08/31/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
08/31/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
09/01/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
09/01/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
09/02/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
09/02/74 Las Vegas Hilton Show 2
09/27/74 College Park. MD
09/28/74 College Park, MD
09/29/74 Detroit, MI
09/30/74 South Bend, IN
10/01/74 South Bend, IN
10/03/74 St Paul, MN
10/04/74 Detroit, MI
10/05/74 Indianapolis. IN
10/06/74 Dayton, OH Show I & Show 2

1975
03/22/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
03/30/75 Rhythm Section only (Elvis off mike)
04/01/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show 1
2 04/24/75 Macon, GA
04/25/75 Jacksonville, FL
04/26/75 Tampa, FL 04/27/75 Lakeland. FL
04/28/75 Lakeland. FL
04/30/75 Atlanfa, GA
05/02/75 Atlanta, GA
05/04/75 Lake Charles. LA Show 1 & Show 2
05/05/75 Jackson, MS
05/06/75 Murfreesboro, TN
05/07/75 Murfreesboro, TN
05/31/75 Huntsville, AL Show 1 & Show 2
06/01/75 Huntsville, AL Show 1 & Show 2
06/02/75 Mobile, AL Show 1 & Show 2
06/03/75 Tuscaloosa, AL
06/04/75 Houston, TX (Incomplete)
06/05/75 Houston, TX
06/06/75 Dallas, TX
00/07/75 Shreveport. LA Show I & Show 2
06/08/75 Jackson, MS Show I & Show 2
06/09/75 Jackson. MS Show I & Show 2
06/10/75 Memphis. TN
07/18/75 Cleveland, OH
12/05/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show (Incomplete)
12/06/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show (incomplete)
12/06/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show (complete)
12/13/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show
12/14/75 Las Vegas Hilton Show

1976
03/17/76 Johnson City, TN
03/20/76 Charlotte, NC
03/21/76 Cincinnati, OH
03/22/76 Sl Louis. MO
04/21/76 Kansas City, MO
04/22/76 Omaha, NE
04/23/76 Denver, CO
04/26/76 Seattle, WA
04/27/76 Spokane, WA
05/30/76 Odessa, TX Show I
05/30/76 Odessa, TX Show 2
06/01/16 TuC$On, AZ
00/02/76 El Paso. TX
00/30/76 Greensboro, NC
07/01/76 Shreveport. LA
07/02/76 Baton Rouge, LA
07/03/76 Fort Worth, TX
07/04/76 Tulsa, OK
07/05/76 Memphis, TN
07/24/76 Charleston. WV Show I
07/24/76 Charleston, WV Show 2
07/26/76 Rochester, NY
07/27/76 Syracuse, NY
07/28/76 Hartford, CT
07/29/76 Springfield, MA
07/30/76 New Haven, CT
07/31/76 Hampton Rds., VA
08/01/76 Hampton Roads. VA
08/02/76 Roanoke, VA
08/03/76 Fayetteville. NC
08/04/76 Fayetteville, NC
08/05/76 Fayetteville, NC
08/27/76 San Antonio. TX
08/28/76 Houston. TX
08/29/76 MobIle. AL
08/30/76 Tuscaloosa. AL
08/31/76 Macon, GA
09/04/76 Lakeland. FL Show I
09/04/76 Lakeland, FL Show 2
09/05/76 Jackson, MS
09/06/76 Huntsville. AL
09/07/76 Pine Bluff, AR Show 1
09/08/76 Pine Bluff. AR Show 2
10/14/76 Chicago, IL
10/15/76 Chicago, IL
10/16/16 Dulutfl. MN
10/17/76 Minneapolis. MN
10/18/76 Sioux Falls, SD
10/19/76 Madison, WI
10/20/76 South Bend, IN
10/21/76 Kalamazoo. MI
10/22/76 Champaign, IL
10/26/76 Dayton, OH
11/25/76 Eugene, OR
11/27/76 Eugene, OR
11/28/76 San Francisco. CA
11/29/76 San Francisco, CA
12/27/76 Wichita, KS
12/28/76 Dallas, TX

1977
02/13/77 West Palm Beach, FL
02/14/77 St. Petersburg. FL
02/15/77 Orlando, FL
02/16/77 Montgomery. AL
02/21/77 Charlotte. NC
03/23/77 Tempe, AZ
03/24/77 Amarillo, TX
03/25/77 Norman, OK
03/26/77 Norman, OK
03/27/77 Abilene, TX
03/28/77 Austin, TX
03/29/77 Alexandria, LA
03/30/77 Alexandria, LA
04/21/77 Greensboro, N.C.
04/22/77 Detroit, MI
04/23/77 Toledo, OH
04/24/77 Ann Arbor, MI
04/25/77 Saginaw, MI
04/26/77 Kalamazoo, MI
04/27/77 Milwaukee, WI
04/28/77 Green Bay, WI
04/29/77 Duluth, MN
04/30/77 St. Paul, MN

[Billy Budd]

What about you took over then, Danny?

[danny]

Of course i don't want to.
But i'm sure that there are suitable young(er) persons to take over his place.
How old he is? 58? Or 60? It's about time to retire him.

[KPM]

I am 55 so I am fairly close in age to the people you speak so harshly about....... Everyone gets older-even someone in their teens and early 20s....and eventually you are in your 50s, and beyond.................but aging does not mean you suddenly lose your talents or intelligence and can not contribute to society.
Elvis himself would be 75 years old and I'm sure he would want some respect for his age.

[Erhan]

And where is Hawaii Benefit 1961 in improved sound quality? Also a cool release for the FTD label.

I think most of us can come up with examples like I just mentioned.

Sonny that's great dream but it's not possible to improve 1961 1 track mono sound too much at this time.

[See See Rider]

Very interesting.

[monk37]

I don't think anyone's age is the issue

but rather, how connected that person is to the pulse of the hard core fans buying FTD.

[danny]

After they dump Ernst,the FTD label will be much better.

[KPM]

I would say that FTD label will be around as long as it sells, thats the way of the world.
So regardless of whos in charge of the label the bottom line to Sony (and all corporations) is does the label make money. FTD makes money.
If Ernst gets tired of his position or Sony decides a change is in order-I would hope whoever takes over would have the same love & respect for the music of Elvis (as Ernst has)
Ernst has always seemed to be a decent person, doing his best-in a business which should be ruled by the art it deals with............but Sony is a corporation "dealing in an art"-unfortunately profit is bottom line and art is secondary.
Sad-unfair-but true.

[boogie]

i sure have the trust in Ernst and think there are more soundboards see the light, patience is the word...don't think we have to wait a long time ..when u see every month or two there are new FTD's availeble... and for now on that's a dream come true...imagine the Elvisworld before FTD

[Albert]

I REALLY enjoy the 7" re-releases. They alone are worth the existance of FTD. And I like the live compilations like Spring Tours. Re-releasing what already has been released and shows in sub-par quality is not my cup of tea.

I also see little future for FTD once all original albums has been re-released. I also believe that BMG/SOny/FTD/Ernst has very little special material left in the vault.