Elvis:raised On Rock Ftd - Review

[my boy]

The July FTD release 'RAISED ON ROCK" has been on many fans lists for a while now, recorded at STAX studio's in Memphis on July 1973 known as SOULSVILLE U.S.A - and many famous artists recorded there including:
Isaac Hayes,Otis Redding,Wilson Pickett,Albert King,and Booker T & The MGs.
The RAISED ON ROCK CD is a favourite and I just love the title track written by Mark James[Suspicious Minds] Presley sings,"listening to the music my idols made I knew every single record the DJ's played, A honky tonk,a Hound Dog a Johnny B. Goode,Chain Gang,Love is Strange, Knock On Wood," I love the lyrics to this tune and although it's not up to the standard of his grounbreaking 50s material - remember this is Elvis in 73'! Nineteen seventy three was an eventfull year too, with the enormous success of the ALOHA FROM HAWAII T.V. SPECIAL and the divorce from Priscilla, and to cap it all - Elvis was hospitalized on several occasions during the year with breathing problems and an addiction to the drug, demerol.[behind the scenes info in the Raised on Rock ftd booklet]73' was anything but ordinary!

But on to the CD, the cover is fantastic, all bright, shiny and new. The cover is classic 70s Elvis beltng out a song with the superb ORANGE TARGET JUMPSUIT [check out the excellent ELVIS JUMPSUITS:ALL ACCESS book/mag for a closer look]the booklet has more pics of Elvis from 73' wearing the stunning jumpsuit but many of them are blurred,there's single covers[jap import] and info about the recording sessions.Very nice except for the blurred pics!

CD 1 THE ALBUM SIDE A
"Raised On Rock" - I love this great song, Elvis sings,"I was raised on rock, I've got rythm in my soul" - and he sure did.
"Are You Sincere" has a great full sounding vocal by Elvis on this meaningfull ballad [original by Andy Williams]
"Find Out What's Happening"- is a real fav and is a great R&B belter.
"I Miss You"- is another gentle ballad.
"Girl Of Mine"-has a laid back country groove not bad.

SIDE B
"For Ol' Times Sake"-is a album highlight, this is a delicious tender ballad written by the "Swamp Fox" himself, Tony Joe White who visited Elvis at the recording studios and was blown away by his performances during the sessions [in between all the bad language]
"If You Don't Come Back"-a real funky track by Lieber and Stoller.Superb! "Just A Little Bit" Elvis sings,I don't want much, just a little bit.Love it!
"Sweet Angeline"- has got to be one of the most underatted Elvis tunes in the Presley canon- just gorgeous Elvis sings "Sweet Angeline I loved you,much than poets, say in rhyme,just for a short time."Gorgeous!
'Three Corn Patches"-is another Lieber & Stoller tune with a lazy, laid back groove and nice piano to end the CD.The sound is absolutely superb and sounds fantastic listening with headphones plugged into an Ipod Nano - however,the Japanese 20 bit version does sound better but that hasn't got all the superb outtakes featured on this fantastic 2-CD edition.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
These really are highlights starting with "I Miss You'[takes 10.11 composite] which is a nice version."Find Out What's Happening"[take 6] sounds superb and is a rocking version.
It's Different Now[rehearsal] could almost be about Elvis & Priscillas's divorce and probably is, listen to Elvis sing,"There's more to love than holding hands and stealing kisses with no-one else around.There's the good times and the bad.There's the ups and downs we've had. But it's different now I'm glad I still have you." Heartfelt and classic!

"Three Corn Patches"[takes1,2]has a false start with Elvis saying,you can't kick this motherf***er,stick some dynamite up its *ss and you can sense the King trying to inject some fire into the recordings.The version is very good, again in a laid back r&b groove with great backing by the sweets.The song is minus a piano solo but other versions make up for it.
"If You Don't Come Back"[take 5] this is the version from Made In Memphis [FTD] and this really cooks!"Girl Of Mine"[take 9] has no surprises, but is a good take."Three Corn Patches"[takes 13,14 at the start Elvis sings,"three corns in a fountain" which sets the song up. [maybe he'd prefer to sing that song] "Are You Sincere"Elvis sings, "Are you sincere,when I say, I love you, honey, are you sincere, when you say, you love me too.Beautiful! "Find Out What's Happening"[takes 8,7 composite] and this is another good version although there is a sameness to the repeated tracks, they do have their subtle differencies. "For Ol' Times Sake" is the Tony Joe White classic not much different from original album version.The CD finishes with two instrumental tracks and these are superb especially "Color My Rainbow" featuring the Sweets vocals only.And finally,"Sweet Angeline"- finishes the CD.

ROUGH MIXES CD -2
The rough mixes are just that,but they do sound very good infact the sound is really not that rough at all.The first four songs offer no real surprises and are equal to the previous CD1.For Ol' Times Sake,"If you Don't Come Back" "Find Out What's Happening"and "Raised On Rock" the sound quality is similar to the amazing box set- WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES [5CD]
"Three Corn Patches" features a longer fade out which is good to hear and "Just A Little Bit" includes fs [whatever that means]

THE SESSION OUTTAKES - Are almost as interesting as the session highlights and I will round up the standouts:"If You Don't Come Back" has a slower tempo plus, on takes 8,6 Elvis says,If you don't f**k up at the start. "Find Out What's Happening" [take8,7]is a very good version with Elvis messing up the ending."Three Corn Patches"[takes 9,10] has Elvis saying after a false start,"screw up a wet dream"There's a great deal of cursing at these sessions but Elvis was human and not with out faults-just like the rest of us. Again the CD finishes with two instrumental tracks "The Wonders You Perform" and "Good, Bad but beautiful."

Finally,this special edition of the 1973, "RAISED ON ROCK ALBUM' really is a classic release from the FTD team and anyone who considers themselves a fan of 70s Elvis -should love it.
The first CD is the real deal but I found the second -as interesting and roll on the PROMISED LAND -FTD SPECIAL EDITION...

[Raised on Rock]

Well i guess I must have this one as soon as I can. Thanks for the review, as a Stax sessions fan can?t wait for the FTD version of Promised Land in the classic album series!!!

[Burning_Love]

Ok so this one is A Must, i better start saving Thanks for the info, sounds great

[SeeSeeRider777]

Im going to buy this one when I get the chance.

[Erhan]

My Boy, My Boy thank you for very optimistic review.
I'm not agree about songs quality but outtakes sound better then masters

to much grain in elvis face in cover photo it good for horror movie cover.

'RAISED ON ROCK"
I'm not optimistic about that song song is not have even rock sound with corny lyrics...

"Are You Sincere"
I don't know why but That song always disturbin me may be begining reminds (are you lonesome tonight) and He sings awfully talking part (is He really Sincere?)

"Find Out What's Happening"
Good song but needs more Elvis power if I'd remixed it I bring the drums more uo front even more than Rhythm and Country version full of kicked bass drum.
But I like it anyway.

"I Miss You"
sound looks more improved but there is not so special in this song

"Girl Of Mine"
Worthless

"For Ol' Times Sake"
Really album highlight good sounded elvis sings emotional He was really emotional son off a b....:-)
this is underrated elvis song traped in dreadfull album in wrong time.

"If You Don't Come Back"
my idea same as "Find Out What's Happening" in that song

"Just A Little Bit"
my idea same as "Find Out What's Happening" in that song

"Sweet Angeline"
my idea same as "Girl Of Mine".

'Three Corn Patches"
what a shamefull song and performance for elvis despite bands good job...

I'll select the good songs to make my own CD with stax recordings finanlly...

Promised Land
Help Me
It's Midnight
If You Talk in Your Sleep
Loving Arms (Guitar Man remixed vers.)
You Asked Me To (Guitar Man remixed vers.)
I Got a Feelin' in My Body
My Boy
Talk about the Good Times
I've Got a Thing About You Baby
Spanish Eyes
Find Out What's Happening
If You Don't Come Back
For Ol' Times Sake
Just A Little Bit
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues

[my boy]

Looks like the October FTDs will be, "POT LUCK" and "GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS" so no "PROMISED LAND" special edition.
Maybe January?

[Dovey]

Really enjoyed your review Erhan it was cool. I have the CD's and enjoyed them. Thanks, Dovey

[Geoff the Chef]

Raised on Rock is my favourite FTD 2 CD release its quality of best from those sessions. maybe promised land next year eh?

[orwell1976]

I think this review is much too positive. What I can say about the FTD edition of ROR is, that the artwork is superb and the sound is excellent. But the content leaves much to be desired. The press called "Raised On Rock" a bad excuse for a rock record and it surely is. This is one of the worst Rock'n Roll songs Elvis ever recorded and it doesn't sound like he wasn't aware of it. And there are several other tracks were Elvis sounds nasal and powerless. On the first evening of the sessions (were he actually recorded) our man simply was stoned! Sad, but true. On the other hand there are quite a few good songs, too. "For Ol' Times Sake" is truely the highlight of the album, Elvis doesn't only sing the lyrics, he lives them. This song simply cannot be sung any better. And there are some other tracks (like "If You Don't Come Back" or "Find Out What's Happening") wich clearly show a different approach then most of the other songs recorded by Elvis during this time. To me, ROR is a mixed affair, but I still like it.

[jak]

I think this review is much too positive. What I can say about the FTD edition of ROR is, that the artwork is superb and the sound is excellent. But the content leaves much to be desired. The press called "Raised On Rock" a bad excuse for a rock record and it surely is. This is one of the worst Rock'n Roll songs Elvis ever recorded and it doesn't sound like he wasn't aware of it. And there are several other tracks were Elvis sounds nasal and powerless. On the first evening of the sessions (were he actually recorded) our man simply was stoned! Sad, but true. On the other hand there are quite a few good songs, too. "For Ol' Times Sake" is truely the highlight of the album, Elvis doesn't only sing the lyrics, he lives them. This song simply cannot be sung any better. And there are some other tracks (like "If You Don't Come Back" or "Find Out What's Happening") wich clearly show a different approach then most of the other songs recorded by Elvis during this time. To me, ROR is a mixed affair, but I still like it.

I pretty much agree with you.It was somewhat of a dismal release when it came out all those years ago.It's an uneven record at best just as his other post 1970 release's.Elvis' heart and energy just wasnt into putting quality time in the studio at this point in his life and it shows.The weak songs certainly didnt help either.
Jak