"elvis On Tour - The Rehearsals" My New Favorite Ftd Cd!!!

[Jungleroom76]

Well, it took a little over 4 years but I can finally say that I have a BRAND NEW favorite FTD CD!!! Ever since I first heard THE JUNGLE ROOM SESSIONS, that CD has held the title of being my favorite FTD release!! But today, my copy of ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS arrived and I immediately put it into my CD player....all I can say after listening to it 3 times already is...

AWESOME!!!!!

This CD is, hands down, my BRAND NEW FAVORITE FTD release!! I was already anxious to listen to it when it finally arrived today, but now that I've heard it, I just can't get enough of it!! Despite a bit of disappointment that EL PASO didn't turn out to be more than a little goofing around, I have to say that there is not one track on this CD that was a disappointment to me! Some highlights for me:

PROUD MARY - This track ROCKS from start to finish!!! Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

SEE SEE RIDER - I've always loved the rehearsal of this song that was included on 6363 SUNSET, so I was THRILLED to get another rehearsal version of this one!! Hard-driving rhythm all the way through -- OUTSTANDING STUFF!!!

JOHNNY B. GOODE - It is SO cool to finally have the version of this song that opened the film ELVIS ON TOUR included on an official release! I have always loved this version!!

YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL - INCREDIBLE!!! I just couldn't imagine how this song would sound, had Elvis ever performed it live....but here on this CD it sounds BEAUTIFUL!!! It really flows well and it sounds like Elvis and the band really put some work into rehearsing this song....it's a shame that Elvis never gave this song serious consideration for inclusion in a live show, aside from the couple of times he toyed with the song in '76!

LAWDY MISS CLAWDY - LOVE that piano playing....stunning version!

FOR THE GOOD TIMES - Although not one of my favorite songs, it quickly became one of my favorite tracks on this CD!!! Just a beautiful performance!

HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT - Again, not a real favorite song of mine but Elvis really turns in a sweet performance here!!!

ALWAYS ON MY MIND - PROBABLY MY FAVORITE TRACK ON THIS CD!!! Everything about this version is incredible!! Elvis' vocal performance here is nothing short of gorgeous, and I just LOVE Ronnie Tutt's drumming on this rehearsal!!

NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN - A GREAT performance once again! I've always loved Elvis' performance of this song from the film, but I think this rehearsal is much better in my opinion. There's just something about it....

SEPARATE WAYS - I've always loved this song anyway, so I had high expectations going into listening to this rehearsal....a little rough in spots, but another beauty of a performance!!

The sound quality of ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS is simply STUNNING!! Each track sounds fresh and exciting, almost as if Elvis has just finished rehearsing!! Ernst Jorgensen and company have done an outstanding job on mixing and mastering these tracks....they sound INCREDIBLE!!! Elvis attacks each song with an intensity that really makes each song stand out in one way or another...and he is really serious about rehearsing these songs too....very little goofing around can be heard throughout the entire CD! Elvis is really into some serious rehearsing here, and it shows with every track!! A nice bonus with these rehearsals is that we get to hear each song WITHOUT the usual orchestration that Elvis used live on stage....each song on ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS has more of a basic, stripped down sound which works surprisingly well on every track!!

Unfortunately, the artwork on ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS leaves a little to be desired, in my opinion. While I think the photo they chose for the front cover is a fine choice, it would have looked a whole lot better if it weren't so fuzzy. The same goes for the 3 photos on the inside front cover and the photo under the CD tray. For an official CD release, I really think FTD should have done something more creative than just using captured screen images as photos! The 3-color scheme that FTD used for the cover and the text (white, blue and orange) is nicely done and really makes the package more attractive, in my opinion. The back cover simply contains the tracklisting for the CD....a nice picture or two would have helped to prevent the back cover from looking so plain, although again, I like the color scheme so that does help a little in my opinion. The CD itself is plain white with the title of the CD in blue and orange lettering.

As I mentioned at the beginning, ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS is now HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE FTD CD!!! If you have not picked this one up yet, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you quickly add this CD to your Elvis collection....it's one that will remain in your CD player for weeks and months to come!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Lonniebealestreet]

Very nice overview, Mike!

If I'm not mistaken, aren't Johnny B. Goode and Separate Ways the same versions used in the film, and Always On My Mind the one seen in This Is Elvis/The Great Performances? I'm not at all saying that's a bad thing; I think it's very appropriate that they be on this release, and they're all great versions to boot!

The great thing about SW is that we get to hear much more of the vocalizing at the end. I never would have guessed from the movie that there was that much more to the song.

That take of AOMM has always been my favorite. I think it's got more soul than the master. Though the sound on this CD is fantastic, I must confess--and maybe this is just because I am used to it--I kind of prefer the little extra reverb applied to the track in TIE/TGP. That's not a gripe though.

There's a moment at the end of Burning Love which is kind of like hearing a pre-master alternate take (which most are) in which Elvis is still searching for the right sound or a particular element. The 'hunka hunka' part goes on forever, until it just kinda tapers off to nothin', man , and after that Elvis asks how they are going to end it onstage. It's so neat to be witness to a moment like that all these years later, because hearing the question posed now, you automatically think of how the song was ended in EOT, or Aloha...and it just seems funny to hear Elvis not having figured that out yet. OK, so I'm easily entertained!

It's great to hear little nuances in these songs that show Elvis' being dedicated as he was at this time. Even in a song like Hound Dog, he changes the delivery up in a way that I haven't heard him do in the exact same way before. We do miss out on the amount of between-song banter that we are used to hearing on this sort of release, but by all accounts Elvis was all-business (well, with a few exceptions) at these rehearsal sessions.

Young And Beautiful alone definitely makes this CD worth getting, but the rest of it ain't exactly filler! The prevalence of the contemporary material is a great asset, though the older tunes shine as well. Every fan needs to hear this one!

[quinn53]

will u send me one?

[Jungleroom76]

Very nice overview, Mike!

If I'm not mistaken, aren't Johnny B. Goode and Separate Ways the same versions used in the film, and Always On My Mind the one seen in This Is Elvis/The Great Performances? I'm not at all saying that's a bad thing; I think it's very appropriate that they be on this release, and they're all great versions to boot!

The great thing about SW is that we get to hear much more of the vocalizing at the end. I never would have guessed from the movie that there was that much more to the song.

That take of AOMM has always been my favorite. I think it's got more soul than the master. Though the sound on this CD is fantastic, I must confess--and maybe this is just because I am used to it--I kind of prefer the little extra reverb applied to the track in TIE/TGP. That's not a gripe though.

There's a moment at the end of Burning Love which is kind of like hearing a pre-master alternate take (which most are) in which Elvis is still searching for the right sound or a particular element. The 'hunka hunka' part goes on forever, until it just kinda tapers off to nothin', man , and after that Elvis asks how they are going to end it onstage. It's so neat to be witness to a moment like that all these years later, because hearing the question posed now, you automatically think of how the song was ended in EOT, or Aloha...and it just seems funny to hear Elvis not having figured that out yet. OK, so I'm easily entertained!

It's great to hear little nuances in these songs that show Elvis' being dedicated as he was at this time. Even in a song like Hound Dog, he changes the delivery up in a way that I haven't heard him do in the exact same way before. We do miss out on the amount of between-song banter that we are used to hearing on this sort of release, but by all accounts Elvis was all-business (well, with a few exceptions) at these rehearsal sessions.

Young And Beautiful alone definitely makes this CD worth getting, but the rest of it ain't exactly filler! The prevalence of the contemporary material is a great asset, though the older tunes shine as well. Every fan needs to hear this one!

THANKS BUDDY!!!

I am so glad you liked the review, and I agree with you 100% on all of your points!! I was very surprised that SEPARATE WAYS went on as long as it did, but hearing him vocalize on the end as you said is definitely a very cool treat!!!

The version of ALWAYS ON MY MIND included on this CD is also my favorite version of this song, hands-down!! I was SO thrilled to see that this song would be included on the CD, as I have always loved watching Elvis perform this song in the movie!! As you said, this version has so much energy and soul in it....you can just hear Elvis getting completely lost in the lyrics, and that driving beat that is provided by Ronnie Tutt really helps to move the song along and also really accenuates the song, in my opinion!! I think I might have potentially worn out that track on my CD!!!

Yes you are right on JOHNNY B. GOODE and SEPARATE WAYS....these are the same versions included in the film, which is VERY cool as I have been waiting to finally get the film version of JOHNNY B. GOODE on an official release -- and in EXCELLENT sound quality to boot!

I know what you mean about BURNING LOVE...I loved listening to him ask the band how they were going to fade the song out on stage....PRICELESS for sure!! And the fact that the song also runs on much longer than I anticipated at the end was another added bonus for me!!

I agree that even on the usual standards like LOVE ME and HOUND DOG, Elvis really still seems to be interested in performing these songs. I have a feeling if we had rehearsal material from the later '70's, he probably wouldn't even bother rehearsing these songs!! But here, they still sound fresh and exciting and he still attacks them with the same energy that he did back in the 50's. GREAT STUFF!!!

Finally....I couldn't agree more with you on YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL!! It is without a doubt the highlight of this set! When I was getting ready to listen to that track, I was expecting a very rough version at best, with Elvis fumbling for the lyrics....I was COMPLETELY surprised at how polished the performance was, both from Elvis and the band....it flowed so smoothly as if they had rehearsed it before....and Elvis' delivery of the lyrics was just as smooth as it was in 1957!!

ELVIS ON TOUR - THE REHEARSALS is indeed a CD that every Elvis fan not only should hear, but should own in their collection!!! This CD has YET to see the light of day from inside my CD player since I got it 3 days ago!!! I seriously think my family is going to hide it on me soon if they have to listen to it much longer!!!

THANKS AGAIN for the kind words for the review buddy....glad you liked it!!

TCB!
Mike

[Keith F]

I agree this is one of the best FTD's yet, and there's plenty more rehearsals for a volume 2, but it's a shame they used the already released take of "Always On My Mind", as this was released originally on the "Great Performances" CD.


Keith

[FrankieRider2]

I just got this CD today at Graceland, and I really like it a lot too. The review is pretty much spot-on, but I like the slower version of "Polk Salad Annie" a lot too. I've never heard the shortened version sung that slowly... the live tempo was much faster.

But really just a great CD.... any fan should get it.

[P.S. Annie]

Got it in the mail yesterday, gave it a spin in the car today, and I'm hooked

[NightRider]

Excellent review(s) of an equally excellent release Mike

One of the best FTD's to date without a doubt

[Jungleroom76]

THANKS FRANKIERIDER2 AND NIGHT RIDER!!!

Glad you liked my review...as I was listening to the CD for the first time, the ideas for the review just started coming, so I decided to sit down and write the review so that everyone would know what a FANTASTIC CD this one is!!

THANKS AGAIN for the kind words...I appreciate it and once again, I am humbled!!

TCB!
Mike

[Mike DK]

I haven't heard this cd yet, as my "dealer" (Records & Books in Denmark) is in Memphis at the moment. But from what I have been reading about this cd it sounds awesome Can't wait to get it.

[boogie]

Very interesting review Jungleroom, and indeed a wonderful cd
my fav are Young and Beautiful(highlight of this set) and separate ways (what a great ending of this song)
A winner for FTD

[Jungleroom76]

THANKS BOOGIE!!!

Glad you liked my review...it definitely is an OUTSTANDING CD....I STILL haven't taken it out of my CD player yet!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Captain Elwood David]

"On Tour - The Rehearsals" FTD is destined to be a classic.

This is some of the stuff that hooked me as a kid and this release brings back the ol' memories - reminding me all over again as to how the music "captures" you - then & now.

I have only one complaint, ........... there is definitely so much more UNRELEASED stuff sitting in the vaults .................. and I want more of it - in this same quality.

On that note: The CD could have been a little longer (given us a little more material - of which there is plenty) and / or included some more between song banter (instead of some of the rather abrupt cuts at the ends of songs), ................... but otherwise, .............. A TOP NOTCH RELEASE in terms of sound / content.

"Young & Beautiful" is simply ............... a stunning GEM! Only EP could so effortlessly spin magic such as this.

This is what the FTD label is all about.


- Capt. "EL."

[Davey]

I gotta get this cd! Thanks for the reviews, 1st one I've read of this release.

[Jungleroom76]

MY PLEASURE DAVEY!!! GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE REVIEW!!!

And may I also take this opportunity to welcome you to the TCB-World Forum!! I hope you will enjoy it here, and I hope to see you around here often!!

TCB!
Mike

[Davey]

Thanks for the welcome! I've been here every day since I founds this place last week & always find something interesting. I think this cd or 6363 Sunset will be my next FTD buy.

[Jungleroom76]

MY PLEASURE DAVEY!!!

Either ON TOUR or 6363 SUNSET would be a very wise choice....they are both OUTSTANDING CD's!! I'm sure you will be thrilled with either one (although being partial to both of them as I am, I feel you should have BOTH of them in your collection!)

Once again....WELCOME to the board and HAVE FUN!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Davey]

I hope to get most of them over time except time except the movie ones, which I'm not really a big fan of. I just wish they were't so expensive. Last one I got was Burbank 68 which is awesome! My most played is Spring Tours, closely followed by It's Midnight and Jungle Room Sessions. I've only played Closing Night twice in the last few months, and I really am fond of Tuscon 76 as it was my 1st FTd buy. All the rest I still have to look forward to.

[Captain Elwood David]

My most played is Spring Tours, closely followed by It's Midnight and Jungle Room Sessions.

Shhhhhhhhh .........

(better not say that too loudly ............ you'll get roasted for loving the '76-'77 Elvis - especially his Music ..........)





That said, .......... I'm with you .......... (TWO of my FAVORITES)!!


- Capt. "EL."

[pacer1965]

The Jungle Room Sessions is still my favourite after listening to Elvis on Tour-the rehearsals. I still think on tour is a great release but 50 minutes is not very long. I think Elvis sings all the songs great but I can't stop listening to Johnny B goode