| Independence Day 1954 is when this uniquely American saga begins, less than 24 hours before his first professional recording session, and it ends in December 1955, when the rights to Elvis' SUN tapes officially expire, and the singer leaves Sam Phillips to record for RCA. This is Elvis Presley before he becomes world-famous, and the mystery of how this amazing young man readies himself for stardom, achieving success on a level that no one could have dreamed possible.
All audio has been re-mastered and restored as best we could, but Disc 3 has pretty rough audio.
FTD has noted that the 3 CD package features 10 previously-unreleased cuts. EIN has been informed unofficially that the following songs have been mastered for the project. 'Little Mama', 'Heartbreaker', 'Heart of Stone', 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' plus the already announced by Ernst 'That’s All Right' from Meridian.
The 'Little Mama' acetate audio which was believed to be unrepairable, is better than expected.
The studio outtakes feature more of 'When It Rains, It Really Pours’. See official full tracklisting below.
The book is 512 pages in 12” by 12” format and includes more than 500 photos of which about 200 are previously unpublished.
If you are not an expert in this period of Elvis’ career, a lot more photos will be new to you. Many familiar photos will be seen in best ever quality, but since this is a historical document, there will also be many images of less quality, included for their rarity value and support of the story. The book also includes, for the first time, Steve Sholes’ original notes on the Sun tapes.
The project will come in a slip case (like “Young man With The Big Beat”) that holds both the book and the CD holder (a double album type package).
It is a huge deluxe "Coffee-table" sized book weighing an incredible 5Kgs!
The purchase price noted so far for preorders is EU:99 euro = US$126
Disc 1: MRS Acetates, The Sun & The RCA Masters
1 My Happiness 2:33
2 That’s When Your Heartaches Begin 2:52
3 I’ll Never Stand in Your Way 2:04
4 It Wouldn’t Be the Same (Without You) 2:09
5 Harbor Lights 2:38
6 I Love You Because 2:43
7 That’s All Right [45 RPM Master] 2:00
8 Blue Moon of Kentucky (45 RPM Master] 2:07
9 Blue Moon 2:44
10 Tomorrow Night 3:01
11 I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) 2:27
12 I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine 2:32
13 Just Because 2:34
14 Good Rockin' Tonight 2:15
15 Milkcow Blues Boogie 2:39
16 You’re a Heartbreaker 2:13
17 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone [Slow Version] 2:43
18 Baby Let's Play House 2:19
19 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone 2:38
20 I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2:31
21 Mystery Train 2:30
22 Tryin’ to Get to You 2:36
23 When It Rains It Pours 2:06
24 That’s All Right 1:59 [RCA single version]
25 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:05 [RCA single version 78 RPM Master]
26 I Love You Because 2:45 [RCA LP version – spliced from takes 3 & 5]
27 Tomorrow Night 2:56 [RCA LP version – overdubbed and slowed down]
Tracks 1-2: Self-financed demo recorded July, 1953 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 1-2: Digital transfer of acetate.
Tracks 3-4: Self-financed demo recorded January 4, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 3-4: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
Track 5 possibly recorded July 5, 1954.
Tracks 6-7 recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 5-6: Original SUN tapes.
Source for track 7: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic).
Track 8: Recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 8: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic).
Track 9: Likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 9: Original SUN tape.
Tracks 10-14 likely recorded between September 12-16, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 10, 11, 13 and 14: RCA reference tapes (30 ips)
Source for track 12: Digital transfer of SUN tape, with repairs from a digital transfer of a tape copy.
Tracks 15-16 recorded either mid-November or mid-December 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 15-16: 78 rpm SUN single (shellac).
Track 17 Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
Source for track 17: Original SUN tape.
Track 18 likely recorded between January 30 and February 4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
"I Got a Woman" and "Tryin' to Get to You" were also recorded, but have been lost.
Source for track 18: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
Track 19 likely recorded mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 19: RCA reference tape (30 ips), with first part of ending from RCA tape copy (15 ips) and last part of ending from digital transfer of the RCA EPA-965 production master tape.
Tracks 20-22 recorded mid-July, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 20: SUN tape copy.
Source for track 21: SUN tape copy, with ending from digital transfer of 78 rpm RCA single.
Source for track 22: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
Track 23 recorded November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 23: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape.
Elvis’ 1957 re-recording of the song was released under the title "When It Rains, It Really Pours"
Source for track 24: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
Source for track 25: 'Elvis at Sun' master, derived from digital transfer of 78 RPM SUN single (shellac).
Track 26: Steve Sholes’ original notes have these takes as 2 & 4
Source for track 26: RCA master tape.
Source for track 27: 1965 RCA work part tape for the "Elvis for Everyone" LPM-3450 production master tape. |
Disc 2: The Sun Studio Sessions
1 Harbor Lights (takes 1-2, level adjustments) 0:33 *New
2 Harbor Lights (take 3/M) 2:53
3 Harbor Lights (take 4) 2:38
4 Harbor Lights (takes 5-6) 1:23 *New
5 Harbor Lights (take 7) 2:25 *New
6 Harbor Lights [take 8] 0:26 *New
7 I Love You Because (take 1) 0:23
8 I Love You Because (take 2) 3:28
9 I Love You Because (take 3) 3:36
10 I Love You Because (take 4) 0:40
11 I Love You Because (take 5) 3:28
12 That’s All Right (takes 1-2) 0:20
13 That’s All Right (take 3) 1:58
14 Dialogue 0:20
15 Blue Moon of Kentucky (slow tempo outtake) 1:08
16 Blue Moon (takes 1-3) 0:38 *New
17 Blue Moon (take 4) 2:59
18 Blue Moon (take 5) 3:25
19 Blue Moon (takes 6-7) 0:53
20 Blue Moon [take 8] 3:01
21 Blue Moon (take 9/M) 2:44
22 Dialogue fragment (before "Tomorrow Night") 0:11 *New
23 I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) (incomplete take) 0:49
24 Good Rockin’ Tonight (fragment from vocal slapback tape) 0:10 *New
25 I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine (takes 1-2) 1:13
26 I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine (take 3/M) 2:35
27 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version, take 1) 3:00
28 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 2) 2:51
29 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 3) 2:51
30 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 4) 0:10
31 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 5/M) 2:40
32 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 6) 2:40
33 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow vs, take 7) 1:35
34 How Do You Think I Feel (guitar slapback tape, rehearsal + take 1) 3:17
35 How Do You Think I Feel (guitar sbk tape, rehearsals) 1:14
36 When It Rains It Pours (vocal sbk tape, take 1) 1:37 *New
37 When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 2 - rehearsal) 2:12 *New
38 When It Rains It Pours (vocal sbk tape, takes 3-4) 2:14
39 When It Rains It Pours (vocal sbk tape, take 5/M) 2:02
40 When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 6-7) 1:40
41 When It Rains It Pours [vocal sbk tape, take 8] 1:40 *New
Tracks 1-6 possibly recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 1-6: Original SUN tape.
Tracks 7-13 recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 7-13: Original SUN tape.
Tracks 14-15 likely recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 14-15: Digital transfer of SUN tape.
Tracks 16-21 likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 16-21: Original SUN tape.
Tracks 22-26 likely recorded between September 12 and 16, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 22: RCA reference tape (30 ips) for "Tomorrow Night".
Sources for tracks 23-26: Digital transfers of SUN tapes (also see source note for Disc 1, track 12).
Tracks 27-33 recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
Source for tracks 27-33: Original SUN tape.
Tracks 34-35 recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 34-35: Digital transfer of SUN (guitar channel) slapback tape.
Tracks 36-41 recorded between November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 36-41: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape.
*New = Totally New, never before released. Note that plenty of other tracks featured here have been released before on other labels, such as Bear-Cat, but NOT officially by RCA .
Several of these outtakes above appeared on the 1987 'The Complete SUN Sessions' LP but have not been remastered since so should sound greatly improved. |
Disc 3: Live & Radio Performances
1 That’s All Right 2:52
2 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:23
3 Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:24
4 Fool, Fool, Fool 1:59
5 Hearts of Stone 2:02
6 That’s All Right 1:52
7 Tweedlee Dee 2:51
8 Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:23 *New
9 KSIJ Radio commercial with DJ Tom Perryman 0:16
10 Money Honey 2:43
11 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:04
12 I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine 2:33
13 That’s All Right 1:54
14 Tweedlee Dee 2:15 *New
15 Money Honey 2:17 *New
16 Hearts of Stone 1:37 *New
17 Shake, Rattle and Roll 1:39 *New
18 Little Mama 2:03 *New
19 You’re a Heartbreaker 2:06
20 Good Rockin’ Tonight 2:36
21 Baby Let’s Play House 2:22
22 Blue Moon of Kentucky 1:47
23 I Got a Woman 3:03
24 That’s All Right 2:17
25 Tweedlee Dee 2:47
26 Interview with Mae Boren Axton 3:19
27 That’s All Right 2:37 *New
28 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone 3:16
29 Baby Let’s Play House 3:19
30 Maybellene 3:09
31 That’s All Right 2:49
32 Interview with Bob Neal 5:31
Tracks 1-2 recorded at Louisiana Hayride debut, Shreveport, Louisiana, October 16, 1954.
Source for tracks 1-2: RCA reference tape copy.
Tracks 3-4 recorded at KDAV Radio, Lubbock, Texas, January 6, 1955.
Source for tracks 3-4: Digital transfer of acetate.
Tracks 5-7 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 15, 1955.
Source for tracks 5-7: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
Track 8 recorded at WJOI Radio, Florence, Alabama January 19, 1955.
Source for track 8: Digital transfer of acetate in poor condition.
Track 9 recorded at KSIJ Radio, Gladewater, Texas, 1955.
Source for track 9: Digital transfer.
Tracks 10-13 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 22, 1955.
Source for tracks 10-13: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition. Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
Tracks 14-19 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, March 5, 1955.
Source for tracks 14-19: Digital transfer of fragments of acetate in very poor condition (which was destroyed in the process). Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
Tracks 20-24 likely recorded at the Eagles’ Hall, Houston, Texas, March 19, 1955. Track 21 could be from a different performance the same week.
Source for tracks 20-24: RCA reference tape copy.
Track 25 recorded at Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Texas, April 30, 1955.
Source for tracks 25: RCA reference tape copy.
Track 26 recorded at motel in Jacksonville, Florida on either May 12 or July 28, 1955.
Source for track 26: Digital transfer of 1981 BBC broadcast tape copy.
Track 27 recorded at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi, May 26, 1955.
Source for track 27: Broadcast tape.
Track 28 recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 2, 1955.
Source for track 28: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition. Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performance.
Tracks 29-31 recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, August 20, 1955.
Source for tracks 29-31: RCA reference tape copies.
Track 32 recorded at WMPS Radio, Memphis Tennessee, between August 29-31, 1955.
Source for track 32: Digital transfer |
FIRST 'A Boy From Tupelo' FTD Book Previews Below: A special treat of 8 sample pages from the new Ernst Jorgensen FTD book. Supplied by Cristioto on FECC it is possible that these are pre-proofreading.
The preview pages feature plenty of previously unreleased photos, with most of them supplied by the fans who are actually in the photos with Elvis.
No wonder Ernst spent so long tracking down these rare photos - as shown below - and producing the book.
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Back in 2007 Ernst Jorgensen revealed his initial ideas to EIN ...
Ernst J- The CDs with it will be an extra added bonus. No, we don’t have ‘Uncle Penn’, ‘Tennessee Saturday Night’ or ‘Rock Around The Clock’ as mentioned in the rumours that keep circulating. However we have a great selection on three CDs. The first will be The Masters, the second The Outtakes and then the third with everything else that we could get hold of. However I don’t think people should be buying this release just because of the CDs, but because of the photos, the information and the complete package.
(Right: Early Elvis, at The Eagle's Nest 1954) |
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EIN – How much on CD3 is going to surprise people?
Ernst – Not too much, but it is going to sound better than they have ever heard before. There’s obviously going to be the copy of ‘That’s All Right’ from Meridian 1955 which is kinda’ cool. There’s also a handful of other pieces that people have never heard before, plus Kevan has been working on the radio recordings like ‘Fool, Fool, Fool’ to get them sounding much better. And also on CD2 there will also be a few little bits and pieces including outtakes that people have never heard before. Nothing earth shattering but it will be very nice to listen to. |
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Click here to The COMPLETE 2007 interview when Ernst Jorgensen talked exclusively with EIN about what he was planning for this Deluxe SUN project.
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