Elvis Back In Nashville (4 cd Box Set)

[ForeverElvis]

Mine came today also.
I’ll have the opportunity to listen tomorrow afternoon most likely.
I’ve never had issues with packaging, the Cd holders etc… I guess I’m lucky.


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[eric c]

the christmas tracks really pop on this new set.
help me make it through the night is another that stands out to me.
the first time ever i saw your face was another that really stood out.
i prefer THIS version of miracle of the rosary.
thru the first 2 CDs....love it so far.
over-all...its the christmas songs that really shine,in my opinion.

[minkahed]

Last year, when I purchased the "From Elvis in Nashville" CD Box, all the Discs scuffed.

I Purchased the double vinyl edition And the records were warped.

I really hope history doesn't repeat itself when I purchase this new set.

Mine came today also.
I’ll have the opportunity to listen tomorrow afternoon most likely.
I’ve never had issues with packaging, the Cd holders etc… I guess I’m lucky.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Buddy]

I guess I am a "retro fan".
Listening to Elvis records now since 1975 I have all of his final masters (as released on his records) "pressed to the pages in my mind"

Yes I am interested listening to a take 1 till to the final master. This "process" is really very interesting to follow. So to me the FTD Session boxes are a great choice to discover the working process song by song.
Starting with Take1 till the final session master take and getting the overdubbed 2 track master (as released on vinyl) as well on such a set ( i would prefer listening to the final released vinyl 2 track master version right after the last take of the session but it is also okay to start with all of them on CD1)

So what I want to say. This discovering of the recording process is a "one time" thing. Maybe I will do it a second time after many years.

BUT listening to our man I prefer 99% listening to his final masters as recorded and released during his lifetime, because this "versions" I have in my head. Listening to a different Version than this my brain realizes that something is wrong/missing....

It would really flash me getting all his final (& overdubbed) masters remixed with lovely care and as a high class production as they did with the Beatles recordings.
But in case of Elvis they have never produced a real high class sounding/remixed album. Some were ok but not more. (Exceptions are zur Steve Hoffman DCC Gold Discs and Kevan Budds remasters of the Elvis first three records)

AND what Ernst & Co really like to do is doing strange chances. E1 was made "digital to death" and they replaced masters with alternate takes. Memphis 74 legacy the bass/drums was far too low and the mix sounded flat, On Stage 99 they forgot the overdubs, 60 CD Box they made strange decisions to add bonus tracks instead of putting them on an extra CD etc etc etc and now they delete backing vocals from the masters....

YES I have ordered it too and yes I will listen to it ...and then I will store it surely for many years and I hope it will get the FTD Session box treatment too which I would prefer much more...

[RKSNASHVILLE]

Since I am an Amazon Prime subscriber, I can listen to this set unlimited. I don't have to purchase it.

For last years "Elvis in Nashville" release, I DID buy it even though I could listen for free.

For "Elvis Back in Nashville" - I won't be spending my hard earned money.


RKS

[Rockin_John]

Since I am an Amazon Prime subscriber, I can listen to this set unlimited. I don't have to purchase it.

For last years "Elvis in Nashville" release, I DID buy it even though I could listen for free.

For "Elvis Back in Nashville" - I won't be spending my hard earned money.


RKS

Just the other way around for me. I never bought the first Nashville set. This is one is on it's way though!

[Gary Crawford]

Just dipping in and out of the set which arrived yesterday. Have to agree that the likes of It's Only Love are a bit odd without the backing vocals and don't really work as stripped back more acoustic version. However some do. Over all enjoying it but not sure how much that's more about just revisiting the tracks themselves as opposed to new mixes/production, maybe a bit of both.

I am somewhat confused by the booklet essay. Perhaps I haven't kept up to date with all the new knowledge and research into who did what in the sessions. However I always thought and previously read that Elvis played piano on the 3 tracks we all know so well? On page 9 it speaks of Elvis sitting down at the piano and struggling a bit with singing and playing at the same time 'yet the performances are beautiful'. Turn to page 22 and 'by no means did every track need salvaging. Two Ivory Joe Turner tracks were cut with Elvis backed only by David Briggs on church meets nightclub piano'. Elvis gets not credit for piano under musicians on page 23. Apologies if someone else has commented on this just had a quick scan through the posts since the set landed! Have I been dreaming about his piano playing on these tracks or am I need of a serious all things Elvis refresher course. Here was me believing Robert Mathew Walker analysis of these tracks and concluding Presely was quite a stylish piano player......... Or was it Briggs all along

[PiersEIN]

OK. Here comes the review!
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece on EIN about the recordings contained on the new set, and made a case that, despite the fact that Elvis wasn't in great voice, there was a fair amount of experimentation going on in these sessions in one way or another, and there were more moments of interest and inspiration than we might realise.
....

But this is, sadly, a very lacklustre package, even if it looks great from the outside - and even looked as if it would be great from the tracklisting. I don't think the mixes are as good as last year. They are bland when sitting alongside each other, and the crystal clarity of last year's set is missing. The bleeding through of the removed backing vocals is just nonsensical - it just makes you realise what is missing. It gives those songs an amateurish feel. If the backing vocals can't be removed, don't remove them. The issues here aren't Elvis's; love or hate these sessions, they are rarely dull in their released versions. Love Me, Love the Life I Lead might be one of the most ragged vocals that Elvis recorded in his final decade, but it's always going to provoke a reaction of some sort.

I feel that something has gone terribly wrong here - even the Jungle Room sessions came off better than this when a double disc of them was released a few years back.

WHOA - just read your comments Shane.
That's an intriguing insight and a disappointment if so.

I was so hoping that these new mixes would "Open-up" the real creativity of these sessions - that until now have seemed pretty dull to my ears.
But your comments make them sound even worse.
Damn.
Cheers
Piers

[elvisalisellers]

reading other fan boards and they are criticizing exactly the same as pmp, walter hale and others here.
looks like elvisalisellers has to help us - who bought it - out here (again).
after he re-installed the backing vocals on the masters, we can burn it on cd-r and still use cd 1 and 2 as coffee cup coasters.
elvisalisellers, please take over!

No pressure then...

It might not be possible to get good isolations on some tracks to sufficiently interlace, but we'll see what we can do.

https://we.tl/t-qFeJYnRNFb

[pmp]

Just dipping in and out of the set which arrived yesterday. Have to agree that the likes of It's Only Love are a bit odd without the backing vocals and don't really work as stripped back more acoustic version. However some do. Over all enjoying it but not sure how much that's more about just revisiting the tracks themselves as opposed to new mixes/production, maybe a bit of both.

I am somewhat confused by the booklet essay. Perhaps I haven't kept up to date with all the new knowledge and research into who did what in the sessions. However I always thought and previously read that Elvis played piano on the 3 tracks we all know so well? On page 9 it speaks of Elvis sitting down at the piano and struggling a bit with singing and playing at the same time 'yet the performances are beautiful'. Turn to page 22 and 'by no means did every track need salvaging. Two Ivory Joe Turner tracks were cut with Elvis backed only by David Briggs on church meets nightclub piano'. Elvis gets not credit for piano under musicians on page 23. Apologies if someone else has commented on this just had a quick scan through the posts since the set landed! Have I been dreaming about his piano playing on these tracks or am I need of a serious all things Elvis refresher course. Here was me believing Robert Mathew Walker analysis of these tracks and concluding Presely was quite a stylish piano player......... Or was it Briggs all along

I shall check the booklet again later, but I'm pretty sure it's a mistake.

[luckyjackson1]

One of the problems with removing backing vocals is what’s been pointed here: the bleed...

Word, my friend! You hit the nail on the head, @frus75

[Garfield]

Just started reading the booklet. The very first page of text refers three times to the Holiday Inn-Rivermount as the venue for the Jaycees' daytime events on 16 January 1971. The venue was actually the Holiday Inn-Rivermont. A small detail, but one that would have been picked up by any fact-checking proofreader worth their salt.

[luckyjackson1]

Really... from time to time I tended to like "The First Noel"... now with this version here I cannot help but wonder why such a caterwauling had been chosen as a master take. Sorry, El. Just my humble and insignificant opinion.

[JimmyCool]

One of the problems with removing backing vocals is what’s been pointed here: the bleed.

The set starts with one of the best examples, as backing vocals bleed merciless through first time ever I saw your face. Why did they do this, leaving a taste of amateur “our memories of elvis”? Next comes amazing grace, and here the backing vocals are presented, at a reduced volume, but they’re there.

Early morning rain is again featured without backing vocals. Here the bleeding is less evident, but it’s there, so the result is fair enough. Though I still can’t see how nice backing vocals placed there by the very same Elvis are deemed unsatisfactory 50 years later, but are left on the outtakes.

Next comes for loving me, again without vocals, vocals that were so essential to the recording, that again raises the question: why???

Help me make it through the night comes next: again with backing vocals dropped. Here the bleeding is very low, as the backing voices were on the strong passages.

Strangely, until it’s time for you to go is presented with backing voices. And it hints at how nice is the new sound when the voices are nicely mixed, as they don’t get into the song in an obtrusive way. Gosh…I can’t understand how suddenly backing voices are considered necessary here and not on previous songs!!!

Nothing to say about don’t think twice and the piano songs, as well as padre, as they were recorded without vocal accompaniment. They sound terrific.

In my humble opinion, vocal accompaniment on the next songs was a good part of them, made them feel finished. Hearing fools rush in, it’s only love, we can make the morning, love me love the life I lead and, CRIMINALLY , I’m leaving without the backing voices is like hearing one of those Italians 60’s singles were one channel was missing.


Again, the bleeding is kind of the worse thing, because your brain automatically feels the void of the vocal parts, and you feel like hearing them, only to discover that you’re actually hearing them.

The rest of the set is GREAT, with no problems of mixing out parts of the live studio recordings, except on a couple of gospel numbers and a Christmas song. And the weird erasing of the bass voice on a thing called love.

Hearing the outtakes of love the life I lead, morning rain or it’s only love (to name 3) or the master with vocals of we can make the morning proves that this wasn’t necessary, and that the resulting bleeding gives the set an amateurish touch. And it’s a pity because the mixes are awesome!

This. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[luckyjackson1]

Received my package from Amazon today. It would have been nice had they put the set inside the package. It was empty and the package was cut open.

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

[pmp]

Just started reading the booklet. The very first page of text refers three times to the Holiday Inn-Rivermount as the venue for the Jaycees' daytime events on 16 January 1971. The venue was actually the Holiday Inn-Rivermont. A small detail, but one that would have been picked up by any fact-checking proofreader worth their salt.

I confess I didn't notice that as I don't know my Rivermonts from my Rivermounts, but it's yet more examples of how slapdash this set is once you look beyond the pleasant packaging.

[Gary Crawford]

Just dipping in and out of the set which arrived yesterday. Have to agree that the likes of It's Only Love are a bit odd without the backing vocals and don't really work as stripped back more acoustic version. However some do. Over all enjoying it but not sure how much that's more about just revisiting the tracks themselves as opposed to new mixes/production, maybe a bit of both.

I am somewhat confused by the booklet essay. Perhaps I haven't kept up to date with all the new knowledge and research into who did what in the sessions. However I always thought and previously read that Elvis played piano on the 3 tracks we all know so well? On page 9 it speaks of Elvis sitting down at the piano and struggling a bit with singing and playing at the same time 'yet the performances are beautiful'. Turn to page 22 and 'by no means did every track need salvaging. Two Ivory Joe Turner tracks were cut with Elvis backed only by David Briggs on church meets nightclub piano'. Elvis gets not credit for piano under musicians on page 23. Apologies if someone else has commented on this just had a quick scan through the posts since the set landed! Have I been dreaming about his piano playing on these tracks or am I need of a serious all things Elvis refresher course. Here was me believing Robert Mathew Walker analysis of these tracks and concluding Presely was quite a stylish piano player......... Or was it Briggs all along

I shall check the booklet again later, but I'm pretty sure it's a mistake.

Cheers. Had a check via Keith Flynn's apparently very reliable site and certainly Elvis is still listed there as playing piano on all three tracks.......

[Marc Haegeman]

... And here they'll stay until it's time for Ernst and Roger to go... cough, cough , cough !

What I don't quite understand is that, as fans themselves, is this really the way they want to hear this material? They made their name with the Essential series, and yet they never felt the need on those to remove instruments or vocalists. Would they have removed the Jordanaires? Or perhaps Millie Kirkham? The whole notion of doing that makes no sense - which is much of my problem with Elvis releases over the last few years. Decisions make no sense. Why remove Charlie on TTWII? Why leave the false opening to the show on the TTWII legacy edition? The sad thing in many respects, is that they are undoing all the wonderful work they did in restoring Elvis's catalogue in the first place. And, to be honest, no-one should be in charge of one person's catalogue for thirty years. New ideas and new approaches are needed every so often - and all too often we're getting ideas that simply make no sense, in an attempt to somehow get "with it." Just because you can doesn't mean you should!

Spot on with your review, pmp, thank you. I never understood this obsession with wanting all the overdubs removed - "the pure Elvis voice", oh right - and this abysmal release may as yet be the best argument against any future tampering with the masters. If they want to re-release Elvis' legacy in the best possible sound, fine, let them do so, but leave the master takes as they were intended.

[Steve Morse]

Just dipping in and out of the set which arrived yesterday. Have to agree that the likes of It's Only Love are a bit odd without the backing vocals and don't really work as stripped back more acoustic version. However some do. Over all enjoying it but not sure how much that's more about just revisiting the tracks themselves as opposed to new mixes/production, maybe a bit of both.

I am somewhat confused by the booklet essay. Perhaps I haven't kept up to date with all the new knowledge and research into who did what in the sessions. However I always thought and previously read that Elvis played piano on the 3 tracks we all know so well? On page 9 it speaks of Elvis sitting down at the piano and struggling a bit with singing and playing at the same time 'yet the performances are beautiful'. Turn to page 22 and 'by no means did every track need salvaging. Two Ivory Joe Turner tracks were cut with Elvis backed only by David Briggs on church meets nightclub piano'. Elvis gets not credit for piano under musicians on page 23. Apologies if someone else has commented on this just had a quick scan through the posts since the set landed! Have I been dreaming about his piano playing on these tracks or am I need of a serious all things Elvis refresher course. Here was me believing Robert Mathew Walker analysis of these tracks and concluding Presely was quite a stylish piano player......... Or was it Briggs all along

I was reading the booklet in bed last night and was immediately puzzled by this. I think someone has jumped to (wrong) conclusions. I haven't checked these 3 songs but Elvis predominately played the piano in C major, being the easiest key to play in. Though Elvis was often heavy-handed on the ivories, here he is not . . . but the playing is subtle and uncomplicated, befitting the material, so I'm sure it's Elvis. I rather think David Briggs would have added some embellishment.

[pmp]

Just dipping in and out of the set which arrived yesterday. Have to agree that the likes of It's Only Love are a bit odd without the backing vocals and don't really work as stripped back more acoustic version. However some do. Over all enjoying it but not sure how much that's more about just revisiting the tracks themselves as opposed to new mixes/production, maybe a bit of both.

I am somewhat confused by the booklet essay. Perhaps I haven't kept up to date with all the new knowledge and research into who did what in the sessions. However I always thought and previously read that Elvis played piano on the 3 tracks we all know so well? On page 9 it speaks of Elvis sitting down at the piano and struggling a bit with singing and playing at the same time 'yet the performances are beautiful'. Turn to page 22 and 'by no means did every track need salvaging. Two Ivory Joe Turner tracks were cut with Elvis backed only by David Briggs on church meets nightclub piano'. Elvis gets not credit for piano under musicians on page 23. Apologies if someone else has commented on this just had a quick scan through the posts since the set landed! Have I been dreaming about his piano playing on these tracks or am I need of a serious all things Elvis refresher course. Here was me believing Robert Mathew Walker analysis of these tracks and concluding Presely was quite a stylish piano player......... Or was it Briggs all along

I shall check the booklet again later, but I'm pretty sure it's a mistake.

Cheers. Had a check via Keith Flynn's apparently very reliable site and certainly Elvis is still listed there as playing piano on all three tracks.......

Plus the pianist on Kathleen is clearly the same one as on the Ivory Joe Hunter songs. How such a mistake got through quality control is a mystery. But then I'm not sure there was any quality control...

[Johnny2523]

The booklet also mentions elvis did full fledged versions of That's All Right and I Got A Woman.. shame those werent captured

[Rockin_John]

The booklet also mentions elvis did full fledged versions of That's All Right and I Got A Woman.. shame those werent captured

If they sound anything as the captured version of Johnny B. Goode, it's no loss really...

[pmp]

The booklet also mentions elvis did full fledged versions of That's All Right and I Got A Woman.. shame those werent captured

But how did they know about them if they weren't captured on tape!

[Johnny2523]

The booklet also mentions elvis did full fledged versions of That's All Right and I Got A Woman.. shame those werent captured

But how did they know about them if they weren't captured on tape!

Thats what i wonder myself.. maybe they are part of missing tapes and it was mentioned in paperwork? I doubt they would mention them just to leave them out

[Squire Smart]

Thank you for the review PMP. I'm a little deflated but I will reserve judgement until I get it and play it myself.

On a wider issue, do you think Ernst and Roger have lost their way? Or, at the very least, has age affected their judgement and/or attention to detail?