Elvis Back In Nashville (4 cd Box Set)

[Walter Hale 4]

I've been living with this set off and on for almost a week. There are many things I like and dislike about the set. First, since it is a 'new' release, I am glad to hear many of the undubbed tracks for the first time. I wouldn't want to pay again for what I already have. Second, since it is a re-mix, I am pleased to hear some phrasing and nuances of Elvis' performances that were buried in the original mixes. As far as the missing background vocalists, my only gripe is that they are heard on several tracks as a bleed-through in possibly Elvis' mic. I've been to Studio B, and know there are no vocal isolation booths to keep this from happening. I realize that Matt was trying to keep his vision of the set's tracks uniform in nature, but if I were him, I wouldn't have stripped the backing vocals on some tracks IF I couldn't remove them completely. I've heard these songs so many times, I wonder if I hear the backing parts in my head more than I do in reality when listening to the set. lol

Over all, I'm pleased with the set. It is nowhere near as enjoyable or the revelatory as the previous Nashville set, but then all one has to do is look at the three albums those sessions yielded as apposed to the three or so (minus the Grammy win) that these sessions gave us.

I don't foresee any more mainstream sets like this other than the upcoming "On Tour" package. I think that will be Matt's last work behind the mixing board on Elvis UNLESS something is done for the 5oth Anniversary of Aloha, then maybe....

Well said. I agree with you.

[Mona Lisa]

I've been living with this set off and on for almost a week. There are many things I like and dislike about the set. First, since it is a 'new' release, I am glad to hear many of the undubbed tracks for the first time. I wouldn't want to pay again for what I already have. Second, since it is a re-mix, I am pleased to hear some phrasing and nuances of Elvis' performances that were buried in the original mixes. As far as the missing background vocalists, my only gripe is that they are heard on several tracks as a bleed-through in possibly Elvis' mic. I've been to Studio B, and know there are no vocal isolation booths to keep this from happening. I realize that Matt was trying to keep his vision of the set's tracks uniform in nature, but if I were him, I wouldn't have stripped the backing vocals on some tracks IF I couldn't remove them completely. I've heard these songs so many times, I wonder if I hear the backing parts in my head more than I do in reality when listening to the set. lol

Over all, I'm pleased with the set. It is nowhere near as enjoyable or the revelatory as the previous Nashville set, but then all one has to do is look at the three albums those sessions yielded as apposed to the three or so (minus the Grammy win) that these sessions gave us.

I don't foresee any more mainstream sets like this other than the upcoming "On Tour" package. I think that will be Matt's last work behind the mixing board on Elvis UNLESS something is done for the 5oth Anniversary of Aloha, then maybe....

Well said. I agree with you.

Yes --and bring on the ALOHA set ...

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Walter Hale 4]

I've been living with this set off and on for almost a week. There are many things I like and dislike about the set. First, since it is a 'new' release, I am glad to hear many of the undubbed tracks for the first time. I wouldn't want to pay again for what I already have. Second, since it is a re-mix, I am pleased to hear some phrasing and nuances of Elvis' performances that were buried in the original mixes. As far as the missing background vocalists, my only gripe is that they are heard on several tracks as a bleed-through in possibly Elvis' mic. I've been to Studio B, and know there are no vocal isolation booths to keep this from happening. I realize that Matt was trying to keep his vision of the set's tracks uniform in nature, but if I were him, I wouldn't have stripped the backing vocals on some tracks IF I couldn't remove them completely. I've heard these songs so many times, I wonder if I hear the backing parts in my head more than I do in reality when listening to the set. lol

Over all, I'm pleased with the set. It is nowhere near as enjoyable or the revelatory as the previous Nashville set, but then all one has to do is look at the three albums those sessions yielded as apposed to the three or so (minus the Grammy win) that these sessions gave us.

I don't foresee any more mainstream sets like this other than the upcoming "On Tour" package. I think that will be Matt's last work behind the mixing board on Elvis UNLESS something is done for the 5oth Anniversary of Aloha, then maybe....

Well said. I agree with you.

Yes --and bring on the ALOHA set ...

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

Absolutely... provided they can remove JD Sumner's vocals in particular on 'What Now My Love'

[Rob]

I've just installed this system in my home office.



I gave it a quick listen last night with a random Johnny Cash CD. The sound blew me away. Tomorrow morning, dark and early (I can't sleep late to save my life), I'll be listening to the rest of my Elvis '71 Nashville set through my headphones.

Maxwell House coffee will never taste as good as it will tomorrow morning. Elvis will probably sound pretty good, too.

[charroman]

I do think that this set is a revelation and I love many aspects of it: Some have already picked up on things they dont like and I can concur with some of those thoughts and its out there for people to make up their own minds

Overall these performances are some of the least known outside of the fanbase. The original albums they featured on were haphazard and unrepresentative / unfocused to say the least and with too much emphasis by the label on getting every last scrap of "product" out. Had 30% of the tracks remained in the vaults and released posthumously (as would likely have happened with any other artist) they would perhaps have been collected and received in a more coherant way and we may have a different view of them. As it was many tracks were maligned, ignored or dismissed even by fans. Myself included. The projects that were "realized" (i.e HTM & WWOC) were better in at least delivering what was intended but were marred by poor sound/mix/overdubs that tended to sap any life out of them. Stripped back and with such clear mix and being able to hear the vocal and musicianship really brings them to life. There seems so much more "joy", good humour and engagement from El on these tracks than I would ever have picked up from the versions that escaped over the 3 flat sounding original albums. And that needs to be the comparison imho

its going to be my go to set for these tracks from now on I suspect.

Highlights for me :

Hearing what El sings at the end / fades of certain masters that we would never have heard previously
Help Me Make it sounds so much better than the lifeless original mix
The gospel songs sound so much clearer than the original album mix which I could never get to grips with. I knew many of the songs and performances were good and wanted to so like the original album but never could with it being swamped in an awful muddy mix / sound
Ditto the Xmas songs. Love the mature sound and deepness of his vocal cutting through better than ever and without some of the backing vocals I'm appreciating tracks like If I Get Home on Xmas Day better than ever before. It Wont Seem Like Xmas was a single in the UK and did well but this version beats it hands down for me and has much more charm without the overdubs. Love the way he slides into "ohbutitwont". Fantastic and wish they would re-release it as a Xmas single. these tracks will get spins over the next month and during Xmas from now on
Early Mornin Rain-never appreciated the 71 master much before and always preferred the Aloha extras take or later live versions but now I love it
same with First Time Ever I Saw your Face. Far better to me now and my wife even thought it was a new track as I never play the OTT master
Fools Rush In is now a performance I will listen to (used to think it was one of his worst sounding 70's tracks and rarely if ever played it and wondered why he had recorded it. The background ref the James Burton session helps explain and that they did it at home. Still no great shakes but certainly will not skip it now)
I'm sure I never heard the musicians trying to play behind El so clearly on some of the impromptu tracks like I Shall Be Released (my memory of that from previous releases being that it was pretty much acapella)
Love being able to hear clearly the laugh from the keyboards on The Lords Prayer and a "wow" as to the unnatural chord progression ( a diminished fith augmented flat plus tax I suspect!)

[Mister Mike]

[bajo]

I've come to like this set the more I listen to it! Great mix, separation and not least Elvis' voice!

[LSP-4445]

I've come to like this set the more I listen to it! Great mix, separation and not least Elvis' voice!

I partly agree
My favorite tracks I do play over and over again but there are also a few poor ones that I will never play again....to me the worst of the worst is the Amazing Grace versions....in my book they are simply awful
My Way is a masterpiece in comparison.......
To end on a positive note my favorite is track 1 on disc1 (TFTEISYF).....I had no idea that would happen before hearing the album

[emjel]

After the mid week U.K. chart had the set at #22, the actual full week U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 which is seven places higher than the previous set. I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

[Eann]

The set is placed at no.18 in my homeland of Scotland and is top 30 on the UK vinyl albums chart!

[londonflash]

Reservations over the removed backing vocals aside, I've been enjoying this set a lot more than I anticipated. They've taken what I thought were rather disappointing, underwhelming sessions (the He Touched Me album apart) and created a highly enjoyable, entertaining set. The sound quality and mixes, overall, are very impressive. More vibrant than I've heard before.

I was thinking of jumping on a plane and turning up at Rob's for an early morning listening sesh with his new gear, but I don't drink Maxwell House, am not sure I can deal with his shorts at the crack of dawn and I don't actually know where he lives.

[Laser- Freak]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

[emjel]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Thanks...that's 38 less than last year.

[Rob]

I was thinking of jumping on a plane and turning up at Rob's for an early morning listening sesh with his new gear, but I don't drink Maxwell House, am not sure I can deal with his shorts at the crack of dawn and I don't actually know where he lives.

I would fix you some hot chocolate and I'd wear my Love Me Tender jammies.

If you can find me.

[londonflash]

I was thinking of jumping on a plane and turning up at Rob's for an early morning listening sesh with his new gear, but I don't drink Maxwell House, am not sure I can deal with his shorts at the crack of dawn and I don't actually know where he lives.

I would fix you some hot chocolate and I'd wear my Love Me Tender jammies.

If you can find me.

My avatar shows me looking for you.

[Christopher Brown]

Had a chance to focus on Disc 2, and found many nice surprises. It really helps having a lyrics book, as you can note the changes and or extra lines.

I'VE GOT CONFIDENCE - longer fade, more words
SEEING IS BELIEVING - longer fade, more words
PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HAND - longer fade, more words

Almost all of the Christmas songs did not fade out, so we can't find any additional lyrics being sung -- even MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY which is the unedited version, is still the same length, though it may musically fade out a touch longer, it's still the same unedited take we've had before.

I liked ALL the Christmas songs without back-up vocals except O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL. The master as presented is very nice, but it's miles away from the (whoever did the) overdub as released on the original album. And THE FIRST NOEL was a revelation. Never, ever liked the original version -- the back-up vocalists must have been singing in a different key or the timing was off or whatever, I never knew. But this stripped back (as recorded?) version is very easy on the ears and doesn't put me off like the original. It's not particularly exciting, but it's acceptable. Same with SILVER BELLS -- we know he didn't want to spend one second longer doing another take, and only manged one full take (IIRC), and so what we got was pedestrian, but okay.

On Disc 4 I found the following were previously unreleased:

HE TOUCHED ME - Take 1
SEEING IS BELIEVING - Rehearsal (short)
I'LL BE HOME ON CHRISTMAS DAY (remake) - Take 10

There still seems to be a lot of takes of different songs missing, but perhaps they don't exist in the RCA / BMG vaults.

Disc 1 and 3 I still need to go through in detail. More exciting than I thought.

[Dan_T]

I was thinking of jumping on a plane and turning up at Rob's for an early morning listening sesh with his new gear, but I don't drink Maxwell House, am not sure I can deal with his shorts at the crack of dawn and I don't actually know where he lives.

I would fix you some hot chocolate and I'd wear my Love Me Tender jammies.

If you can find me.

My avatar shows me looking for you.

Looks more like you've just found him !

[londonflash]

I was thinking of jumping on a plane and turning up at Rob's for an early morning listening sesh with his new gear, but I don't drink Maxwell House, am not sure I can deal with his shorts at the crack of dawn and I don't actually know where he lives.

I would fix you some hot chocolate and I'd wear my Love Me Tender jammies.

If you can find me.

My avatar shows me looking for you.

Looks more like you've just found him !

Big Dunc wants his hot choccy, aye pal.

[londonflash]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Ironic!

[Robert]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Thanks...that's 38 less than last year.

Shouldn't that be 1.971 x 4.. how do they approach box sets nowadays?

[henryneill]

For the people who are interested: New entry at #25 of the German album charts.

[Walter Hale 4]

1.971 x 4 equals 7.884

You have to find, look at it and put a positive SPIN on things

[ForeverElvis]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Ironic!

Are these sales in the USA or the uk?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[emjel]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Thanks...that's 38 less than last year.

Shouldn't that be 1.971 x 4.. how do they approach box sets nowadays?

No it’s sold 1,971 copies which includes vinyl and streaming. That’s it.

[emjel]

... U.K. chart has it as a new entry at #63 ... I do not have the sales numbers just yet.

1,971 sales

Ironic!

Are these sales in the USA or the uk?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well I quoted the U.K. chart position but said I did not have the sales numbers yet, and then someone came along and provided them just before I got them. . So what country do you think. Info on Billboard 200 should come on Monday.