FTD / Flaming Star - The Making Of Blue Hawaii

[On Tape 1972]

Follow That Dream & Flaming Star are currently producing "The Making Of Blue Hawaii", a 2 book / 4 CD combo + double picture sleeve EP. The hardcover books will include newly discovered photographs, shooting details etc. The audio content covering the recording sessions will be newly mixed from the original 3-track tapes.

Source: Now Dig This / The Man And His Music No. 139

Update: An EP will also be included, which wasn't reflected in my initial post.

[Elvis2000]

Shame these and the Jailhouse Rock sessions and are packaged with books, because the sessions boxes are really nicely done and it would've been nice to have them next to the rest. Unless they're gonna put mostly released soundtrack sessions with the books as a bonus, if that is the case then I can see a Making Of G.I. Blues coming next.

Also, I really hope Jan Eliasson is not mastering the audio, Jailhouse Rock was mastered too loud and was a bit of a let down.

[On Tape 1972]

Shame these and the Jailhouse Rock sessions and are packaged with books, because the sessions boxes are really nicely done and it would've been nice to have them next to the rest. Unless they're gonna put mostly released soundtrack sessions with the books as a bonus, if that is the case then I can see a Making Of G.I. Blues coming next.

Also, I really hope Jan Eliasson is not mastering the audio, Jailhouse Rock was mastered too loud and was a bit of a let down.

I think of them as books with added CDs. Most of the work seems to go into the books and is done by Flaming Star. I agree about the audio in "The Making Of Jailhouse Rock", definitely not Eliasson's best work. Then again, the books are a treat and the added vinyl single was real nifty.

Looking forward to this one.

[dougkapp]

I was waiting for Blue Hawaii in the "Complete Sessions" series. These books are very expensive and I see no need for FTD to release them. An 8", 4-CD set would be much more useful and affordable for fans.
The Making of Jailhouse Rock box set is still available at several dealers, which means that sales were not as fast as the previous books.

[DENBOW]

Will this be the next set if so I.will.start saving my penny's from now it will cost a lot

[MysteryTrain]

Does this mean the "Elvis on Tour" book (last mentioned for a Summer 2023 release) is delay or scrapped?

MT

[dougkapp]

Does this mean the "Elvis on Tour" book (last mentioned for a Summer 2023 release) is delay or scrapped?

MT

Or they have probably already finished On Tour book.

[jam62]

Was hoping for the audio in a "sessions set" on its own.
Too expensive now, so I'm out on this one.

[On Tape 1972]

The release also includes a vinyl EP. My initial post was updated accordingly. Sorry 'bout that.

[emjel]

The replacement for On Tour is still being worked on. Not sure fans can afford two of these big book/CD sets in one year especially if printing costs have gone up as previously indicated, so I’d be surprised to see On Tour in 2023. That said, the On Tour one could beat the Blue Hawaii one - depends on where they are with each project.

Two books, if they are the usual 350/400 page books, plus 4 CDs for Blue Hawaii is likely to cost over $250 plus shipping and many cannot afford that kind of price with the cost of living problems currently happening.

[frus75]

As much as I like these books, I think they could be smaller projects, all the info and less pictures

[londonflash]

These mammoth book releases aren't for me any longer. Happy to stick with the 2CD FTD.

[colonel snow]

I hope to read a lot of information from behind the scenes like song selections. It would be great if demo versions from recorded and rejected songs are included in the CD-set.
Reading about censorship is interesting too.
Example:

In the letter from 3 november 1960 by MPAA they couldn't agree with page 11; Hal Wallis wrote “Nuts” on the letter. In the final script from 23 february 1961 the bikini has disappeared (scene 25)


colonel snow

[LSP-4445]

I`m sure it will be a nice and EXPENSIVE release...for me its not something I will buy.
The reason is the books included.
I wonder if Sony/FTD have located the missing tape(s) or if they use bootleg as source for
takes 1-12 of CHFIL.

[colonel snow]

Another example of censorship
In the letter from 3 november 1960 by Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) they couldn't agree with pages 6 & 7; in the script from 23 february 1961 it concern pages 9 and 10 (scene 19).


colonel snow

[colonel snow]

As much as I like these books, I think they could be smaller projects, all the info and less pictures

I completely agree with this view. However with more pictures these kind of books sell better.

colonel snow

[elvis-fan]

Two books, if they are the usual 350/400 page books, plus 4 CDs for Blue Hawaii is likely to cost over $250 plus shipping and many cannot afford that kind of price with the cost of living problems currently happening.

If that's the kind of money they'll be asking, I'm definitely out... again. Guess I'll have to wait for the MRS music only release...

[Domino]

So with 4 CD's would that mean this is a sessions set with 2 books ?
That would cancel out a lot of interest.I see no reason why they can't do this like the Making of Viva Las Vegas book/cd set.A sessions set separate from the book .Besides ,I really don't care that much about Blue Hawaii to need 2 books about it.

[joekro1977]

Guess I'll have to wait for the MRS music only release...

You know it will be available...

[tinseltown]

So with 4 CD's would that mean this is a sessions set with 2 books ?
That would cancel out a lot of interest.I see no reason why they can't do this like the Making of Viva Las Vegas book/cd set.A sessions set separate from the book .Besides ,I really don't care that much about Blue Hawaii to need 2 books about it.

I do.
More than "Elvis on tour " actually. Same old poses on stage...again and again and again......yawn.

[elvisfan51]

So with 4 CD's would that mean this is a sessions set with 2 books ?
That would cancel out a lot of interest.I see no reason why they can't do this like the Making of Viva Las Vegas book/cd set.A sessions set separate from the book .Besides ,I really don't care that much about Blue Hawaii to need 2 books about it.

FTD getting worse and worse!

[drjohncarpenter]

Shame these and the Jailhouse Rock sessions and are packaged with books, because the sessions boxes are really nicely done and it would've been nice to have them next to the rest. Unless they're gonna put mostly released soundtrack sessions with the books as a bonus, if that is the case then I can see a Making Of G.I. Blues coming next.

Also, I really hope Jan Eliasson is not mastering the audio, Jailhouse Rock was mastered too loud and was a bit of a let down.

You have it backwards. The CDs are packaged with the book. No audio means FTD cannot green-light a book project. Sales have to be assured before committing to such a project. The value of these particular items is the history within. People, places and events are brought into sharp focus, thanks to diligent research. For some, that has great value, as context is always key to understanding what happened, and why.

For those who don't care about such things, and just want shiny discs, these releases should be avoided. No doubt a shady grey-market label will steal and repackage the audio at some point anyway.

[DakotaKid]

Two books, if they are the usual 350/400 page books, plus 4 CDs for Blue Hawaii is likely to cost over $250 plus shipping and many cannot afford that kind of price with the cost of living problems currently happening.

If that's the kind of money they'll be asking, I'm definitely out... again. Guess I'll have to wait for the MRS music only release...

I've stopped buying the book/music combos. Too expensive.

[jetblack]

For those who don't care about such things, and just want shiny discs, these releases should be avoided. No doubt a shady grey-market label will steal and repackage the audio at some point anyway.

For some reason the Madison bootleg label comes to mind.

Andy

[Kylan]

I fear that FTD is giving up the session releases in lieu of these kinds of combos. Hope not but it feels like it. I don’t have any more space for these huge books. Sigh