Southern Comfort – The American Way
In 2006/2007 verraste het Southern Comfort label ons met 5 volumes die vol staan met het werk wat Elvis deed in The American Studios in 1969. Alle opnames op deze 5 volumes vonden plaats in januari en februari van het jaar 1969, de opnamesessies vonden plaats in drie hoofdblokken: 13-16 januari, 20-23 januari en 17-22 februari 1969. Elvis had net de filmwereld achter zit gelaten en was klaar om te bewijzen wie nou echt de koning was. Producer Chips Moman stelde een groep topsessiemuzikanten samen, bekend als de Memphis Boys, met onder meer Reggie Young (gitaar),
Tommy Cogbill (bas), Gene Chrisman (drums) en Bobby Wood (piano). Momans no-nonsense stijl dwong Elvis tot een samenhangend en krachtig optreden. Elvis nam een reeks invloedrijke sessies op in American Sound Studios in Memphis. Elvis keerde sinds 1956 terug naar zijn geboortestad om daar op te nemen. De opnames bevatten mijlpalen als "Suspicious Minds" en "In the Ghetto". De opnames (masters) werden gebruikt voor de lp albums From Elvis in Memphis en Back in Memphis. Deze sessies worden door velen beschouwd als een van de beste uit Elvis' carrière, met een rauwe, soulvolle en country-soul sound. Het succes van "Suspicious Minds" was zijn laatste nummer 1-hit in de VS. American Sound Studios was gevestigd aan Thomas Street 827 in Memphis. De studio sloot in 1972 en het oorspronkelijke gebouw werd later gesloopt. Even na
zoveel info terug naar de cd's, het geluid op deze schijfjes is geweldig te noemen. We krijgen hier wat gepresenteerd dat liegt er niet om, zowel qua uitstraling als looks. Het boekje wat bij elke cd geleverd word zit vol info omtrent de tracklist die op de betreffende cd te vinden is. Deze 5 volumes zijn gemaakt met passie en veel liefde voor onze man, The King!
A must have for every Music Lover!!
Tracklist Volume 1: In The Ghetto (takes 1-11), Suspicious Minds (takes 1-7), Kentucky Rain (takes 1-9), Rubberneckin' (rehearsel, with dialogue), Don't Cry Daddy (undubbed), Mama Liked The Roses (undubbed).
Tracklist Volume 2: Wearin' That Loved On Look (takes 2 - 9) (fs + long fs), Wearin' That Loved On Look (take 10), Wearin' That Loved On Look (takes 11, 12, 13) (2 fs + 2 long fs), Wearin' That Loved On Look (take 14), You'll Think Of Me (takes 1 - 5) (all fs), You'll Think Of Me (take 6), You'll Think Of Me (take 7), You'll Think Of Me (take 8), A Little Bit Of Green (takes 1, 2) (full
take + fs + long fs), After Loving You (takes 1, 2) (reh + long fs + full take), After Loving You (take 3) (reh + full take). Only The Strong Survive (takes 1, 2) (long fs + reh + 4 fs + long fs), Only The Strong Survive (take 3), Only The Strong Survive (take 4) (3 fs + long fs), Only The Strong Survive (takes 5, 6) (3x fs + full take), Only The Strong Survive (takes 7, 8) (fs + 3x long fs), Only The Strong Survive (takes 9, 10) (fs + long fs), Only The Strong Survive (take 11) (long fs), From A Jack To A King (takes 1-3) (2x fs + full take), From A Jack To A King (take 4) (reh + full take).
Tracklist Volume 3: If I'm A Fool - takes 1, 2 (rehearsal + false start + "Am I That Easy To Forget" one line + long false start), If I'm A Fool - take 3 (complete take), If I'm A Fool - takes 4, 5, 6 (long false start + false start + long false start), If I'm A Fool - takes 7, 8 (2x false start), Long Black Limousine - takes 1, 2 (rehearsal + false start + long false start), Long Black Limousine - takes 3-5 (3x false start), Long Black Limousine - takes 6-8 (complete take + 2x false start), It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - take 1 (long false start with edited intro + "Only The Lonely" one line), It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - take 2 (complete take + false start), It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - take 3 (complete master take), Any Day Now - take 1 (false start + long false start + rehearsal), Any Day Now - take 2 (complete take + rehearsal), Any Day Now - take 3 (6x false start + long false start), Any Day Now - take 4 (7x false start + long false start + workpart), Any Day Now - take 5 (2x false start + long false start), Any Day Now - take 6 (unrepaired master take with edited intro), And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind - takes 1, 2 (rehearsal + false start + long false start), And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind - takes 3, 4 (2x long false start), And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind - take 5 (false start + long false start), And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind - take 6 (false start + complete master take). Tracks 01-07 mono, tracks 08-20 stereo.
Tracklist Volume 4: True Love Travels On A Gravel Road - takes 2, 3 (ending only of take 2 +complete take), True Love Travels On A Gravel Road - take 5 (complete take + rehearsal), True Love Travels On A Gravel Road - takes 6, 7 (2 x false start + complete take), True Love Travels On A Gravel Road - take 8 - 10 (false start + long false start + 3 x false start), True Love Travels On A Gravel Road - take 11 (master), Power Of My Love - take 1 (rehearsal + false start + complete )ake), Power Of My Love - takes 2, 3 (false start + complete take), Power Of My Love - take 4 (4 x false start + rehearsal + "Are You Waiting Just for Me" one line), Power Of My Love - takes 5, 6 (long false start + false start), Power Of My Love - take 7 A (long false start + complete take), Power Of My Love - take 7 (complete master take), Do You Know Who I Am - take 1 (complete take + rehearsal), Do You Know Who I Am - take 2 (3 x false start + complete take), Do You Know Who I Am - take 3 (long false start + rehearsal), Do You Know Who I Am - take 4 (3 x false start + complete take), Do You Know Who I Am - take 5 (6 x false start + complete take), Do You Know Who I Am - take 6 (long false start), Do You Know Who I Am - take 6 (complete master take), My Little Friend (mono undubbed acetate), Poor Man's Gold (vocal overdub attempt).
Tracklist Volume 5: Without Love - takes 1, 2, 3 (complete take + 2 x false start), Without Love - take 4 (complete take), Without Love - take 5 (complete master take), Gentle On My Mind (vocal overdub, master take - number unknown), Just A Little Bit Of Green (undubbed master take 3), Wearin' That Loved On Look (partially overdubbed master take 15), Suspicious Minds (vocal overdub, master take 8), I'll Be There - takes 5, 6 (false start + complete take with vocal echo), Hey Jude (longer running undubbed master), You'll Think Of Me (vocal overdub, master take 23), Inherit The Wind (partially overdubbed master take 4), This Is The Story - takes 1, 2 (false start + complete master take vocal overdub), Sammy Shore's end of sketch / Opening Riff, All Shook Up, Don't Cry Daddy, Walk A Mile In My Shoes / In The Ghetto (medley), True Love Travels On A Gravel Road (with false start, the only known live version) LAS VEGAS 26.01.1970 OPENING SHOW, Goin' Home - takes 3, 4 (studio chat + 2 x false start), Goin' Home - take 5 (complete take), Goin' Home - exact take numbers unknown (3 x false start), Goin' Home - takes
12, 13, 14 (2 x false start + long false start + take 15 announcement only), Goin' Home - takes 16, 17, 18 (long false start + 5 x false start), Goin' Home - takes 19, 20, 22 (long false start + 2 x false start), Goin' Home - takes 23, 24 (complete take with cut + "I Got A Woman" excerpt + false start including "Heartbreak Hotel" excerpt), Goin' Home - takes 25, 26, 27, 28 (false start + complete take with cut + 2 x false start).