The Mystery Train 1.0

A selection of my writings from the original run of The Mystery Train, published online between 2010 and 2014, preserved as part of the site’s early history.

From “Harbor Lights” to “Unchained Melody” in 14 days

/ TY / 2 Comments

A few months ago, I spent three weeks listening in release order to all Elvis albums issued during his lifetime. Though I owned these songs for years, I had never played them in such a sequential manner before. I probably never would have, either, were it not for the convenience of modern technology – using iTunes and my iPod.

All of the great coverage around the web about Sony’s The Complete Elvis Presley Masters collection inspired me to undertake a similar journey in recent weeks. Using the Elvis Presley master recordings list as a guide, I created a new playlist to listen to all of the songs in recording order this time. While I was at it, I also tagged each song with a number so that I can easily sort them by recording order in the future.

It took me only two weeks to listen to over 700 Elvis songs, and it was an even better listening experience this way. As expected, the hardest years for me to sludge through were 1964 and 1965 (from about “Poison Ivy League” on down to “Queenie Wahine’s Papaya”). Even then, there were the occasional highlights like “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me” or “This Is My Heaven” – but most songs from this time represent the worst of the movie tunes.

Outside of that long rough spot, though, playing the songs in a coherent fashion like this made it even more obvious how solid most of his other recordings were over the years. It really made me appreciate the “sound” of individual sessions, something that is not always evident when listening to many of his albums. As a fan, it was an emotional experience as well, even more so than listening to them as albums.

When the Graceland sessions came to a close with “He’ll Have To Go,” I realized there were only three Elvis recordings left before he did just that. As he sang “If You Love Me,” and “Little Darlin’,” I knew the inevitable was coming. It was going by so fast, I wanted it to slow down, I wanted it not to happen this time.

He launched into his breathtaking version of “Unchained Melody” and when it was over . . . silence.

I sat and listened to that silence for awhile . . . and thought about what it represented.

My favorite Christmas song

/ TY

In response to the following Elvis Today on Facebook post:

Playing Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas right now. Which Christmas song is your favorite? My vote goes to ‘Merry Christmas Baby’.”

I’m not on the Facebook, so I’m just going to take the easy route and answer the question right here. My favorite Christmas song is 1957’s “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” from Elvis’ Christmas Album. I also love his brief take of the same song on the Tiger Man album, a concert recorded for the ELVIS (’68 Comeback) TV special.

Of course, I can’t play by the rules and choose just one. Another favorite is 1971’s “I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day,” including the original version on Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas and an alternate version on Today, Tomorrow & Forever.

Truth is, I love all of his Christmas music, though. I love this time of year. I’m a bit of a Christmas music fanatic. I probably have 500 Christmas songs. Now that the season is here, I’ve set my iPod to start placing Christmas music into the rotation. I up the percentage each week until Christmas Eve, when it is 100% Christmas music for two days. I’m not sure why I can’t just do things like normal people, but I guess I wasn’t designed that way.

Also, why is it when I plan to write a six word response that I end up writing six paragraphs?

Anyway, right now I’m listening to “Tiger Man” on 1969’s From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis album. Not a Christmas song, but one of the greats! He really rocked that one. I wish he were still here.

Elvis Information Network presents a massive review for an enormous set

/ TY

I’ve been living vicariously through others lately by rather obsessively reading different people’s views of both the Sony and Franklin Mint complete masters sets. I have to hand it to Piers Beagley over at Elvis Information Network. The prospect of reviewing a 30-disc set like The Complete Elvis Presley Masters must have been daunting. I don’t mind telling you that I doubt I could do it.

He did a fine job, and included a lot of great photos. For scale perspective, he even included a standard CD in the shots. Wow, the set is actually much larger than I realized!

Outside of scattered forum postings, this is probably the set’s first full-fledged review. Be sure to read Piers Beagley’s massive 5,000 word review of the enormous Complete Elvis Presley Masters over on EIN.

Sony releases four new “Suspicious Minds” remixes, tells no one

/ TY / 5 Comments

Sony has quietly released four download-only remixes of “Suspicious Minds” created as part of the Viva Elvis project. These are different remixes than the one appearing on Viva Elvis: The Album.

And by “quietly,” I mean that they basically released them, told no one, and then went about their business. Were it not for a poster over on the For Elvis CD Collectors forum who literally stumbled across them while searching for something else, no one would even know. Not even a mention on Sony’s official Elvis The Music or Viva Elvis sites. Way to go, Sony.

On Amazon US, the four remixes are available at $1.29 each. You would be better served, however, to just download the entire “album” of four songs for a total of $1.99. That’s some funky pricing.

As such modernizations go, I prefer the version on Viva Elvis: The Album. These are still interesting, however, and will make nice additions to the rotation on my iPod.

Thank you to GibbersGanfa for letting the Elvis world know. Read GibbersGanfa’s “Brand New Official Suspicious Minds Remix” post on the FECC forum.

Shoppin’ Around: Elvis Presley 2010 Christmas Gift Guide

/ TY

If you know and love an Elvis fan, here are some Christmas gift ideas to suit a wide variety of budgets. Price ranges listed are in US dollars, but most of these items are available around the world.

Under $10

Viva Elvis: The Album: Reactions from the Elvis fan community have been mixed on this CD, which features new backing music to Elvis’ vocals. While this tribute to his career obviously will never replace the original recordings, I love this retrospective. Viva Elvis is a fun and brilliant album that presents Elvis in a whole new light – how it might sound if he recorded today.

Under $20

On Stage (2010 Legacy Edition): This two-CD set contains both On Stage-February 1970 and Elvis In Person At The International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, which capture his August 1969 and February 1970 Vegas engagements. Elvis is in top form here, and these recordings have never sounded better. A few bonus tracks are also included on each disc, from the same time period.

Under $30

Elvis Blu-ray Collection: Jailhouse Rock/Viva Las Vegas/Elvis On Tour: This three-disc Blu-ray set, currently retailing for less than $9 a movie, presents a well-chosen sampler of Elvis’ film career. Jailhouse Rock is the classic 1957 rocker that holds its own against King Creole (1958) and Flaming Star (1960) as Elvis’ best dramatic performance. 1964’s Viva Las Vegas is the highlight of his 1960s “formula” movies – aided, no doubt, by the talents of the beautiful Ann-Margret. Finally, 1972’s Elvis On Tour features Elvis on stage and behind-the-scenes during an April 1972 tour. While not as incredible as 1970’s Elvis-That’s The Way It Is (not yet available on Blu), Elvis On Tour is still a fantastic experience not to be missed.

Fair warning: This 2010 release of Elvis On Tour has been modified from the original version. Due to Warner Home Video’s inability to obtain permission to use “Johnny B. Goode,” the opening song of the movie is now an amateurishly looped, throwaway version of “Don’t Be Cruel.” This only affects the first two minutes of the otherwise unaltered film. The power of Elvis manages to save this release and make it worth recommending. Despite what you may read elsewhere, picture and sound quality for Elvis On Tour are terrific on Blu.

Elvis As Recorded At Boston Garden ’71: This Follow That Dream collectors label CD is a soundboard recording of Elvis’ one and only concert at Boston Garden. This is a must-have for fans of this era, for it provides the missing bridge between his 1970 and 1972 live concert sound. Great show! Find FTD releases at ShopElvis.com and other online Elvis stores.

$400 – $750

Elvis: The Complete Masters Collection (Franklin Mint); The Complete Elvis Presley Masters (Sony): These are two different but similarly themed CD releases. Both contain all 711 recordings that Sony identifies as masters released during Elvis’ lifetime. Sound quality is upgraded, but faithful to the original mixes (in most cases, anyway). The $400 Franklin Mint version also includes a 24-page booklet, a “record player” style display case, and a reproduction of Elvis’ first SUN record, “That’s All Right”/”Blue Moon Of Kentucky.” The $750 Sony version is aimed at higher-end collectors and includes another 103 songs (alternate masters, outtakes, home recordings, etc.), a 240-page book, and a fold-out case to hold everything. The first run of the Sony edition is sold out, but pre-orders for a January second run are now being accepted. To still have something to place under the tree, you could print out a photo of the set from the Sony site. The Franklin Mint version is still available.

Have fun, fellow Elvis fans, and thanks to all of those who love us!

“Give thanks for all you’ve been blessed with…”

/ TY

“…and hold your loved ones tight.”

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Get well wishes to rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson [Update: Wilkinson home]

/ TY

ElvisMatters reports that John Wilkinson, who played rhythm guitar from 1969 to 1977 for Elvis, is back in the hospital. Best wishes to John for a speedy recovery and a return home in time for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Read the full article on ElvisMatters: John Wilkinson back in hospital.

[November 28, 2010, UPDATE – Wilkinson is back home:

(A)fter a check-up and some pain relief medications, his doctors told him he was as healthy as could be ‘given the wear and tear and the mileage’. John is enjoying the company of his wife Terry and his two doggies – and like he told us on the phone: ‘a day without Elvis music is a day wasted.’ Even today, 33 years on, John listens to his idol/boss/friend every single day: ‘I loved him then, and I love him now. Some things will never change.'”

(Source: www.elvismatters.com)]