Fiftytwo years after RCA's original release Follow That Dream Records issued a collector's edtion of "G.I. Blues". The two compact discs include the tracks of the longplayer as well as "Tonight Is All Right For Love", which substituted "Tonight Is So Right For Love" in several countries due to legal reasons. And of course there are lots of outtakes. All recordings were mastered by Sebastian Jeansson, the mix of the outtakes was done by Vic Anesini. The cds are housed in a 7" digipak and accompanied by a booklet with background information, pictures and much more. The release is available in physical form only, because FTD sticks to compact discs and viny records.

I focus on the tracks that are not included on the regular album. For a review of RCA's "G.I. Blues" tap HERE.

Elvis recorded this song twice, here FTD delivers the master (take 11) of the first version, recorded on April 27, 1960. The arrangement differs to the released version, in total the first attempt sounds a bit clumsy.

This version of "Frankfort Special" is played so fast, it almost sounds like a parody.

The same applies here. At this tempo the lullaby gives the impression of a joke.

On April 28, 1960 Elvis recorded 28 takes of "Pocketful Of Rainbows" and selected the 12th attempt for release. In the end he revoked his decision and recorded the song a second time. Compared to the released version this one sounds somewhat combersome, maybe because the rhythm is emphasized a tad too much.

Obviously they were trying to figure out in which form the song could be released on record. This performance is taken at a faster tempo than the one in the movie, but not as fast as the previous one.

This is more or less the "Barcarolle" from "Hoffmanns Erzaehlungen".

The first take is canceled because Elvis snapped his fingers. Jokingly he says "Most humble forgiveness" to which the producer replies "Forgiven". Take number 2 is a complete performance.

Elvis has to laugh during the intro, someone ironically calls out "playback". The second take is canceled by Elvis, the third one at least gets a little bit further. But then the guitarist gets out of step and the king changes the accordant line to "ha, ha, ha you messed up the break". The 4th try is canceled by the producer, because Elvis' chair was squeaking. Finally take number 5 is a complete performance. It is taken at a slower tempo, the rhythm is emphasized more and the king sings a tad lower. The result doesn't sound all that great.

After a minute Elvis looses track and stops to sing. The others continue to play, so the king has to tell them to stop the train. Take 2 is a complete performance, but it's obvious that Elvis has to restrain his laughter. He knows how ridiculous this high speed version is.

The americanized version of "Muss I Denn Zum Staedtele Hinaus" works well right from the start. Apart from the word "Staedtele" Elvis also has no trouble with the German language. At the end he remarks "Sehr gut" (very good).

The title song of the movie doesn't challenge anybody. Elvis has to laugh as one of The Jordanaires spontaneously calls out "nein" (no).

After 1.5 minutes Elvis puts too much energy in the words "lonely night" and stops the take by saying "hell, no". The second attempt is a complete performance, but the king still doesn't know how to sing this part. In general he isn't sure how to present the song.

The first attempt to record "Shoppin' Around" included a drum intro. In total the performance gives a chaotic and clumsy impression.

The first take is nothing but a few bars of the intro. The second one is a complete performance.

The intro is now played by a musical clock and the tempo is much slower. But in contrast to the version on the record there's a greater emphasis on the rhythm.

The arrangement is fix right from the start and nobody has any problems with the song. There are just some minor issus that have to be ironed out.

The same applies here.

The first take is canceled because The Joranaires sing wrong. Take number 2 is stopped somewhere in the middle of the song, because Elvis looses his step and says "I'm sorry". The third try is a complete performance. The harmony voices are arranged differently to the master and of course the execution of the song is not perfect yet.

Everyone sounds more secure by now and the performance has a better flow than the earlier one on this album.

Paramount needed an instrumental version of "Shoppin' Around". Five takes were recorded, the third one was selected as master. The second take of the version including the king's voice breaks down in mid-song. The next attempt is canceld by the producer. Take number 4 impends to break down several times, but the song is almost over when it finally happens. Everything sounds rather chotic. Before the next attempt to record "Shoppin' Around" is started, the arrangement and the key were changed and the intro was simplified. It can be estimated that it was done, because Elvis wanted to play the rhythm guitar himself and the song had to be adjusted to his abilities. The king had many talents, but he certainly wasn't a great instrumentalist.

Take number 4 fails on the intro, the next try is canceled by Elvis after just a few lines. The following attempt seems to work fine, but in the middle of the song the king misses his cue and says "I'm sorry". Take 8 is nothing but a few bars of the intro. The 9th walkthrough is a complete performance. Elvis emphasizes some words different to the master and the tempo is a bit slower.

After the take is announced Elvis asks "was?". On the third take Elvis looses track after a minute or so, in the background someone laconically says "I'm glad we stopped". The producer doesn't regard it a separate take and has the group start all over again. This time the king canceles the take after two thirds of the song. The 4th try is also stopped after a short while, as a joke Elvis intones "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". Finally take number 5 works well and already sounds close to the master.

Elvis sings lower than on the released version, his timing is not perfect yet. Someone shouts "Achtung! Ach..." (the word "Achtung" means "attention"), after that another complete take is performed. The 5th take fails shortly before the end of the song, the next attempt is canceled by Elvis, who claims "I've lost my feeling...I've lost it". Take number seven is a complete performance again.

During the third take Elvis has to laugh and therefore the recording is stopped. Jokingly the king sings a part of "It's All In The Game". Take number 4 is canceled after Elvis lost track and simply stops to sing. The same applies to the 5th try. Take 6 is not much more than a few bars of the intro. The group tries again, but now the king misses his cue. The performance is continued, but of course everyone knows that it's unusable. Take 8 is another complete performance, even though it also cannot be released because Elvis has to laugh in-between.

Another highspeed performance, but this time it causes less trouble. At the end Elvis claims "Awsome, I like it!".  

Elvis gets out of step, so the second take is canceled. On the third take the same thing happens, but this time the performance is continued.

Because "Big Boots" is a lullaby, the movie and the album contained the slow version. But there also was a highspeed and a medium version of the song. The latter one can be heared here. In contrast to "Pocketful Of Rainbows" this one doesn't cause any trouble.

The 6th take is canceled because the tempo is too slow. Take 7 is a complete performance, even though the king has obvious problems to get the bridge right. On the 8th attempt Elvis stumbles upon the word "marvellous" and cancels the take. The next try fails, because the king still has to laugh about his mistake. The producer kills take number 10, to which Elvis replies by asking "was?". Afterwards he's rehearsing the troublesome part of the song and comments "You can't sing that". The next attempt is a complete performance, but take 12 fails again because the king's voice cracks. The tempo is a tad faster now. With take number 13 we get another complete performance, which is also sounding quite well.

Elvis sings with a tad too much power here and there, the "lonely ni-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ight" also causes trouble. Finally he has to laugh and the take is canceled. After two false starts take 7 is a complete performance, as well as the following takes 8 to 10.

Someone in the background unsuccessfully tries to speak German. The second take of "Wooden Heart" is not much more than a few bars played on the accordeon, take number 3 is canceled because Elvis has to laugh about the words "Staedtele hinaus". The 4th attempt is not just a complete performance, but also the master we all know.