Fourtyfive years after the original album Follow That Dream Records released a collector's edition of "Pot Luck With Elvis". The 7" digipak holds two compact discs and a booklet with background information, photos and much more. The first disc includes the tracks of the original album, bonus songs (which were recorded at the same sessions, but were only available on singles at the time) plus the songs of the album in their first complete version. The second disc contains outtakes, sorted by session. The masters are the same versions, that were later released on "The Complete Elvis Presley Masters". The outtakes were mastered and mixed by the same team, namely Vic Anesini and Sebastian Jeansson. FTD's version of "Pot Luck With Elvis" is available on cd only, because the label refuses to distribute their products via streaming.

In this review I focus on the tracks, that are neither available on the "Pot Luck With Elvis" album, nor on the regular RCA singles. For a review of the original album just tap HERE.

Elvis says "Kiss Me Quick", imitating Duffy Duck. The first take is played a bit slower and the harmony singers are arranged differently. The king has problems to emphasize several words and also doesn't get his timing right. At one point the mistake is so big, he has to restrain his laughter.

In contrast to most early takes, this song is played faster. The guitar and the piano are arranged differently. Elvis himself doesn't seem to have any trouble with the ballad.

This time the song already sounds more or less like the master. Elvis holds back a bit, because he isn't used to the tune yet.

We get to hear the second take, because the first one is nothing but a false start. FTD offers this attempt on the second disc in combination with take 3. The drums are played harder and the guitar is arranged differently. Elvis also dosn't know how to sell the song yet, but that shouldn't surprise anyone at the first complete walkthrough.

Compared to later attempts the ballad is played faster.

We hear rehearsals of the musicians and the announcement of the take. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's "Hochzeitsmarsch" is used as an intro, piano and choir also sound different to the released version. At one point Elvis looses track, but the take is continued.

Elvis clears his throat, then the first attempt to record "Suspicion" is started. There's more emphasize on the rhythm, which takes away the flow we know from the master.

Because the king has to focus on the song itself, his performance lacks emotion.

The sound is less "full", Elvis' performance lacks energy and the saxophone solo isn't worked out yet. But hey, it's the first walkthrough!

The song includes a choir intro, which Elvis doesn't like at all. He also wants to have a guitar on the intro, which is included right on the spot. The major difference to the master is the arrangement of the harmony singers.

We hear some studio talk, then the official recording is started. Elvis doesn't know how to emphasize several parts, he also doesn't sing as emotional as on the released take. Instead of an electric guitar an accustic guitar is used. In general the performance works very well, considering this is the first take.

The first take is less peppy, but in principle the song doesn't challenge anyone.

The same can be said about "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello". The rhythm is emphasized a little more and the triangle is still missing.

The latino-pop still lacks some zest, but apart from that it's similar to the master.

The first walkthrough lacks the flow of the master, because the rhythm is played a tad too hard.

Elvis dosn't know how to sell the song yet and there also would be some changes of the piano part and the harmony vocals.

Compared to the first take the intro was shortened. The first try doesn't work, but the second one is a complete performance. Elvis doesn't know how to emphasize certain parts yet. On the third take the band fails again on the intro, but this time the producer regards it a separate take. The 4th attempt is a complete performance again. In general there are just a few details to be ironed out.

Take number two works well and already sounds similar to the master. The next attempt falters after twenty seconds or so. Instead of the 4th try (which later was released on the collector's edition of "Elvis' Golden Records - Volume 3" we get to hear the 5th one, which sounds more or less like the master, too.

Elvis imitates the announcement of a pilot before the start of a plane. Take 1 is canceled after a few seconds, because the tempo is too fast. The second take includes a few false starts, but then the group manages a complete performances. But now the tempo is too slow and it drags a bit.

The guitar and the choir is arranged similar to the first take. The producer stops the walkthrough after half a minute. Take number 9 already sounds similar to the master, but the performance still lacks flow.

The second take is canceled by the producer, on the next one Elvis gets out of tune and apologizes by saying "I'm sorry". A false start follows, but it's not regarded a separate take. The next attempt is successful, the differences to the master are minimal.

Before the second take is started the musicians play a jazzy instrumental. It's always great to hear the guys jamming and having fun. When the take is announced everyone goes back to being professional. The second take is canceled after a short while, the third one is a complete performance. Once again we hear some jazzy sounds, the producer announces "OK, here we go" to prepare everyone for the next attempt to record. The result would be selected as master, but in the end Elvis would decide to release the earlier recording of "Night Rider".

Follow That Dream Records presents two complete performances of "You'll Be Gone", which sound quite similar to the master (take 3). Before the 4th try begins, Elvis sings a line of "South Of The Border".

The chronological order of the takes has been changed, because FTD wanted to present a false start followed by a complete performance. Take 4 are two false starts plus some rehearsals of the harmony singers. The 3rd attempt is complete and already sounds close to the released version.

The 2nd and the 4th take are played in the same tempo like the first one, but the rhythm is not emphasized that much. Take number 5 is performed a tad faster and the triangle has been added.

Once again the chronological order was changed by FTD. Take 3 is canceled after a mistake by the guitarist. The previous walkthrough is a complete performance, which doesn't have the flow of the master yet.

After a mistake by the choir the attempt to record "She's Not You" ends in laughter. The next try works fine and the crew manages a complete performance. Afterwards we hear a workpart-take, which was used to lengthen the song.

Take number 10 is canceled by Elvis, then he fools around a bit. Take 7 is a complete performance.

The takes number 4, 9 and 16 are complete performances, that sound more or less similar to the master. Take 8 is canceled after a mistake by the harmony singers.

The first take is a false start and a complete performance. Because FTD already presented it on the first disc of the set, we now get to hear just the false start. Why Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon (the producers of the Follow That Dream releases) didn't use the complete first take on disc number one remains a secret. Sometimes I think they just love to edit stuff regardless any rhyme or reason. Take number two is a complete performance.

Even though the intro doesn't work quite well, the performance is continued. It's not as smooth as the master, Elvis doesn't know how to emphasize all the lines yet and also has some problems with his timing.

The group has trouble to find into the song. They have to start three times, which isn't regarded as separate takes by the producer. The recording attempts number 4 and 5 are complete performances and don't differ to the released version all that much.

With the 5th take the guitarist switched from an acoustic to an electric guitar. Both takes are complete performances.