In 2014 Follow That Dream Records released a collector's edition of "Elvis For Everyone!". It was the usual two compact discs, housed in a 7" digipak and accompanied by an informative and well desigend booklet. The cover shows the Italian version of the record sleeve. Here RCA wanted to be modern and adjusted the name of a popular album by The Beatles. The cds include the tracks of the original long player plus the songs that were suggested to Elvis, but not used. It also features the overdubbed version of "Wild In The Country" that was only available on the British stereo version of the album. Of course the set also features many outtakes, albeit some of them have no connection to "Elvis For Everyone!" at all. I guess the producers simply used the opportunity to present unreleased material, because at the time FTD didn't release compilation albums anymore. The official recordings were copied from "The Complete Elvis Presley Masters" and therefore sound great. The outtakes were newly mixed and mastered by Vic Anesini and Sebastian Jeansson, so they sound as pristine as the masters. As usual FTD refuses to distribute their product in a modern way and stick to compact discs and vinyl records.

Most of the rejected songs were later released by RCA and CAMDEN, so I will only deal with the tracks that were not made available during Elvis' lifetime. For a review of the original "Elvis For Everyone!" album tap HERE.

The track was released on the flipside of "I Feel So Bad" (1961) and on the boxed set "The Other Sides - Worldwide Gold Award Hits Volume 2" (1971). The version on the British stereo edition of "Elvis For Everyone!" included maracas, that were supposingly overdubbed on March 18, 1965. The exact date is not known, but because on this day "Tomorrow Night" was overdubbed, it's quite safe to say that Steve Sholes worked on "Wild In The Country", too.

The song was written by Giant/Baum/Kaye for the movie "Girls! Girls! Girls!". On March 28, 1962 Elvis recorded 17 takes and two insert-takes with the ending of the tune. These takes were labeled with the numbers 18 and 19. The final master was a splice of the takes 17 and 19.  At the time the track was neither used in the film, nor on the soundtrack album. Not even CAMDEN released it on any of their budget long players. "Plantation Rock" finally premiered in 1983 on the album "A Legendary Performer - Volume 3". Today it can be found on the digital version of "Let's Be Friends".

The king recorded this song on October 15, 1961 at RCA Studio B in Nashville/Tennessee, but rejected a release on "Pot Luck With Elvis". A few years later he approved it to be used on "Elvis For Everyone!". The second take has a slower tempo and therefore drags a bit. Elvis also sings in a lower key, which isn't optimal, too. Another difference to the master is the use of an accordion. For a few seconds the king hums a part of the song, I guess he hadn't looked at the lyrics and simply had to catch up.

Once again the tempo is slower, but otherwise the performance mirrors the one of the master. Elvis recorded "Lonely Man" on November 7, 1960 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood/California for the movie "Wild In The Country".

This one was taped a day later at the same location for the same project. The cover claims that this is take 9, but the producer announces take 10. But no matter which attempt it is, it sounds quite similar to the master.

Now we jump a few months ahead and take a peek into the session for "Blue Hawaii". To be precise, we are at Radio Recorders in Hollywood/California on March 21, 1961. Once again the differences to the released version are minimal, albeit Elvis emphasizes some words differently.

On the same day Elvis also recorded "Slicin' Sand". The ersatzrock doesn't sound as cool as on the record, but this performance also could have been released.

One of the hobbies of Ernst Jorgensen (the man behind Follow That Dream Records) was to create "new" versions by splicing different takes. I still have not figured out, why such bullshit is released on a collector's label, which is supposed to present original material to the fans. However, Elvis recorded the song on July 2, 1961 at RCA Studio B in Nashville/Tennessee for the motion picture "Follow That Dream".

We return to the session on October 15, 1961 for another take of "For The Millionth And The Last Time". By now the arrangement sounds like the one of the released version, albeit the song is still taken at a slower pace.

This great ballad was recorded on the same day. The announcement of the producer is followed by a little joke and a performance, that is very close to the master. The only difference, and maybe the reason why this attempt wasn't approved for release, is the line "when the last bit of pride in me is gone...", which Elvis sings with a tad too much energy.

A few days later Elvis was back in the studio, albeit this time at Radio Recorders in Hollywood/California. The agenda was to produce a soundtrack for the movie "Kid Galahad". On October 26, 1961 Elvis recorded "King Of The Whole Wide World". Before the official take starts, the king spoofs a line of the song by saying "the rich man wants to be the princess". The arrangement of this earlier take sounds more edgy and the saxophone solo has balls. I like it better this way.

In the same context Elvis also recorded this ballad. The twelfth attempt sounds very similar to the master.

This is the final song from October 26, 1961. The arrangement is different to the released version and Elvis emphasizes many lines differently.

This one also belongs to the soundtrack of "Kid Galahad", but was recorded on October 27, 1961. Before the official take begins, Elvis and the musicians coordinate themselves. Take 8 already sounds very good.

On March 18, 1962 the king recorded some songs at RCA Studio B in Nashville/Tennessee for another album and several singles. After Elvis sang "something old, the time..." the producer cancels the take and the king completes the line with "...is cut". Take number 6 lacks the perfection of the master, but is already very close.

The rocker was recorded the same day as "Something Blue". On the 6th attempt Elvis and his crew are not running at full throttle yet, but they are certainly on the right track.

Obviously the arrangement was set right from the start. Because Elvis still has to get accustomed to the ballad, he sings with less emotion. By the way, "I Feel That I've Known You Forever" was recorded on March 19, 1962.

Before we leave RCA Studio B, we jump back to March 18, 1962, The 6th take is taken at a slower pace and Elvis sounds a bit restrained.

On August 30, 1962 the king was back at Radio Recorders in Hollywood/California to tape another soundtrack. This time it was for MGM's "It Happened At The World's Fair". The producer announces the song as "end title", because it is the grand finale of the movie. Elvis emphasizes several lines different to the master, he also misses several notes and his voice cracks here and there. The reason for this was a cold, that the king had caught shortly before the recording session.

Due to Elvis' illness the sessions were moved to late September. "I'm Falling In Love Tonight" was recorded on the 22nd of the month and by now his voice was sounding as good as ever again. The king performs the song very well and very close to the master.

On the same day the group also taped the children's song "How Would You Like To Be". The simple tune doesn't challenge anybody. Here and there Elvis doesn't emphasize the words perfectly, but that shouldn't be a surprise on the first walkthrough.

The final for tracks were recorded in January 1963 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood/California for the movie "Fun In Acapulco". This one was taped on the 22nd of the month. Take 5 is a false start on which Elvis doesn't even get to sing a single word. The 6th attempt is a complete performance, but doesn't has the flow of the master. During his presentation the king jokes a bit and changes a line to "drink, you fink".

Elvis had recorded the tune on January 22, 1963, but taped it again on the next day, because he didn't like the result. Take 15 is very close to the released version.

We jump back to January 22nd. Elvis' timing is off on the first "y amor" and in general his singing drags a bit. It's obvious, that he tries out differnt things to see what works on the song and what does not.

This is another tune Elvis recorded twice during the "Fun In Acapulco" sessions. Here we get the 10th attempt of the second version from January 23, 1963. The arrangement differs to the master and the king performs the song with less zest.