Thirty years after the original release Follow That Dream Records presented a collector's edition of "Elvis Today". The set includes two compact discs and a booklet, housed in a 7" digipak. The cds contain the tracks of the original album plus the rough mixes of these songs. They had been made by Felton Jarvis and Rick Ruggieri on March 14th and 15th to present the results of the session to the decision makers. These mixes don't contain any overdubs or re-recorded instruments. Of course the set also includes several outtakes. The audio restauration was done by Lene Reidel. Compared to earlier releases her work was an improvement, but later remasters sounded better than Reidel's efforts. Because Follow That Dream Records sticks to physical formats, the compilation is not available through the streaming platforms. The rough mixes, however, are included on the Legacy Edition of "Elvis Today", which can be streamed in high resolution.

In this review I only deal with the tracks, that are not available on the original release or the Legacy Edition. For a review of RCA's "Elvis Today" album just tap HERE.

After the recording of "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" the band played a little jam and Elvis spontaneously started to sing along. Compared to the live performances "Tiger Man" is played at a much slower pace and sounds more like country and honky tonk. The track was first released in the 1990s on the boxed set "Walk A Mile In My Shoes - The Essential 70s Masters".

Even though this is the second try, Elvis and the band know exactly what to do. Here and there his performance still is a bit uneven, but in general it works astonishing well. This version of "And I Love You So" was first released on the boxed set "Platinum - A Life In Music" in 1997.

The first attempt to record this ballad was known from the boxed set "Today, Tomorrow And Forever". Elvis obviously knew the song well, because he sings it without problems. Just the spoken part needs to be perfected.

Before the official recording starts Elvis says "Good luck everybody!". He doesn't know how to emphasize a lot of the words, so the take is canceled after a minute. The second try fails on the intro, but the producer doesn't regard this false start a separate take. The group starts again and manages a complete performances. Elvis sounds more secure here, but still has problems with the bridge (I've been loving you so long...). The false start was new at the time of release, the second take was known from the album "Great Country Songs".

By way of exception FTD presents an unreleased track. During the chorus Elvis sounds a tad hectic, in general he doesn't know how to sell the song. But it's the first walkthrough and he has to gets used to the song.

The spoken part aside, Elvis obviously knows what to do right from the start. That's why BMG released it in the 1990s on the album "Great Country Songs".

Elvis sings "Just leave it to me"...and the take is canceled, because the band missed their cue. Felton Jarvis doesn't regard it a separate take and keeps the tape rolling. The next attempt works well and is a complete performance. The tempo is a bit slower and at the end (where he repeats "shake a hand" over and over again) Elvis has to laugh.

After some studio talk the 3rd take is started. Elvis doesn't perform with as much zest as on the master. At the end he fools around a bit and uses his falsetto.

The king obviously has problems with his phrasing, so he cancels the take. The beginning of the 3rd attempt is also rough, because Elvis doesn't get his timing right. The last part (...and the one I miss most of all) doesn't work all that well, too. No wonder that Felton Jarvis suggests "Let's do one more".

A few minor timing issues aside the performance works well.

This track as well as all the following ones have been released first on FTD's compilation "6363 Sunset", which features recordings Elvis made at "RCA Studio C" in Hollywood/California in 1972 and 1975. Take 2 of "Green Green Grass Of Home" is nothing but the intro and the first line. The 3rd attempt is a complete performance, but Elvis still has trouble with the phrasing and also doesn't hit every note.

Elvis spoofs the first part of the song, in which the narrator names several ladies, who disappointed him and simply sings different names (like the actress Peggy Lipton) and comments "I got a whole new list". The second take is a serious one, the harmony voices are arranged different to the master.

"Step here, Sheila. Let me sing to you, baby" says Elvis and starts the first recording of this beautiful love song. Maybe Mrs. Ryan inspires him to deliver a very good first take.

Tony Brown messes up the intro and Elvis jokingly says "OK, next piano player!". The following attempt is complete and sounds quite similar to the master. The major difference is, that the king holds back a bit, because he istn't used to the song yet.

Elvis sounds somewhat hesitant, because the tempo is fast and there are a lot of words. Nevertheless the performance works well, at the end Felton Jarvis calls out "Let's listen to it!".

The second attempt already is so good, it easily could have been released on the album, too.