In late 2004 Follow That Dream Records released a classic album version of "Kid Galahad". The compact disc is housed in a 7" digipak and accompanied by a booklet with photos, pictures of memorabilia and background information. The mastering and mixing of the recordings was done by Lene Reidel. At the time this edition of "Kid Galahad" sounded best, later Vic Anesini was able to improve the audio a bit for the releases of "The Complete Elvis Presley Masters" (2010) and "The RCA Album Collection" (2016). But even now this early FTD edition doesn't need to hide. The disc contains the original mono version of the ep as well as the stereo version as released in the 1990s on the album "Elvis Double Features: Kid Galahad & Girls! Girls! Girls!" and several outtakes. The release is limited to compact disc and vinyl, because even today Follow That Dream Records refuses to distribute their products on streaming platforms.

In this review I limit myself to the tracks that are not part of the original release. If you like to read about RCA Victor's extended player from 1962 just tap HERE.

Take 1 is a complete performance, albeit not as snappy as the later versions. Elvis doesn't want to invest much time and says "You guys don't get paid any more if we go overtime, so let's hurry". The second take already features the well known arrangement, but is canceled after the king sings "the rich man wants to be a princess".

Regarding the publisher Freddy Bienstock the king asks "Where is Freddy? Freddy the freeloader". Then the official take is started, but it soon ends because Elvis has a frog in his throat and has to laugh. The next attempt is a complete performance. It's taken at a slower pace and the guitar is played different to the master. At the time both takes had already been included at FTD's "Silver Screen Stereo" sampler.

Originally Elvis had selected this take as master, but then revoked his decision and recorded two more takes. Finally the last one was chosen for release. The arrangement is a bit softer and the king doesn't always sound 100% secure. Up to that point just the first attempt had been a complete performance. I guess Elvis wanted to get over with it, but then made up his mind and desided to do it right.

Elvis wasn't happy with the result and so he tried again the next day. So these are takes of the first session. The producer wrongly announces take 6 and Elvis replies "take 1". The recording is stopped soon, because The Jordanaires are not hearable. The king says "Yeah, we took the group out" and adds jokingly "In fact they were out before they got to the studio". Compared to earlier takes the arrangement of the harmony vocals was changed and the tempo is a tad higher.

On this early take the saxophone hasn't been included yet and Elvis and The Jordanaires sound quite insecure and reserved.

D.J. Fontana needs several attempts to get the tempo right, someone jokingly suggests a splice. On the third take Elvis has to laugh after just a few lines and cancels the recording. We jump to take 6, which is also aborted. This time the king leaves the melody and comments "Hold it, I forgot the damn tune of this sonofabitch". Finally the 7th attempt works well. Elvis sings a bit lower and sounds somewhat restrained. At the end he asks to hear the recording.

Take number 13 shines with a powerful saxophone intro and jazzy piano throw-ins.

Compared to the version recorded for "Follow That Dream" the tempo is slower, which I like very much.

"Everybody play loud, to hell with it. We've got to or we'll be here all night" Elvis says. Obviously he wants to get done with it. Take 14 sounds more rockin', but dies right at the intro. The next attempt has a touch of the old SUN recordings, because of Scotty Moore's guitar playing. Unfortunately he makes a mistake, the king has to laugh and the take is canceled. Strangely though the group now returns to the arrangement of the demo. This time Elvis gets out of tune. Now we hear a false start and another, loger false start. Finally take 25 is a complete performance again.

It sounds more like a rehearsal than a serious attempt to record the song. At one point Elvis has to restrain his laughter. The song is shorter than the released version, because one verse is left out. FTD had released this track previously on a compilation called "Silver Screen Stereo".

After a short false start we get to hear a beautiful, intimate sounding performance of the ballad.

Here Ray Walker's bass part has been added. It's a complete performance, but by now everyone has run out of steam and the session is closed.

Compared to the earlier takes the tempo is higher and the rhythm has been adjusted to Twist, the latest dance craze of the time. The performance ends with a drum roll and a final note of the piano.

The first two takes are nothing but short false starts. After the first one Elvis asks "What the hell happened?". The third walkthrough is already known from FTD's sampler "Out In Hollywood", but here the mix sounds more spaceous and vital.