When Follow That Dream Records started their series of collector's editions in 2003 "Viva Las Vegas" was amongst the first editions. The cd is housed in a 7" digi-pak and accompanied by a booklet with background information and pictures. Because FTD sticks to the compact disc and vinyl long player formats, the album is not available on the streaming platforms. The tracks were mastered by Lene Reidel and mixed by Andreas Meyer. The results sounded much better than the previous releases, but on "The Complete Elvis Presley Masters" (2010) and "The RCA Album Collection" (2016) the audio quality was improved again.

Because this is one of the first collector's editions by FTD the concept was not fixed yet. Later releases of this kind featured the masters in the sequence of the original release, bonus tracks and outtakes. Here the producers (Ernst M. Jorgensen and Roger Semon) have created the "lost" album and added the outtakes as a bonus. In this article I will only deal with the tracks not available on the original RCA and CAMDEN releases. To read about them, just tap on the names. While Elvis was alive the label spread the songs on the single "Viva Las Vegas" / "What'd I Say" (1964), the extended player "Viva Las Vegas" (1964) as well as the albums "Elvis For Everyone!" (1965) and "SINGER Presents Elvis Singing "Flaming Star" & Others" (1968).

Both takes were released by FTD before on a compilation named "Silver Screen Stereo". However, for this classic album the audio has been improved. Take 1 is arranged significantly different to the master. Unfortunately the performance is not complete, but stopped by Elvis after 1.5 minutes. The second take already features the well known arrangement. Obviously the song is no challenge to the king, he just has to iron out some details.

The attempt works well, but after the break Elvis muddles up the lyrics. Because he knows that the take is unusable anyway, he has a bit of fun and sings "hot damn night life". At the end he asks "We don't happen to have the words?". This take had been released by FTD before on a compilation called "Out In Hollywood".

This one is known from the "Silver Screen Stereo". The first take is performed at a slower tempo and cancelled by Elvis after singing "C'mon everybody and whistle this tune right now". The second attempt lasts no longer than a few seconds, then the producer is asked what take it is. It is number 3 and it's a complete performance. Elvis obviously has trouble with the timing.

The song is played slower and the arrangement is simpler. I like this take very much, because it emphasizes on the nightclub feeling. FTD had released the take before on "Out In Hollywood".

This track is known from FTD's "Silver Screen Stereo". This version included a conversation between Elvis and Ann-Margret, which is missing here. Compared to the master the singers emphasize some of the words differently and their timing is not always correct.

On the 3rd take Elvis and Ann also slobber over each other, albeit not as professional as on the master take. This track had been released before on "Silver Screen Stereo", but now it comes in a better mix and without the artificial echo.

The recording is known from the same source and once again improved by remixing and remastering it. The third take is nothing but a short false start, take 4 is a complete performance.

Take 1 is just the intro, the second attempt is a complete performance. The song is taken at a slower tempo and therefore sounds less hysterical then the master. At the end Elvis sings a line of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".

After a minute or so Elvis has to laugh and stopps the recording. The seventh attempt is already close to the master.

Take 6 is nothing more than the line "c'mon everybody and snap your fingers now". The next try works well and could also have been released.

The first attempt is performed slower. It may lack some drive, but it emphasizes on the latin rhythm.

Here the lead vocalist is bass singer George McFadden, Elvis and The Jordanaires are singing in the background. The first attempt is cancelled by Elvis in the middle of the song with the remark "Hold it, we picked up the tempo a little too much, fellows". The next attempt lasts just a few bars, because the producer isn't satisfyed with the harmonies of The Jordanaires. Take 5 is announced, but once again it doesn't last long because the tempo is not right. Take 9 is the one MGM used for the movie.