The release of the ‘Elvis: The Viva Las Vegas Sessions’ 3 CD Boxset by the Follow That Dream (FTD) label offers fans an exhaustive look into the recording process behind one of Elvis Presley’s most iconic films and soundtracks. This comprehensive set, presented in a slipcase designed to resemble a master tape box, delves deep into the music created for the 1964 hit movie, Elvis Viva Las Vegas. While the design concept is engaging, potential issues with removing discs safely might arise for some collectors, though protective sleeves can mitigate this. Minor typographical errors are present, such as inconsistencies in song titles like “What’d I Say” and “You’re The Boss,” but these are small blemishes on an otherwise impressive package. This review explores the content, sound quality, and overall value of this significant release for Elvis enthusiasts.
Packaging and Booklet Insights
Beyond the clever tape box aesthetic, the accompanying booklet is a substantial component of this release. Boasting 28 pages (despite a sticker claiming 24), it’s packed with high-quality photographs, including stunning shots of Elvis and his co-star Ann-Margret. Informative content includes a well-written 2008 article by Alan Hanson detailing the movie’s background and production. Readers learn interesting trivia, such as the fact that ‘Today Tomorrow & Forever’ is based on Franz Liszt’s ‘Liebestraum’. The booklet also sheds light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the Elvis Viva Las Vegas production, noting it was the most expensive Elvis movie produced up to that time, partially due to extended filming and daily conflicts between Colonel Parker and director George Sidney. Parker reportedly objected to the significant screen time and musical numbers planned for Ann-Margret, resulting in fewer duets than initially intended.
Further enhancing the booklet are restored movie posters and promotional paperwork, alongside various international single and EP covers for “Viva Las Vegas” and “What’d I Say,” meticulously restored by Jimmy Carpenter. Notes by the late Stuart Coleman provide additional context, revealing that 15 songs were considered, ‘You’re The Boss’ was initially deemed surplus, and ‘The Climb’ was a last-minute addition. Coleman also highlights the missed opportunity for a full-blown soundtrack album at the time and intriguingly notes that the Elvis Viva Las Vegas film generated more box office rentals than The Beatles’ debut, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, released shortly after. While the booklet excels in providing historical context and visual appeal, it notably lacks in-depth analysis of the specific recording sessions presented across the three discs, which is a minor shortcoming given the set’s focus.
Disc 1: Remixed Masters and First Takes
The first disc kicks off with remixed versions of the master recordings intended for the Elvis Viva Las Vegas soundtrack and related singles. The sound quality is generally stunning, bringing fresh life to these classic tracks. The title track, “Viva Las Vegas,” remains an electrifying opener. Personal preferences aside regarding the stereo separation choices common in that era (instruments often panned hard left/right), the clarity is undeniable. Tracks like “Yellow Rose Of Texas / The Eyes Of Texas” showcase great energy, even if considered lighter fare. The duet “The Lady Loves Me” captures the palpable chemistry between Elvis and Ann-Margret, with subtle details like vocal shifts becoming newly apparent. “C’mon Everybody” is presented in its familiar record version, though many fans prefer the higher-energy movie take (included on Disc 3). The ballad “Today, Tomorrow & Forever” receives a beautiful presentation, potentially rekindling appreciation for the song.
FTD Elvis Viva Las Vegas Sessions 3-CD box set in its slipcase packaging.
“The Climb,” featuring Elvis in a supporting vocal role, demonstrates his versatility. The Ray Charles cover “What’d I Say” rocks energetically, featuring Glen Campbell on guitar, though the female backing vocals might be divisive. “Santa Lucia” sounds arguably better here than ever before. “If You Think I Don’t Need You” is another highlight, presented in its full studio version. The master take of “I Need Somebody To Lean On” features a more upfront vocal from Elvis than previously heard, with a slightly extended fade. The underrated “Night Life” shines with its catchy melody and strong saxophone work. Even the often-maligned “Do The Vega” comes across as a fun, catchy number. The disc closes the master section with the steamy duet “You’re The Boss,” capturing the undeniable spark between Elvis and Ann-Margret.
Close-up of the Elvis Viva Las Vegas Sessions FTD box set showcasing the tape box design.
The latter half of Disc 1 moves into the “First Takes” section. The logic behind labeling some takes (like take 7 of “Yellow Rose…”) as “first” is debatable, perhaps intending “first complete usable takes,” though even this is inconsistent (“Viva Las Vegas” take 1 is incomplete). Nevertheless, this section offers fascinating early glimpses. “Viva Las Vegas” take 1 reveals a simpler arrangement derived from the demo before breaking down. Take 7 of “Yellow Rose…” features an interesting army march intro and more prominent whistling, showcasing an even more enthusiastic Elvis than the master. Studio chatter reveals moments like Elvis reacting to a cough (“blew my head up!”). Early takes of “The Lady Loves Me” show the duo working out the performance, with slight lyrical variations. “C’mon Everybody” take 3 includes the “Elvis ending” later utilized in the film. Outtakes of “Today, Tomorrow And Forever” reveal the development of this beautiful ballad through false starts and a lovely complete take 4, punctuated by studio feedback. Takes 1 and 2 of “What’d I Say” capture the raw energy, while the first vocal overdub of “Santa Lucia” is remarkably gentle. Initial takes of “If You Think I Don’t Need You” and “I Need Somebody To Lean On” feature lyrical variations and arrangement differences, with take 2 of the latter presenting a particularly desolate, compelling performance. Take 2 of “Night Life” cooks, take 1 of “Do The Vega” presents a slower, effective alternate, and early takes of “You’re The Boss” sizzle despite breakdowns. The disc concludes with takes 1 and 2 of the duet version of “Today Tomorrow & Forever,” highlighting Ann-Margret’s more prominent (perhaps overpowering) role compared to Elvis’s solo version.
Disc 2: Exploring the Session Outtakes
Disc 2 dives deeper into the Elvis Viva Las Vegas sessions, presenting a wealth of outtakes. It opens with takes 1 and 3 of “Night Life,” showcasing different saxophone and guitar approaches. Take 3, previously released, sounds excellent here. Further takes (4-8) reveal experimentation with intros and Elvis’s solid vocal performances throughout, with take 8 emerging as a highlight. The evolution of “C’mon Everybody” is traced through takes 1, 2, 4, and the unedited master (take 5), revealing studio banter, false starts, and the spontaneous bluesy tag ending partially captured on the master.
Inside the Elvis Viva Las Vegas Sessions box set: CDs and booklet detail.
Outtakes 3 through 7 of “If You Think I Don’t Need You” provide more insights, including lyrical flubs (“goin.. wooh!”), studio chatter about keeping time, and a great complete take 7 featuring a fantastic Boots Randolph sax solo and an interesting lyrical switch (“if you think you don’t need me.. I’ll change my ways”). Takes 3 through 8 of “I Need Somebody To Lean On” continue the exploration, from false starts (take 3) to a beautiful complete take 5 (with odd drum brushes) and the previously released, excellent take 8. Take 2 of “Do The Vega” offers another strong performance of the slower arrangement. Intriguingly, instrumental takes 1 and 2 of “Santa Lucia” are included, revealing arrangement differences compared to the master vocal overdub track and ending with studio chatter about “clams” (bad notes). Take 2 of “Viva Las Vegas,” using the master arrangement, sounds great but its placement here rather than grouped with take 1 on Disc 1 feels slightly disjointed.
Detailed view of the contents within the Elvis Viva Las Vegas Sessions 3-CD release.
The development of “The Climb” is shown through takes 1, 2, and 4-7, documenting the process towards the planned record version. The “Yellow Rose Of Texas / The Eyes Of Texas” medley sessions continue with takes 1-4, featuring experiments with flute, tuning issues (“Good god almighty!, that half tone modulation is thoroughly confusing me”), and breakdowns. Takes 5, 6, 8, and the unedited master take 9 follow, showing the introduction of the familiar banjo and culminating in the complete master take without the usual fade-out. Further takes (3-6) of “The Lady Loves Me” include jokes, flubs, and a great take 6 with delicate singing from Ann-Margret and lyrical changes. The chemistry continues with takes 4-10 of “You’re The Boss,” filled with playful banter, lyrical stumbles (“lada-dum”), and palpable sexual tension, ending with a strong complete take 10. Disc 2 concludes with the instrumental master take of “Today, Tomorrow And Forever” (take 6), vocal overdubs 2 and 3 for “Santa Lucia,” the movie version vocal overdub (take 8) for “Today, Tomorrow And Forever,” and takes 3 and 4 (master) of “What’d I Say.”
Disc 3: Movie Versions, Ann-Margret, and Final Takes
The final disc focuses on movie versions, tracks featuring Ann-Margret, and the remaining outtakes from the Elvis Viva Las Vegas sessions. It begins with the movie version of “C’mon Everybody” (take 7 with overdubs), finally available in excellent quality, though the blues ending is likely sourced from the film audio. Edited movie versions of “Today Tomorrow & Forever” (take 10 vocal overdub) and “The Climb” (take 9) follow. The movie master of “Santa Lucia” (take 6 vocal overdub) again features a more delicate vocal performance from Elvis. A welcome inclusion are Ann-Margret’s solo numbers recorded for the film but ultimately unused in the official soundtrack releases: “Appreciation” (take 3 & pickup take 2), showcasing her charming performance through false starts, and “My Rival,” likely sourced from the film’s audio track.
The disc then presents the concluding session takes. “Night Life” continues with takes 9-13. Take 9 breaks down with Elvis frustrated (“I’m going nuts trying to read those damn lyrics”), but take 10 is fantastic. Takes 11 and 13 are also strong, complete performances, highlighting the band’s groove and Elvis’s consistent delivery on this underrated gem. Takes 8-13 of “If You Think I Don’t Need You” feature more variations, lyric flubs (“sleep o wink?”), laughter, and Boots Randolph’s excellent sax work, culminating in the master (take 13). The journey of “I Need Somebody To Lean On” concludes with takes 9-19. These include experiments with instrumentation, false starts, breakdowns, and a beautiful complete take 15 that rivals the master. Take 19 is the take immediately preceding the master. Takes 3-7 of “Do The Vega” document the final attempts leading to the master (take 7).
The title track sessions wrap up with takes 3-7 of “Viva Las Vegas.” False starts, timing issues (“it’s my fault, I’m coming in at the wrong time”), and breakdowns occur before the unedited master take (take 7) is presented, ending abruptly after the final chord (“That’s it..cut”). Takes 8 and 9 of “The Climb” follow, leading into the movie master takes (6 & 7) of “C’mon Everybody” without the overdubs. The final takes (7-9) of “The Lady Loves Me” are presented, including the excellent take 9 (previously released). The steamy sessions for “You’re The Boss” conclude with takes 11-15, featuring more flubs, banter, and two complete takes (12 and 14), showcasing the duo’s incredible chemistry. The final vocal overdub take (take 5) for “Santa Lucia” is included, along with the complete movie version master (vocal overdub take 10) of “Today, Tomorrow And Forever,” ending fittingly with Elvis’s comment, “I’m afraid that’s it.”
Conclusion
‘Elvis: The Viva Las Vegas Sessions’ is a monumental release, offering an incredibly detailed look at the creation of the music for a pivotal Elvis film. Across three discs, listeners experience the evolution of songs, the studio atmosphere, the interplay between musicians, and the dynamic between Elvis and Ann-Margret. The sheer volume of material is substantial, yet the listening experience remains engaging due to the quality of the performances and the revealing nature of the outtakes and studio chatter. The remastered sound quality is exceptional, and the packaging, particularly the extensive booklet, adds significant value despite minor flaws like typos and the lack of session-specific analysis within the text.
While the inclusion of the remixed masters on Disc 1 leads to some duplication later in the set, and the sequencing of takes could occasionally be debated, these are minor quibbles. This FTD release stands as an essential purchase for serious Elvis collectors and fans particularly interested in the Elvis Viva Las Vegas era. It provides unprecedented insight into the hard work, experimentation, and moments of pure magic that went into crafting this iconic soundtrack. The set successfully delivers on its promise of a deep dive, presenting a treasure trove of material that showcases Elvis Presley and his collaborators at a vibrant point in his career.
