Post Description

Elvis Presley - A Golden Celebration (4 CD-set)

BMG 07863 67456 2
Release: 1998

There had been Elvis Presley boxes before A Golden Celebration, but those were primarily made up of previously available material. Originally intended to celebrate what would have been Elvis' 50th birthday, A Golden Celebration was six LPs' worth of music, most of it not previously available in any easy-to-find (or legitimate) form, and devoted almost entirely to the early years of his career -- the period when Elvis Presley was not only exciting, but changing the way people perceived music. Seven Sun Records outtakes lead off this set; next up are all six of Elvis' live appearances on Stage Show, the entertainment showcase hosted by Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. The quality of these shows is extraordinary, and the virtual absence of background noise makes every nuance of Presley's performances stand out; it's particularly fascinating to hear the growing enthusiasm of the audience from week to week. The second disc, consisting of Presley's appearances on the Milton Berle Show and the Steve Allen Show, is very different. In contrast to the Dorseys' cautious enthusiasm for their guest performer, Berle clearly understood at least the superficial range of Presley's cultural impact. The appearance would work better as a video, however, since it features a lot of clowning by the participants. The Steve Allen material reveals more of Presley and Allen than either was letting on. Allen had major doubts about rock & roll (betrayed in his voice during his introduction), but was virtually forced by public demand to book Presley; Presley, in turn, was eager to get past doubts about the wholesomeness of his music and personality. The bulk of the disc, however, is made up of a performance at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in his hometown of Tupelo, MS, on September 26, 1956. The afternoon show is very lo-fi, but the evening show, on disc three, has better sound. The Ed Sullivan appearances round out the disc, and they have the best sound quality of all the live material. Disc four features Presley's home recordings during his military service in Germany, some tracks of unknown origin, and excerpts from one of the informal "sit down shows" used in his 1968 television comeback. Overall, as a pre-CD Elvis Presley package, A Golden Celebration has held up exceptionally well; the producers of the CD version have taken great pains to boost the volume and clarity of the original masters. (AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder)

Tracklist:

The Sun Sessions - Outtakes - Memphis, Tennessee - 1954 And 1955

1-1  Harbor Lights 2:36
1-2  That's All Right (Alternate Take) 2:11
1-3  Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Alternate Take) 1:04
1-4  I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (Alternate Take) 3:38
1-5  I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version) 2:34
1-6  I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') (Alternate Take) 1:03
1-7  When It Rains, It Really Pours (Alternate Takes) 4:03

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York, January 28, 1956 

1-8  Shake, Rattle And Roll / Flip, Flop And Fly 2:42
1-9  I Got A Woman 3:14

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York,February 4, 1956 

1-10  Baby, Let's Play House 2:29
1-11  Tutti Frutti 2:35

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York, February 11, 1956 

1-12  Blue Suede Shoes 2:14
1-13  Heartbreak Hotel 2:58

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York, February 18, 1956 

1-14  Tutti Frutti 2:33
1-15  I Was The One 2:55

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York, March 17, 1956 

1-16  Blue Suede Shoes 2:29
1-17  Heartrbreak Hotel 2:30

The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show - New York, March 24, 1956 

1-18  Money Honey 2:46
1-19  Heartbreak Hotel 1:57

The Milton Berle Show, San Diego, California, April 3, 1956 

2-1  Introductions 1:07
2-2  Heartbreak Hotel 1:58
2-3  Blue Suede Shoes 2:17
2-4  Dialogue 2:28
2-5  Blue Suede Shoes 0:58

The Milton Berle Show, San Diego, California, June 5, 1956 

2-6  Hound Dog 2:42
2-7  Dialogue With Milton Berle 3:42
2-8  Dialogue 1:36
2-9  I Want You, I Need You, I Love You 3:30

The Steve Allen Show - New York, July 1, 1956 

2-10  Dialogue With Steve Allen 1:51
2-11  I Want You, I Need You, I Love You 2:51
2-12  Dialogue With Steve Allen 0:19
2-13  Hound Dog 1:43

The Mississipi - Alabama Fair And Dairy Show - Tupelo, Mississipi, Sept 26, 1956 - Afternoon Performance 

2-14  Heartbreak Hotel 2:43
2-15  Long Tall Sally 2:33
2-16  Introduction And Presentation 2:36
2-17  I Was The One 3:19
2-18  I Want You, I Need You, I Love You 2:52
2-19  Elvis Talks 0:34
2-20  I Got A Woman 2:53
2-21  Don't Be Cruel 2:05
2-22  Ready Teddy 2:15
2-23  Love Me Tender 2:58
2-24  Hound Dog 2:46
2-25  Vernon & Gladys Presley 1:42
2-26  Nick Adams 1:40
2-27  A Fan 2:24
2-28  Elvis 1:52

The Mississipi - Alabama Fair And Dairy Show - Tupelo, Mississipi, Sept 26, 1956 - Evening Performance 

3-1  Love Me Tender 1:50
3-2  I Was The One 2:47
3-3  I Got A Woman 2:51
3-4  Announcement 1:44
3-5  Don't Be Cruel 1:44
3-6  Blue Suede Shoes 2:12
3-7  Announcement 1:07
3-8  Baby, Let's Play House 2:35
3-9  Hound Dog 1:07
3-10  Announcement 1:50

The Ed Sullivan Show, California And New York, September 9, 1956 

3-11  Don't Be Cruel 2:39
3-12  Elvis Talks 0:42
3-13  Love Me Tender 3:53
3-14  Ready Teddy 1:50
3-15  Hound Dog 2:40

The Ed Sullivan Show, California And New York, October 28, 1956 

3-16  Don't Be Cruel 2:18
3-17  Ed Sullivan 0:30
3-18  Love Me Tender 3:20
3-19  Ed Sullivan Introduces Elvis 0:54
3-20  Love Me 3:24
3-21  Hound Dog 1:54
3-22  Elvis Closing Remarks 0:41

The Ed Sullivan Show, New York, January 6, 1957 

3-23  Introduction 1:08
3-24  Hound Dog 1:01
3-25  Love Me Tender 1:16
3-26  Heartbreak Hotel 1:36
3-27  Don't Be Cruel 2:16
3-28  Too Much 2:52
3-29  Elvis Talks 0:47
3-30  When My Blue Moon Turns To Blue Again 2:13
3-31  Ed Sullivan Speaks 0:50
3-32  (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) 1:37
3-33  Ed Sullivan Speaks 1:08

Elvis At Home, Germany 1958-1960 

4-1  Danny Boy 3:30
4-2  Soldier Boy 1:45
4-3  The Fool 5:06
4-4  Earth Angel 2:34
4-5  I Asked The Lord (He's Only A Prayer Away) 2:38

Collector's Treasures - Discovered At Graceland - Date Unknown 

4-6  Excerpt From An Interview For TV Guide 5:02
4-7  My Heart Cries For You 2:43
4-8  Dark Moon 6:15
4-9  Write To Me From Naples 2:10
4-10  Suppose 2:59

Elvis - Burbank, California, June 27, 1968 

4-11  Blue Suede Shoes 1:35
4-12  Tiger Man 2:37
4-13  That's All Right 3:03
4-14  Lawdy Miss Clawdy 1:47
4-15  Baby What You Want Me To Do (Alternate Take) 1:44
4-16  Love Me 2:27
4-17  Are You Lonesome Tonight? 3:24
4-18  Baby What You Want Me To Do (Alternate Take) 1:41
4-19  Blue Christmas 3:01
4-20  One Night 2:30
4-21  Trying To Get To You 2:51

Incl. covers