Title: 6363 Sunset (released in 2001)

Label: FTD

Date: March 27-31 1972 & March 10-12, 1975, RCA's Studio C, Hollywood

Sound Quality: * * * * * - / * * * * * +

Compilation Rating: * * * * * - / * * * * * +

Tracks: 1.Always On My Mind (take 3) 2.Burning Love (take 2) 3.For The Good Times (take 3) 4.Where Do I Go From Here (take 6) 5.Fool (take 1) 6.It's A Matter Of Time 7.C. C. Rider (take 2) 8.Until It's Time For You To Go 9.A Big Hunk O'Love (take 2) 10.All Shook Up 11.Heartbreak Hotel 12.Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 13.Can't Help Falling In Love 14.Green Green Grass Of Home (takes 2&3) 15.Susan When She Tried (takes 1&2) 16.And I Love You So (take 1) 17.Bringing It Back (takes 2&3) 18.T-R-O-U-B-L-E (take 1) 19.Shake A Hand (take 2) (Duration: 58 min. 17 sec.)

Package: Thanks God, FTD has grown up in this aspect since the release of this CD! :)))

Elvis: This release was one of the first in the collector's label series and consists of material from 3 different occasions in Hollywood's Studio C. The BMG department used this strategy of putting different material together earlier in the 90-s (which seemed to be an announcement of what they had in vaults at the time), and in our opinion it is not a too good decision, as we prefer more common material to be put together. In reality we have to be thankful for what we have.

And what do we have? This is a not too good packaged release, but we are used to it with the FTD label. Let's take a deeper look at the material. The CD starts with a very familiar take 3 of Always On My Mind. This is one of the heartbreaking songs Elvis threw himself into during the March 1972 sessions. A fine, close to master rendition. Take 2 of Burning Love continues the compilation. A very fine song, which yet has to be polished, as the bass for some reason disappears from the mix closer to the end and it's hard to say whether it's Emory Gordy's or sound engineer's mistake (or maybe even a major equipment failure). Take 3 of For The Good Times is a very tender and passionate rendition, close to master. Take 6 of Where Do I Go From Here continues the CD. A very nice rendition with arrangement sounding close to master, but different phrasing. "Good! Let's listen to it," Felton suggests as the take comes to an end. "Felton, hold that last take," Elvis asks as Felton replies "Ok, we got that." We now move to take 1 of Fool which is a masterful rendition and Elvis is thrown completely into the performance as it seems to last forever with Elvis repeating the refrain over and over again. Hadn't it been for a little piano mistake at around the point of 2:20 it could have been a master. It's A Matter Of Time sounds very close to master with only a minor mistake by Elvis himself in the last verse.

According to information in Ernst Michael Jorgensen's A Life In Music the rehearsals for the Elvis On Tour movie could have easily compiled a 3 CD set. We are sure that either having been released as a set or series of volumes they would have been a huge success among the fans (which form at least 99% of FTD buyers). However, the label chose another strategy, preferring to split only small amount of material (from three different dates) in this release and a way too short 51-minutes long Elvis On Tour - The Rehearsals. The Ronnie Tutt's drum roll starts the performance of C.C. Rider. The sound quality is very fine, whereas the performance is good but maybe just a little bit uninspired. Until It's Time For You To Go is next among the rehearsal selections. Just in the same way as it never seemed to be a good live number, this rendition looses a lot being compared to the master. Laughter and one false start precede a wild rendition of A Big Hunk O' Love, which was a wise choice for the live repertoire. All Shook Up, Heartbreak Hotel as well as the following Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel medley don't impress at all. Can't Help Falling In Love ends the rehearsal segment. It is nice to hear this calm rendition without the orchestra.

We find ourselves three years later with Elvis performing a brilliant rendition of Green Green Grass Of Home. As you have already guessed these are outtakes of Today album. This third take is followed by two first takes of Susan When She Tried. Elvis messes up the words, but his voice proves to be great throughout the whole session, this number is not an exception. "Stand up, Sheila, let me sing to you, baby," Elvis says prior take 1 of And I Love You So which itself is a flawless rendition, with a great phrasing and probably the tempo just a little bit too slow. "Next piano player," Elvis jokes after an unsuccessful attempt on the beautiful Bringing It Back. Since it was Voice's song it is Tony Brown substituting Glen D. on piano. Take 3 is a very fine rendition. Take 1 of T-R-O-U-B-L-E is not as energetic as the master take, though the rhythm guitar sounds really great and gives the song a great drive. The compilation ends with a close-to-master rendition of Shake A Hand.

You may judge yourself, but we certainly enjoy this CD and give it a spin every now and then. We are still hoping to get the On Tour rehearsals together in the right order someday. We are still hoping to get complete sessions on the collector's label. We are still hoping that someday a recording of March 1975 rehearsals in the same Studio C in Hollywood with renditions of Wear My Ring Around Your Neck, Tomorrow Night, Suzie Q, You Can Have Her and even a couple of Don Robertson's ballads will surface. Till then we have to be glad for what we have and hope that our dreams will come true.

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