Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II

Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
Compilation album by Elvis Presley
Released July 18, 1995
Recorded April 1960–March 1969
Genre Rock
Label RCA Records
Producer Ernst Mikael Jorgensen
Roger Semon
Elvis Presley chronology
Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
(1994)
Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
(1995)
Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II is a two-disc compilation of studio master recordings by Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1960s, released in 1995 on RCA Records, catalogue number 66601-2. It also includes a booklet with session details and an essay by Susan M. Doll.

Contents

The set comprises a selection of recordings made by Presley during the decade specifically at a session for the soundtrack of a feature film, of which Presley made 27 during the 1960s. These recordings were originally released in a variety of formats: LPs, EPs, and as sides of a single, and during the 1960s soundtrack songs appeared on 15 full-length long-playing albums, five EPs, and numerous singles. All of Elvis' movies are represented by at least one song in this set with the exception of Tickle Me, its EP soundtrack consisting of five previously issued studio recordings, all of which were included on the box set first volume of the Essential '60s Masters.

The two discs present the studio masters in rough chronological session order. Two previously unreleased masters appear: a version of the Eddy Arnold song "You Don't Know Me" recorded during the sessions for the movie Clambake; and an alternate take of the song "Follow That Dream" as the stereo master for the original has been lost, and the compilers opted not to use the surviving mono master. The songs "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Rock-A-Hula Baby" were released as, respectively, the A-side and b-side of a single one year after the release of the Blue Hawaii album, and went to #2 and #23 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. "Puppet On A String" appeared as a single seven months after the release of the Girl Happy soundtrack, backed with "Wooden Heart" from G.I. Blues, and peaked at #14 on the singles chart. "Wooden Heart" had also been released as the flipside to a reissue of "Blue Christmas" eleven months earlier.

RCA issued a box set for the complete non-gospel songs that were not recorded at soundtrack sessions during the decade, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60s Masters, and released a similar two-disc set for the gospel recordings in 1994, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances.

Purpose

Generally, Presley's 1960s soundtrack recordings command the least regard among the singer's recorded work. The most successful commercially, such as G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii, fell in the tradition of the film musical as it had developed through the 1950s, that of the integrated musical where the songs are integral to the story line. Hence, songs such as "Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce" from Girl Happy or "There's No Room to Rhumba in A Sports Car" from Fun in Acapulco made no sense outside of their movies and hardly found a place in Presley's stage act, or could ever be considered classics along the lines of "Jailhouse Rock" or "Love Me Tender", whose films were not integrated musicals. As stated by Susan Doll in the liner notes, the songs from the soundtracks are often judged by inappropriate criteria:

...this type of (integrated) musical was standard fare in Hollywood for decades. However, those who criticize Elvis' musical vehicles generally overlook this, preferring to attack the songs as being inferior to his non-movie output...[4]

This package, collating 62 of the approximately 225 songs released in association with the films, selects in many cases those numbers that can stand outside of their film vehicles, concentrating on title tracks and songs that had been also released as singles immediately prior to the release of the soundtrack.

All selections recorded at Radio Recorders, Western Recorders, Paramount Recording Stage, MGM Studios, Samuel Goldwyn Studio, United Artist Recorders, Decca Universal Studio, and RCA Studios in Hollywood, RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. Original recordings produced by Joseph Lilley, Urban Thielmann, Hans Salter, Jeff Alexander, George Stoll, Gene Nelson, Fred Karger, Felton Jarvis, Billy Strange, Hugo Montenegro, Billy Goldenberg, and Leith Stevens. Discographical information below taken from Elvis Presley A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions, by Ernst Jorgensen, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1998.

Collective Personnel

Track listing

Chart positions for LPs from Billboard Top Pop Albums chart; positions for singles and EPs from Billboard Pop Singles chart. By late 1968, Billboard discontinued charting b-sides. Titles listed without corresponding LP/EP designation were initially released on single only.

Disc One

Track Recorded Film Original LP/EP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 4/27/60 G.I. Blues G.I. Blues LSP 2256 10/1/60 #1 "G.I. Blues" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:37
2. 4/28/60 G.I. Blues G.I. Blues LSP 2256 10/1/60 #1 "Wooden Heart" Fred Wise, Ben Weisman 2:02
3. 5/6/60 G.I. Blues G.I. Blues LSP 2256 10/1/60 #1 "Shoppin' Around" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper, Aaron Schroeder 2:22
4. 4/27/60 G.I. Blues G.I. Blues LSP 2256 10/1/60 #1 "Doin' the Best I Can" Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 3:10
5. 10/7/60 Flaming Star Flaming Star LPC 128 2/61 #14 "Flaming Star" Sid Wayne, Sherman Edwards 2:25
6. 11/7/60 Wild in the Country 47-7880b 5/2/61 #26 "Wild in the Country" George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore 1:52
7. 11/7/60 Wild in the Country 47-7850b 2/7/61 #32 "Lonely Man" Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus 2:43
8. 3/22/61 Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii LSP 2426 10/1/61 #1 "Blue Hawaii" Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger 2:34
9. 3/23/61 Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii LSP 2426 10/1/61 #1 "Rock-A-Hula Baby" Fred Wise, Ben Weisman, Dolores Fuller 1:57
10. 3/23/61 Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii LSP 2426 10/1/61 #1 "Can't Help Falling In Love" George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore 2:59
11. 3/23/61 Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii LSP 2426 10/1/61 #1 "Beach Boy Blues" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:02
12. 3/23/61 Blue Hawaii Blue Hawaii LSP 2426 10/1/61 #1 "Hawaiian Wedding Song" Charles E. King, Al Hoffman, Dick Manning 2:48
13. 7/2/61 Follow That Dream previously unreleased "Follow That Dream" Fred Wise, Ben Weisman 1:37
14. 7/2/61 Follow That Dream Follow That Dream EPA 4368 4/62 #15 "Angel" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:38
15. 10/27/61 Kid Galahad Kid Galahad EPA 4371 8/62 #30 "King of the Whole Wide World" Ruth Batchelor, Bob Roberts 2:06
16. 10/27/61 Kid Galahad Kid Galahad EPA 4371 8/62 #30 "I Got Lucky" Fred Wise, Dolores Fuller, Ben Weisman 1:55
17. 3/27/62 Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! LSP 2621 11/9/62 #3 "Girls! Girls! Girls!" Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller 2:31
18. 3/27/62 Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! LSP 2621 11/9/62 #3 "Because of Love" Ruth Batchelor, Bob Roberts 2:31
19. 3/27/62 Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls! 47-8100 10/2/62 #2 "Return to Sender" Otis Blackwell, Winfield Scott 2:06
20. 9/22/62 World's Fair World's Fair 47-8134 1/29/63 #11 "One Broken Heart for Sale" Otis Blackwell, Winfield Scott 1:46
21. 9/22/62 World's Fair World's Fair LSP 2697 4/10/63 #53 "I'm Falling In Love Tonight" Don Robertson 1:39
22. 9/22/62 World's Fair World's Fair 47-8134b 1/29/63 #53 "They Remind Me Too Much of You" Don Robertson 2:31
23. 1/23/63 Fun in Acapulco Fun in Acapulco LSP 2756 11/1/63 #3 "Fun in Acapulco" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne 2:28
24. 1/22/63 Fun in Acapulco Fun in Acapulco 47-8243 10/1/63 #8 "Bossa Nova Baby" Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller 2:02
25. 1/22/63 Fun in Acapulco Fun in Acapulco LSP 2756 11/1/63 #3 "Marguerita" Don Robertson 2:42
26. 1/22/63 Fun in Acapulco Fun in Acapulco LSP 2756 11/1/63 #3 "Mexico" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 1:58
27. 9/30/63 Kissin' Cousins 47-8307 2/10/64 #12 "Kissin' Cousins" Fred Wise, Randy Starr 2:12
28. 9/29/63 Kissin' Cousins Kissin' Cousins LSP 2894 4/2/64 #6 "One Boy, Two Little Girls" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 2:31
29. 9/29/63 Kissin' Cousins Kissin' Cousins LSP 2894 4/2/64 #6 "Once Is Enough" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:16
30. 7/10/63 Viva Las Vegas 47-8360b 4/28/64 #29 "Viva Las Vegas" Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 2:20
31. 8/30/63 Viva Las Vegas 47-8360 4/28/64 #21 "What'd I Say" Ray Charles 3:02

Disc Two

Track Recorded Film Original LP/EP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 4/29/64 Roustabout Roustabout LSP 2999 10/20/64 #1 "Roustabout" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 1:56
2. 3/2/64 Roustabout Roustabout LSP 2999 10/20/64 #1 "Poison Ivy League" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 2:02
3. 3/2/64 Roustabout Roustabout LSP 2999 10/20/64 #1 "Little Egypt" Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller 2:15
4. 3/3/64 Roustabout Roustabout LSP 2999 10/20/64 #1 "There's a Brand New Day on the Horizon" Joy Byers 2:00
5. 6/10/64 Girl Happy Girl Happy LSP 3338 3/1/65 #8 "Girl Happy" Doc Pomus, Norman Meade 2:07
6. 6/10/64 Girl Happy Girl Happy LSP 3338 3/1/65 #8 "Puppet On A String" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:39
7. 6/12/64 Girl Happy Girl Happy 47-8500 2/9/65 #21 "Do The Clam" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne, Dolores Fuller 3:20
8. 2/26/65 Harum Scarum Harum Scarum LSP 3468 11/3/65 #8 "Harem Holiday" Peter Andreoli, Vini Poncia, Jimmie Crane 2:18
9. 2/25/65 Harum Scarum Harum Scarum LSP 3468 11/3/65 #8 "So Close Yet So Far" Joy Byers 3:01
10. 5/14/65 Frankie and Johnny Frankie and Johnny 47-8780 3/1/66 #25 "Frankie and Johnny" Alex Gottlieb, Fred Karger, Ben Weisman 2:32
11. 5/13/65 Frankie and Johnny Frankie and Johnny 47-8780b 3/1/66 #45 "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" Joy Byers 2:02
12. 7/27/65 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Paradise, Hawaiian Style LSP 3643 6/10/66 #15 "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 2:37
13. 7/27/65 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Paradise, Hawaiian Style LSP 3643 6/10/66 #15 "This Is My Heaven" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 2:34
14. 2/17/66 Spinout Spinout 47-8941 9/13/66 #40 "Spinout" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne, Dolores Fuller 2:32
15. 2/17/66 Spinout Spinout 47-8941b 9/13/66 #41 "All That I Am" Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper 2:15
16. 2/17/66 Spinout Spinout LSP 3643 10/31/66 #18 "I'll Be Back" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne 2:02
17. 9/28/66 Easy Come, Easy Go Easy Come, Easy Go EPA 4387 3/67 "Easy Come, Easy Go" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne 2:08
18. 6/29/66 Double Trouble Double Trouble LSP 3787 6/1/67 #47 "Double Trouble" Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 1:38
19. 6/29/66 Double Trouble Double Trouble 47-9115 4/28/67 #63 "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)" J. Leslie McFarland, Winfield Scott 1:27
20. 2/22/67 Clambake Clambake LSP 3893 10/10/67 #40 "Clambake" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne 2:35
21. 2/21/67 Clambake previously unreleased "You Don't Know Me" Cindy Walker, Eddy Arnold 2:12
22. 10/1/67 Stay Away, Joe Let's Be Friends CAS 2408 4/70 #105 "Stay Away, Joe" Ben Weisman, Sid Wayne 1:37
23. 6/20/67 Speedway Speedway LSP 3989 5/1/68 #82 "Speedway" Mel Glazer, Stephen Schlaks 2:15
24. 6/20/67 Speedway Speedway 47-9547 5/21/68 #72 "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby" Joel Hirschhorn, Al Kasha 1:51
25. 6/21/67 Speedway Speedway 47-9547b 5/21/68 #71 "Let Yourself Go" Joy Byers 2:58
26. 3/7/68 Live a Little, Love a Little 47-9610b 9/3/68 #95 "Almost In Love" Luiz Bonfá, Randy Starr 3:01
27. 3/7/68 Live a Little, Love a Little 47-9610 9/3/68 #69 "A Little Less Conversation" Billy Strange, Mac Davis 2:10
28. 3/7/68 Live a Little, Love a Little 47-9670b 11/5/68 "Edge of Reality" Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 3:33
29. 10/15/68 Charro! 47-9731b 2/25/69 "Charro!" Billy Strange, Mac Davis 2:44
30. 10/23/68 The Trouble with Girls 47-9747 6/17/69 #35 "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" Billy Strange, Mac Davis 3:07
31. 3/5/69 Change of Habit Let's Be Friends CAS 2408 4/70 #105 "Change of Habit" Ben Weisman, Buddy Kaye 3:18

Notes

  1. AllMusic review
  2. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 891. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  3. "Elvis Presley: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. Doll, Susan M., Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II insert booklet, p. 16

References

Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis Presley, A Life In Music. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998; ISBN 0-312-18572-3

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