From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters

From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
Box set by
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1993
RecordedMarch 1960 – February 1969
GenreRock
Length5:44:14
LabelRCA Records
ProducerErnst Mikael Jorgensen
Roger Semon
Elvis Presley chronology
The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters
(1992)
From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
(1993)
Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
MusicHound[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]
Rough Guides[5]

From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters is a five-disc box set compilation of studio master recordings by American singer and musician Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1960s; it was released in 1993 on RCA Records, catalogue number 66160-2. In its initial long-box release, it included a set of collectable stamps duplicating the record jackets of every Presley LP on RCA Victor, and those of the singles pertinent to this box set. The set also includes a booklet with an extensive session list and discography, as well as a lengthy essay by Peter Guralnick. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 30, 1993, and Platinum on January 6, 2004. This set followed an exhaustive box set of Presley's 1950s output and was followed by a collection of his soundtrack work a more selective box set of his work in the 1970s.

Contents

[edit]

The box comprises every master recording made by Presley during the decade and released in his lifetime, with the exception of those made at sessions for movie soundtracks or for television broadcasts, with one exception in the latter case. The set also excludes Presley's gospel recordings and live performances, but does include songs that had been recorded at non-soundtrack sessions, but which were released on soundtrack albums in order to bring the album running-time to an acceptable length, such as the sessions of May 26 and May 27, 1963. As a result of these criteria, only two of Presely's 1960s original albums are represented in their entirety in the set: Elvis Is Back! and From Elvis in Memphis; all other Presley albums of the decade, with the exception of two gospel albums, included at least one film-derived recording, or in the case of From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis, live recordings.

The first four discs and the first nine tracks of the fifth disc present the studio masters in chronological session order, with the above noted exceptions. The opening eighteen tracks of the first disc contain Elvis Is Back! and its three attendant chart-topping singles, "Stuck on You", "It's Now or Never", and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", along with their B-sides. The remainder of disc one and discs two and three include the highlights "Surrender", "His Latest Flame", "Little Sister", "Suspicion", "She's Not You", his cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time", and "U.S. Male". Disc three includes two previously unreleased recordings, an unreleased alternate take, and three unedited masters including a long version of the "Guitar Man" single that segues into "What'd I Say".

Disc four and the first nine tracks of disc five cover the entire released output of the Memphis sessions at American Sound Studio, yielding the albums From Elvis in Memphis and the studio disk of the double album From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis, along with various hit singles including his latter-day signature song, "Suspicious Minds". The remainder of disc five contains nine previously unreleased alternate takes, a version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee" from an earlier session, an unreleased recording from the Memphis sessions, an undubbed version of his 1960 #1 hit single "It's Now or Never", and the duet medley of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft" between Presley and Frank Sinatra, broadcast on Sinatra's ABC television special to welcome Elvis home after his service in the army ended by the spring of 1960.

RCA issued two similarly configured companions, a box set for the 1950s and another one for the 1970s. A separate two-disc set surveys highlights from the 1960s soundtracks. The two non-soundtrack studio albums from the 1960s whose contents do not appear on this box, His Hand in Mine and How Great Thou Art, were released in a similar two-disc set for the gospel recordings in 1994, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances.

The Sinatra/Presley duet was recorded at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida. All other recordings were made in Tennessee at either RCA Studio B in Nashville, or at American Studio in Memphis. Original recordings produced by Steve Sholes, Chet Atkins, Felton Jarvis, and Chips Moman.

Track listing

[edit]

Chart positions for LPs from Billboard Top Pop Albums chart; positions for singles from Billboard Pop Singles chart. Certain tracks listed as unreleased on the insert card of the jewel cases are unedited masters of issued tracks; those are indicated with an asterisk and listed with the original issue information for the released master. By late 1968, Billboard discontinued charting B-sides.

Disc one

[edit]
Track Song Title Writer(s) Time Recorded Release Date Catalogue Original LP Issue Chart Peak
1. Make Me Know It Otis Blackwell 2:31 1960-03-20 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
2. Soldier Boy David Jones and Theodore Williams Jr. 1:55 1960-03-20 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
3. Stuck on You Aaron Schroeder and J. Leslie McFarland 2:18 1960-03-20 1960-03-23 47-7740 #1
4. Fame and Fortune Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 2:30 1960-03-20 1960-03-23 47-7740b #17
5. A Mess of Blues Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:39 1960-03-20 1960-07-05 47-7777b #32
6. It Feels So Right Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 2:31 1960-03-20 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
7. Fever Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport), Eddie Cooley 2:58 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
8. Like a Baby Jesse Stone 2:24 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
9. It's Now or Never Eduardo di Capua, Aaron Schroeder, Wally Gold 3:15 1960-04-03 1960-07-05 47-7777 #1
10. The Girl of My Best Friend Beverly Ross and Sam Bobrick 2:21 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
11. Dirty, Dirty Feeling Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:12 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
12. Thrill of Your Love Stan Kesler 2:38 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
13. I Gotta Know Paul Evans and Matt Williams 2:15 1960-04-03 1960-11-01 47-7810b #20
14. Such a Night Lincoln Chase 2:15 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
15. Are You Lonesome Tonight? Lou Handman and Roy Turk 3:05 1960-04-03 1960-11-01 47-7810 #1
16. Girl Next Door Went A-Walking Bill Rice and Thomas Wayne 2:24 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
17. I Will Be Home Again Bennie Benjamin, Raymond Leveen, Lou Singer 2:28 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
18. Reconsider Baby Lowell Fulson 3:39 1960-04-03 1960-04-08 LSP 2231 Elvis Is Back! #2
19. Surrender Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 1:51 1960-10-30 1961-02-07 47-7850 #1
20. I'm Comin' Home Charlie Rich 2:20 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
21. Gently Murray Wisell and Edward Lisbona 2:15 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
22. In Your Arms Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold 1:50 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
23. Give Me the Right Fred Wise and Norman Blagman 2:32 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
24. I Feel So Bad Chuck Willis 2:53 1961-03-12 1961-05-02 47-7880 #5
25. It's a Sin Fred Rose and Zeb Turner 2:39 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
26. I Want You With Me Woody Harris 2:13 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
27. There's Always Me Don Robertson 2:16 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1

Disc two

[edit]
Track Song Title Writer(s) Time Recorded Release Date Catalogue Original LP Issue Chart Peak
1. Starting Today Don Robertson 2:03 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
2. Sentimental Me James T. Morehead, James Cassin 2:31 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
3. Judy Teddy Redell 2:10 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
4. Put the Blame on Me Fred Wise, Kay Twomey and Norman Blagman 1:57 1961-03-12 1961-06-17 LSP 2370 Something for Everybody #1
5. Kiss Me Quick Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:46 1961-06-25 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
6. That's Someone You Never Forget Red West and Elvis Presley 2:47 1961-06-25 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
7. I'm Yours Hal Blair and Don Robertson 2:21 1961-06-25 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
8. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:07 1961-06-25 1961-08-08 47-7908 #4
9. Little Sister Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:30 1961-06-25 1961-08-08 47-7908b #5
10. For the Millionth and the Last Time Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper 2:05 1961-10-15 1965-08-10 LSP 3450 Elvis for Everyone #10
11. Good Luck Charm Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold 2:23 1961-10-15 1962-02-27 47-7992 #1
12. Anything That's Part of You Don Robertson 2:04 1961-10-15 1962-02-27 47-7992b #31
13. I Met Her Today Hal Blair and Don Robertson 2:42 1961-10-15 1965-08-10 LSP 3450 Elvis for Everyone #10
14. Night Rider Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:08 1961-10-15 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
15. Something Blue Paul Evans and Al Byron 2:57 1962-03-18 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
16. Gonna Get Back Home Somehow Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:27 1962-03-18 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
17. (Such an) Easy Question Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott 2:18 1962-03-18 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
18. Fountain of Love Bill Giant and Jeff Lewis 2:12 1962-03-18 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
19. Just for Old Time Sake Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper 2:08 1962-03-18 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
20. You'll Be Gone Red West, Charlie Hodge, Elvis Presley 2:23 1962-03-18 1965-02-09 47-8500b
21. I Feel That I've Known You Forever Doc Pomus, Alan Jeffreys 1:39 1962-03-19 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
22. Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:51 1962-03-19 1962-07-17 47-8041b #55
23. Suspicion Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:34 1962-03-19 1962-06-05 LSP 2523 Pot Luck with Elvis #4
24. She's Not You Doc Pomus, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller 2:08 1962-03-19 1962-07-17 47-8041 #5
25. Echoes of Love Bob Roberts and Paddy McMains 2:38 1963-05-26 1964-04-02 LSP 2894 Kissin' Cousins #6
26. Please Don't Drag That String Around Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott 1:53 1963-05-26 1963-06-18 47-8188b
27. (You're the) Devil in Disguise Bernie Baum, Bill Giant and Florence Kaye 2:20 1963-05-26 1963-06-18 47-8188 #3
28. Never Ending Buddy Kaye and Philip Springer 1:57 1963-05-26 1964-07-14 47-8400b
29. What Now, What Next, Where To Hal Blair and Don Robertson 1:56 1963-05-26 1967-06-01 LSP 3787 Double Trouble #3
30. Witchcraft Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King 2:17 1963-05-26 1963-10-01 47-8243b #32
31. Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers Dory Jones and Ollie Jones 1:47 1963-05-26 1965-08-10 LSP 3450 Elvis for Everyone #10
32. Love Me Tonight Don Robertson 2:00 1963-05-26 1963-11-01 LSP 2756 Fun in Acapulco #3

Disc three

[edit]
Track Song Title Writer(s) Time Recorded Release Date Catalogue Original LP Issue Chart Peak
1. (It's a) Long Lonely Highway Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman 2:20 1963-05-27 1964-04-02 LSP 2894 Kissin' Cousins #6
2. Western Union Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper 2:09 1963-05-27 1968-05-01 LSP 3989 Speedway #82
3. Slowly but Surely Sid Wayne and Ben Weisman 2:13 1963-05-27 1963-11-01 LSP 2756 Fun in Acapulco #3
4. Blue River Paul Evans and Fred Tobias 1:32 1963-05-27 1965-12-03 47-8740b #95
5. Memphis, Tennessee Chuck Berry 2:08 1964-01-12 1965-08-10 LSP 3450 Elvis for Everyone #10
6. Ask Me Domenico Modugno, Bernie Baum, Florence Kaye, Bill Giant 2:05 1964-01-12 1964-09-22 47-8840 #12
7. It Hurts Me Joy Byers and Charlie Daniels 2:27 1964-01-12 1964-02-10 47-8307b #29
8. Down in the Alley Jesse Stone 2:48 1966-05-25 1966-10-31 LSP 3702 Spinout #18
9. Tomorrow Is a Long Time Bob Dylan 5:20 1966-05-25 1966-10-31 LSP 3702 Spinout #18
10. Love Letters Edward Heyman and Victor Young 2:50 1966-05-26 1966-06-08 47-8870 #19
11. Beyond the Reef Jack Pitman 3:03 1966-05-26 previously unreleased
12. Come What May Frank Tableporter 1:58 1966-05-28 unreleased alternate take
13. Fools Fall in Love Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:04 1966-05-28 1967-01-10 47-9056b
14. Indescribably Blue Darrell Glenn 2:47 1966-06-10 1967-01-10 47-9056 #33
15. I'll Remember You* Kui Lee 4:05 1966-06-10 1966-10-31 LSP 3702 Spinout #18
16. If Every Day Was Like Christmas Red West 2:42 1966-06-10 1966-11-15 47-8950
17. Suppose Sylvia Dee and George Goehring 3:01 1967-03-20 previously unreleased
18. Guitar Man / What'd I Say* Jerry Reed / Ray Charles 2:57 1967-09-10 1968-01-09 47-9425 #43
19. Big Boss Man Luther Dixon and Al Smith 2:50 1967-09-10 1967-09-26 47-9341 #38
20. Mine Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper 2:35 1967-09-10 1968-05-01 LSP 3989 Speedway #82
21. Just Call Me Lonesome Rex Griffin 2:05 1967-09-10 1967-10-10 LSP 3893 Clambake #40
22. Hi-Heel Sneakers* Robert Higginbotham 4:46 1967-09-11 1968-01-09 47-9425b
23. You Don't Know Me Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold 2:27 1967-09-11 1967-09-26 47-9341b #44
24. Singing Tree A.L. Owens and A.C. Solberg 2:17 1967-09-11 1967-10-10 LSP 3893 Clambake #40
25. Too Much Monkey Business Chuck Berry 2:29 1968-01-15 1968-10 PRS 279 Elvis Sings Flaming Star
26. U.S. Male Jerry Reed 2:42 1968-01-16 1968-02-28 47-9465 #28

Disc four

[edit]
Track Song Title Writer(s) Time Recorded Release Date Catalogue Original LP Issue Chart Peak
1. Long Black Limousine Bobby George, Vern Stovall 3:37 1969-01-13 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
2. This Is the Story Calvin Arnold, David Martin, Geoff Morrow 2:28 1969-01-13 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
3. Wearin' That Loved-On Look A.L. Owens, Dallas Frazier 2:44 1969-01-13 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
4. You'll Think of Me Mort Shuman 3:58 1969-01-14 1969-08-26 47-9764b
5. A Little Bit of Green Calvin Arnold, David Martin, Geoff Morrow 3:21 1969-01-14 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
6. Gentle on My Mind John Hartford 3:20 1969-01-14 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
7. I'm Moving On Hank Snow 2:52 1969-01-14 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
8. Don't Cry Daddy Mac Davis 2:46 1969-01-15 1969-11-11 47-9768 #6
9. Inherit the Wind Eddie Rabbitt 2:56 1969-01-15 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
10. Mama Liked the Roses Johnny Christopher 2:47 1969-01-15 1970-04-20 47-9835b
11. My Little Friend Shirl Milete 2:43 1969-01-16 1970-01-29 47-9791b
12. In the Ghetto Mac Davis 2:45 1969-01-20 1969-04-14 47-9741 From Elvis in Memphis #3
13. Rubberneckin' Dory Jones, Bunny Warren 2:09 1969-01-20 1969-11-11 47-9768b
14. From a Jack to a King Ned Miller 2:23 1969-01-21 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
15. Hey Jude John Lennon and Paul McCartney 4:29 1969-01-21 1972-02-20 LSP 4671 Elvis Now #43
16. Without Love (There Is Nothing) Danny Small 2:51 1969-01-22 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
17. I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms) Eddy Arnold, Hal Horton, Thomas Dilbeck 4:32 1969-01-22 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
18. I'll Be There Bobby Darin 2:21 1969-01-22 1970-04 CAS 2408 Let's Be Friends #105
19. Suspicious Minds Mark James 3:28 1969-01-22 1969-08-26 47-9764 #1
20. True Love Travels on a Gravel Road Dallas Frazier and A.L. Owens 2:37 1969-02-17 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
21. Stranger in My Own Home Town Percy Mayfield 4:23 1969-02-17 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
22. And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind Neil Diamond 3:08 1969-02-17 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
23. Power of My Love Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye 2:34 1969-02-18 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13

Disc five

[edit]
Track Song Title Writer(s) Time Recorded Release Date Catalogue Original LP Issue Chart Peak
1. After Loving You Johnny Lantz, Eddie Miller 3:05 1969-02-18 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
2. Do You Know Who I Am? Bobby Russell 2:47 1969-02-18 1969-11 LSP 6020 From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis #12
3. Kentucky Rain Eddie Rabbitt, Dick Heard 3:14 1969-02-19 1970-01-29 47-9791 #16
4. Only the Strong Survive Jerry Butler, Leon Huff, Kenny Gamble 2:40 1969-02-19 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
5. It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin' Johnny Tillotson 2:36 1969-02-20 1969-06-17 LSP 4155 From Elvis in Memphis #13
6. Any Day Now Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard 2:58 1969-02-20 1969-04-14 47-9741b From Elvis in Memphis
7. If I'm a Fool (For Loving You) Stan Kesler 2:43 1969-02-20 1970-04 CAS 2408 Let's Be Friends #105
8. The Fair Is Moving On Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett 3:07 1969-02-21 1969-06-17 47-9747b From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
9. Who Am I? Charles Rusty Goodman 2:07 1969-02-22 1971-03-22 CALX 2472 You'll Never Walk Alone #69
10. This Time / I Can't Stop Loving You Chips Moman / Don Gibson 3:50 1969-02-17 previously unreleased
11. In the Ghetto Mac Davis 2:46 1969-01-20 previously unreleased take
12. Suspicious Minds Mark James 3:14 1969-01-22 previously unreleased take
13. Kentucky Rain Eddie Rabbitt, Dick Heard 3:10 1969-02-19 previously unreleased take
14. Big Boss Man Luther Dixon, Al Smith 3:36 1967-09-10 previously unreleased take
15. Down in the Alley Jesse Stone 3:11 1966-05-25 previously unreleased take
16. Memphis, Tennessee Chuck Berry 2:12 1963-05-27 previously unreleased
17. I'm Yours Hal Blair, Don Robertson 2:17 1961-06-25 previously unreleased take
18. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 2:00 1961-06-25 previously unreleased take
19. That's Someone You Never Forget Red West, Elvis Presley 2:38 1961-06-25 previously unreleased take
20. Surrender Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman 1:50 1960-10-30 previously unreleased take
21. It's Now or Never Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold 3:14 1960-04-03 previously unreleased version
22. Love Me Tender / Witchcraft Vera Matson and Elvis Presley /
Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh
1:42 1960-03-26 previously unreleased

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters at AllMusic
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Elvis Presley: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. pp. 156–57. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.