Interview : Q and A with Ernst Jorgensen about Prince From Another Planet

By Elvis Australia
Source: Ernst Jorgensen
October 19, 2012

The following brief interview Q and A between Elvis Australia's David Troedson and FTD's Ernst Jorgensen answers some important questions about the upcoming A Prince From Another Planet' release.

Ernst also touches on the A Boy From Tupelo' release.

Ernst, much is being said about the Prince From Another Planet releases, it is confusing and to me not all makes sense. If you would be willing to answer a few questions it would not doubt be of great interest to all ...

Are both concerts remixed by Michael Brauer?

Yes.

Are the CDs in the CD only release also remixed by Michael Brauer, or if not by who?

No - the original mixes as they were in 1972 & 1997.

[Madison Square Garden was released in 1972 and An Afternoon In The Garden in 1997]

Why does the CD only release have the old mixes and only the deluxe set the new Michael Brauer mixes?

The reasoning is that we also wanted to make sure that the original's are available - preserving history if you will. The LEGACY edition is for the main market primarily, and the deluxe version is for the fans.

The remixes are meant for the collectors who most certainly have the originals anyway.

Does Sony have the multi-track masters for both concerts?

Yes.

And in regard to a re-print of A Boy From Tupelo.

No decision to reprint A BOY FROM TUPELO is taken. At this time I don't expect that this will happen.

The Vinyl Release

The vinyl release will have the original mixes. [Source : Sony]

From a previous Interview Ernst talks about how they re-mix Elvis and 'Loudness'

For the Elvis catalogue we have been very precise when we have gone out and modernized the sound on a specific record, where basically what you do is make them sound loud you push them as much as you actually can there … as overwhelming … We don't do that in general on the catalogue but we will do that on a particular greatest hits album like 30 #1 Hits where you say, this is to reach a very large audience and to have it as modern as you can get it. But when we do box sets of historical nature we try to basically analyse this as Vs. the original vinyl record, play the vinyl record, adjust the EQ, so we try to keep it the way it was.

And yet again we don't, because to a point - especially on the 50s masters -- when they were [originally] released in America, everyone was infatuated with what they call the 'Columbia Sound', which was big records, so they added reverb to them so the records sounded bigger, so they added reverb to Elvis' records - and Elvis hated that - and we know that he hated it - so what we've done with that is when we re-released that is to go back to the tape sources and his reference lachers with the sound he wanted and restored it that way.

There is no this is right or this is wrong, it is an interpretation like anything - I mean if you re-mix and album today whether it's a Beatles or an Elvis album there are 16 channels you can do a million things to each of these channels. You will never have two people doing the same mix.

More Interviews with Ernst Jorgensen
Review : Prince From Another Planet : 40th Anniversary Madison Square Garden 2 CD + DVD Set

Doube Vinyl Release

Sony Legacy will release 'As Recorded At Madison Square Garden' 180 Gram 2 LP Vinyl Set. This vinyl release features the original 1972 album cover art and the original June 10, 1972 evening concert over 2 LPs for the first time. This release contains the original mixes NOT the new remixes that are being released exclusively on the Prince From Another Planet 2 CD / DVD Deluxe Edition release.

2 CD / DVD Release

Sony Music will release 'Prince From Another Planet', a Madison Square Garden 40th Anniversary 2 CD / DVD Deluxe Set in 8" x 8" packaging. The two remastered CDs are of the June 10th afternoon and evening shows, both remixed by Michael Brauer [* See below] and a 80 minute DVD with never-before-seen footage of Elvis' performance at the Saturday afternoon show, captured on hand-held camera by a fan, and now acquired by Legacy from that fan decades later for this package. Along with the concert film on the DVD is another video document, the press conference that took place on Friday afternoon before the big weekend.

Buy 'Prince From Another Planet' Madison Square Garden Deluxe Edition CD/DVD Set in 8" x 8" packaging.
Buy 'As Recorded At Madison Square Garden' 2 CD Set
Buy 'As Recorded At Madison Square Garden' 2 LP 180 Gram Vinyl Set

Also included is a 48 page booklet with a 5000 word essay by Patti Smith's guitarist Lenny Kaye who attended the June 10th show as young reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine will add a special touch to the set. The original MSG release was rush released and as a consequence did not receive the mastering it deserved. This time around Michael Brauer states that the sound is awesome and just like being in the Arena with Elvis!

DVD:

Afternoon show filmed June 10, 1972 (approx. 1 hour)

The Deluxe Edition also comes with an extra DVD that presents unseen footage of the Saturday afternoon show, captured on hand-held camera by a fan, and now acquired by Legacy from that fan decades later for this package. Rarely is unseen footage of Elvis in concert discovered, so this footage lends historical importance to the package. The film is a revealing portrait of a physically commanding Elvis and his powerhouse TCB Band, background vocalists, and orchestra. And with the video meticulously synced to the audio ... it will be a gem!

Afternoon press conference held June 9, 1972 (approx. 20 minutes)

Along with the concert film on the DVD is another video document, the press conference that took place on Friday afternoon before the big weekend. Attended by Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, Elvis disarms and wins over the New York press corps with his good-natured demeanor. For example, When asked, for example, 'Which kind of song do you like doing the best?' - Elvis answers, 'I like to mix 'em up. In other words, I like to do a song like 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' or 'American Trilogy', or something. Then mix it up and do some rock and roll, some of the hard rock stuff. I'm not the least bit ashamed of 'Hound Dog' or 'Heartbreak Hotel' ...' Rarely is unseen footage of Elvis in concert discovered, so this footage lends historical importance to the package. The film is a revealing portrait of a physically commanding Elvis and his powerhouse TCB Band, background vocalists, and orchestra. This is an historically important discovery.

'Prince From Another Planet' deluxe Madison Square Garden 40th Anniversary set.

* Michael Brauer is a New York-based mix engineer whose credits encompass a wide range of genres and includes The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, John Mayer, Ash, My Morning Jacket, and more. He won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for his work on John Mayer's Continuum, 'Best Alternative Album' for Coldplay's Parachutes, and also 'Best Rock Album' for Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida'. Given his credentials, we believe he'll bring an interesting mix to these fantastic shows.

Prince From Another Planet takes its title from a New York Times headline that accompanied its rave review of the King of Rock 'n' Roll's four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden (80,000 tickets sold), the weekend of Friday through Sunday, June 9-11, 1972. CD two reprises the Saturday night show in its entirety, some 20 songs (plus introductions) originally issued on LP on June 18, 1972, just eight days after the concert took place. CD one reprises the (slightly longer) Saturday afternoon show, some 23 songs.

There will also be a 2 CD only set in the Sony 'Legacy' series.