Review - Something For Everybody FTD 2 CD


By: David Bowling
Source: BC Music
July 4, 2008

Something For Everybody FTD CD
Something For Everybody FTD CD
Something For Everybody is one of those Elvis Presley albums that just glides under the radar. It was a solid, if not spectacular release. The priorities at this time were films and their accompanying soundtracks, plus his single releases which would receive massive airplay and sell millions of copies. The original release of Something For Everybody would contain no memorable or classic songs, yet would still reach number one on the charts.

As with many of Elvis' early album releases, the hit singles of the day were not included as they had a life of their own.

This makes the modern CD releases of albums such as this one all the more stronger with their inclusion. Elvis was recording some brilliant non-soundtrack material in the early 1960's. 'His Latest Flame', 'Little Sister', 'Good Luck Charm', and 'Surrender' remain essential to the Elvis catalogue and to music of this time period. All these songs are added to the CD release which serve to make it truly outstanding.

The original release of Something For Everybody contained a ballad side and an up-tempo side. Personally, I prefer a mixture of the two as the first side drags a little. The original intent may have been to create a romantic atmosphere on side one and it is up to each listener to decide if that was accomplished.

There are two outstanding ballads on the A side of the original LP release. 'There's Always Me' is a challenging vocal for Elvis with a lot of pitch changes. Elvis proves just what a wonderful vocalist he had become as he handles this difficult song with ease. 'Gently' is one of the great lost Elvis Presley songs. His smooth vocal just flows along and lulls the listener into a journey of relaxed mood and sound.

The fast side, as it was called, is the better to me. When the album was released the ballad side was aimed at his female fans and the B side more toward his male fan base. 'I Want You With Me' and 'I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell' are excellent moderate rockers. 'In Your Arms', 'Put The Blame On Me', and 'Judy' are all straight pop songs that Elvis had been producing for the past year and there is nothing wrong with any of them.

The average or even advanced Elvis fan probably could not name many songs from the original album. Yet playing it almost forty years later is a pleasurable listening experience that just slides by the senses.

Buy Something For Everybody Special Edition FTD CD

Disc 1 - The Album

1. There's Always Me 2:19 (Don Robertson)
2. Give Me The Right 2:36 (Wise/Blagman)
3. It's A Sin 2:44 (Rose/Turner)
4. Sentimenal Me 2:34 (Cassin/Morehead)
5. Starting Today 2:06 (Don Robertson)
6. Gently 2:18 (Wizell/Lisbona)
7. I'm Comin' Home 2:24 (Charlie Rich)
8. In Your Arms 1:52 (Schroeder/Gold)
9. Put The Blame On Me 2:00 (Twomey/Wise/Blagman)
10. Judy 2:14 (Teddy Redell)
11. I Want You With Me 2:15 (Woody Harris)
12. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell 1:39 (Wise/Weisman)

The Singles

13. I Feel So Bad 2:55 (Chuck Willis)
14. Little Sister 2:33 (Pomus/Shuman)
15. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame 2:09 (Pomus/Shuman)
16. Good Luck Charm 2:26 (Schroeder/Gold)
17. Anything That's Part Of You 2:07 (Don Robertson)

First Takes

18. There's Always Me (take 1*) 2:27
19. Give Me The Right (take 1) 3:00
20. It's A Sin (takes 1*, 2) 3:58
21. Sentimental Me (Take 1) 2:42
22. Starting Today (take 1) 2:11
23. Gently (takes 1, 2) 2:46
24. I'm Comin' Home (take 2) 2:42
25. In Your Arms (take 1) 2:13
26. Put The Blame On Me (takes 1, 2) 2:52
27. Judy (take 1) 3:16
28. I Want You With Me (take 1) 2:26
29. Little Sister (take 3) 2:55
30. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame (take 2) 2:26
31. Anything That's Part Of You (take 1) 2:17

Disc 2 - Album Session Outtakes

1. I'm Coming Home' (takes 1*, 3) 3:24
2. I'm Coming Home' (takes 5*, 4) 4:40
3. Gently (take 3) 2:33
4. Gently (take 4*) 2:25
5. Give Me The Right (takes 3*, 2) 3:14
6.I Feel So Bad (take 1) 3:00
7. There's Always Me (take 2) 2:34
8. There's Always Me (take 4) 2:49
9. Starting Today (take 2) 2:12
10. Judy (takes 2*, 3) 2:42
11. Judy (take 4) 2:25

Singles Sessions Outtakes

12. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame (take 1) 2:44
13. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame (takes 3, 4) 2:27
14. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame (takes 5, 6) 4:03
15. Little Sister (takes 1, 2, 4, 5) 2:03
16. Little Sister (take 6) 2:36
17. Good Luck Charm (take 1) 2:48
18. Good Luck Charm (takes 2*, 3*) 1:50
19. Anything That's Part Of You (take 2) 2:14
20. Anything That's Part Of You (takes 4, 5) 2:35
21. Anything That's Part Of You (take 8) 2:27

Last Takes

22. There's Always Me (takes 5*, 6*, 7*, 8*, 9) 4:17
23. Judy (takes 5, 6*, 7*) 4:24
24. (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame (takes 10*, 11*, 12. 3:42
25. Little Sister (takes 7*, 8*, 9) 4:17
26. Anything That's Part Of You (take 9) 2:15

* Previously unreleased

Buy Something For Everybody Special Edition FTD 2 CD

Review - Pot Luck FTD 2 CD

Pot Luck FTD CDPot Luck with Elvis was released June 5, 1962 and reached number 4 on the national charts. Except for gospel releases, it would be his last true studio album for seven years. It was very apparent to the RCA label and manager Col. Tom Parker that movies and soundtrack albums were the most popular and hence made the most money for Elvis as well as themselves.

Now appealing to a wide audience, he had moved beyond his rock 'n' roll roots and was producing solid, and in some cases creative, pop songs. Pot Luck reflects this mature Elvis. It is an album similar to Something For Everybody, in that it contained a lot of good songs but no classics. Yet, the listening experience is excellent showing that the whole was better than the parts.

The classy pop songs '(Such An) Easy Question' and 'I'm Yours' would be released three years later as a successful single. 'I'm Yours' has a dubbed duet on the album cut that was eliminated for that single release.

This album track was the superior as it has a much fuller sound.

'Suspicion' was an interesting track. It would also be released as part of a single at a later date but in 1964 Terry Stafford would have a hit in the United States with the song. It would be an almost exact copy of this album track and Stafford's voice even sounded like Elvis. It would be one of the very few times when an artist stole an Elvis Presley song and produced the more successful version.

The absolute gem contained on the album and one of the most interesting tracks that Elvis ever produced was 'That Someone You Never Forget'. Elvis takes a rare writing credit for this song. He came up with the title and the idea for a tribute commemorating his mother who died while he was serving in the military. He produced one of the great vocals of his career on this very personal song. Elvis means it here and it shows.

There were several other good tracks included on this album. 'Night Rider' is catchy and could have been a successful single release. 'Just For Old Time Sake' is an effective balled which features a smooth vocal. 'Fountain Of Love' is a nice up-tempo pop ditty that just rolls along. The CD reissue of this album includes the song 'You'll Be Gone' which was originally the flip side of the single 'Do The Clam'. This may be the only song to which Elvis actually wrote the lyrics.

Pot Luck is an apt name for this album. While it will never be viewed as one of the classic or even memorable Elvis releases, it does in its own way hold up well. It remains a relaxing album and proves that Elvis could make almost any group of songs worthwhile.  Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Read our comprehensive Pot Luck FTD CD Review.

Buy Pot Luck Special Edition FTD 2 CD

Disc 1 - Original Album

Kiss Me Quick
Just For Old Time Sake
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
(Such An) Easy Question
Steppin' Out Of Line
I'm Yours
Something Blue
Suspicion
I Feel That I've Known You Forever
Night Rider
Fountain Of Love
That's Someone You Never Forget

Singles

She's Not You
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
You'll Be Gone

Bonus Songs

For The Millionth And The Last Time
I Met Her Today

First Takes

Kiss Me Quick (take 1)
Just For Old Time Sake (take 1)
Gonna Get Back Somehow (take 1)
(Such An) Easy Question (take 2)
I'm Yours (take 1)
Something Blue (take 1*)
Suspicion (take 1*)
I Feel That I've Known You Forever (take 1)
Night Rider (take 1)
Fountain Of Love (takes 1, 2)
That's Someone You Never Forget (take 1)
She's Not You (take 1)
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (take 1)
You'll Be Gone (take 1)
For The Millionth And The Last Time (take 1)
I Met Her Today (take 1)

Disc 2 - March 1962 Session

Something Blue (take 2)
Something Blue (takes 3, 4)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (take 2)
Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (takes 3*, 5)
(Such An) Easy Question (takes 1, 3)
Fountain Of Love (takes 4*, 9*)
Just For Old Time Sake (takes 2*, 3, 4)
Night Rider (takes 2, 3)
Night Rider (take 5)
You'll Be Gone (take 2)
You'll Be Gone (take 4)
I Feel That I've Know You Forever (takes 4*, 3)
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (take 2)
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (take 4)
Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (take 5)
Suspicion (takes 3*, 2)
She's Not You (take 2*, WP take 4)

October 1961 Session

For The Millionth And The last Time (takes 10*, 7*)
I Met Her Today (take 4)
I Met Her Today (takes 8, 9)
I Met Her Today (take 16)
Night Rider (takes 1-FS, 2)

June 1961 Session

Kiss Me Quick (take 4)
I'm Yours (take 2)
I'm Yours (take 4)
I'm Yours (take 5)
That's Someone You Never Forget (take 5)
That's Someone You Never Forget (take 7)

Buy Pot Luck Special Edition FTD CD
Buy Something For Everybody Special Edition FTD 2 CD

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Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.