April 12 - Record Store Day

April 12th is Record Store Day 2025 and three new Elvis LP's were released today. The only official Elvis-themed RD-LP was released by the Omnivore Record label with 'Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos)' . A double LP on opaque orange colored vinyl, but unfortunately this LP does not contain performances by Elvis Presley.

From the French V.P.I. record label fans of vinyl got the triple LP-set '1960: Everybody's Got The Fever ...' on cloud colored vinyl and the single LP 'Elvis Sings Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett - Just For Old Time Sake' on two-colored red and blue colored vinyl. These sets are not official RSD releases as they were not listed on the official RSD website. The sets are limited to 1,500 copies and were also released on CD as vinyl replica's. 

Publicity for 'Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos)' stated: 'A Teenager In Love',  'Save The Last Dance For Me', 'This Magic Moment', 'Can’t Get Used To Losing You'. There’s not much in early rock history that can equal those songs. Doc Pomus wrote hit after hit with an array of songwriting partners with Mort Shuman chief among them. Together they created a template for the sound of the late 1950s and early ’60s. Writing timeless classics covered by artists around the globe, one artist was King, Elvis Presley. 

Pomus / Shuman were the names on the sheet music for many a remarkable Elvis recording. 'Viva Las Vegas', '(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame', 'She’s Not You', all classics. So, where do all those songs start? The demos.

Painstakingly transferred, restored and mastered from the original acetates with full approval and cooperation of the Pomus estate, 'Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos)' explores the recordings submitted to Presley for his consideration to record. Some (the afore mentioned hits and more) were recorded and released by Elvis, while others fell by the wayside for reasons lost to time, or recorded by other artists, and we’re left to imagine what might have been had The King recorded and released them.

Available on a double opaque orange-colored LP for Record Sore Day, the origins of Rock and Roll are in full force on 'Viva Doc Pomus: Songs For Elvis (The Demos)'. Hear what Elvis heard for yourself and wonder what could have been! Viva Doc Pomus indeed!

Side 1:

1. Turn Me Loose 2:16

2. A Mess Of Blues 2:53

3. (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame 2:14

4. Kiss Me Quick 2:51

5. She’s Not You 1:39

6. Gonna Get Back Home Somehow 2:30

7. Suspicion 2:34

8. Pot Luck (Pomus/Shuman Version) 2:34

Side 2:

1. Viva Las Vegas 2:34

2. Lady Luck 1:46

3. (It’s A) Long Lonely Highway 2:23

4. Kissin’ Cousins 2:25

5. I Need Somebody To Lean On 3:17

6. Girl Happy 2:04

7. One Way Ticket To The Blues 1:56

8. Pot Luck (Pomus/Spector Version) 1:46

Side 3: 

1. Kissin’ Fool 2:14

2. I Walk The Muddy Road To Love 2:08

3. What Every Woman Lives For 2:36

4. I Wish I Were In His Shoes 2:27

5. I’m A Man 0:30

6. Clambake (Version 1) 2:41

7. Double Trouble (Version 1) 3:11

8. Pot Luck (Pomus/Jeffreys Version) 2:03

Side 4:

1. Havin’ A Ball 2:12

2. Double Trouble (Version 2) 2:12

3. Clambake (Version 2) 1:58

4. Bring My Poor Heart Back To Me 2:45

5. Headin’ For A Heartache 2:00

6. Easy Come Easy Go 2:20

7. ... Presley Liked Them 2:05

Publicity stated: The album 'Just For Old Time Sake' highlights the collaboration between Elvis Presley and the songwriting duo Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett. These authors wrote 42 songs for the King, mainly for his films, which although sometimes considered minor, have marked generations. 

This album brings together Alternative Takes of songs recorded between 1957 and 1962, including several from 'Blue Hawaii'. This best-of compilation showcases the impact of Elvis' cinema and the importance of these songs in his musical and film career.

Side A: Lonesome Cowboy (Take 20 / 25, Master) - New Orleans (Movie Version) - Shoppin’ Around (Version 1, Take 1) - G. I. Blues (Take 6) - A Cane And A High Starched Collar (Movie Version) - Hawaiian Sunset (Take 3) - Slicin’ Sand (Take 4) - Ito Eats (Take 2) - Island Of Love (Take 8) - Beach Boy Blues (Take 3, Movie Version).

Side B: Angel (Take 6) - For The Millionth And The Last Time (Take 1) - Just For Old Time Sake (Take 1) - The Walls Have Ears (Take 12, Master) - Song Of The Shrimp (Take 6, Master) - A Boy Like Me, A Girl Like You (Take 2) - Earth Boy (Take 9, Master) - Take Me To The Fair (Take 7) - Relax (Take 7).

In 1960, the famous composer Leonard Bernstein said: “Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force of the 20th century… He introduced rhythm into everything and he changed everything, music, language, clothes, it’s a whole new social revolution from which the 60s came.”

And it’s true that Elvis knew how to sing everything! This triple album offers 54 tracks, the vast majority of which are Alternative versions A unique compilation, never made, exceptional in every way,illustrating the many different facets of the artist Elvis Presley.

LP 1 - Side A: Make Me Know It (Take 9 - 11) - Soldier Boy (Take 2 - 3 & 7) - Stuck On You (Take 1) - Fame And Fortune (Take 4 - 5) - A Mess Of Blues (Take 2 - 3) - It Feels So Right (Take 4 & 3) - Fever (Take 1) - Like A Baby (Take 3 - 4) - It’s Now Or Never (Take 2).

Side B: The Girl Of My Best Friend (Take 2 & 4 - 6) - Dirty, Dirty Feeling (Take 1) - Thrill Of Your Love (Take 1 - 2) - I Gotta Know (Take 1) - Such A Night (Take 1) - Are You Lonesome Tonight (Take 1 - 2) - The Girl Next Door (Went A’Walking) (Take 1 - 3) - I Will Be Home Again - Reconsider Baby.

LP 2 - Side C: Shoppin’ Around (Version 1, Take 5) - Didja’ Ever (Take 1) - Doin’ The Best I Can (Take 1 - 3) - G. I. Blues (Take 1) - Frankfort Special (Remake, Take 6 - 8) - Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 4) - Big Boots (Slow Version, Take 2 & 3) - What’s She Really Like (Take 12 & 13) - Blue Suede Shoes - Wooden Heart (Take 1).

Side D: Pocketful Of Rainbows (Version 1, Take 10) - Tonight Is All Right For Love (Take 1) - Black Star (Take 5) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Take 10, 12, 14) - Britches (1’41) - A Cane And A High Starched Collar (Take 6 & Insert Take 1, 5, 6) - Flaming Star (Take 2) - Black Star (End Title Version - 1, 2, 4, 5) - Flaming Star (End Title Version - Take 1, 3, 4) - Milky White Way (Take 1 - 2) - I Believe In The Man In The Sky (Take 1) - His Hand In Mine (Take 4).

LP 3 - Side E: He Knows Just What I Need (Take 5 - 7) - Surrender (Take 8 - 9) - Mansion Over The Hilltop (Take 2 & 1) - In My Father’s House (Take 7) - Joshua Fit The Battle (Take 2) - Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Take 2 - 3) - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (Take 2 - 3) - If We Never Meet Again - Known Only To Him (Take 1 - 2) - Crying In The Chapel (Take 2 - 3) - Working On The Building (Take 3 - 4).

Side F: Lonely Man (Take 4) - In My Way (Take 1) - Wild In The Country (Take 14) - Forget Me Never (Take 2, 1) - I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell (Lower Key Version) - Lonely Man (Solo Take 1) - Husky Dusky Day - Fame And Fortune (26.03.1960) - Stuck On You (26.03.1960) - Stuck On You (26.03.1960) - Love Me Tender (Reprise - 26.03.1960) - Make Believe - If I Loved You - She Wears My Ring - Ladwy Miss Clawdy.

Bonus Songs: Stuck On You (26.03.1960) - Fame And Fortune (26.03.1960) - Witchcraft & Love Me Tender (26.03.1960 - Frank Sinatra) - Love Me Tender (Reprise - 26.03.1960 - Frank Sinatra) - I Wonder I Wonder I Wonder - Sweet Leilani - Beyond The Reef - When The Swallows - Come Back To Capistrano - He Hands Off.

The 'Just For Old Time Sake' LP-set is available from >>> Bennies Fifties.

The '1960: Everybody's Got The Fever ...' is available from >>> Bennies Fifties.