2025 in 2025: Day 80

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Trash...
AKA LOGMAN Does an Oopsie!

So, I spent 24 hours travelling and listening to all this music that I've been working my way through. Which is all fine and dandy. Being that I was travelling, I kept all my scores/ratings and ramblings in notes on my phone. And then the most hilarious thing happened and I had to restore my phone before being able to do a backup. Which meant I lost all my data from the last 6 months - including all the listening history! Now how will I know how many times I listened to ELLEGARDEN and Queen back in December?!?

So I lost about 2 weeks of listening time sorting this all out. Plus all this music I listened to while travelling and getting sorted? You guessed it - I will have to listen to it and rate it and discuss it all over again. Which is a shame, because I am sure my original bLogging would have been super entertaining and full of extremely witty dialogue. For sure...

So let's get back to it! We are almost 6 months into 2025 and I am still barely a third through this...

F is for FarOutIHaveToListenToTheseFTDAlbumsAgain!

FTD062: An American Trilogy, January/February 1972 - Elvis Presley

Another live compilation in the form of an actual live setlist. The recordings for the most part are really good and the band are seriously on fire! Elvis' voice is definitely not at its best, though.

Highlights: Never Been to Spain, You Gave Me a Mountain, A Big Hunk O' Love

6.5/10

FTD092: As Recorded At Boston Garden '71, Boston, 10 November 1971 - Elvis Presley

This show is mostly decent, but the recording/mix is just not great. Almost sounds like an audience recording? The crowd were certainly hot! Elvis didn't even kiss everyone during Love Me Tender. Anyways, clearly the real king of the garden was Bret Hart. Both Boston and Madison.

Highlights: You've Lost that Loving Feeling, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

6/10

Full Blast - MC Hammer

Really just a glorified EP from the Hammerman; five songs and then the instrumental version of said five songs. Look, part of what I will always love about Hammer is that he works in such a great pop/dance vibe in the hip-hop. But when the man is angry and lets loose on his diss work, it goes hard!

Highlights: Full Blast, Hard Times, I Used to Love Her

7/10

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sarah McLachlan

Last time I was listening to this album, I was wandering around Shanghai airport. This has probably been a more focused listen, which is great, because this album is pretty good and at times I really like McLachlan's voice and delivery. And whatever is going on musically, for the most part. It has been too long now to compare these versions to those found on the Freedom Sessions album, so one day next year I will have to do a direct back-to-back listen and comparison.

Highlights: Possession, Wait, Circle, Ice Cream

7/10

Fun in Space - Roger Taylor

This album sounds exactly like it came from someone involved in the creation of Queen's Hot Space album. In fact, some of these songs sound like they were reworked for that album - because some of them sound very similar. Whenever I read this album title, I get confused and start singing Prime Jive to myself. Because there is that line Roger Taylor sings about "rock in space" and the full title of the song is Rock It (Prime Jive). Try to keep up, please...

Highlights: No Violins, Let's Get Crazy, Airheads

6/10

A Funk Odyssey - Jamiroquai

Bah gawd this album blew my mind back in 2002 and was responsible for me becoming a Jamiroquai fan. Rob Harris' guitar work is so unbelievably funky and out of this world. And that bass line on Love Foolosophy is super funky. And then Stop Don't Panic features the sort of funk guitar that completely changes the game. Intergalactic Disco Express, right here.

Highlights: Little L, Love Foolosophy, Don't Stop Panic, Main Vein

8/10

The Funky Headhunter - MC Hammer

Hammer sans MC has no time for suckers talking smack. For the longest time, I thought It's All Good was on Too Legit To Quit. Kids are stupid. Especially the kids not listening to this album, because it is super awesome. Sure, as usual some of the songs are a bit long, and the whole album probably could have been edited down a bit (18 tracks at 1 hour 15 is genuinely not necessary), and my man don't need to be making me choose a side between him and Run DMC. And Hammer for sure wasn't all talk; Redman is on the record that Hammer came to him personally and had him apologising for talking trash, because Hammer don't play like that. Y'all busters should have just let Hammer do his pop super hype dancing!

Highlights: It's All Good, Don't Stop, Break 'em Off Somethin' Propa, It's All That, The Funky Headhunter

7/10

FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

I gushed stupidly about this album back when my bLog was just getting started - almost 20 years ago! Does the album hold up in 2025? Well... yes. Absolutely. Losing My Way is mostly a cool song, but the lyrics are pretty cringe; there is nothing about JT that I find relatable to a broke meth addict. Somehow I have ended up with a censored version, which annoys me in all the ways you could imagine. And it has a bunch of remixes at the end that are all unnecessary. Especially the one featuring Beyoncé. But especially 50 Cent being super lewd and gross. Otherwise, it is still a very great album that I just need to get back to the original uncensored un-deluxe version.

Highlights: SexyBack, My Love, LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude), What Goes Around.../... Comes Around (Interlude)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 648

2025 in 2025: Day 79

F is for FTD!

FTD020: Elvis at the International, Las Vegas, 23 August 1969 - Elvis Presley

Bah gawd this is a fantastic live show. Elvis' return to the stage after 9 years and he is sure having fun. Suspicious Minds here is a bit more on the same pace as the studio version (unlike later versions where they basically have a challenge to see how fast they can play it). Hmmm... I need to rethink my lack of the 1969 live boxset in my collection...

Highlights: Suspicious Minds, What'd I Say, Baby What You Want Me to Do

7/10

FTD022: Studio B Nashville Outtakes 1961-64 - Elvis Presley

It is in the name. Outtakes of some of the most generic songs Elvis could have recorded in the 60s. I mean, it is all still fine and dandy, but there is not much that distinguishes anything these from the final masters.

Highlights: 

6/10

FTD031: So High - Nashville 1966-68

More Nashville outtakes? I must have a whole decade's worth by now. This at least has come great gospel tracks, because I loves me some Elvis gospel numbers. But, honestly, these last couple of FTD releases have felt more like compilations with some added studio chatter and possibly better mixes.

Highlights: Too Much Monkey Business [Take 4, 10], Run On [Take 6]

7/10

FTD032: The Impossible Dream, January 1971 - Elvis Presley

This is mostly one live show, but really a compilation of live shows edited together to give the feel of a single live show from Elvis' Las Vegas shows in January 1971. Because they were likely all the same setlist. Did you know that during the dinner shows (Elvis performed twice a day - first during dinner and the second at midnight), Elvis was under contract to limit his performance to an hour so that guests would go back to blowing their money at the casino? Interesting? Possibly more interesting than this album? The performances are fine, but the recordings are pretty blah.

Highlights: Johnny B. Goode, Release Me, It's Now or Never

5/10

FTD036: Polk Salad Annie, Las Vegas, February 1970 - Elvis Presley

More Elvis in Vegas? It really should not be that surprising that there are so many live concerts from Las Vegas, because Elvis spent a bunch of his post-film career doing residencies there. And at least this is good quality. And a few songs that I don't always see in the setlist, like Kentucky Rain. Which starts off awesome, but Elvis is too busy having fun to sing a ballad without laughing. A lot of the songs are a little bit of a slower tempo, which actually improves the groove. The introductions are hilarious; Elvis tells the crowd he "can't wait for this show to be over" and then gets completely confused between a lead guitar and a piano. Oh, there is a different drummer! That's why things are much tighter - they should have replaced Ronnie with this dude. Even the rehearsals are a fun listen.

Highlights: Walk a Mile in My Shoes, In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds

7/10

FTD053: Made In Memphis - Elvis Presley

More outtakes from the From Elvis in Memphis/Back in Memphis sessions? Nope, just a mix of outtakes that were recorded in Memphis. That's also fine by me, because that includes the Stax sessions. And then it all ends with some home recordings and Elvis reciting a heartfelt poem for his friends.

Highlights: You'll Think of Me [Take 8], Solitaire [Take 7], Bitter They Are Harder They Fall [Take 1]

6/10

FTD058: Live in Las Vegas 1969-72 - Elvis Presley

Another compilation of live tracks in Las Vegas. The 1969 stuff is seriously fantastic and Elvis' banter is at all-time hilarious high. This might be the only live version of Love Me Tender that does not involve Elvis kissing every woman in the audience. Upon further investigation, I have no idea what this album actually is... but it is great?

Highlights: Jailhouse Rock/Don't Be Cruel, Hound Dog, I Just Can't Help Believing, Suspicious Minds

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 640

2025 in 2025: Day 78

The FTD marathon continues...

FTD008: One Night in Vegas (10 August 1970) - Elvis Presley
This is actually the opening night of Elvis' Las Vegas residency that was recorded for the That's The Way It Is film (which itself completely rules). It is a great show. I didn't need more rehearsals at the end...
Highlights: I Can't Stop Loving You, You've Lost That Loving Feeling, Patch It Up
7.5/10 for the concert, 3/10 for Elvis doing yodels in rehearsal

FTD009: 6363 Sunset Boulevard
This is another collection of outtakes - this time from 1972 & 1975. This undubbed take of Always On My Mind is stellar. Other than that and a strange version of Burning Love, I am pretty sure I have the rest in similar form; the rehearsals from On Tour are probably included in that set and the outtakes from Today are very similar to the un-overdubbed versions found in that set.
Highlights: Always On My Mind [Take 3], Burning Love [Take 2], See See Rider [Take 2], T-R-O-U-B-L-E [Take 1]
6/10

FTD010: Easter Special - Elvis Presley
A collection of Gospel outtakes. I would say mostly like the masters, but some are slightly different. Like, a couple are a little bit faster and some have less overdubs going on. This version of Saved is bombastic! And I Got a Feeling in My Body is just... wooo!
Highlights: Saved [Take 1], If That Isn't Love [Take 2,6,7], I Got a Feeling in My Body [Take 6,7], I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs [Take 2,3]
7/10

FTD012: The Way It Was - Elvis Presley
Rehearsals for That's The Way It Is. And it starts of incredibly poor - not the performances, the recordings. The tape must have been found buried beneath 3 tonnes of mud and lava and dinosaur fossils. Thankfully, things get more listenable after a few songs. I definitely prefer I've Lost You without the horns and whatnot. Oh, there are actual live songs as well
Highlights: I've Lost You, I Can't Stop Loving You, You've Lost That Loving Feeling
6/10

FTD013: Memphis Sessions - Elvis Presley

This is a collection I enjoy a lot; I love From Elvis in Memphis (and Back in Memphis, to a lesser degree) and these are basically undubbed/slightly less polished versions. The harmonica is much more present in Stranger in My Own Home Town (and Elvis is just completely getting into the whole thing). It owns. This is the most chilled version of Suspicious Minds you will ever hear. FTD released a big 5-disc set of all this stuff a few years ago and I sometimes think I should have got it. Today is one of those days...
Highlights: Stranger In My Own Home Town [Undubbed Master], True Love Travels On A Gravel Road [Takes 6 & 7], Wearin' That Loved On Look [Takes 3 & 10], You'll Think Of Me [Take 14]

7/10

FTD014: Silver Screen Stereo - Elvis Presley

More movie song outtakes. I'm sure the world needed more versions of Clambake and to put more focus on those dodgy lyrics of Kissin' Cousins. Elvis going to go and get him cancelled again...
Highlights: Viva Las Vegas [#1, 2], The Lady Loves Me [#9], C'mon Everybody [#1, 2, 3], There's So Much World To See [Alternate Master]

6/10

FTD016: Fame and Fortune - Elvis Presley

Outtakes from the Elvis is Back sessions. Mostly. And they sound mostly like the finished masters. Mostly.

Highlights: Make Me Know It [Take 11], Stuck On You [Take 1], Such a Night [Take 1], Girl Next Door Went a Walking [Takes 1,2,3]

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 633

2025 in 2025: Day 77

AKA More Elvis Marathons

I have a whole bunch of Elvis 'Follow That Dream' releases that are all coming up now, because they are labelled in my iTunes as "FTD0xx:". The numbers will jump all over the place, because I have already eliminated the ones that were later released as part of another set (e.g. FTD001 was the 68 Comeback Special outtakes/rehearsals, which were later included in the 40th and 50th anniversary collections). I would imagine that listening to these now will help eliminate some of them from my library, because I really have enough Elvis outtakes and rehearsal on all my box sets.

FTD002: Out In Hollywood - Elvis Presley
This is all alternate takes of songs from movies. There are no undiscovered gems here. The only thing that really stands out is after singing Lonely Man, the engineer can be heard telling Elvis it was "beautiful" and Elvis thanks him for the compliment. Young Elvis was a rebel, but also hella respectful and genuinely appreciated that people liked his voice. Actually, the real highlight here is an isolated vocal overdub of for You're So Square. Quite fun to just here Elvis' voice like that.
Highlights: King of the Whole World [Take 3], Little Egypt [Take 21], Spinout [Take 2]
5/10

FTD003: In A Private Moment - Elvis Presley
This is all very pointless; Elvis jamming with friends and recorded very poorly (as one would expect), and mostly just quick little bits of songs.
Highlights: Impressive these exist, I'll give them that
4/10

FTD004: The Jungle Room Sessions - Elvis Presley
Now this is actually very enjoyable. I can not believe I still have not picked up the other Jungle Room set that would make this obsolete. I love these late 70's numbers and getting them without the overdubs. And Elvis' "Italian" version of Moody Blue is rather entertaining.
Highlights: Fire Down Below [Instrumental], Moody Blue [Take 3], Bitter They Are Harder They Fall [Take 2-5], Solitaire [Take 3]
7/10

FTD005: Long Lonely Highway - Elvis Presley
Alternate takes of a bunch of fantastic 60s tracks. Including a very different version of Too Much Monkey Business.
Highlights: It's Now or Never [Alternate Take 1]. It Feels So Right [Alternate Take 3], Long Lonely Highway [Alternate Take 1], Too Much Monkey Business [Alternate Take 9]
6/10

FTD007: Too Much Monkey Business - Elvis Presley
This is all so weird I actually had to google to understand what was going on here; in the early 80s, Elvis' long-time producer tried to cash in on things by taking some old Elvis vocals and getting a team of musicians to redo the music in a more "modern" way, and this FTD release is the original album PLUS 10 bonus tracks from the same "sessions". We can mock, but they are still doing this sort of thing with Elvis' songs to this day. Look, I am not trying to say these are the definitive versions or anything, but it is kind of fun.
Highlights: Burning Love, After Loving You, Too Much Monkey Business, Blue Suede Shoes
6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 626

2025 in 2025: Day 42

The Complete Elvis Presley Masters - Elvis Presley

1961 to 1966

Fun fact: the first 12 songs I am listening to from 1961 (mostly used for the Something for Everybody album) were recorded 64 years ago today! And then it is on to the songs recorded for Blue Hawaii. They are mostly as lame as the movie. Things start to get jumbled up from here, so I might stop talking about what they were recorded for. But needless to say, the songs not recorded for the movies are generally better than the ones that were. That is not to say that all the soundtrack songs were awful; I actually dig the songs for Follow That Dream - and the movie itself. It is hilarious; Elvis plays a complete simpleton and appears to be having a fun time. I'm surprised Elvis hasn't been cancelled for Plantation Rock. And many other things. It Happened at the World's Fair is another one of my favourite Elvis movies - hilarious movie. And a couple of great songs on the soundtrack. Only a couple. One Broken Heart For Sale is actually an awesome song. Who makes a song called Mexico and never once mentions Lucha Libre? 1963 was generally a pretty decent year for The King; some fun singles like Bossa Nova Baby, You're the Devil in Disguise and What'd I Say, and the soundtracks ranged from harmless (Fun in Acapulco) to iconic (Viva Las Vegas). "The eyes of Texas are upon you and you can not get away" is gawdam frightening! I've changed my mind: Barefoot Ballad is genuinely the worst Elvis song on the planet. Or any other planet, ever. Kissin' Cousins is disturbing enough, but Kissin Cousins #2 is even weirder, with lines like "Kissin's allowed because we're proud". Yikes! In 1964 we get It Hurts Me and Little Egypt - both re-recorded and improved greatly for the '68 Comeback Special - and then just 2 soundtracks? I liked Girl Happy, but can barely remember Roustabout. Oh, Do The Clam was also 1964. What an odd single/idea/song/everything. 1965 is simply just soundtracks again; I recall Harum Scarum wasn't as bad a movie as I was led to believe. The soundtrack, however, is very blah. The Frankie and Johnny soundtrack feels more 'big band' style than anything else Elvis has done. It's mostly fine. Spinout may well be my fav Elvis movie soundtrack. But again, I don't really remember the movie, even though I know I have seen it a few times. Might have to watch it again soon. Tomorrow is a Long Time is the longest song by Elvis by far! Until now, very few songs even made it past the 3-minute mark, but this one is 5 1/2 minutes long! Huh, I always thought Love Letters was a 70s song, but here it is in 1966 exactly where it has always been. The soundtrack for Double Trouble is also not bad. I just realised that, of course, I removed all the gospel songs and half the singles from the 60s - since I have them elsewhere - so this 60s section really is about 95% songs from the movies. Which is really making me want to watch all of Elvis' movies again. The songs from Easy Come, Easy Go are pretty funny; lots of love machine talk and ridiculous explanations of yoga. 

Highlights: One Broken Heart for Sale, Return to Sender, Viva Las Vegas, What'd I Say, Kiss Me Quick, Suspicion, It Hurts Me, Little Egypt, Girl Happy

6/10