"Blue River" - Take 2

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Mister Moon
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"Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Mister Moon » Thu Aug 04, 2022 4:37 pm

Here's a matter that's always puzzled me.

We know that take 2 of "Blue River" was originally doctored in order to make it longer, and was released twice in the 60s - first as a single, and later as a bonus track in the "Double Trouble" album.

So, what was the original official release of the undoctored take 2 ?

Thanks in advance.


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby javilu » Thu Aug 04, 2022 4:47 pm

Mister Moon wrote:Here's a matter that's always puzzled me.

We know that take 2 of "Blue River" was originally doctored in order to make it longer, and was released twice in the 60s - first as a single, and later as a bonus track in the "Double Trouble" album.

So, what was the original official release of the undoctored take 2 ?

Thanks in advance.


Going by memory it might have been "Elvis For The Asking"?
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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Mister Moon » Thu Aug 04, 2022 6:31 pm

javilu wrote:
Mister Moon wrote:Here's a matter that's always puzzled me.

We know that take 2 of "Blue River" was originally doctored in order to make it longer, and was released twice in the 60s - first as a single, and later as a bonus track in the "Double Trouble" album.

So, what was the original official release of the undoctored take 2 ?

Thanks in advance.


Going by memory it might have been "Elvis For The Asking"?


That's what I thought, but it's odd how the untampered take came to light. Neither that album or its US equivalent highlighted that fact, right ? (I don't have them). A little bit later, the original take 2 was also used for the "Fron Nashville To Memphis" box-set, and that's where I first heard it.

"Blue River", in its spliced form, was featured in the very first Elvis record I ever owned, back in 1978. Of course, back then I didn't know a thing about such matters, but looking back I remember thinking how odd it was that Elvis shouted the very same words before both (identical) guitar solos. Innocent times.



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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Nightrider » Thu Aug 04, 2022 7:28 pm

That's right, the untampered take (1'31) appeared discreetly for the first time on the album For the Asking in 1990. Something I didn't notice back then since I didn't purchased it, having already Blue River (the spliced version, 2'10) on my french EP (with Memphis Tennessee, Tell Me Why and Puppet On A String) bought when it was released here mid 1966. Btw, contrary to many, I really dig this unpretentious little rockin' tune.


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Mister Moon » Thu Aug 04, 2022 8:31 pm

There's an almost identical example in "All Right Baby", a 1957 Janis Martin RCA Victor recording.

When originally released as a single in 1957 it lasted a little over two minutes, but the original take was made last longer by repeating the guitar solo. This recording was reissued in the late 70s / early 80s several times in its original spliced format. Then, in the late 80s, somebody went to the session tapes instead of the single masters, and started using the original untampered take, which lasted a little over one minute and a half.

And here's two very funny things - all the cheapo labels reissuing Janis Martin stuff are not using the single master but the shorter original take, and the single master has even been reissued as being an alternate take. Crazy stuff all the way.

The obvious question is, does somebody really listen to all them rekkids before they are released ? I don't think so.


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby John » Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:14 pm

Mister Moon wrote:Here's a matter that's always puzzled me.

We know that take 2 of "Blue River" was originally doctored in order to make it longer, and was released twice in the 60s - first as a single, and later as a bonus track in the "Double Trouble" album.

So, what was the original official release of the undoctored take 2 ?

Thanks in advance.

I'm more puzzled by the fact that there is a master take with a quick fade, then it came out eventually without the fade. Did they fade it because there was not enough space between the last beat and Elvis' whistle and comment, but obviously somehow they've got round that?


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Colin B » Fri Aug 05, 2022 8:33 am

This is from my notes:

Blue River - Details.JPG
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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby John » Fri Aug 05, 2022 8:47 am

Colin B wrote:This is from my notes:

Blue River - Details.JPG

Cheers Colin. Interested to know how the Echoes Of Love Sessions is semi official?


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Colin B » Fri Aug 05, 2022 9:41 am

Colin B wrote:This is from my notes:
John wrote:Cheers Colin.
Interested to know how the Echoes Of Love Sessions is semi official?


Well, it was obviously not an 'official' Sony/RCA release, but seemed a cut above the usual 'unofficial' stuff,
being a Czech Republic fan club release, so I tried to cover all bases & called it 'semi official' !

These are my personal notes, remembered, not originally written for wider publication !

How would you classify it ?
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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby javilu » Fri Aug 05, 2022 2:13 pm

Colin B wrote:
Colin B wrote:This is from my notes:
John wrote:Cheers Colin.
Interested to know how the Echoes Of Love Sessions is semi official?


Well, it was obviously not an 'official' Sony/RCA release, but seemed a cut above the usual 'unofficial' stuff,
being a Czech Republic fan club release, so I tried to cover all bases & called it 'semi official' !

These are my personal notes, remembered, not originally written for wider publication !

How would you classify it ?


As per Czech law, it was official when released then, only in Czech republic.
Then the laws changed and the Memory label became just another bootleg operation.
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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Colin B » Fri Aug 05, 2022 4:01 pm

Colin B wrote:This is from my notes:
John wrote:Cheers Colin.
Interested to know how the Echoes Of Love Sessions is semi official?
Colin B wrote:Well, it was obviously not an 'official' Sony/RCA release, but seemed a cut above the usual 'unofficial' stuff,
being a Czech Republic fan club release, so I tried to cover all bases & called it 'semi official' !
These are my personal notes, remembered, not originally written for wider publication !
How would you classify it ?
javilu wrote:As per Czech law, it was official when released then, only in Czech republic.
Then the laws changed and the Memory label became just another bootleg operation.


Thanks !

If it was 'official' [in one place] then but not now, I guess 'semi official' isn't too bad a description...
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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby John » Fri Aug 05, 2022 5:20 pm

Colin B wrote:
Colin B wrote:This is from my notes:
John wrote:Cheers Colin.
Interested to know how the Echoes Of Love Sessions is semi official?


Well, it was obviously not an 'official' Sony/RCA release, but seemed a cut above the usual 'unofficial' stuff,
being a Czech Republic fan club release, so I tried to cover all bases & called it 'semi official' !

These are my personal notes, remembered, not originally written for wider publication !

How would you classify it ?

Thanks. I just wondered. I've always thought of it as a bootleg.


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Re: "Blue River" - Take 2

Postby Private Presley » Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:50 am

Yes, I would call those Czech cds as bootlegs!
It was fun then listening to those outtakes.
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