| Release: 1990 | BMG PD 90486 | Elvis in the 90s | Germany | 18 € |
| Release: 1991 | BMG 2229-2-R | Canada | 22 € | |
| Release: 1991 | BMG 2229-2-R | USA | 18 € | |
| Release: 1991 | BMG BVCP-28 | Elvis in the 90s | Japan | 30 € |
| Release: 1991 | BMG PD 90486 | Australia | 22 € | |
| Release: 1993 | BMG PD 90486 | Elvis in the 90s | Germany | 15 € |
| Release: 1994 | BMG 2229-2-R | USA | 15 € | |
| Release: 1994 | BMG PD 90486 | Elvis in the 90s | Germany | 15 € |
| Release: 1999 | BMG PD 90486 | Artist of the Century | Germany | 15 € |
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Part of the "Essential Elvis Presley" series |
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HITS LIKE NEVER BEFORE brings together alternate takes of 24 songs
that Elvis Presley recorded in marathon sessions for RCA in 1958, on
the eve of his departure for military service in Germany. It was the
album versions of these songs, along with a slew of Hollywood movies,
that helped to sate fans' appetites during The King's ensuing
two-year absence. These shelved takes are revealing. Not only do they illuminate Elvis' evolution as a singer, but they also hint at the kind of behind-the-scenes decisions that were being made in the tailoring of the singer's sound. Compare, for example, the first-run-through take of "A Big Hunk O' Love" featured here to the (presumably later) session take released to the public Hits Like Never Before: Essential Elvis Vol. 3 songs. One notices that Elvis' singing on the former is marked by a more airy timbre, while the latter captures a growling vocal punch. In addition, "A Big Hunk O' Love" did not originally receive the anchoring support of lower-register background doo-wop singing. |