[Steve]

Lets Here what you think of this.

And explain why.....

[cas]

i think they are getting better to give os some cool cds

i like the way they do with the album/soundtracks

[wamee]

i think they are doing a good job however it is kind of hard to keep up with them all especially when you can't always afford them. i buy them whenever i am able and love them though. s.

[Guest_curtis simpkins_*]

I love to see them in your favorite record stores
or even wal-mart and so on,


i wish they lower the prices because to me $30 a pop is too much.

even though $30 cd thats like you are buying boot legs cds.


$14.98 to $19.98 is a fair price for these cds.

[hounddogman]

I think the FTD team is doing a great job and we are very fortunate to have someone like Ernst who really cares about Elvis' legacy behind the wheel. It's his job I know, but it's also his passion and I think it shines through.

There seems to be a lot of criticism targeted at FTD and most of the time I just don't get it. Every time a new FTD release is getting slammed I can't help thinking that had it been a bootleg it would have been highly praised... We all have different views on what we would like to see released. Some prefer soundboard concerts, while others go for studio outtakes, some rate rarity above sound quality, while others will go for nothing less than perfect sound. Though FTD seems to try to please everyone by varying the releases, pleasing everyone every time is an impossible task.

When thinking of all the stuff released on the label in less than seven years, I'm really amazed. Seven years ago I for one couldn't imagine having so many great outtakes and live recordings in decent sound and on official albums. Some complain about the price. Hey, they’re running a business. If the label isn’t profitable, it’ll be closed. If that’s the price they can get, then why lower it? Those who want the albums will buy them anyway and I don’t believe lowering the prices would attract many more buyers. Most don't seem to mind paying the same prices for bootlegs.

About the cover designs, some I like, while others aren’t very inventive to say the least. Well, ever since they went from vinyl to CD, the covers haven’t been a very important issue for me. Sure, a good cover is the icing on the cake, but I buy them for the content. And besides, we have the best designers for alternate covers right here at The Kings Court!

So, in general I’m looking forward to every FTD release. Some I buy right away, while others have to wait a while for financial reasons. But eventually I will get all of them…

[J]

Exactly... Well said, hounddogman! I couldn't agree with you more.
The FTD team is doing a fantastic job. [img]style_emoticons/default/yes.gif[/img]

[stefan]

I think they are doing a great job as they have released quite an amount of unreleased stuff over the last few years. We should be very greatfull for Ernst & FTD.

[NightRider]

Back in the eighties...those that can remember how bad the RCA releases were..or more so...so few and far between, will never think anything but FTD is doing a great job with Elvis' material. I would go along with that. Those days were terrible as far as unreleased stuff goes. hardly ever getting alternate takes. Elvis Aron Presley ( the 8LP box set ) was the only real gem for many years. That gave us just a small taste of what they had. A Golden celebration followed. Although, personally not appreciated as much as EAP...still a fine release. Since then things have inproved. Both in general release terms and through FTD.

I can't help but believe that the people the record companies supposedly hate so much....( The Bootleggers )in fact helped to bring around the birth of FTD. In reality a follow on from the exceptional Essential Elvis series. It was a shame that no more of these were ever released. The Boot releases simply got better and better. During the early - mid 90's they were by far the very best Elvis releases.

In honesty, the FTD series started rather slowly. Good ? yes. As good as the bootleggers at the time ? Well....sadly not. With the likes of Fort Baxter, DAE and Bilko ( to name just a few ). They were and had been releasing far better releases.

As the years have gone by, they have improved dramatically. Starting i think with one of the greatest releases ever..The Jungle Room Sessions. It has been up and down a little in terms of what the releases contained. Some shows were not mixed as alot of people would want, me included. I just believe that with todays technology, they still take shortcuts as far as some of the releases' sound quality goes.

Having said that, most are great releases. There aren't many, if any that i would not recommend a fan get. That shows how good they are.

Bad points. Yes...they do have those too. The main two for me. The artwork. Not the most important thing as far as releases go. That goes to the content. But, i can't help but feel that a fan doing the artwork would improve it a 100%. There is no real care about what they do. Take the very last release Made In Memphis. i just find it so sad that they can do no better than that [img]style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img] There are many more that i could mention. But, to be honest we all have our likes and dislikes. For me, sadly more dislikes [img]style_emoticons/default/blush.gif[/img] The 7" special Editions are all excellent. But even then, some could have had some reworked covers to improve them. I know many people like the old covers and are happy that FTD copies them for these new released. I am too. But just update some of them. Look how cool the Memphis Cd could have looked.

The other annoying thing for me is that fact that they keep them mail order only. I really am not that concerened about the prices. Although i will agree that they could be more competative. But as fans would gladly pay the same, or even more for Boot releases...then i don't really think that they can complain that much about the prices. I still don't understand why they are not on general release though. Surely each FTD sells enough copies to warrant that ?

To sum up....Ernst and team do a fabulous job. It could be improved, yes...but not dramatically. They are giving the fans what they want. I for one would prefer FTD than going back to the early days....thats for damn sure [img]style_emoticons/default/elvis.gif[/img]

[KEV]

"COVERS" It could be improved,a lot...but a part from that i am very happy...the last few FTD"s have better sound and mix...pity they never did this to the masters from the soundtracks,as the ALT TAKES sound amazing (VIVA LAS VEGAS).

As has been said by me before on this board,i mind on the 80"s...nuff said on that,cry.


[img]style_emoticons/default/00000407.gif[/img]

[elvisfan57]

they are doing a good job with what they releas. i just wish they wouldn't release so many at the same time. it would make it easier for those of us who can't afford to pick up 2 or 3 at the same time. they are relatvely expensive. [img]style_emoticons/default/cheers.gif[/img]

[Deke Rivers]

Personally I do not have the money to buy all at once but I still prefer at least 3 releases every three months; that way I will have a choice of what I want the most (of course I want them all!) and then I can continue to save for the others. Bring them on Ernst, the more the merrier!!!

[Guest_The Batman_*]

FTd are great releases but I think they could do a lot better with what they are releasing they are hand picking what they want and not what the fans would like to have in there collection, I wish they would just release them as they have then and not re mastered I prefer to hear the roughness of the studio and to hear Elvis talking and laughing

[mezaid]

Hi All

The Ftd's are pretty good even though some of the materrial at times is avereage or has already been released. One thing that does dissapoint me is the presentation. In my view the fold out digi pack is a very poor and cheap chioce unfortunately the savings don't get passed on. However classic releases like The Jungle Room and On Tour Sessions are mind blowing. Maybe in the future they can think of releasing a DVD CD issue maybe something from the CBS tapes. But unfortunately that may be released on the twelveth of never.

Cheers Adrian

[Guest_Brad_*]

I think they do an excellent job on the FTD releases [img]style_emoticons/default/cheers.gif[/img]