Today marks the 70th anniversary of Elvis Presley's groundbreaking debut single, "That's All Right," and RCA/Legacy are celebrating this momentous occasion with an exclusive preview from their highly anticipated 'MEMPHIS' box set, due out on August 9th. This 111-track collection is the first fully comprehensive compilation of Elvis' hometown recordings, spanning from his early days at Sun Studios to his final sessions in the famed Jungle Room at Graceland.
In honor of this anniversary, RCA/Legacy have released a never-before-heard mix of "Danny Boy," a poignant track from Elvis' 1976 Jungle Room sessions. The new mix, crafted by four-time GRAMMY-winning engineer Matt Ross-Spang, strips away the overdubs, providing an intimate experience akin to standing next to Elvis as he performed. Ross-Spang, a Memphis native with credits including John Prine, Al Green, Margo Price, and Jason Isbell, shared his emotional journey in remixing the track:
"It was very emotional for me to mix 'Danny Boy' and I think it’s evident in Elvis’ performance that it was for him too," says Ross-Spang. "David Briggs, one of Elvis’ pianists on the session, made it clear to me that it was a very important song to Elvis. I think it’s one of his most impassioned vocal performances. My neck hairs were standing up the whole time!"
Grammy and Emmy-winning music historian Robert Gordon, who also hails from Memphis, provides insightful commentary in the collection's liner notes. Reflecting on "Danny Boy," Gordon writes:
"'Danny Boy' is personal. It’s Elvis' father’s favorite song, and one that has survived across generations and continents. A song about love across distances and realms, Elvis imbues it with some of the dark compassion he put into 'Long Black Limousine' seven years earlier."
The 'MEMPHIS' box set features 88 newly remixed tracks by Matt Ross-Spang, removing overdubs to highlight Elvis' raw talent. It includes extensive liner notes by Robert Gordon, providing context and depth to Elvis' hometown recordings. The collection will be available in multiple formats: 5 CD, 2 LP, and digital.
LISTEN TO "DANNY BOY" HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od6IpMdeRu8
RCA RECORDS & LEGACY RECORDINGS TO RELEASE ‘MEMPHIS,’ THE FIRST FULLY COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF ELVIS PRESLEY’S HOMETOWN RECORDINGS,
ON 5 CD/2LP/DIGITAL AUGUST 9
COINCIDING WITH THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESLEY’S FIRST SESSIONS, SET INCLUDES 111 CAREER-SPANNING TRACKS, FROM SUN STUDIOS TO THE JUNGLE ROOM AT GRACELAND
88 REMIXED TRACKS BY MATT ROSS-SPANG WITH OVERDUBS REMOVED; NEW LINER NOTES BY ROBERT GORDON
LISTEN TO “POLK SALAD ANNIE,” NEWLY-MIXED FROM ELVIS’ 1974 HOMECOMING CONCERT, HERE:
https://Elvis.lnk.to/PSAMEMPHIS
PRE-ORDER ‘MEMPHIS’ HERE: https://Elvis.lnk.to/MEMPHIS
INCLUDING A GRACELAND EXCLUSIVE TRANSLUCENT RUBY RED 2LP
WATCH ROSS-SPANG AND GORDON DISCUSS ELVIS’ HOMETOWN RECORDINGS IN A NEW VIDEO INTERVIEW:
