Bilbobaggins wrote: September 18th, 2025, 2:29 am
On the subject Boppin Bob Jones: He really did some great work. A lot of his work is found on the green labels, but let's not forget these two:
The third volume wasn't mastered by Bob but by Dick Baxter at the BMG studios in New York.
A great set of albums, then and even today. The first steps toward the FTD label. And the artwork is outstanding. So much better than most of the original LP covers during Elvis' lifetime.
These were exiting releases. We weren't spoiled yet with just about everything that still exists of Elvis' studio work. These were albums with much thought put into it, the tracklist was balanced, the sound was good, the artwork classy, no errors or typo's (as far as I know). Great!
I remember being very excited when these were released. They were like a big step up from the (also excellent) Legendary Performers series.
Those were gorgeous releases indeed. Elvis Stereo '57 still is my all time favorite Elvis vinyl. Still need to hunt down a copy of Volume 3 which I bought on cd back then, but still miss the vinyl. The BBJ mastering still sound unmatched on vinyl.
Yes, I also think "Stereo '57" is the best of the three, although "Hits Like Never Before" follows very close behind! I must say I see the latter (Stereo '57) quite often for sale at recordfairs. And in good condition too. BTW, I first owned the CD'S and only in recentl years bought the vinyl versions. Since that moment the CD'S are gathering dust This weekend and the next weekend there are nice recordfairs near my hometown. Looking forward to find some cool vinyl again!
I understand that many on this board are former FECC residents - thanks to Alexander and the London Flash for alerting me to this board.
Just bought The Alternate Elvis ] Mood Blue 10 inch vinyl boxset. Need to figure out how to upload photos but the 45 rpm sounds amazing and the 10 inch seems to be a more dynamic cut than the FTD Moody blue vinyl.
LesterB wrote: September 19th, 2025, 11:47 am
Hello all
I understand that many on this board are former FECC residents - thanks to Alexander and the London Flash for alerting me to this board.
Just bought The Alternate Elvis ] Mood Blue 10 inch vinyl boxset. Need to figure out how to upload photos but the 45 rpm sounds amazing and the 10 inch seems to be a more dynamic cut than the FTD Moody blue vinyl.
welcome Lester...I have that as well...very nice...there is also the "Alternate Today" available from the same label
A while ago I mentioned that the sound on UK 50's and early 60's LP's was different than on US LP's. I found this answer in one of my word files. I don't know what original source was... So, just for your information:
Elvis record collectors often notice a different sound between US LP's and UK LP's. What's the reason for this?
In principle, RCA in the U.S. created the original masters, and those were the basis for international pressings, including those in the United Kingdom. But there are a few key reasons why the UK records often sound different:
Copy tapes
For the UK, RCA New York usually sent second-generation copy tapes (dub tapes) of the masters. Each analog copy introduced some loss of dynamics and added compression or hiss.
Local mastering in the UK
RCA UK (and EMI/HMV, who pressed for them) did the mastering locally. That meant adjusting EQ, compression, and levels to suit the British market and local pressing equipment.
This could make the vocals sound brighter or thinner, and the bass sometimes less present compared to the U.S. editions.
Technical limitations and preferences
British cutting engineers sometimes had different preferences for tonal balance (for example, more emphasis on the midrange, since many British record players of the time had limited bass response).
They also used different lacquers and vinyl compounds, which subtly affected the tonal character
Should I ever rediscover the original source I will let you know....
LesterB wrote: September 19th, 2025, 11:47 am
Hello all
I understand that many on this board are former FECC residents - thanks to Alexander and the London Flash for alerting me to this board.
Just bought The Alternate Elvis ] Mood Blue 10 inch vinyl boxset. Need to figure out how to upload photos but the 45 rpm sounds amazing and the 10 inch seems to be a more dynamic cut than the FTD Moody blue vinyl.
welcome Lester...I have that as well...very nice...there is also the "Alternate Today" available from the same label
I've got the alternate Elvis Today double album, pretty good sound here too.
The live bonus songs from Vegas '75 sound very good here too, better then it's FTD or Fort Baxter cd counterpart (Wouldn't mind the full concert -still a favorite of mine- on vinyl too)
Attachments
b2fccbc1-3303-4905-a2b3-317321c4866c.jpg (515.2 KiB) Viewed 308 times
be313646-e6d6-4707-8a0a-65b83927d517.jpg (877.85 KiB) Viewed 308 times
LesterB wrote: September 19th, 2025, 11:47 am
Hello all
I understand that many on this board are former FECC residents - thanks to Alexander and the London Flash for alerting me to this board.
Just bought The Alternate Elvis ] Mood Blue 10 inch vinyl boxset. Need to figure out how to upload photos but the 45 rpm sounds amazing and the 10 inch seems to be a more dynamic cut than the FTD Moody blue vinyl.
JohanD wrote: September 20th, 2025, 11:33 am
I've got the alternate Elvis Today double album, pretty good sound here too.
The live bonus songs from Vegas '75 sound very good here too, better then it's FTD or Fort Baxter cd counterpart (Wouldn't mind the full concert -still a favorite of mine- on vinyl too)
JohanD wrote: September 20th, 2025, 11:33 am
I've got the alternate Elvis Today double album, pretty good sound here too.
The live bonus songs from Vegas '75 sound very good here too, better then it's FTD or Fort Baxter cd counterpart (Wouldn't mind the full concert -still a favorite of mine- on vinyl too)
JohanD wrote: September 20th, 2025, 11:33 am
I've got the alternate Elvis Today double album, pretty good sound here too.
The live bonus songs from Vegas '75 sound very good here too, better then it's FTD or Fort Baxter cd counterpart (Wouldn't mind the full concert -still a favorite of mine- on vinyl too)
Is this 12 inch, Johan?
Yes, it s a double 12 inch, Lester.
the 10" versions are confined to the box sets only
Not only Bob Jones was great with his work at the UK RCA plant, but from around that same timeframe -1981- this album came out.
It was cut by the British Jack Adams (his initials JA are in the dead wax), and also this one has great sound.
From memory he also did "Elvis sings Leiber and Stoller" wich also sounded excellent.
This "Return to sender" has an interesting varied tracklist and is very easy to get, with or without poster.
But the main thing, the sound, is very good. Excellent stereo and fine mono where it should, one to get!
Attachments
57085d87-5377-4593-88d5-90cad472f75c.jpg (98.19 KiB) Viewed 239 times
77800919-25a5-4baa-90c6-2802cd330695.jpg (102.63 KiB) Viewed 239 times
db2886e4-9b94-49e1-ba0c-7a22e056fa32.jpg (834.62 KiB) Viewed 239 times
4d2d5b3c-76df-4b59-88bd-9829a07adb58.jpg (826.93 KiB) Viewed 239 times
LesterB wrote: September 19th, 2025, 11:47 am
Hello all
I understand that many on this board are former FECC residents - thanks to Alexander and the London Flash for alerting me to this board.
Great to see you around here Lester!
Bilbobaggins wrote: September 19th, 2025, 12:25 pm
A while ago I mentioned that the sound on UK 50's and early 60's LP's was different than on US LP's. I found this answer in one of my word files. I don't know what original source was... So, just for your information:
Elvis record collectors often notice a different sound between US LP's and UK LP's. What's the reason for this?
In principle, RCA in the U.S. created the original masters, and those were the basis for international pressings, including those in the United Kingdom. But there are a few key reasons why the UK records often sound different:
Copy tapes
For the UK, RCA New York usually sent second-generation copy tapes (dub tapes) of the masters. Each analog copy introduced some loss of dynamics and added compression or hiss.
Local mastering in the UK
RCA UK (and EMI/HMV, who pressed for them) did the mastering locally. That meant adjusting EQ, compression, and levels to suit the British market and local pressing equipment.
This could make the vocals sound brighter or thinner, and the bass sometimes less present compared to the U.S. editions.
Technical limitations and preferences
British cutting engineers sometimes had different preferences for tonal balance (for example, more emphasis on the midrange, since many British record players of the time had limited bass response).
They also used different lacquers and vinyl compounds, which subtly affected the tonal character
Should I ever rediscover the original source I will let you know....
I think that's exact the difference one will here. British engineers had to work with second generation copy tapes yet the mastering in some cases (Boppin' Bob Jones a.o.) was superior.
Last edited by Alexander72 on September 21st, 2025, 10:50 am, edited 2 times in total.
JohanD wrote: September 21st, 2025, 5:42 am
Not only Bob Jones was great with his work at the UK RCA plant, but from around that same timeframe -1981- this album came out.
It was cut by the British Jack Adams (his initials JA are in the dead wax), and also this one has great sound.
From memory he also did "Elvis sings Leiber and Stoller" wich also sounded excellent.
This "Return to sender" has an interesting varied tracklist and is very easy to get, with or without poster.
But the main thing, the sound, is very good. Excellent stereo and fine mono where it should, one to get!
Thanks, great post. Let's take a closer look at all of these. For most European/ UK fans the budget UK CAMDEN budget releases from 1975 to 1987 are the records we grew up on.
Soundwise these are a mixed bag. While some had great sound (mastered by Boppin' Bob Jones) like Love Songs, Suspicious Minds, Girls Girls Girls and Kissin' Cousins and Return To Sender (Jack Adams); others sounded awful (like the Double Dynamite series). An overview of all the post 1975 UK Camden releases, labels and cover variations from my collection. These make a nice subcollection together. Happy hunting!
20250921_164035.jpg (1.59 MiB) Viewed 224 times
20250921_163854.jpg (1.67 MiB) Viewed 224 times
20250921_163724.jpg (1.94 MiB) Viewed 224 times
20250921_164438.jpg (1.82 MiB) Viewed 224 times
20250921_164225.jpg (1.58 MiB) Viewed 224 times
Last edited by Alexander72 on September 21st, 2025, 11:02 am, edited 6 times in total.
I have all the ones you show too Alexander, always a soft spot for them.
Qualitywise it's indeed a hit and miss sometimes, but in a way they served the purpose of adding more to the collection on a rather low price.
The artwork (sometimes mirorrred) was original too.
When i'm in the mood, i love to play these ones, for nostalgia sake!
JohanD wrote: September 21st, 2025, 5:42 am
Not only Bob Jones was great with his work at the UK RCA plant, but from around that same timeframe -1981- this album came out.
It was cut by the British Jack Adams (his initials JA are in the dead wax), and also this one has great sound.
From memory he also did "Elvis sings Leiber and Stoller" wich also sounded excellent.
This "Return to sender" has an interesting varied tracklist and is very easy to get, with or without poster.
But the main thing, the sound, is very good. Excellent stereo and fine mono where it should, one to get!
I have this in my attic - will try it on my tutntable asap.
Thanks Alexander for listing all of them here with images! Great to see the whole bunch.
Ah, the (bitter) sweet memories of Camdens... I sure was raised on them. Collection vol. 3 was my first Elvis lp, Return to Sender, Suspicious Minds and Heartbreak Hotel were among the first 10.
Sweet: they were inexpensive, which made all the difference when you are 10 years old. They also had relatively cool sleeves,with clear,good quaity image on front
Sometimes the sound quality was excellent, mastered by the likes of BBJ. I still remember how Whole Lotta Shakin on Heartbreak Hotel kicked ass with its punch and clarity. Come to think of it,so did the 50's tracks in that lp.
Bitter: Camdens were not shown in the inner sleeves that for example the -77 US lps contained. Even for a 10-year old, that seemed suspicious...the camdens were not "real" Elvis lp's per se,you could sense that.
The packaging could have used some more images/sleeve. Sometimes the rear sleeve used the same as the front. No images on inner sleeves either.
Alexander72 wrote: September 21st, 2025, 10:17 am
20250921_164615.jpg
20250921_164652.jpg
20250921_164759.jpg
20250921_164903.jpg
20250921_164956.jpg
Please Don't Stop LOving Me sounds really good- in particular Clean Up Your Own Back Yard and Change of Habit. If you compare Change of Habit to the FTD vinyl The Last Movie (songs) then you will see how much more dynamic the cheapo camden is
This weekend and the next weekend there are nice recordfairs near my hometown. Looking forward to find some cool vinyl again!
