I sold my dinner ticket at school back in 77 / 78, so as I could buy these budget gems from woolworths. They are fantastic albums. I played them to death. And when I hear them now it takes me right back to my youth, sitting in my bedroom, playing them on repeat.
Can remember getting the US Male album as an Xmas gift in the early 80s on cassette as a kid. It prob was from Woolworths. Remember, thinking even back then that it was an odd mix of songs with no real theme. Now I know why!
Thank you very much for the Camden story, I’ve been listening to Elvis’ songs since my mother bought her first album for me in 1977. As a young boy, I noticed that some of the early 70s releases are not RCA albums but at that time I didn’t know why. I agreed with you that all these compilations albums really spoiled and cheapen Elvis image, mostly repackaged all the old songs in a newly release album. Additionally, the production house did not pay extra efforts on the album design. Except putting an on stage photo on the cover. Which is almost no-cost except buying his concert ticket. Agreed with you that they don’t care about Elvis image. Well done job.
You're absolutely right Steve! There did seem to be a recurring issue with 'interesting' photo choices for Elvis albums down through the years. Even in the 70s, when concert photos were used on most album covers, they didn't use the right photos for actual live albums, MSG being a case in point, and don't get me started on the Aloha cover!
I remember being about 11, 12 years old after Elvis died. Those albums were being sold at a local supermarket and every week they had a different album. I still have them. I was so surprised to see Elvis records at a supermarket. I thought that was so low budget, but it was Elvis. P.S. I love your hoody sweat shirt, "The Bronx".
Hey Duncan I'm getting through ya posts so I won't desert you lol. Tbh I forget to check and my memory isn't great at the moment. I have Fibromyalgia and it causes Brain Fog, it's when your head is never clear and hasn't been for a long time, it affects my memory, mainly short term but some long term. It's like having a bad head cold. I just wanted to explain that. Also I've just started to watch, I'm sure my Mam had that LP. Back when I was a kid we had a record store and we used to go in and get our Elvis albums, me and my Mam, the only Elvis fans in our family. And I saw a lot from Camden. There was a one called I Got Lucky after his song from Kid Galahad and it had home is where the heart is and just other ones which can't remember. Well ya triggered that memory of our record shop right back to listening. Cya Sunday night probably xxxx
I forgot to come back to this, as ive said as a kid would go to our record shop to get albums, my mam also had readers digest and she got elvis albums from them. So out of them my mam had and still has them. I got lucky Elvis xmas album Seperate ways and Elvis sings hits from his movies and The King Elvis. As you can imagine, being a kid to get these was exciting for me and my mam, i was only 8 yrs old when Elvis passed and i think we got these maybe after he passed. I myself only have 2. Return to sender and you'll never walk alone, the latter being a favourite of mine. I also have Elvis - he walks beside me, songs of faith and inspiration and that its my other favourite, i still play those vinyls. I still love vinyl records, im on collecting coloured vinyls including Elvis of course and also lucky for me, My Son's friend he has known from university, he went to visit her and when he came back i was in the shower and to ky surprise all our bed was covered in Elvis vinyls !!! One was readers digest box set, my mam has that as well, but some i didnt have on vinyl, all fantastic condition they look new some of them, they looked after them. They said so ya know any Elvis fans, he said well yes i do massive Elvis fan, my Mam and they just gave him them for me and that they glad they going to a good home, i wrote a message for her and asked what they wanted for them but they didnt want anything, i get overwhelmed when people do the loveliest things. She said, they went to a big elvis fan and they were happy about that. Not sure why they did. The past few year ive been gettin elvis vinyls colour and limited editions, i could send you some pics if ya want. I got moody blue in blue vinyl and now i have the black original which was in the ones i got given, i have a tri- colour a french copy of his very 1st album, i have Blue Hawaii soundtrack in blue vinyl Elvis is back in clear yellow vinyl, im trying to think whilst im downstairs and ive started to collect US EP collections, i have 3 of the 6 original US EP. One is limited edition white vinyl And i have 2 limited edition picture discs So i have 3 more to get at some point I think thats it, mo doubt ive missed one out lol. Duncan i love this showing us what Elvis albums you have. You are really good speaker, love your accents ( i do love accents) xx
was that the Readers Digest set that the back of the album covers made a large picture of Elvis when you laid them out together, I remember that one? Thanks for your comment Chris, and thanks for watching!
Eeee I'm sorry for such a long post, I'm a good talker lol. Yes that's the one I was excited putting together this big Elvis so it's really cool that was in. I was checking through the ones she gave me an none of them are Camden and are original albums. I bet you have a massive collection and many thanks for showing them because I love to see what other Elvis fans have. All of the new ones I started collecting last year and are colour variations which are becoming popular and getting some that have come from another country, I think there is 2 from France. What's interesting is that one of the French ones is called the forgotten album, it says available at last the French LP that should of been issued in 1956 !! It's a record day release limited edition of 1000 copies, one time pressing. Vinyl is 5 colours, like rainbow effect. The other one is a double album called Elvis Interdit which means Elvis forbidden, underneath it says in English Banned and the tracks are from King Creole Jailhouse Rock And loving you. Various takes,not sure if I have them or not because there a lot of takes that show up on other albums. One of the vinyl colours is : One is orange with red splatter And the other one is yellow with black splatter !! They are pretty cool 😎 x
Enjoyed this interesting video. Used to buy Camden LPs when I was younger, and always enjoyed them. My favourite was the King Elvis, which has the 73 blue hawaii songs recorded after the live show. Which I believe was their first outing? I could be wrong.
He transcended all of the commercial machinations of the business people around him. I don't think it taints him or his talent in anyway. The fact that there were always contractural obligations, may have been strange to the purists, but as Elvis motto goes TCB...Taking Care of Business!! He was in "Business" after all. All businesses, when studied, can reveal debatable commercial strategies. The number of products he produced was prolific...movies, songs concerts souvenirs etc. I guess they had to keep packaging them one way or another. He sang, produced a lot of content, he got rich, gave a lot away, shared himself with the world, left a legacy...who are we to say how it should have gone down. Just enjoy the material, in whatever form it came! I reckon he'd like that!
Great video Duncan….totally correct that these budget albums were a ‘way in’ for young Elvis fans like me at the time (end of the 1960’s). Well, they did their job for me, still here 55 years later. Loving your videos, crammed with accurate information.
I was saying to Duncan, I remember these, we had a record shop and I was only a kid and my Mam got some, there is one that comes to memory it was I Got Lucky I think it was Camden, i think it had home is where the heart as well and others, I'm sure she has that Flaming Star one as well, she will probably still have them, can't remember my age like lol a kid ha ha Xxxx
I agree with your thoughts on his 'exploitation' with these Camden albums. Even back in the day when I purchased some new, I thought It was very odd to have budget albums for a current top selling artist. Very strange indeed. Great video!
Great video! I’m new to your channel! I really enjoy the Camden albums myself. My favorite is probably Almost In Love- just a great selection of songs. Like you, my very first Elvis album I received as a gift from my mom was Burning Love and Hits From his Movies! ❤
Great video and an interesting topic. I think many things can be true at the same time - first for me personally I remember these albums well from this period. To be honest I probably remember them more then the regular albums from this time because of where these would be found in stores and the type of stores. So I remember them quite fondly and still have several of them. I think they did make sense at the time, given the type of material that they included on the albums. And given how his recording output during this time had slowed down. But I also believe that these were released out of pure greed - and out of complete contempt by the Colonel and RCA. The contempt and complete lack of care they took of their number one artist was awful and on full display here
From another old Elvis guy, nice vid and you have a new subscriber. I have all of these and I was also always confused by the Camden albums and the decision behind it. I think you totally summed it up mate. I love The Separate Ways cover the best and Welcome to my World cover after that. I also think Elvis Camden Christmas album was one of the first I bought myself also on the white cover. Peace and love from The Scottish borders
Thanks TCB. That was the benefit of the Camden’s I suppose, the fact that they were more affordable for young fans and new fans. It certainly allowed teenage me to buy my mum his Christmas album all those years ago. Thanks for watching.
Yep I was saying to Duncan I remember getting some of the Camden albums with my Mam and getting we maybe hadn't heard at that point. I've only 2 of them myself but my Mam still has the others xx
Lovely video.. Full of great information on the camden release records... I remember buying them for 99p in Woolworths and Boots if you were a kid in the 70's it was all your pocket money could stretch too.. I love them... Thanks again for a great topic.. Well presented
Great video Duncan, really enjoying your channel and the content. I’ve loved Elvis since I was 4 and love hearing the perspective of other Elvis fans. Keep them coming mate.
@@someoldelvisguy2331 I don't mean to criticize anyone I use to like Elvis the man channel but his channel has become a joke no real information & he's always trying to sell someones Elvis junk products I really appreciate your channel
Loved the Camden releases and as you said it was a gateway for people to get into owning Elvis records. Great video Duncan,packed full of accurate and interesting information
Just found your channel and subscribed. Love all the Camden buget label releases, my first ELVIS album was SEPARATE WAYS way back in 72. In fact they were my first ELVIS albums that I bought, on the back of the SEPARATE WAYS ALBUM they showed all the Camden buget label releases from ELVIS ( here in the states ) so one by one I bought them with money made mowing lawns. And the 1970 Camden LABEL release ELVIS's CHRISTMAS ALBUM is ELVIS's biggest selling album with over 10 million SOLD, the only ELVIS album to go DIAMOND .
Thanks for subscribing Kerry! I think you’re right, the Camden’s were a way into Elvis for younger and new fans, as they were more affordable. It certainly allowed teenage me to afford to buy the Christmas Album for my mum. It does seem a bit strange though seeing new songs like Burning Love and Separate Wats getting their album release along with old movie songs. Thanks for watching.
Money made by mowing lawns - good for you! When I started buying Elvis records I was still at school and got two shillings a week pocket money (this was in 1961). LP records cost Two pound, twelve shillings and sixpence, so it took me months to save up for one LP, and being a 12 year old girl, I couldn't mow lawns or sell papers to earn money... but Dad also gave me three shillings a week extra, for my bus fare two and from school. So I walked to and from school (5 miles) and spent the money on records😊. That worked for a while until Dad became suspicious about how I was able to buy so many records on my pocket money. I had to confess, and he promptly stopped the extra 3 shillings per week and said he wasn't going to pay me to walk to school😒. But to be fair, he admired my spunk and increased my pocket money❤❤❤
Very nicely presented video thank you, I'm an old hand at this Elvis thing so you didn't tell me anything I didn't know but it was so well presented it was a great watch. The Flaming Star album is special to me as it was my first Elvis album bought for me by my parents as a Christmas present way back when and for that reason that's why I think these albums did a great job of getting people involved with Elvis, Flaming Star certainly changed my life for the better. It ended up with me fying out with the GB fan club in 1977 to see his last two concerts. 😊
@@oehasan Hi Ozcan, It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done to this day and as things sadly turned out I was so glad I went as it can never be taken away from me. I remember being nervous on the coach from the hotel to the arena and when we got there for the first show we kept showing the tickets and being sent closer and closer to the stage, ended up 8 or 10 rows from the front unbelievable. I remember thinking that he has slowed down a lot on stage since "On Tour" but his voice was absolutely filling the arena especially on Unchained Melody that night were people just looked at each other in disbelief. In a nut shell it was a fantastic experience and my man didn't let me down!
@@davidwood9691 Your so lucky to have had that experience. I was born in early 70s and introduced to Elvis through my dad who was a big fan and I’ve been an Elvis geek ever since.
@@davidwood9691 I can relate to your emotions here. We (husband and me) spent A$2000 on airfares to go from Melbourne Australia to San Francisco in November 1976. It was the best value for money we ever spent. We had front row seats thanks to hubby's penpal over there❤❤❤❤❤
Love the video, really enjoyed it And yes was 100% a money grab, but I can understand why they would release them as you pointed out granted profit even if the profits weren’t extraordinary, but yeah to an artistic standpoint it cheapens the image especially considering some of those movie songs out of context are just downright weird (e.g Yoga Is As Yoga Does) but I guess if it makes money it makes sense But considering Colonel use harp on Elvis about how you want the fans leaving more, the fact the Elvis market got so saturated I think did hurt Elvis as an artist a lot, with these Camden Releases plus the New Release plus the fact he was on Tour for like 60% of the year in the 70s you just couldn’t get away from him (I mean not that you wanted too) Which is a real shame because the new Elvis material in the 70s was extremely high quality and to me his best work and I think it all got a bit lost with all the albums coming out at the time
Short term gain for long term detriment. You can’t give those away. Songs like “Old MacDonald” and “Confidence” should have never been available on a record. I think it turned him into a dime store artist. As Beatles or Zeppelin fans waited breathlessly for a new album to surface, Elvis albums were shoved down our throats in an avalanche. Not to mention the endless live albums. Just my opinion of course.
Thanks for your comment Jack. You’re right, it does seem bizarre that an artist of the stature of Elvis would be re-releasing songs like Old MacDonald on albums with recent songs like Guitar Man. A hit like Burning Love getting an album release with old movies songs is such a strange decision. Thanks for watching!
I have a few of these Camden albums and i must admit some of the tracklisting is a bit odd to me. I really like the Separate Ways album. It has a great picture of Elvis on the front cover looking as if he's standing on a motorway. But it's quite odd having Separate Ways and Always On My Mind, which were songs from a fairly new single at that time, on an album that goes right back to the 50's with the track Old Shep. Don't get me wrong, Old Shep is a great song, but putting it on an album with new songs just seemed a bit pointless to me. I too think that Mr Parker and RCA did exploit Elvis a little bit at that time, but a lot of those budget albums did sell rather well and so all the time the albums sold they kept on churning them out. It was a good way for new fans at that time to discover the music of Elvis and get into his music a bit more, and they were also much cheaper to buy and more affordable than regular priced albums, but songs like Old Mcdonald and Confidence should never have gone onto any of these albums if they were aimed at a new audience of fans. They were terrible songs and i just wonder if it did cheapen Elvis's image a little. I think it probably did. When the Flaming Star album was released, apart from the title track it was an album of unreleased tracks that the fans hadnt heard before so i totally agree it made sense to release it at that time, but on one or two of the releases after that the tracklistings went a bit crazy and just seemed rather pointless. Great video and very informative.
The problem with the Camden and Pickwick releases was he actual quality - they sounded cheap.I bought some on cassette too and even when brand new they didn't sound good.
Hi Duncan ♥ Interesting video. I have lots of those Camden albums. Brings back lots of great memories. I think that Elvis was exploited by Parker with these albums. I didn't realise at the time I was only about 8 when I started to collect them and I was just happy to have more Elvis. Thank you Duncan brilliant video as always. I'm really enjoying your channel. Xxx 💝
Thanks Karen. I grew up with them too, and do have a soft spot for them. I still listen to them sometimes. I agree that it does leave a little taste of exploitation in the mouth, but I guess they were also a way into Elvis for new fans.. I just think Elvis deserved better than current tracks like Burning Love and Separate Ways being released on these.
A great deal for Col. Tom that's for sure! I agree it does smack of blatant exploitation of Elvis as an artist. Interestingly I remember reading an account of two Italian fans meeting Elvis back stage in Vegas and asking him to sign the "Elvis Sings Burning Love & Hits From His Movies" album and he said "What kind of record is this" obviously having never seen it before. Wonder what he thought? Love the channel keep up the good work!
I enjoyed The Camden LPs, especially because they featured songs like "Edge of Reality" & "Change of Habit". The fans like myself loved them but Burning Love & Separate Ways threw me off. Especially since Burning Love was still on the radio you expected the album to be the same 70s rocking sound. More Elvis fans love them Inspite of what the current media was telling them what to listen to (The Radio). No Exploiting going on in the beginning but by Burning Love it looks that way, That's one I wished was never packaged with a recent hit.
I often think that if Harum Scarum was viewed as a Disney style kids movie, it kind of works, and might be better thought of. Tracks like ‘So close yet so far from Paradise’ are actually rather good. Thanks for watching Mark!
It is no coincidence that the sales of Elvis albums of new material fell dramatically after the "Burning Love" and "Seperate Ways" albums as I think a lot of people bought them thinking they were his new albums, especially as the covers were pretty much the same as his new albums with similar covers, useing new pictures instead of old ones. Im not talking about fans but the regular public. They would see the cover and see the title and buy it not realising they were buying old material until they played it. These people would not get conned again, so would not buy again.
Very interesting,I think they used him every way they possibly could to make money. I agree they used him to make money and ignored his talent and creativity which in the end ruined him.
I think these budget albums hurt elvis career and image more than favouring him. While elvis was recording very different music in the 70s than in the 60s (movie songs). The songs on the later budget albums are some of elvis worst songs he recorded. Yoga is as Yoga does for example. That kind of songs did not help his career at all, and now it was released in early 70s.... His hit singles Suspicious Minds and Burning love even were not released on a regular album, two albums that would have sold very well with those hits and the songs he recorded at that time. There was no such an album at all. Strange.
Ilove Elvis Harum Scarum Soundtrack too because its a differrent type of Elvis s music its a Middle Eastern Arabic type,next is Clambake Soundtrack and Kissin Cousins Blue Hawaii Loving You and many more.i have all in all formats CDs Cassette tapes Vinyls reel to reel 8 tracks too all made in USA and Canada
People criticise the Colonel and rightly so, but his behaviour was really just typical of how the powers that be in America treated pop stars. Look at how Capitol treated The first Beatles albums. In the UK the Beatles had more say, so they insisted on not including singles on albums, so that the public were not forced into buying the same thing twice, and were instead treated to fourteen brand new songs. In America the albums had fewer songs and did include singles, so they could squeeze more produce out. Despite being Dutch, Parker was the epitome of crass American greed.
Interesting comment Elvisleeboy, I hadn’t though about that, but you’re absolutely right about the Capitol Beatles releases. Thanks for your comment,mand thanks for watching!
Local record shop was called Impulse. Also used to go to Listen, another great record shop.
I sold my dinner ticket at school back in 77 / 78, so as I could buy these budget gems from woolworths. They are fantastic albums. I played them to death. And when I hear them now it takes me right back to my youth, sitting in my bedroom, playing them on repeat.
Can remember getting the US Male album as an Xmas gift in the early 80s on cassette as a kid. It prob was from Woolworths. Remember, thinking even back then that it was an odd mix of songs with no real theme. Now I know why!
Fascinating topic
Thanks Steve, and thanks for watching!
Thank you very much for the Camden story, I’ve been listening to Elvis’ songs since my mother bought her first album for me in 1977. As a young boy, I noticed that some of the early 70s releases are not RCA albums but at that time I didn’t know why. I agreed with you that all these compilations albums really spoiled and cheapen Elvis image, mostly repackaged all the old songs in a newly release album. Additionally, the production house did not pay extra efforts on the album design. Except putting an on stage photo on the cover. Which is almost no-cost except buying his concert ticket. Agreed with you that they don’t care about Elvis image. Well done job.
Been young in the early 70s, Camden records were at the right price , and there were some great songs on those lps, great video x
Thanks for your comment David, and thank you for watching!
Also interesting is the Photo is from Stay Away Joe and not Flaming Star
You're absolutely right Steve!
There did seem to be a recurring issue with 'interesting' photo choices for Elvis albums down through the years.
Even in the 70s, when concert photos were used on most album covers, they didn't use the right photos for actual live albums, MSG being a case in point, and don't get me started on the Aloha cover!
I remember being about 11, 12 years old after Elvis died. Those albums were being sold at a local supermarket and every week they had a different album. I still have them. I was so surprised to see Elvis records at a supermarket. I thought that was so low budget, but it was Elvis.
P.S. I love your hoody sweat shirt, "The Bronx".
Thanks Nel Son , and thank you for watching!
Hey Duncan I'm getting through ya posts so I won't desert you lol.
Tbh I forget to check and my memory isn't great at the moment.
I have Fibromyalgia and it causes Brain Fog, it's when your head is never clear and hasn't been for a long time, it affects my memory, mainly short term but some long term.
It's like having a bad head cold.
I just wanted to explain that.
Also I've just started to watch, I'm sure my Mam had that LP.
Back when I was a kid we had a record store and we used to go in and get our Elvis albums, me and my Mam, the only Elvis fans in our family.
And I saw a lot from Camden.
There was a one called I Got Lucky after his song from Kid Galahad and it had home is where the heart is and just other ones which can't remember.
Well ya triggered that memory of our record shop right back to listening.
Cya Sunday night probably xxxx
I forgot to come back to this, as ive said as a kid would go to our record shop to get albums, my mam also had readers digest and she got elvis albums from them.
So out of them my mam had and still has them.
I got lucky
Elvis xmas album
Seperate ways and Elvis sings hits from his movies and The King Elvis.
As you can imagine, being a kid to get these was exciting for me and my mam, i was only 8 yrs old when Elvis passed and i think we got these maybe after he passed.
I myself only have 2.
Return to sender and you'll never walk alone, the latter being a favourite of mine.
I also have
Elvis - he walks beside me, songs of faith and inspiration and that its my other favourite, i still play those vinyls.
I still love vinyl records, im on collecting coloured vinyls including Elvis of course and also lucky for me,
My Son's friend he has known from university, he went to visit her and when he came back i was in the shower and to ky surprise all our bed was covered in Elvis vinyls !!!
One was readers digest box set, my mam has that as well, but some i didnt have on vinyl, all fantastic condition they look new some of them, they looked after them. They said so ya know any Elvis fans, he said well yes i do massive Elvis fan, my Mam and they just gave him them for me and that they glad they going to a good home, i wrote a message for her and asked what they wanted for them but they didnt want anything, i get overwhelmed when people do the loveliest things.
She said, they went to a big elvis fan and they were happy about that. Not sure why they did.
The past few year ive been gettin elvis vinyls colour and limited editions, i could send you some pics if ya want.
I got moody blue in blue vinyl and now i have the black original which was in the ones i got given, i have a tri- colour a french copy of his very 1st album, i have Blue Hawaii soundtrack in blue vinyl
Elvis is back in clear yellow vinyl, im trying to think whilst im downstairs and ive started to collect US EP collections, i have 3 of the 6 original US EP.
One is limited edition white vinyl
And i have 2 limited edition picture discs
So i have 3 more to get at some point
I think thats it, mo doubt ive missed one out lol.
Duncan i love this showing us what Elvis albums you have.
You are really good speaker, love your accents ( i do love accents) xx
was that the Readers Digest set that the back of the album covers made a large picture of Elvis when you laid them out together, I remember that one?
Thanks for your comment Chris, and thanks for watching!
Eeee I'm sorry for such a long post, I'm a good talker lol.
Yes that's the one I was excited putting together this big Elvis so it's really cool that was in.
I was checking through the ones she gave me an none of them are Camden and are original albums.
I bet you have a massive collection and many thanks for showing them because I love to see what other Elvis fans have.
All of the new ones I started collecting last year and are colour variations which are becoming popular and getting some that have come from another country, I think there is 2 from France.
What's interesting is that one of the French ones is called the forgotten album, it says available at last the French LP that should of been issued in 1956 !!
It's a record day release limited edition of 1000 copies, one time pressing. Vinyl is 5 colours, like rainbow effect.
The other one is a double album called Elvis Interdit which means Elvis forbidden, underneath it says in English Banned and the tracks are from
King Creole
Jailhouse Rock
And loving you.
Various takes,not sure if I have them or not because there a lot of takes that show up on other albums.
One of the vinyl colours is :
One is orange with red splatter
And the other one is yellow with black splatter !!
They are pretty cool 😎 x
Enjoyed this interesting video. Used to buy Camden LPs when I was younger, and always enjoyed them. My favourite was the King Elvis, which has the 73 blue hawaii songs recorded after the live show. Which I believe was their first outing? I could be wrong.
I had forgotten about ‘King Elvis’ until you mentioned there. Camden’s were a cheap way into Elvis for younger fans.
Thanks for watching!
Elvis Presley could sing anything
He transcended all of the commercial machinations of the business people around him. I don't think it taints him or his talent in anyway. The fact that there were always contractural obligations, may have been strange to the purists, but as Elvis motto goes TCB...Taking Care of Business!!
He was in "Business" after all.
All businesses, when studied, can reveal debatable commercial strategies. The number of products he produced was prolific...movies, songs concerts souvenirs etc. I guess they had to keep packaging them one way or another. He sang, produced a lot of content, he got rich, gave a lot away, shared himself with the world, left a legacy...who are we to say how it should have gone down. Just enjoy the material, in whatever form it came!
I reckon he'd like that!
Fair comment Roberto, thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!
Great video Duncan….totally correct that these budget albums were a ‘way in’ for young Elvis fans like me at the time (end of the 1960’s). Well, they did their job for me, still here 55 years later. Loving your videos, crammed with accurate information.
Thanks Lesley.
I was saying to Duncan, I remember these, we had a record shop and I was only a kid and my Mam got some, there is one that comes to memory it was I Got Lucky I think it was Camden, i think it had home is where the heart as well and others, I'm sure she has that Flaming Star one as well, she will probably still have them, can't remember my age like lol a kid ha ha
Xxxx
I agree with your thoughts on his 'exploitation' with these Camden albums. Even back in the day when I purchased some new, I thought It was very odd to have budget albums for a current top selling artist. Very strange indeed. Great video!
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
Great video! I’m new to your channel!
I really enjoy the Camden albums myself. My favorite is probably Almost In Love- just a great selection of songs. Like you, my very first Elvis album I received as a gift from my mom was Burning Love and Hits From his Movies! ❤
Great video and an interesting topic. I think many things can be true at the same time - first for me personally I remember these albums well from this period. To be honest I probably remember them more then the regular albums from this time because of where these would be found in stores and the type of stores.
So I remember them quite fondly and still have several of them.
I think they did make sense at the time, given the type of material that they included on the albums. And given how his recording output during this time had slowed down.
But I also believe that these were released out of pure greed - and out of complete contempt by the Colonel and RCA. The contempt and complete lack of care they took of their number one artist was awful and on full display here
Well done! I enjoyed finding out a lot of the history of why the Camden releases were done. Very interesting video.
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching.
From another old Elvis guy, nice vid and you have a new subscriber. I have all of these and I was also always confused by the Camden albums and the decision behind it. I think you totally summed it up mate. I love The Separate Ways cover the best and Welcome to my World cover after that. I also think Elvis Camden Christmas album was one of the first I bought myself also on the white cover. Peace and love from The Scottish borders
Thanks for watching and subscribing Eddy!
I’m from Ayrshire, I do love the borders.
Thanks for your comments.
Being young, I didn’t know that these were different to regular albums. It was another Elvis record, and one that I could afford on my pocket money.
Thanks TCB.
That was the benefit of the Camden’s I suppose, the fact that they were more affordable for young fans and new fans.
It certainly allowed teenage me to buy my mum his Christmas album all those years ago.
Thanks for watching.
Yep I was saying to Duncan I remember getting some of the Camden albums with my Mam and getting we maybe hadn't heard at that point.
I've only 2 of them myself but my Mam still has the others xx
Thanks for this breakdown! You answered a few questions I’d always wondered about
Thanks for watching Marco!
Lovely video.. Full of great information on the camden release records... I remember buying them for 99p in Woolworths and Boots if you were a kid in the 70's it was all your pocket money could stretch too.. I love them... Thanks again for a great topic.. Well presented
Thanks for your comments Brandon, and thanks for watching.
Great video Duncan, really enjoying your channel and the content. I’ve loved Elvis since I was 4 and love hearing the perspective of other Elvis fans. Keep them coming mate.
Thanks Richard, and thanks for watching!
You do better than channel Elvis the man you talk about the music I love it 👍👍👍
Thanks for your kind comment Bobby. I do like the ‘Elvis the man’ channel, he does a good job!
@@someoldelvisguy2331 I don't mean to criticize anyone I use to like Elvis the man channel but his channel has become a joke no real information & he's always trying to sell someones Elvis junk products I really appreciate your channel
I have two favourite albums you'll never walk alone and US male
Loved the Camden releases and as you said it was a gateway for people to get into owning Elvis records.
Great video Duncan,packed full of accurate and interesting information
Thanks Steve, glad you liked it.
Great information! Thanks so much.
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
Just found your channel and subscribed. Love all the Camden buget label releases, my first ELVIS album was SEPARATE WAYS way back in 72. In fact they were my first ELVIS albums that I bought, on the back of the SEPARATE WAYS ALBUM they showed all the Camden buget label releases from ELVIS ( here in the states ) so one by one I bought them with money made mowing lawns. And the 1970 Camden LABEL release ELVIS's CHRISTMAS ALBUM is ELVIS's biggest selling album with over 10 million SOLD, the only ELVIS album to go DIAMOND .
Thanks for subscribing Kerry!
I think you’re right, the Camden’s were a way into Elvis for younger and new fans, as they were more affordable. It certainly allowed teenage me to afford to buy the Christmas Album for my mum.
It does seem a bit strange though seeing new songs like Burning Love and Separate Wats getting their album release along with old movie songs.
Thanks for watching.
Money made by mowing lawns - good for you! When I started buying Elvis records I was still at school and got two shillings a week pocket money (this was in 1961). LP records cost Two pound, twelve shillings and sixpence, so it took me months to save up for one LP, and being a 12 year old girl, I couldn't mow lawns or sell papers to earn money... but Dad also gave me three shillings a week extra, for my bus fare two and from school. So I walked to and from school (5 miles) and spent the money on records😊. That worked for a while until Dad became suspicious about how I was able to buy so many records on my pocket money. I had to confess, and he promptly stopped the extra 3 shillings per week and said he wasn't going to pay me to walk to school😒.
But to be fair, he admired my spunk and increased my pocket money❤❤❤
Great channel mate love it 👍
Cheers Mark!
Great❤
my Favorite ELvis Camden LP : You'll Never Walk Alone LP unreleased songs: WHO AM I & LET US PRAY +++++++++
Very nicely presented video thank you, I'm an old hand at this Elvis thing so you didn't tell me anything I didn't know but it was so well presented it was a great watch.
The Flaming Star album is special to me as it was my first Elvis album bought for me by my parents as a Christmas present way back when and for that reason that's why I think these albums did a great job of getting people involved with Elvis, Flaming Star certainly changed my life for the better. It ended up with me fying out with the GB fan club in 1977 to see his last two concerts. 😊
Thanks for watching David! That must have been amazing to see him live. Thanks for sharing your memories.
What was it like watching him live in 77?
@@oehasan Hi Ozcan, It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done to this day and as things sadly turned out I was so glad I went as it can never be taken away from me.
I remember being nervous on the coach from the hotel to the arena and when we got there for the first show we kept showing the tickets and being sent closer and closer to the stage, ended up 8 or 10 rows from the front unbelievable. I remember thinking that he has slowed down a lot on stage since "On Tour" but his voice was absolutely filling the arena especially on Unchained Melody that night were people just looked at each other in disbelief. In a nut shell it was a fantastic experience and my man didn't let me down!
@@davidwood9691 Your so lucky to have had that experience. I was born in early 70s and introduced to Elvis through my dad who was a big fan and I’ve been an Elvis geek ever since.
@@davidwood9691 I can relate to your emotions here. We (husband and me) spent A$2000 on airfares to go from Melbourne Australia to San Francisco in November 1976. It was the best value for money we ever spent. We had front row seats thanks to hubby's penpal over there❤❤❤❤❤
Love the video, really enjoyed it
And yes was 100% a money grab, but I can understand why they would release them as you pointed out granted profit even if the profits weren’t extraordinary, but yeah to an artistic standpoint it cheapens the image especially considering some of those movie songs out of context are just downright weird (e.g Yoga Is As Yoga Does) but I guess if it makes money it makes sense
But considering Colonel use harp on Elvis about how you want the fans leaving more, the fact the Elvis market got so saturated I think did hurt Elvis as an artist a lot, with these Camden Releases plus the New Release plus the fact he was on Tour for like 60% of the year in the 70s you just couldn’t get away from him (I mean not that you wanted too)
Which is a real shame because the new Elvis material in the 70s was extremely high quality and to me his best work and I think it all got a bit lost with all the albums coming out at the time
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
Short term gain for long term detriment. You can’t give those away. Songs like “Old MacDonald” and “Confidence” should have never been available on a record. I think it turned him into a dime store artist. As Beatles or Zeppelin fans waited breathlessly for a new album to surface, Elvis albums were shoved down our throats in an avalanche. Not to mention the endless live albums. Just my opinion of course.
Thanks for your comment Jack.
You’re right, it does seem bizarre that an artist of the stature of Elvis would be re-releasing songs like Old MacDonald on albums with recent songs like Guitar Man.
A hit like Burning Love getting an album release with old movies songs is such a strange decision.
Thanks for watching!
Great video
Thanks for your comment Mark, and thanks for watching.
Loved the Camden releases did great album on elvis keep up elvis my friend
Thanks Nigel!
you welcome my friend
Interesting story
I have a few of these Camden albums and i must admit some of the tracklisting is a bit odd to me. I really like the Separate Ways album. It has a great picture of Elvis on the front cover looking as if he's standing on a motorway. But it's quite odd having Separate Ways and Always On My Mind, which were songs from a fairly new single at that time, on an album that goes right back to the 50's with the track Old Shep. Don't get me wrong, Old Shep is a great song, but putting it on an album with new songs just seemed a bit pointless to me. I too think that Mr Parker and RCA did exploit Elvis a little bit at that time, but a lot of those budget albums did sell rather well and so all the time the albums sold they kept on churning them out. It was a good way for new fans at that time to discover the music of Elvis and get into his music a bit more, and they were also much cheaper to buy and more affordable than regular priced albums, but songs like Old Mcdonald and Confidence should never have gone onto any of these albums if they were aimed at a new audience of fans. They were terrible songs and i just wonder if it did cheapen Elvis's image a little. I think it probably did. When the Flaming Star album was released, apart from the title track it was an album of unreleased tracks that the fans hadnt heard before so i totally agree it made sense to release it at that time, but on one or two of the releases after that the tracklistings went a bit crazy and just seemed rather pointless. Great video and very informative.
The problem with the Camden and Pickwick releases was he actual quality - they sounded cheap.I bought some on cassette too and even when brand new they didn't sound good.
Hi Duncan ♥
Interesting video. I have lots of those Camden albums. Brings back lots of great memories. I think that Elvis was exploited by Parker with these albums. I didn't realise at the time I was only about 8 when I started to collect them and I was just happy to have more Elvis.
Thank you Duncan brilliant video as always.
I'm really enjoying your channel. Xxx 💝
Thanks Karen.
I grew up with them too, and do have a soft spot for them. I still listen to them sometimes. I agree that it does leave a little taste of exploitation in the mouth, but I guess they were also a way into Elvis for new fans..
I just think Elvis deserved better than current tracks like Burning Love and Separate Ways being released on these.
@@someoldelvisguy2331 I totally agree Duncan.
I love your channel it always leaves me in deep thought 😂 😂 😂 so informative.
Thank you Duncan xxx 💝
I have four of these Camden albums and have always enjoyed them.
Great story and very informative!
Very entertaining topic. I love these Camden releases!⚡️
Thanks, I have a soft spot for them too, as I grew up listening to them.
A great deal for Col. Tom that's for sure!
I agree it does smack of blatant exploitation of Elvis as an artist. Interestingly I remember reading an account of two Italian fans meeting Elvis back stage in Vegas and asking him to sign the "Elvis Sings Burning Love & Hits From His Movies" album and he said "What kind of record is this" obviously having never seen it before. Wonder what he thought?
Love the channel keep up the good work!
Thanks Steve. That’s really interesting, it does make you wonder what he must have thought about it.
@SomeOldElvisGuy I bet he wasn't happy about it Duncan 😉
I enjoyed The Camden LPs, especially because they featured songs like "Edge of Reality" & "Change of Habit". The fans like myself loved them but Burning Love & Separate Ways threw me off. Especially since Burning Love was still on the radio you expected the album to be the same 70s rocking sound. More Elvis fans love them Inspite of what the current media was telling them what to listen to (The Radio). No Exploiting going on in the beginning but by Burning Love it looks that way, That's one I wished was never packaged with a recent hit.
i bought that album for one track Tiger Man😊
I have that collection and I love them🖤 my favorite soundtract by the way is Harum Scarum
I often think that if Harum Scarum was viewed as a Disney style kids movie, it kind of works, and might be better thought of.
Tracks like ‘So close yet so far from Paradise’ are actually rather good.
Thanks for watching Mark!
You'll Never Walk Alone had 2 unreleased songs on it at the time
It is no coincidence that the sales of Elvis albums of new material fell dramatically after the "Burning Love" and "Seperate Ways" albums as I think a lot of people bought them thinking they were his new albums, especially as the covers were pretty much the same as his new albums with similar covers, useing new pictures instead of old ones. Im not talking about fans but the regular public. They would see the cover and see the title and buy it not realising they were buying old material until they played it. These people would not get conned again, so would not buy again.
You could well have a point Gerard. Thanks for watching!
Very interesting,I think they used him every way they possibly could to make money. I agree they used him to make money and ignored his talent and creativity which in the end ruined him.
Great video! Woolworth’s went out of business in the US in the mid 90s if I remember correctly.
Thanks. I was curious if perhaps Woolworths in the states had gone too. Thanks for the information.
I think these budget albums hurt elvis career and image more than favouring him. While elvis was recording very different music in the 70s than in the 60s (movie songs). The songs on the later budget albums are some of elvis worst songs he recorded. Yoga is as Yoga does for example. That kind of songs did not help his career at all, and now it was released in early 70s....
His hit singles Suspicious Minds and Burning love even were not released on a regular album, two albums that would have sold very well with those hits and the songs he recorded at that time. There was no such an album at all. Strange.
I agree.
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
Ilove Elvis Harum Scarum Soundtrack too because its a differrent type of Elvis s music its a Middle Eastern Arabic type,next is Clambake Soundtrack and Kissin Cousins Blue Hawaii Loving You and many more.i have all in all formats CDs Cassette tapes Vinyls reel to reel 8 tracks too all made in USA and Canada
Thanks for watching Christopher!
Yes it cheaping Elvis Presley talent burning love good single but album not so good
Think Morrissey is trying to emulate Elvis's back catalogue these days with his reissues
We all know rca & Parker motivation money
Elvis be came a Cash cow only
People criticise the Colonel and rightly so, but his behaviour was really just typical of how the powers that be in America treated pop stars.
Look at how Capitol treated The first Beatles albums. In the UK the Beatles had more say, so they insisted on not including singles on albums, so that the public were not forced into buying the same thing twice, and were instead treated to fourteen brand new songs. In America the albums had fewer songs and did include singles, so they could squeeze more produce out.
Despite being Dutch, Parker was the epitome of crass American greed.
Interesting comment Elvisleeboy, I hadn’t though about that, but you’re absolutely right about the Capitol Beatles releases.
Thanks for your comment,mand thanks for watching!
Seperate ways then old shep.
I disagree..Elvis could still make the movies…he chose not to!😉