Elvis mono singles

I was just perusing my Goldmine guide to collectible singles, and noticed that RCA began issuing Bobby Bare singles in stereo (when the 74- prefix begins, as opposed to 47-) in 1969. I know that many other RCA acts had their singles in stereo around that time as well (not counting the 1959-61 stereo singles), so why did they wait until '71 or '72 to issue Elvis in stereo? Just curious about the rationale where their biggest selling act is concerned. We could have had Suspicious Minds in stereo a LOT sooner than 1981.

 

For whatever reasons, a lot of the RCA country 45's(though by no means all)from 1969 to the early '70s, could often be found in stock form in mono only. Elvis seemed to be considered C&W, I guess, since that was also the case with his 45's, too.

Could also be for selected artists, though I've no clue why they did this, since so many of RCA's pop and rock singles were stereo by '69, The Guess Who's being the most obvious example.

 

Good question...I wonder about that, too. It seemed the other acts back in 1969-70 had stereo singles.

 

Elvis's first all-stereo single (74- series), in 1969, was (I.I.N.M.) a gospel number, "He Touched Me." But it made no impression on the chart, that I know of. The first Elvis 45 to have a stereo side was "Memories" (47-9731), whose B-side, "Charro," was stereo. (Which would also be the case for the reissue of The Youngbloods' "Get Together," 47-9752, whose flip, "Beautiful," was also in stereo.)

But as for "Suspicious Minds," I prefer the mono version anyway . . . must be the variation in the bass line for the fade-out/in/out again, as opposed to the sameness of same in the stereo version.

 

Wasn't "He Touched Me" released in 1972?

 

Actually Suspicious Minds b/w You'll Think Of Me was released in stereo in 1969 as GB-13275.

From 1971 on all the singles were released in stereo, beginning with Merry Christmas b/w O Come All Ye Faithfull (74-0572).

 

All three of Elvis' 1960 singles (Stuck On You; It's Now Or Never; Are You Lonesome Tonight?) plus Surrender in 1961 were released also as stereo singles. From Surrender until Suspicious Minds it was back to mono again.

 

Sounds like GB-13275 was an early-to-mid-'80's reissue, judging from the catalogue number. The original issue was 47-9764.

 

I believe Suspicious Minds wasn't released in a true stereo mix until the 80's (it was one of the "why the hell wasn't that mixed into stereo" songs that popped up well after release time) - paging Ed Bishop...

 

From some info picked up elsewhere I hope this can help:
June 4, 70
ZPA4-1594 I’ve Lost You
MASTER Mono (45) -07 3:30 R30P-1005 We Love Elvis CD/1987
MASTER Stereo (LP) -07 3:55 66532-2 Heart And Soul CD/1995
Remix -07 3:30 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
ZPA4-1596 The Sound Of Your Cry
MASTER Mono (45) -11 3:11 PD89003 Rare Elvis CD/1986
Stereo extended Mix -11 4:00 BPCD 5083 Greatest Hits Volume One CD/1991
Stereo Remix -11 3:13 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
June 6, 70
ZPA4-1608 You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
MASTER Stereo -03 2:32 67938-2 That’s The Way It Is Special Edition CD/2000
MASTER Mono -03 2:32 LPL1-7527 Hits Of The 70’s LP 1972
ZPA4-1613 Life
MASTER Mono (45) -20 3:09 PL 89 051 Rare Elvis Volume 3 LP/1983
MASTER Stereo (45) -20 3:10 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
Stereo LP Remix -20 3:11 54350-2 Love Letters From Elvis CD/1992
ZPA4-1614 Heart Of Rome
MASTER Mono (45) -03/wp1 2:50 447-0683 Single
MASTER Stereo (LP) -03/wp1 2:53 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
June 7, 70
ZPA4-1619 The Next Step Is Love
MASTER Stereo -11 3:30 67938-2 That’s The Way It Is Special Edition CD/2000
MASTER Mono -11 3:30 LPM-6402 The Other Sides Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol. 2 LP/1971
June 8, 70
ZPA4-1624 There Goes My Everything
MASTER stereo -03 3:10 66279-2 Elvis Country CD/1993
Remix -03 3:00 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
MASTER Mono -03 3:00 PD 89004 Elvis Forever CD/1986
ZPA4-1626 Only Believe
MASTER Stereo -04 2:48 54350-2 Love Letters From Elvis CD/1992
MASTER Mono (45) -04 2:47 447-0682 Single
ZPA4-1628 Patch It Up
MASTER Mono (45) -08 3:09 PD89003 Rare Elvis CD/1986
MASTER Stereo -08 3:08 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
September 22, 70
ZPA4-1798 Where Did They Go, Lord
MASTER Stereo -06 2:26 BPCD 5082 He Walks Beside Me CD/1991
Remix -06 2:27 67929-2 I’m 10, 000 Year Old-Elvis Country CD/2000
MASTER Mono (45) -06 2:25 447-0680 Single
ZPA4-1800 Rags To Riches
MASTER Mono -04/3 1:55 B18D-41040 We Love Elvis Vol. 2 CD/1989
Stereo Remix -04/3 1:54 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
Stereo Remix -04/3 1:55 67455-2(3) Elvis Aron Presley CD/1998
May 20, 71
APA4-1285 I’m Leavin’
MASTER Mono 3:48 LPL1 7527 Hits Of The 70’s LP 1972
Stereo Remix 3:48 67455-2(3) Elvis Aron Presley CD/1998
Stereo Remix 3:51 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
Extended Remix 4:35 LMP-6772 For Elvis Fans Only LP/1982
APA4-1287 It’s Only Love
MASTER Mono (45) -10 2:37 PD89003 Rare Elvis CD/1986
Stereo Remix -10 2:43 67455-2(3) Elvis Aron Presley CD/1998
Stereo Remix -10 2:41 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
Extended Remix -10 5:39 CD V 130.036 Good Rockin’ Tonight Vol. 4 CD/1993
June 9, 71
APA5-1255 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
MASTER Mono -12 3:42 B18D-41040 We Love Elvis Vol. 2 CD/1989
Stereo Remix -12 3:42 66670-2(1) Walk A Mile In My Shoes The Essential 70’s Masters CD/1995
Extended Remix -12 4:16 Cassette of Elvis Aron Presley or LMP 6772 For Elvis Fans Only LP/1982
March 29, 72
BPA5-1260 It’s A Matter Of Time
MASTER Mono (45) -03 3:07 B18D-41040 We Love Elvis Vol. 2 CD/1989
MASTER Stereo -03 3:04 CAD1-2595 Burning Love-Hits From His Movies Vol. 2 CD/1987
Remix -03 3:02 67742-2 Burning Love CD/1999

 

OK, to clear this up:

RCA indeed released one Elvis Presley single in the 74- series in 1969, "How Great Thou Art" backed with "His Hand In Mine," released on 74-0130. Every year from 1965 through 1969, RCA released a special "Easter single" of Elvis singing two sacred songs; few, if any, of these were hits, and all of them are among his hardest regular RCA singles to find.

After that, all of Elvis' singles almost to the end of 1971 were released in the mono series, possibly because his releases were coming out of RCA Nashville, also possibly because some of the songs were only issued as singles and not as LP cuts, thus not mixed to stereo. Also, around this time, after almost a decade of indifference, country music radio started paying attention to Elvis again. Almost all of his singles from this period made the country charts. During this period, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Eddy Arnold and every other C&W artist on RCA had most of their singles issued in mono.

RCA actually issued some C&W in stereo in 1969 -- for example, Charley Pride's hit "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" -- but by the end of 1969, most RCA country music was back in the mono series, possibly because of complaints from C&W radio, almost all of which was still broadcasting on the AM dial. To use the Bobby Bare example, he indeed had three 45s in the stereo series on RCA in 1969, but he then went to Mercury for three years (1970-72). Had he stayed with RCA during that period, I have no doubt that his RCA singles in that period would have been in mono. (By the way, Mercury was still issuing mono singles in the early 1970s.)

In 1971, all of RCA's big country hits in the first 10 months of the year were in the mono series, such as "Joshua" by Dolly Parton and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" by Jerry Reed ("Amos Moses" also was issued in mono). The year ended with Charley Pride's "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" at number one; this was issued in stereo. By this time, RCA was issuing double-sided promos to country radio, one side mono, the other stereo.

The next Elvis single in the 74- stereo series was "Merry Christmas Baby" backed with "O Come All Ye Faithful" in November 1971 (74-0572).

 

My mistake; probably got my titles wrong. I remember the catalogue number, though, coming as it did just before Henry Mancini's chart-topping "Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" (74-0131).

 

1984, I believe with ELVIS GOLD RECORDS VOL. 5. As Tim pointed out, there were a few stereo Elvis 45's, but no hits, most of them being mono.

Stereo singles, from 1968-72, is a checkered history; some stocks stereo, some not; some promos stereo, some not. Occasionally I'll come across a DJ M/S 45 that was mono-only in stock. And, of course, stock singles that were issued in both mono and stereo, depending on the pressing.

 

Tanx Ed!

 

Wow! Great info! Thanks! And the same to everyone above.

 

Interesting. BTW, Suspicious Minds (and Sound of Your Cry) made its stereo debut on Greatest Hits Vol. 1, from 1981. I think Kentucky Rain made its stereo debut in '84. I'm not sure about Don't Cry Daddy because the mix on the Memphis Record was so muddy,at least on my LP.

 

Terrific info.

What i found astonishing is that they had a three track deck, they used it on the sessions, then they never used the tapes!!!! To me, thats wierd.

 

The three track was a backup in case the singer moved away from the mike unexpectedly or the engineer misjudged how the vocal channel pot needed to be ridden. It also allowed one to fudge the vocal level to make a splice work. This was before smashing vocals with a limiter became SOP. The preferred master was always the first generation live mono or stereo mix. I'm pretty sure that overdubbing was also against union rules at the time.