A new Elvis Presley box set titled Sunset Boulevard focusing on the late King o f Rock ‘n’ Roll’s recording sessions at RCA’s Los Angeles studios from 1970 to 1975 will be released on August 1. The 89-track collection, which will be available as a five-CD set and digitally, will include rarities, outtakes, and rehearsal recordings.
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More than half of the recordings appearing on Sunset Boulevard have never been released in the U.S. before. Among the many highlights are rare alternate studio versions of “Separate Ways,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” and “Burning Love.” The last tune, released in 1972, became Presley’s final Top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 2.
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The alternate take of “Burning Love” has debuted as the first advance track from the box set. It’s available now as a digital download and via streaming services.
Sunset Boulevard’s packaging includes rare archival photographs and new liner notes written by music historian Colin Escott. It also features an introduction by Presley’s longtime friend Jerry Schilling
The Sunset Boulevard box set can be pre-ordered now.
About Sunset Boulevard’s First Two Discs
Sunset Boulevard’s first two discs feature new and previously unheard mixes created by Grammy-winning studio whiz Matt Ross-Spang. The tracks were stripped of all overdubs, opening fresh sonic aspects of the recordings. Disc 1 features 17 classic tracks Elvis recorded at various times at RCA Studio C.
They include mixes of “Burning Love,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “Always on My Mind,” and Presley’s cover versions of Kris Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times,” Billy Swan’s “I Can Help,” and Don McLean’s “And I Love You So.”
Disc 2 features mixes of various alternate takes of many of the same songs appearing on the first disc.
A two-LP vinyl set featuring highlights from the box set’s first two discs also will be released on August 1. A limited-edition colored-vinyl variant of the two-LP collection is available at Graceland.com.
About the Other Material on the Sunset Boulevard Box Set
Sunset Boulevard’s other three discs offer a behind-the-scenes look at Presley’s historic Las Vegas residency. The discs focus on rehearsal recordings Elvis made with his TCB Band in L.A. in July 1970 and August 1974.
The tracks include a variety of dynamic performances by Presley. The 1970 rehearsal includes renditions of Elvis classics such as “That’s All Right,” “The Wonder of You,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Suspicious Minds.” It also features covers of Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman,” The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” The Beatles’ “Something,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”
The 1974 rehearsal recordings boast versions of Danny O’Keefe’s “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues,” Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary,” and Johnny Mathis’ “The Twelfth of Never.”
The Sunset Boulevard Box Set Will Be Celebrated During Elvis Week
The 2025 Elvis Week gathering at Graceland in Memphis this August will feature a celebration of Sunset Boulevard’s release. The Sony Music label will host a listening event for the box set at Graceland’s Guest House Theater on August 13. The event will feature a Q&A with various special guests.
This year’s Elvis Week, which takes place August 8-16, will commemorate what would’ve been Presley’s 90th birthday (Elvis was born January 8, 1935). Visit ElvisWeek.com for more details.
(Courtesy of JAT Publishing)
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