In early 2025 Follow That Dream Records released "The GIRL HAPPY Sessions". Despite the fact, that at the time nearly 80% of the people listened to music via streaming and this way of distribution was responsible for almost 90% of the industry's revenues, FTD continued their policy of sticking to the good ole' compact disc format.

However, the boxed set includes three of these discs, housed in a digipak, whose design mirrors an old tape box. There's also a very well designed and informative booklet, dealing with the movie and the accordant records. The tracks were mixed by Vic Anesini and mastered by Jan Eliasson. As expected these guys delivered the best sounding incarnation of the recordings so far. The lacquers of unedited masters (Ernst Jorgensen made up this term, in the industry a "master" is the finished product. So what we get to hear is the unedited master take.) were restored by Kevan Budd.

By the way: Here you can find the reviews of RCA's original album as well as FTD's collector's edition from 2003.

The first disc contains the original soundtrack, the lacquers of unedited master takes and Elvis' 1964 re-recording of "I Feel That I've Known You Forever" as well as instrumental outtakes of the music tracks, to which the king added his vocals. Discs number 2 and 3 are dedicated to the sessions. They took place between June 10th and June 15th 1964, the re-recording of the lead vocal to "I Feel That I've Known You Forever" was made in October 1964 at The Paramount Recording Stage in Hollywood/California. The sessions for "Girl Happy" took place at Radio Recorders, which was also located in Hollywood.

For the reviews of the tracks and sessions tap here:

Masters, Lacquers & Instrumentals    June 10, 1964    June 11, 1964     June 15, 1964