Ral Donner Bootlegs (see below for unissued)
Due to the amount of track repetition involved with these bootleg recordings I thought it was best to provide song details only if an issue contains unusual or exclusive recordings and/or other features making that issue different.
LP’s
BL1 1977 Gypsy TRG-LP-1000 ..The Presley Style Of Ral Donner** (23 tracks from Gone + Reprise)
BL2 1977 Gone 5033.....................Ral Donner’s Elvis Presley Scrapbook (18 tracks from Gone + Reprise)
BL3 1978 Rondo 22436................Takin’ Care Of Business (same 14 tracks as Gone 5012 album)
BL4 1978 Rondo 22437 ............ ..Takin’ Care Of Business Vol. 2 (15 tracks from Scottie,Gone & Reprise)
BL5 198? Treasure LSP 1057.....The Elvis Presley Sound Of Ral Donner** (16 tracks from various labels)
BL6 1986 Fire Star 1010 ..............Sounds Like Elvis (18 tracks from various labels)
BL7 1986? Star ST 1050 ................Loneliness Of A Star (16 tracks from various labels) including 2 .songs "Take Me Back" & "My Color Is Blue" credited to Ral but nether one is actually him - both songs by singer NICKY JAMES who was a founder member of The Move and The Moody Blues ("Take Me Back" & "My Color Is Blue" on UK "Brum Beat" CD issued by Sequel Records in 1993).
** These LP’s contain the song "Baby Just Because" - this recording is by Ray Smith not Ral Donner
CD’s
BC1 1990 Request CD 13504 ......The Presley Sound Of Ral Donner (28 tracks from various labels including "Take Me Back" which is not Ral - see note ## below)
BC2 1999 Canadian 241 ................Rip It Up - 27 Rockin’ Hits ..Excellent sounding CD. The 8 Reprise songs in particular are super quality - definately from master tapes. Not only this but there is one previously unissued song If You Love Him (unknown origin). CD includes most of Ral’s post Gone singles.
1. Rip It Up 2. Beyond The Heartbreak 3. Good Lovin’ 4. My Heart Sings 5. I Got Burned 6. Greatest Moments 7. Take Me Back ## 8. Don’t Leave Me Now 9. Poison Ivy League 10. The Other Side Of You 11. Run Little Linda 12. It Will Only Make Me Love You More 13. If You Love Him** 14. So Much Lovin’ 15. Lost 16. Just A Little Sunshine 17. Life To Live Over 18. Lovin’ Place 19. I Wish This Night Would Never End 20. A Tear In My Eye 21. Love Isn’t Like That 22. You Finally Said Something Good 23. Don’t Put Your Heart In His Hands 24. If I Promise 25. The Wedding Song 26. Christmas Day 27. Second Miracle **previously unissued
## "Take Me Back" is not Ral but UK singer NICKY JAMES who was a founder member of The Move and The Moody Blues ("Take Me Back" & "My Color Is Blue" on UK "Brum Beat" CD issued by Sequel Records in 1993).
BC3 2000 (no label or number) ......She’s Everything (30 tracks from Gone)
BC4 2000 Memphis Music 7042.....I've Been Away For Awhile Now (same as Mid-Eagle, Sessions, Piccadilly LP)
Note: This is by no means a complete listing - there are probably many bootlegs that I am unaware of.
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Unissued Recordings
Always The Clown ..John Tolbart Studio, Chicago (1963)
Bad Boy ..Gone (1961) - tape lost
Beachcomber ..Demo (1960)
Big Daddy Twist (1962) **
Billy Jack's Ol' Lady..(1976)
Castle In The Sky ..Gone (1961) *
Cinderella Twist (1962) **
Dancing Shoes .Hall Studios, Chicago (1966/67) ***
Deeper Shade Of Blue John Tolbart Studio, Chicago (1970's )
Down By The River .PS Recording Studios, Chicago (1977)
Dream Lover ..(1970's)
Fame And Fortune ..Demo (1960)
Girl Of My Best Friend ..Demo (1960)
Hallelujah I Love Her So ..Demo (1960)
Haulin' Steel . (1976)
I Want The Best For You . (1976)
If I Promise ..Demo (1968) - precedes the version on 'Rising Sons'
It All Adds Up To Lonely ..Universal Recording Studios, Chicago (1972)
Lonely Star (version 2) ..Gone (1961)
Love Me ..Demo (1968) - same as the Elvis song
Mama Bear (1976)
Mary In The Morning ..Demo (1968)
Mess Of Blues ..Demo (1960)
Misery ..Universal Recording Studios, Chicago (1972)
Mister Misery (see "Misery")
Nite Owl (version 2) ..Gone (1961)
Oh Boy! ..Demo (1958)
Pittsburgh ..Universal Recording Studios, Chicago (1972)
Reconsider Baby ..Demo (1960)
Sad Heart ..Reprise (1963)
School Of Heartbreakers (version 2) ..Gone (1961)
She’s Coming Back ..Universal Recording Studios, Chicago (1972)
Sing Me A Song (To Cry By).. (1976)
Tender Years ..Gone (1961) - tape lost
That's When Your Heartaches Begin Demo (1968) - same as the Elvis song
The Girl For Me ..Gone (1961) *
The Next Time . Hall Studios, Chicago (1966/67) ***
This Angry World ..John Tolbart Studio, Chicago (1963)
Turn Back The Clock (version 1).. Gone (1961)
What'D I Say ..Demo (1960)
* These songs may be only backing tracks (no vocal)
** Featured in the 15 minute documentary film "Dance Craze" (produced by Jack Lieb at Fred Niles Studio, Chicago in 1962)
*** also recorded by Cliff Richard in the 1960s
Note: I have no session details from Reprise (late 1962) through Starfire (1979). Ral was with a myriad of different labels during this period there is probably a lot more unreleased material out there.