Lovin’ Arms / You Asked Me To 

Modified: April 3, 2017

Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: RCA PB-12205 Lovin' Arms / You Asked Me To (45)
Release Date: 3/1981

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Cover: (3/1981) picture sleeve front and back.1

A controversial sleeve! “This is the first standard catalog Elvis release since 1956 not issued with [a] picture sleeve. Any sleeve for this single is a bootleg.”2 “[I]t was learned that a full-color picture sleeve for this RCA single was being produced [as a bootleg].”3 The picture sleeve was deleted by Joan Deary likely because Elvis is posing with a cigar. The original printed artwork for the deleted cover comes from Joan Deary’s personal collection.4 Apparently some original picture sleeves depicting Elvis with a cigar survived a recall and deletion by a court order. No replacement picture sleeve was issued in it’s place.5

Disc: (3/1981) Yellow label, NOT FOR SALE. Green vinyl.

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Disc: (3/1981) Tan label, NOT FOR SALE.6
Matrix numbers: PB-12205-A-4S RR R 7007 / PB-12205 B-4S R 7008 (hand etched) (unknown pressing)7

The RR in the matrix number means Randy’s Roost.8 Randy Kling was owner and operator of the record mastering facility known as Randy’s Roost in Nashville, TN. The name remained the same until March 1, 1983.9

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Disc: (3/1981) Black label, dog near top. With Chandas Music Corp on the Lovin’ Arms side. (dark reddish vinyl.)1
Matrix numbers: PB-12205 A-2S / PB – 12205 B – 2S11
Matrix numbers: PB-12205 A-2S A2 (machine stamped) RANDYS ROOST. (hand etched) / PB – 12205 B – 2S A2 (machine stamped) R.R. (hand etched) (Indianapolis pressing)
Matrix numbers: PB-12205 A-2S A3 (machine stamped) RANDYS ROOST. (hand etched) / PB – 12205 B – 2S A3 (machine stamped) R.R. (hand etched) (Indianapolis pressing)

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Disc: (3/1981) Black label, dog near top. Without Chandas Music Corp on the Lovin’ Arms side.
Matrix numbers: PB-12205 A-2S A3 (machine stamped) RANDYS ROOST. (hand etched) / PB – 12205 B – 2S A3 (machine stamped) R.R. (hand etched) (Indianapolis pressing)

  1. Images from the collection of Mahalo. ↩
  2. Jerry Osborne, Presleyana VI (Port Townsend: Osborne Enterprises, 2007), p. 55. ↩
  3. Cotton, L., & DeWitt, H. A. (1983). Jailhouse Rock. Ann Arbor, Michigan: The Pierian Press, p. 161. ↩
  4. “Elvis online shop, FTD, CD, records, dvd, tcb.” Elvis Unlimited. 28 November 2011. ↩
  5. Information provided by Mahalo. ↩
  6. eBay reference 150707624265 (November 27, 2011) ↩
  7. Matrix numbers from the collection of Christian (of France). ↩
  8. Detail provided by Christian (of France). ↩
  9. Change Of Name For Randy’s Roost. Billboard Music Week. February 26, 1983, p. 29 ↩
  10. Images from the collection of Mahalo. ↩
  11. Matrix numbers from the collection of Mahalo. ↩