Elvis On Tour (1972)
This is an updated re-posting of an item I first placed on my sci fi/pop culture blog back in January – prior to rolling out The Mystery Train Elvis Blog.
Warner Home Video is releasing Elvis On Tour on Blu-ray and DVD on August 3. The MGM movie features Elvis on the road and in rehearsals in the spring of 1972.
Sandwiched between 1970’s colossal That’s The Way It Is and 1973’s Aloha From Hawaii, the Golden-Globe-winning documentary often seems to be overlooked among Elvis events.
At the time, Elvis On Tour ultimately did not even garner a soundtrack album release – trumped by the As Recorded At Madison Square Garden and Aloha live albums.
Nevertheless, Elvis On Tour shows Elvis in good form, with the effects of his marriage problems with Priscilla only beginning to show their toll. It is a well-assembled film, capturing an important moment in the entertainer’s life. The second documentary produced about him, Elvis On Tour also represents Elvis’ 33rd and final completed movie.
When Warner Home Video remade That’s The Way It Is in 2000, RCA/BMG released a corresponding boxed set of audio material recorded during the filming of the movie. There have since been a number of other That’s The Way It Is themed audio releases.
Since the record label also recorded many of the rehearsals and concerts during the filming of Elvis On Tour, it seems likely that this Blu-ray release will open the floodgates for related audio material.
To celebrate the Blu-ray release, this is one of a series of Elvis On Tour related posts this year. Today, I want to take a look back at what has been officially released to this point on audio from the material recorded for this movie.
Most of these performances were not used in the actual film, though some were. Believe it or not, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the audio recordings made for Elvis On Tour. 2010 may turn out to be a very good year indeed for Elvis fans.
This Is Elvis (1981)
Always On My Mind (Rehearsal)
An American Trilogy (Live-April 9, 1972, Hampton Roads, Virginia)
Amazing Grace (1994)
Bosom of Abraham (Rehearsal)
I, John (Rehearsal)
Lead Me, Guide Me (Rehearsal)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Nearer My God To Thee (Rehearsal)
You Better Run (Rehearsal)
From The Heart (1998)
Separate Ways (Rehearsal)
6363 Sunset (2001)
A Big Hunk O’ Love (Rehearsal)
All Shook Up (Rehearsal)
Heartbreak Hotel (Rehearsal)
See See Rider (Rehearsal)
Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel (Rehearsal)
Until It’s Time For You To Go (Rehearsal)
Close Up: Live In Texas 1972 (2002)
(Live-April 18, 1972, San Antonio, Texas)
All Shook Up
An American Trilogy
Burning Love
Can’t Help Falling In Love
For The Good Times
Funny How Time Slips Away
Heartbreak Hotel
Hound Dog
How Great Thou Art
I Can’t Stop Loving You
Love Me
Love Me Tender
Never Been To Spain
Polk Salad Annie
Proud Mary
See See Rider
Suspicious Minds
Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel
Until It’s Time For You To Go
You Gave Me A Mountain
Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals (2005)
A Big Hunk O’ Love
Burning Love
For The Good Times
Funny How Time Slips Away
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Hound Dog
Johnny B. Goode
Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
Love Me
Never Been To Spain
Polk Salad Annie
Proud Mary
Release Me
See See Rider
Separate Ways
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Young And Beautiful
(The Elvis Session Notes by Oven Egeland site was a valuable resource in compiling this information.)
The Mystery Train Blog 
fascinating stuff-just imagine a 3 disc dvd set, or a 4 cd box set-surely the Presley Estate powers that be must realize that hard core fans such as us are around to buy this stuff now!!
“THE COMPLETE ELVIS ON TOUR SESSIONS”
followed by
“ELVIS IN CONCERT-THE COMPLETE CBS TAPES”
oh happy day, oh happy day
as always Mystery Train, thanks for a thought provoking piece
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I like the way you think, Jon. We fans can dream, can’t we?
Incidentally, Elvis Presley Enterprises doesn’t control the release of Elvis On Tour footage. That belongs to Warner Brothers/Turner Entertainment. And, of course, Sony controls the music releases (what I wouldn’t do for a week in their vault).
EPE does control the Elvis In Concert footage, and I do hope for a comprehensive release of that at some point in the future.
Thanks for reading!
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Hey folks, just a quick update. The Elvis On Tour Blu-ray is now available for pre-order on Amazon (and possibly other locations as well). The DVD edition is also available for pre-order.
If you’re interested in sets, then there is also a 3-Blu-ray set containing Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas, and Elvis On Tour. That’s the one I picked, as it seemed the best bargain. Besides, three great movies – covering each decade of his career.
On DVD, you also have the option of a 17-movie set, including Elvis On Tour.
In June and July, we’ll have even more Elvis On Tour related info for you. Stay tuned!
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Hey Tygrrius
I’m so damn excited and pissed off that “A” we are getting a release but “B” once again the fans get short changed, with hours of footage sitting locked away because somebody wasn’t offered enough MONEY to allow it to be released as extras on the disc….
But i do have a question that maybe you could find the answer to: Is this release a top quality remaster of both video and audio or a transfer of the original? If it’s the latter then Blu-ray will not look good at all and DVD at best will be the look of an new VHS…..
Cheers
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Thanks for participating, Ray. I’m attempting to obtain additional confirmation, but the press release does indicate that Elvis On Tour is “newly-restored and remastered.”
However, a later entry in the same press release only mentions the “remastered” portion. The problem would be if the person writing the press release is unaware of the difference.
Movies restored for Blu-ray look better than those that are only remastered.
However, even if it is only remastered, this is still going to be the best looking version we’ve ever seen of this movie. It will NOT have the look of a new VHS.
The recent release of the original Star Trek films on Blu-ray is a good example. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was fully restored for high definition and looks incredible.
The other five movies featuring just the original cast were only remastered. They look better than they ever have before, yet not as good as Star Trek II. They don’t “pop” like that movie does.
The HD version of Turner Classic Movies already airs a high definition version of Elvis On Tour that looks far better than the VHS editions.
If done properly, the new Blu-ray should look even better than those HD television broadcasts. Warner Home Video has traditionally done a fantastic job in their Blu-ray releases of catalog titles, so I have confidence in them.
Regarding audio, the press release states, “Blu-ray audio will be DTS-HD Master Audio (5.1 Surround); DVD audio will be Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround.” In other words, expect a top-notch experience.
As for lack of deleted scenes, it’s not uncommon for first releases to be sparse on this kind of material. If you’ll recall, the original DVD release of That’s The Way It Is contained the theatrical version of the movie only. It was only subsequent versions that included a new edit and additional footage.
Besides, unless in error, the Elvis On Tour press release does indicate some songs that were previously available only on the Elvis: The Lost Performances VHS release will be included in this release. (I have learned over the years to not place full confidence in press releases, though. Best to take a “wait and see” approach.)
Yes, there are dozens of more hours – but, hey, you weren’t really expecting this to be the very last Elvis Blu-ray you’ll ever buy, right?
No need to be angry. When August comes, just sit back and enjoy Elvis in full high definition glory. The rest of this stuff will eventually work itself out.
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It’s appalling that they didn’t do a EOT release with all the concert material.
Sad that the bootleggers continue to put together better packages than the official sources.
My fantasy of releases would include box sets of
– the madison square garden shows
– the Houston Astrodome shows
– the TTWIT concert material with some informal Elvis bits
– EOT – all the concerts and the entire narration that Elvis recorded.
– a 50’s concert set of all the known live recordings
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Nice fantasy releases, Nina. I think there’s hope for at least some of those to come to light.
There’s still time for official releases of some of the other Elvis On Tour and That’s The Way It Is material. I’m just excited for Elvis On Tour to finally make its way to DVD, not to mention Blu-ray.
I’m not expecting to get everything at once. If this Elvis On Tour release is successful, you can bet that there will be additional volumes in the near-future.
As for the bootleggers, I think they do a disservice because they take away from the impact of official releases. It’s also easier for them in certain ways because, by their very nature, they don’t pay for song rights, photo rights, etc. Let’s just call bootlegging what it is, stealing.
In general, I won’t be covering bootleg releases on The Mystery Train because I prefer instead to focus on the wealth of official Elvis material that is available.
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Oh, I don’t pretend that bootlegging isn’t stealing. It is – and often right out of the RCA/BMG/SONY vaults.
But I think that the bootleggers tend to stoke the market, not undermine it.
Bootlegs tend to be limited runs and limited distribution – I was aware of them for years before I ever came across one.
the bootleggers product range from – why can’t this be officially released to why was this released at all.
And form many years in some countries, bootlegs were the only way to get Elvis recordings – banned as they were.
That said, I recall there’s a bit of a contest between FTD and the European Memphis Recording Service that is holding up the FTD SUN project
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hmmm, I understand you not reviewing boots – EPE is cracking down on fan clubs over reviews and sales of them.
I think this would be a good topic on my(shameless plug) blog:
http://ntrygg.wordpress.com/elvis-index/
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Actually, the primary reasons that I don’t review or otherwise cover bootlegs are that I don’t buy them and don’t support them. There are plenty of official releases to hold my interest and part me from my money.
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Well, that makes sense too.
There really is an upper limit to how many shows from any given tour that a person really needs.
I think I have more Elvis than I can reasonably listen to or watch now.
But funnily enough, it’s still never is.
Nina
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