Elvis: The Lost Performances

Elvis On Tour Blu-ray/DVD coming August 3

/ TY / 2 Comments
Elvis On Tour (1972)

Elvis On Tour (1972)

This week, Warner Home Video and Elvis Presley Enterprises announced the Elvis On Tour Blu-ray and DVD release date as August 3. There will also be a special screening of the movie on August 14 in Memphis during Elvis Week.

You read that right, we’re only four months away from the Elvis On Tour release!

Elvis On Tour 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, MGM’s Golden-Globe-winning documentary often seems to be overlooked among Elvis events. The second documentary produced about him, Elvis On Tour also represents Elvis’ 33rd and final movie.

Previously available in wide release only on VHS, Elvis On Tour is finally making its debut on Blu-ray and DVD. So, it is a little late to the DVD party, but just in time for the high-definition Blu-ray party!

While there will apparently not be any previously unreleased footage in this release, the press release does mention a number of songs that were featured only in the 1992 home video Elvis: The Lost Performances.

My hope is that the 1972 songs from The Lost Performances will be available as fully restored bonus features, along with the original theatrical version of the film. Blu-ray movies also allow for the possibility of “branching” — where you can choose between variations of a movie.

As we count down the months to the Elvis On Tour release, The Mystery Train will have more articles celebrating this event. Keep checking back, folks.

This is a great time to be an Elvis fan!

Blu Dreams: How Michael Jackson’s This Is It could help Elvis fans [The Film Frontier blog]

/ TY

Many fellow Elvis fans seem to have tired of all of the recent comparisons with Michael Jackson. However, they should take notice of one Michael Jackson project. Filmed just days before Jackson’s death in June, This Is It opens in theaters and IMAX later this month.

Assembled from over a hundred hours of footage, the documentary captures rehearsals and other behind-the-scenes moments for Jackson’s concert engagement that ultimately was not to be. If This Is It turns out to be a big success, Jackson’s fans can expect to see even more of that footage in sequels or at least in an expanded version on Blu-ray with lots of bonus material.

Why should we Elvis fans care about this? Success for This Is It may well lead someone at Warner Home Video to finally wake up and remember that they are sitting on dozens of hours of valuable behind-the-scenes, rehearsal, and concert footage of another singer known as “The King.”

In 1970, MGM’s cameras filmed several rehearsals and concerts for his Elvis Summer Festival engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Released in November of that year, the resulting Elvis: That’s The Way It Is documentary was grand and captured Elvis in his prime–but left dozens of hours on the cutting room floor.

In 1972, MGM’s cameras rolled again, this time for Elvis On Tour, capturing rehearsals, behind-the-scenes, and concerts in March and April. The film went on to win a Golden Globe, the only Elvis movie so honored. Again, dozens of hours of footage were filmed but not used.

Since that time, we have seen a bit of these outtakes. In 1992, Warner released Elvis: The Lost Performances, an incredible one-hour VHS video that included outtakes from both films. In 2001, Warner released a new edit of That’s The Way It Is, containing so many outtakes and changes as to actually be a different film than the original. Though both were compelling, these projects were just the tip of the Elvis documentary iceberg.

Though both versions of That’s The Way It Is are available, Elvis On Tour and The Lost Performances never received DVD releases. Maybe we are unable to go back in time just yet, but Elvis fans should at least be able to experience these historic films and outtakes.

First off, the original versions of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour should be fully restored in high definition and digital sound and released on Blu-ray (as well as DVD for those fans who have not yet upgraded), with top-notch bonus features.

Why stop there? Next, Warner should choose whichever That’s The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour concerts are most complete (not all were filmed in their entirety) and release them as separate, all-new concert experiences. Do not tag them as Elvis On Tour or That’s The Way It Is re-edits, just make completely new projects and leave the original documentaries to stand alone as accounts from the time. Most important, do not over-edit these concerts. Use Elvis’ original setlist and flow as much as possible.

Imagine if a That’s The Way It Is concert was given a full-fledged theatrical release, with an Elvis marketing blitz unheard of since his death. Just think about watching one of the That’s The Way It Is concerts on an IMAX screen.

Sure, theatrical and IMAX releases are long-stretches, but I think at least Blu-ray releases for Elvis: That’s The Way It Is and Elvis On Tour are real possibilities if Michael Jackson’s This Is It takes off.

A fan can dream, can’t he?

REVIEW: The Wonder of You CD (FTD)

/ TY

The Wonder of You CD (Follow That Dream Records, 2009)

Strangers No More

When MGM filmed the first few days of Elvis’ August 1970 engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, his third such series of appearances in a year, RCA tagged along and recorded six of the same concerts. RCA released just a few songs from these shows during Elvis’ lifetime, as part of the That’s The Way It Is album. In fact, it wasn’t until 2000’s That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition CD set that a nearly complete show became available.

The Wonder of You marks the fourth almost complete concert officially released from the August 1970 engagement. It contains several songs not featured in the other That’s The Way It Is concerts. Sit back and enjoy Elvis’ August 13 Dinner Show, the sixth and final show that RCA recorded for That’s The Way It Is.

Overview

This is a terrific concert, probably the second best of the That’s The Way It Is shows, behind only the August 12 Midnight Show. Highlights include “Don’t Cry Daddy”/”In the Ghetto,” “The Wonder of You,” “Stranger in the Crowd,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The sound is about as pristine as can be for a nearly forty-year-old recording.

About half of these performances have been previously released on other official albums. I’ll mention which mixes I think are better in my song-by-song analysis below. I have fun doing these kinds of comparisons, but I would like to point out that, when taken as a whole, this concert sounds great! Don’t read too much into my nitpicks. I’m also aware of the recent bootleg releases of this show, but I’m not going to get into comparing professionally-mixed, official releases to bootlegs.

* * *

“That’s All Right” (previously unreleased)

  • You can feel the excitement build as things kick off with a jungle-like rhythm. Soon, Elvis takes the stage and delivers a solid version of his first record, “That’s All Right.” The horns are mixed a little loud in the left channel at times, but not enough to detract from this classic. “That’s All Right” was the best opening song for Elvis. It worked much better than “Blue Suede Shoes,” “All Shook Up,” “See See Rider,” or various others.

“I Got A Woman” (previously released on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition CD)

  • Elvis quickly slides into Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman.” Elvis’ 1969 and 1970 versions of this song are usually fantastic, and this one is no exception. I prefer the mix on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition, however, where the horns are less pronounced and are in both channels, rather than overpowering the left channel as they continue to do here.

“Hound Dog” (previously unreleased)

  • Elvis references the red snakeskin highlights of his jumpsuit prior to this song, leading to a brief ad-lib in a typical for this season break-neck-pace version of “Hound Dog.” After the song, Elvis goes into his Gatorade routine, and then jokes that he owns part of that company. A star these days would probably work some kind of endorsement deal to mention a product as much as Elvis did Gatorade.

“Love Me Tender” (previously unreleased)

  • Have you ever wondered how Elvis usually got away with kissing so many women in the audience without angering their husbands and boyfriends? “Only if the guy smiles, man, do I kiss her,” explains Elvis as he takes time out from kissing to occasionally sing “Love Me Tender.” The band sounds great and carries along quite well during the kissing interludes. Finally having this concert in a relatively complete form means that we can place his “That’s the most fun part of the whole show” line in context. First heard on the live compilation disc of That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition after “Make The World Go Away,” the comment actually follows the “Love Me Tender” kissing session here.

“Don’t Cry Daddy”/”In the Ghetto” (previously released on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition CD)

  • I remember this medley blowing me away on the Elvis: The Lost Performances video back in 1992. To see Elvis singing two of my favorite songs for the first time, and together no less. For whatever reason, this CD splits the medley into two tracks, but it is actually a continuous performance. Mac Davis wrote both songs, and Elvis recorded them in his legendary 1969 American Sound Studio sessions in Memphis. Incidentally, these are complete versions, with only minimal fooling around by Elvis. This new mix is better than the previously released version. You can even hear Elvis yell, “Sing it, Charlie!” to Charlie Hodge early on in “Don’t Cry Daddy.”

“I Just Can’t Help Believing” (previously released on Writing For The King)

  • I have to be in the right mood to enjoy this sleepy song, but this is a fine performance. Elvis misses a word or two about halfway through and starts laughing a bit. I love that kind of stuff. If you are one of those people who insist on hearing the correct lyrics to every single song when listening to a live concert, then this isn’t the disc for you. Actually, I would say Elvis isn’t the artist for you, either. He played with or forgot lyrics all the time. Yet, somehow still made the songs sound so good. He really knew how to sell a performance. This mix feels very thin compared to the superior one on Writing For The King. I was hoping this whole disc would sound like this song did on Writing For The King.

“Stranger in the Crowd” (previously released on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition CD)

  • Elvis jokes that this song, which he had recorded just two months earlier, wouldn’t be released until 1982. Every time I hear that line, it makes me a little sad, though, since Elvis would be gone five years by then. This is a great live rendition of “Stranger in the Crowd,” powered by Ronnie Tutt on drums. The studio version was one of the best numbers on the original That’s The Way It Is album, and it most certainly should have been a single. With a little more work on the arrangement (starting with getting rid of the Imperials’ “la la la la la la la” background vocals near the end), this live version also would have made a nice mainstay to his concert repertoire. Too bad it seems to have been abandoned after this. The mix of this same live version on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition has a fuller sound, packing more punch than the one here.

“Make The World Go Away” (previously released on That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition CD)

  • Elvis jokes that this song was “written before Roy Acuff was born, which is about 1800.” Just for fun, I decided to fact-check Elvis. Country music legend Acuff was born in 1903. Hank Cochran wrote “Make The World Go Away” in 1963, just seven years before this live recording. Sorry, E. This is a beautiful live rendition that I prefer to the studio cut recorded that June for Elvis Country. This also made its debut on the Elvis: The Lost Performances video, leading me back then to truly appreciate this song for the first time. If for nothing else than the toning down of a buzzing sound present through much of the song, the audio and mix quality here beats the previously released one.

“Sweet Caroline” (previously unreleased)

  • Elvis cuts this Neil Diamond tune off nearly thirty seconds in when he forgets the words. He starts the song over and gets it right this time in a lively version. Every time I hear this song, I have to fight the urge to throw my arm back and forth like Elvis does when the horns go “dah-dah-daah.” I don’t always win that fight. Come on, you know you do it, too.

“You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” (previously unreleased)

  • Elvis sounds distracted in this disappointing version of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” His extended performance of this same song from the night before (captured on Disc 2 of That’s The Way It Is: Special Edition) is the best rendition ever (yes, even topping the Righteous Brothers).

“Polk Salad Annie” (previously released on Elvis Aron Presley)

  • Elvis delivers a great version of Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie.” Who else but Elvis could pull off going from country to pop to soul to swamp rock in a matter of minutes? This performance was first released on the 1980 boxed set Elvis Aron Presley, the first release of any song from this show. Who would have thought it would take another 29 years before we were treated to the entire concert? Audio quality and mixing on this new release is much improved over the 1980 version.

Introductions (previously unreleased)

  • In a fun moment, Elvis first introduces guitarist James Burton as “Chuck Berry.” After introducing (most of) the rest of his crew, Elvis introduces television legend and audience member Art Carney (best known as Ed Norton on Jackie Gleason’s The Honeymooners). Carney gets a huge hand, probably the biggest reaction to a celebrity introduction I’ve ever heard at an Elvis show. Elvis goes on to talk briefly about his own appearances on Jackie Gleason’s Stage Show, and mentions his later appearances on the Milton Berle Show and the Ed Sullivan Show. Someone then reminds Elvis that he forgot to introduce background vocalist Millie Kirkham, and he apologetically does so.

“The Wonder of You” (previously released on The Way It Was)

  • One of the many highlights of the Elvis: The Lost Performances video was this performance of “The Wonder of You.” This version is almost as good as the single version recorded earlier the same year. The mix on this new FTD release of the song is an improvement over the previous release. I had to play them both a few times to come to that conclusion, though. While somewhat softer, the sound has better separation here, so it is easier to pick out distinctive instruments.

“Heartbreak Hotel” (previously unreleased)

  • After the big ending on the previous song, Elvis starts this one off sounding a little weak. This is a typical 1970 version of “Heartbreak Hotel.”

“Blue Suede Shoes” (previously unreleased)

  • A quick version, likely only done to please the crowd, lacking the power of his 1969 versions.

“One Night” (previously released on The Way It Was)

  • Elvis still sounds weak, or is it the mix playing tricks on us? Play the same song on The Way It Was and it sounds much better.

“All Shook Up” (previously released on The Way It Was)

  • “All Shook Up” had not yet become a complete throwaway in 1970, and this is a decent version. Which mix is better this time? Too close to call. This isn’t one I can play a dozen times in a row to figure out.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” (previously unreleased)

  • A beautiful performance, possibly his best live version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” though due more to the orchestra this time around than Elvis. Considering that they blow it on some other songs during the That’s The Way It Is concerts, I have to give the horns some credit on this performance. They really carry this one and help to make it so powerful. This track was a nice surprise.

“Suspicious Minds” (previously unreleased)

  • I always look forward to hearing new live versions of “Suspicious Minds.” This is a decent version, but not particularly memorable. As with the other That’s The Way It Is concert versions of this song, the trumpets sound awful at times, blowing out on many of the high notes. After hearing their superb work on “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” though, I guess I can forgive them. Tutt gives the drums a real workout at the end.

“Can’t Help Falling In Love” (previously unreleased)

  • Elvis sounds tired again after “Suspicious Minds,” but puts some effort into his “Can’t Help Falling In Love” closer. A fantastic show comes to an end.

* * *

I’m not going to say much about the cover and other album artwork, except to point out that cover art has never been FTD’s selling point. They can get away with it because the Elvis content within their releases pretty much sells itself. I’m also not going to bother complaining about the lack of a booklet or liner notes. I’m just glad to finally have this concert.

The Final Verdict

I was only two when Elvis passed away, so I never had the chance to see him live in concert. Experiencing relatively complete shows like this one, when Elvis was in top form, means a lot to me. This is FTD’s best concert release to date, and I’ll be enjoying this show for years to come.

Songs: 10 (out of 10)

Audio & Mix Quality: 9

Liner Notes: N/A

Cover Art: 5

Packaging: 5

Overall Experience: 10

MGM videos re-released [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 22 when I wrote this article back in 1997 for The Elvis Beat #16, which turned out to be the final issue of my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

MGM is re-releasing 18 Elvis videos on July 8 in “The Elvis Commemorative Collection.” All of the videos are digitally remastered and include their original theatrical preview trailers. Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas, Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, Elvis On Tour, and Elvis: The Lost Performances are among the titles.

Unfortunately, despite the effort to digitally remaster the films, the videos will only be available in the standard “pan & scan” format rather than widescreen/letterbox. Over one-third of the theatrical picture is lost when movies are adapted for viewing on television sets unless the widescreen format is used.

Review of ELVIS: WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES – THE ESSENTIAL 70s MASTERS [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 20 when I wrote this review back in 1995 for The Elvis Beat #13, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Compiling a 5-CD 1970s boxed set apparently presented quite a challenge to RCA. Elvis released over 200 songs in the 1970s, including many live concert recordings.

Let’s take a step back. The predecessor set, the 5-CD ELVIS: From Nashville To Memphis – The Essential 60s Masters I, compiled all of his secular, non-soundtrack studio masters from that decade. His gospel music, movie tunes, television special, and live recordings were saved for future projects. This approach even allowed room for 19 previously unreleased tracks. A 2-CD “best of 1960s movie tunes” set, ELVIS: Command Performances – The Essential 60s Masters II, came out earlier this year.

Could an approach like this have worked for The Essential 70s Masters? The set could probably have compiled all of his secular studio masters from the 1970s onto 5 CDs. The gospel masters, after all, have already been released on last year’s 2-CD Elvis Presley: Peace In The Valley – His Greatest Sacred Performances. The live masters, already released as individual albums as part of the “Elvis In The 90s” series, could have been saved for future projects, such as a Command Performances-style 2-CD “best of 1970s live” sequel to The Essential 70s Masters – which, tellingly does not include a volume “I” indicator in its subtitle as the 1960s set did.

The problem? There would have been little to no room for previously unreleased tracks on such a set. What incentive would Elvis fans who were keeping up with the individual album re-releases of the “Elvis In The 90s” set have to buy such a boxed set? The liner notes and page of album cover stamps?

Since it appears RCA was committed to the 5-CD format, and we know Elvis fans wanted previously unreleased material, RCA decided to risk the wrath of the fans and do a 5-CD “best of 1970s” set.

The first two CDs of ELVIS: Walk A Mile In My Shoes – The Essential 70s Masters compile the A and B sides of his secular singles from the period. Elvis’ singles often had high-quality songs on both sides. In fact, it is nearly impossible to determine which song is the “A” or “B” side on many Elvis records without a reference.

Disc one opens with the moving “The Wonder Of You.” Not necessarily a perfect set-opener, though. “I’ve Lost You” is next, a rousing studio performance of one of his best songs. In fact, there is rarely any let up in the power of the first two CDs. Some of these singles are released on CD for the first time.

Elvis always resisted being labeled as a certain type of singer, and these singles demonstrate why. Elvis was not a rock singer. Elvis was not a country singer. Nor was he a pop or a gospel singer. Elvis was a singer. He simply sang everything that interested him. From rockers like “Burning Love” to country classics like “I Really Don’t Want To Know,” discs one and two seem to have it all. [. . . .]

For the most part, RCA’s selection of songs for the studio highlights of discs three and four was sound. Certainly no fan is going to agree with every song that was chosen, and every fan is going to think of a few they would have included instead. For me, the biggest omission is “Early Morning Rain.” As another example, I would have chosen “And I Love You So” from the Elvis Today album instead of “Susan When She Tried.”

Among the many standouts of discs three and four are “Just Pretend” and “Tomorrow Never Comes.” I should note that all of the songs from the excellent Elvis Country album are represented in this set, and without the “I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago” interludes.

On disc five, RCA provides an overview of some of Elvis’ concert recordings and rehearsals. Of special note is the brief poem “Men With Broken Hearts,” first seen in the fantastic 1992 video Elvis: The Lost Performances, and a short rendition of his 1950s classic “I Was The One,” both released by RCA for the first time in this set. However, I still think the set should have focused on studio recordings.

There are seven “new” songs included in this set that have not been released by Elvis before in any form. Although it should be noted that all of them are rehearsals or brief jams, many are nonetheless fun to hear. A couple, however, might leave you wondering what RCA was thinking.

The studio version of “My Way” is, by far, the best of the 26 previously unreleased tracks.

The Elvis portions of this set more than deliver, and then some. However, less care and attention seems to have been paid by RCA to this set than the previous ones. For instance, if you stack them side-by-side, the cover art for The Essential 70s Masters is lacking compared to the 1960s and, especially, 1950s volumes.

Why was this fuzzy, uninspired live shot chosen for The Essential 70s Masters set when there are tons of incredible photos of Elvis from that period that could have been used instead? Reportedly, one of the reasons this set was delayed was because the cover shot had to be retouched at the last minute. It should have been replaced.

Even the main title of the set, Walk A Mile In My Shoes, is an uninspired choice, but the 1960s set suffered from the same lack of creativity. The near-pointless “Heart & Soul” CD from February actually offered up a title that better sums up the 1970s than “Walk A Mile In My Shoes.” A set called ELVIS: Heart & Soul – The Essential 70s Masters would have been the better way to go.

But, hey, the public voted for the 1950s Elvis stamp, so who cares about the 1970s, right?

My criticisms aside, if you can only buy one Elvis boxed set, make it The Essential 70s Masters.

RCA’s song selection: 7 out of 10
RCA’s art: 3 out of 10
Liner notes: 9 out of 10
Elvis’ music: 11 out of 10

ELVIS: Walk A Mile In My Shoes – The Essential 70s Masters

DISC 1
THE SINGLES
1. THE WONDER OF YOU
2. I’VE LOST YOU
3. THE NEXT STEP IS LOVE
4. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME
5. PATCH IT UP
6. I REALLY DON’T WANT TO KNOW
7. THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING
8. RAGS TO RICHES
9. WHERE DID THEY GO, LORD
10. LIFE
11. I’M LEAVIN’
12. HEART OF ROME
13. IT’S ONLY LOVE
14. THE SOUND OF YOUR CRY
15. I JUST CAN’T HELP BELIEVIN’
16. HOW THE WEB WAS WOVEN
17. UNTIL IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO GO
18. WE CAN MAKE THE MORNING
19. AN AMERICAN TRILOGY
20. THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
21. BURNING LOVE
22. IT’S A MATTER OF TIME
23. SEPARATE WAYS

DISC 2
THE SINGLES
1. ALWAYS ON MY MIND
2. FOOL
3. STEAMROLLER BLUES
4. RAISED ON ROCK
5. FOR OL’ TIMES SAKE
6. I’VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY
7. TAKE GOOD CARE OF HER
8. IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP
9. PROMISED LAND
10. IT’S MIDNIGHT
11. MY BOY
12. LOVING ARMS
13. T-R-O-U-B-L-E
14. MR. SONGMAN
15. BRINGING IT BACK
16. PIECES OF MY LIFE
17. GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME
18. THINKING ABOUT YOU
19. HURT
20. FOR THE HEART
21. MOODY BLUE
22. SHE THINKS I STILL CARE
23. WAY DOWN
24. PLEDGING MY LOVE

DISC 3
STUDIO HIGHLIGHTS 1970-71
1. TWENTY DAYS AND TWENTY NIGHTS
2. I WAS BORN ABOUT TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO
3. THE FOOL
4. A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW* (Informal)
5. LITTLE CABIN ON THE HILL
6. CINDY, CINDY
7. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
8. GOT MY MOJO WORKING/KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF IT
9. IT’S YOUR BABY, YOU ROCK IT
10. STRANGER IN THE CROWD
11. MARY IN THE MORNING
12. IT AIN’T NO BIG THING (BUT IT’S GROWING)
13. JUST PRETEND
14. FADED LOVE* (Original Unedited Version)
15. TOMORROW NEVER COMES* (Includes False Start)
16. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY
17. FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY
18. I WASHED MY HANDS IN MUDDY WATER* (Long Version)
19. SNOWBIRD
20. WHOLE LOT-TA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON
21. AMAZING GRACE* (Alternate Take 2)
22. (THAT’S WHAT YOU GET) FOR LOVIN’ ME
23. LADY MADONNA* (Informal)

DISC 4
STUDIO HIGHLIGHTS 1971-76
1. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY
2. I SHALL BE RELEASED* (Informal Recording)
3. DON’T THINK TWICE, IT’S ALL RIGHT* (Jam)
4. IT’S STILL HERE (Unedited Version)
5. I’LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN KATHLEEN (Undubbed Version)
6. I WILL BE TRUE
7. MY WAY* (Master)
8. FOR THE GOOD TIMES* (Master)
9. JUST A LITTLE BIT
10. IT’S DIFF’RENT NOW* (Rehearsal)
11. ARE YOU SINCERE
12. I GOT A FEELIN’ IN MY BODY
13. YOU ASKED ME TO
14. GOOD TIME CHARLIE’S GOT THE BLUES
15. TALK ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES
16. TIGER MAN* (Jam)
17. I CAN HELP
18. SUSAN WHEN SHE TRIED
19. SHAKE A HAND
20. SHE THINKS I STILL CARE* (Alternate Take 2B)
21. DANNY BOY
22. LOVE COMING DOWN
23. HE’LL HAVE TO GO

DISC 5
THE ELVIS PRESLEY SHOW
1. SEE SEE RIDER
2. MEN WITH BROKEN HEARTS* (Short Poem)
3. WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES
4. POLK SALAD ANNIE
5. LET IT BE ME (Je T’ Appartiens)
6. PROUD MARY
7. SOMETHING* (MASTER)
8. YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’
9. HEARTBREAK HOTEL*
10. I WAS THE ONE*
11. ONE NIGHT*
12. NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN* (Master)
13. YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN* (Master)
14. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
15. A BIG HUNK O’ LOVE* (Master)
16. IT’S OVER* (Master)
17. THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM (The Quest)
18. RECONSIDER BABY
19. I’LL REMEMBER YOU
20. I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY
21. SUSPICIOUS MINDS (Caught In A Trap)
22. UNCHAINED MELODY
23. THE TWELFTH OF NEVER* (Rehearsal)
24. SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU* (Rehearsal)
25. ALLA’ EN EL “RANCHO GRANDE”* (Informal)
26. FROGGY WENT A COURTIN’* (Informal)
27. STRANGER IN MY OWN HOME TOWN* (Jam)

*Previously Unreleased

Review: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this review back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #5, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

That’s The Way It Is (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis. Recorded June 1970, RCA Studios (Nashville) and August 1970, International Hotel (Las Vegas). Released: December 1970. Re-released: 1993 (CD).

That’s The Way It Is continued Elvis’ string of awesome studio work which had started at the Memphis sessions in January 1969. It is definitely one of the most outstanding albums of his career.

Over half of the twelve songs on the album were recorded in June 1970 at RCA’s Nashville studios, a recording session which eventually yielded the bulk of the songs on three albums.

The rest of the songs were taken from his Summer 1970 Las Vegas engagement, which was filmed for the documentary Elvis: That’s The Way It Is.

All twelve songs on the album are so great that favorites cannot even be chosen. Elvis does his own distinct versions of several previously recorded songs of other artists which far exceed the originals – “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” for example.

Fans of this album should also obtain the videos Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, which contains all of the songs in one form or another, and Elvis: The Lost Performances, which features excellent live versions of “Twenty Days And Twenty Nights” and “Just Pretend.”

Songs:

  1. “I Just Can’t Help Believin'”
  2. “Twenty Days And Twenty Nights”
  3. “How The Web Was Woven”
  4. “Patch It Up”
  5. “Mary In The Morning”
  6. “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”
  7. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'”
  8. “I’ve Lost You”
  9. “Just Pretend”
  10. “Stranger In The Crowd”
  11. “The Next Step Is Love”
  12. “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review – ELVIS: THE LOST PERFORMANCES [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this review back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #2, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis: The Lost Performances (Turner Home Entertainment), starring Elvis Presley, directed by Patrick Michael Murphy, released June 24, 1992.

“There was a guy who said one time . . . he said, ‘You never stood in that man’s shoes or saw things through his eyes. Or stood and watched with helpless hands while the heart inside you dies. So help your brother along the way, no matter where he starts. For the same God that made you made him, too – these men with broken hearts.’ I’d like to sing a slong along the same line,” Elvis finishes his beautiful speech and the band breaks into “Walk A Mile In My Shoes.”

Elvis: The Lost Performances is by far the best Elvis video ever. Hours of unseen footage from Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis On Tour (1972) were rescued from an MGM vault in Kansas, an abandoned salt mine. From this footage, one hour was chosen for The Lost Performances.

Part one gives the viewer a front-row seat at Elvis’ August 1970 engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. These are the most spectacular parts of this video, allowing fans to relive the excitement, or perhaps experience it for the first time. This is Elvis at his best.

The next segment gives a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of Elvis in rehearsal for the aforementioned concerts. These clips demonstrate Elvis’ magnificent personality and sense of humor. Also of interest, Elvis sings several 1950s songs which have never been released in 1970s versions.

Finally, the clock turns to 1972 and Elvis is spotlighted on tour in Hampton, Virginia, and Greensboro, North Caroline. The highlights of this part are Elvis singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “How Great Thou Art.”

A lot of effort was made to produce this video, and it shows. Turner Entertainment Company and Elvis Presley Enterprises are to be commended for their dedication to releasing “pure” Elvis on this video; the songs have not been cut and there is no annoying narration. It’s just Elvis, and that’s all his fans ever wanted.

This video really shows “the great performances” and no fan should be without it.

Songs:

  1. “Introduction/Walk A Mile In My Shoes”
  2. “The Wonder Of You”
  3. “Don’t Cry Daddy/In The Ghetto”
  4. “There Goes My Everything”
  5. “Make The World Go Away”
  6. “Just Pretend”
  7. “Heartbreak Hotel”
  8. “Twenty Days And Twenty Nights”
  9. “Love Me”
  10. “Hound Dog”
  11. “Don’t Be Cruel”
  12. “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water”
  13. “I Was The One”
  14. “The Cattle Call”
  15. “Baby, Let’s Play House”
  16. “Don’t”
  17. “Money Honey”
  18. “All Shook Up”
  19. “Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel”
  20. “Are You Lonesome Tonight”
  21. “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
  22. “How Great Thou Art”
  23. “Release Me”
  24. “I Can’t Stop Loving You”

Rating: 10 out of 10