When Elvis Presley's late-1960s comeback is discussed, talk generally centers on two events--his 1968 NBC-TV special and the recordings made in Memphis at American Studios shortly thereafter. There was actually a third key event--Presley's first Las Vegas engagement in 13 years (he flopped the first time), which kicked off at the brand-new International Hotel on July 31, 1969. The event is downplayed now since Vegas has become so synonymous with the King's decline--but this was a revitalized Presley, and, for the most part, he rocked. The white jumpsuits and "My Way" would come later; for this show, Presley wore a black karate suit and was backed by one of the hottest rockabilly bands on earth, with the legendary James Burton on lead guitar. Presley does early hits, Sun stuff, a Willie Dixon blues tune, and his latest singles ("In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds"). The furthest he steps outside his oeuvre is a cover of the Bee Gees' "Words." If only he'd continued in this vein. As it is, this stands with Onstage, February 1970 as his finest live recording. --Bill Holdship
Another European fan-club-only release to grace(land) your Elvis collection! This one's a sequel to RCA's 'The Home Recordings' and features 1959 performances from Germany as well as recordings made in The King's Hollywood homes during 1960 and 1966. Quality's a little rough, but hey-this stuff is totally unreleased! Includes 'Apron Strings; I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen; It's a Sin to Tell a Lie; He; 500 Miles; She Wears My Ring' and more. These titles are available in limited quantities.
Awesome interviews. Elvis didn't really give to many interviews during his career. Most were done while he was in the army. It's neat to hear an early 1955 interview, which may be the first interview we have available to listen to, where he is called the bopping hillbilly.
Japanese reissue of 1958 release. Featuring 24 bit 96 khz Spectrum remastering. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve limited to the first pressing. 2001 release.
This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, remastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship
Budget-priced, import-only three disc box stuffed with 50 of the greatest by The King, including 'Can't Help Falling In Love', 'It's Now Or Never', 'Suspicious Minds', 'Viva Las Vegas', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?', 'Blue Hawaii', 'Crying In The Chapel', 'You'll Never Walk Alone', 'All Shook Up', 'Kentucky Rain', 'Don't Be Cruel' and dozens more! Comes packaged as three separate standard jewel cases housed within a full color slipcase box.
This Packages the Music from his Final Four Screen Outings of the '60s, Including a Few Previously Unreleased Selections from the Trouble with Girls. Contains the Soundtrack from Change of Habit.
When Elvis Presley played Las Vegas between 1969 and '76, many rock & rollers screamed sellout. Today, every rock act plays Vegas. When Elvis came to town, it was the event. RCA--still uncovering unreleased stuff decades after the King's death--celebrates his Vegas legacy with two complete, previously unreleased shows from '69 and '70; a CD of previously released material from '70 (much of it taken from the classic Elvis Onstage, February 1970 album); and a fourth CD of mostly rarities from '74 and '75. The latter also includes a show from his disastrous '56 Vegas debut. Elvis began moving in a more mainstream direction in Vegas, and some may complain that the two unreleased shows are very similar to several other released shows from the same period. But, at least early on, the boy could still rock when he wanted and break hearts with a ballad. And the "new" 1970 show includes what may be the best live version of "Suspicious Minds" available. Besides, planeloads of fans from Japan and Europe flew to Nevada just to see as many of these shows as they could in a week--two a night for $15, which included dinner or two drinks! Redundancy was never an issue. --Bill Holdship
Three CD set for a low price compiles narration by Frank Page, Interviews and songs by the King from the radio show that was recorded between 1954 and 1956 at the start of his career. 1998.
Mid-priced compilation with 20 of The King's greatest romantic numbers, including 'It's Now Or Never', 'Love Me Tender', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and 'He'll Have To Go'. 1999 release.
Many Elvis fans will insist that recording smoochy ballads were the first step on his road away from gritty rock & roll and into mainstream show-biz. But the fact is that the King was a formidable romantic crooner who, given the right material, effortlessly stamped his sexually-charged charisma into love songs. This collection presents 18 classics spotlighting the King's romantic side, including "Love Me Tender," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "It's Now or Never," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Suspicious Minds," "Good Luck Charm," "Unchained Melody," "The Wonder of You," "Surrender," "Such a Night," "Kentucky Rain," and "Separate Ways." It doesn't rock much, but it's still prime Presley. --Scott Schinder
Japanese reissue of 1957 release. Featuring 24 bit 96 khz Spectrum remastering. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve limited to the first pressing. 2001 release.
When Elvis Presley's late-1960s comeback is discussed, talk generally centers on two events--his 1968 NBC-TV special and the recordings made in Memphis at American Studios shortly thereafter. There was actually a third key event--Presley's first Las Vegas engagement in 13 years (he flopped the first time), which kicked off at the brand-new International Hotel on July 31, 1969. The event is downplayed now since Vegas has become so synonymous with the King's decline--but this was a revitalized Presley, and, for the most part, he rocked. The white jumpsuits and "My Way" would come later; for this show, Presley wore a black karate suit and was backed by one of the hottest rockabilly bands on earth, with the legendary James Burton on lead guitar. Presley does early hits, Sun stuff, a Willie Dixon blues tune, and his latest singles ("In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds"). The furthest he steps outside his oeuvre is a cover of the Bee Gees' "Words." If only he'd continued in this vein. As it is, this stands with Onstage, February 1970 as his finest live recording. --Bill Holdship
Another European fan-club-only release to grace(land) your Elvis collection! This one's a sequel to RCA's 'The Home Recordings' and features 1959 performances from Germany as well as recordings made in The King's Hollywood homes during 1960 and 1966. Quality's a little rough, but hey-this stuff is totally unreleased! Includes 'Apron Strings; I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen; It's a Sin to Tell a Lie; He; 500 Miles; She Wears My Ring' and more. These titles are available in limited quantities.
Awesome interviews. Elvis didn't really give to many interviews during his career. Most were done while he was in the army. It's neat to hear an early 1955 interview, which may be the first interview we have available to listen to, where he is called the bopping hillbilly.
Two classic movies with Elvis singing his heart out.
Japanese reissue of 1958 release. Featuring 24 bit 96 khz Spectrum remastering. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve limited to the first pressing. 2001 release.
This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, remastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship
Budget-priced, import-only three disc box stuffed with 50 of the greatest by The King, including 'Can't Help Falling In Love', 'It's Now Or Never', 'Suspicious Minds', 'Viva Las Vegas', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?', 'Blue Hawaii', 'Crying In The Chapel', 'You'll Never Walk Alone', 'All Shook Up', 'Kentucky Rain', 'Don't Be Cruel' and dozens more! Comes packaged as three separate standard jewel cases housed within a full color slipcase box.
This Packages the Music from his Final Four Screen Outings of the '60s, Including a Few Previously Unreleased Selections from the Trouble with Girls. Contains the Soundtrack from Change of Habit.
When Elvis Presley played Las Vegas between 1969 and '76, many rock & rollers screamed sellout. Today, every rock act plays Vegas. When Elvis came to town, it was the event. RCA--still uncovering unreleased stuff decades after the King's death--celebrates his Vegas legacy with two complete, previously unreleased shows from '69 and '70; a CD of previously released material from '70 (much of it taken from the classic Elvis Onstage, February 1970 album); and a fourth CD of mostly rarities from '74 and '75. The latter also includes a show from his disastrous '56 Vegas debut. Elvis began moving in a more mainstream direction in Vegas, and some may complain that the two unreleased shows are very similar to several other released shows from the same period. But, at least early on, the boy could still rock when he wanted and break hearts with a ballad. And the "new" 1970 show includes what may be the best live version of "Suspicious Minds" available. Besides, planeloads of fans from Japan and Europe flew to Nevada just to see as many of these shows as they could in a week--two a night for $15, which included dinner or two drinks! Redundancy was never an issue. --Bill Holdship
Three CD set for a low price compiles narration by Frank Page, Interviews and songs by the King from the radio show that was recorded between 1954 and 1956 at the start of his career. 1998.
20 Bit Remastered Reissue.
Mid-priced compilation with 20 of The King's greatest romantic numbers, including 'It's Now Or Never', 'Love Me Tender', 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and 'He'll Have To Go'. 1999 release.
Many Elvis fans will insist that recording smoochy ballads were the first step on his road away from gritty rock & roll and into mainstream show-biz. But the fact is that the King was a formidable romantic crooner who, given the right material, effortlessly stamped his sexually-charged charisma into love songs. This collection presents 18 classics spotlighting the King's romantic side, including "Love Me Tender," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "It's Now or Never," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Suspicious Minds," "Good Luck Charm," "Unchained Melody," "The Wonder of You," "Surrender," "Such a Night," "Kentucky Rain," and "Separate Ways." It doesn't rock much, but it's still prime Presley. --Scott Schinder
2lps on One CD --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Japanese reissue of 1957 release. Featuring 24 bit 96 khz Spectrum remastering. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve limited to the first pressing. 2001 release.
