nostalgia

Review: ELVIS ON VH-1 [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this review back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #3, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis on VH-1 (VH-1), starring Elvis Presley, directed by Ken Schreiber, aired September 1992.

This VH-1 Elvis special was surprisingly good. Produced for use as part of its Elvis festivities in September, during which he was “VH-1 Artist of the Month,” it featured many other musical stars commenting positively on Elvis, including Billy Joel, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Elton John, Tom Jones, The Beach Boys, Richard Marx, Dwight Yoakam, and Smokey Robinson.

Many Elvis friends or associates also appeared, including Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, The Jordanaires, George Klein, and Bob Weisman.

Clips from Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas, Elvis On Tour, and Elvis: The Lost Performances rounded out this entertaining 30 minute special.

Songs include:

  • “Jailhouse Rock”
  • “Baby, I Don’t Care”
  • “Viva Las Vegas”
  • “Love Me Tender”
  • “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
  • “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water”
  • “Burning Love”
  • “Just Pretend”
  • “Don’t Be Cruel”

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review: ELVIS TODAY CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this review back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #3, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis Today (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis. Executive Producer: Elvis Presley. Recorded March 10-13, 1975, RCA Studios (Hollywood). Released: May 1975. Re-released: 1992 (CD).

The country-flavored Elvis Today has a very sad tone which is probably a reflection of the impact Elvis’ personal life had on his selection of material to record. Two of the best songs on the album, “Pieces Of My Life,” and “Bringin’ It Back,” could be interpreted as messages aimed at Priscilla.

Despite the sad tones, or perhaps because of them, Elvis Today is an excellent album which stands as an example to disprove criticism that Elvis released no meaningful songs or albums after 1970.

This is one of several 1970s Elvis albums which unfortunately had been deleted from the RCA catalog. Thanks to the “Elvis In The 90’s” series, these albums are finally beginning to return, and Elvis Today is one of the first. Its superior sound quality stands a testament to RCA’s new commitment to Elvis releases.

Songs:

  1. “T-R-O-U-B-L-E”
  2. “And I Love You So”
  3. “Susan When She Tried”
  4. “Woman Without Love”
  5. “Shake A Hand”
  6. “Pieces Of My Life”
  7. “Fairytale”
  8. “I Can Help”
  9. “Bringin’ It Back”
  10. “Green, Green Grass Of Home”

Rating: 8 out of 10

New Elvis CDs released [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this item back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #3, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

The following new Elvis CDs have been spotted, in addition to the ones listed in our last issue, at local record stores as part of the “Elvis In The 90s” RCA series:

  • Elvis In Person
  • Back In Memphis
  • Love Letters From Elvis

Chris On Tour [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

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

On Tour With Elvis is a new book by Christopher Brown of Canada which gives a detailed look at one of Elvis’ 1975 concert tours.

The author stresses that On Tour With Elvis, which is not available in bookstores, is a very positive book that would be of special interest to fans of the 1970s Elvis.

This book is only available in limited quanties, so act fast and contact Christopher Brown at the following address for more information. […]

WHEN ELVIS DIED is back [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

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

When Elvis Died is returning to bookstores this month in an updated paperback form. This is one of only ten Elvis books recommended by Graceland. I read the original edition and found it to be an excellent book, dealing with the media coverage of Elvis’ death. The new edition will also include a complete listing of his films and network television appearances.

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

Review – ELVIS: THE GREAT PERFORMANCES (1992 CBS TV version) [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 Great Performances (CBS), hosted by Priscilla Presley, directed by Andrew Solt, aired April 24, 1992.

The TV version of Elvis: The Great Performances is not as good as the two volume video versions from 1990 for several reasons.

First of all, the original narration of Elvis’ friend George Klein has been replaced by the phony-sounding narration of Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley.

The other problem is that his version contains fewer songs due to the 30 minutes of boring commercials supplied by JC Penney.

The songs it does contain are “great performances,” but they are ruined by being edited and chopped up. However, this is a problem that exists on the videos, too, and all of Andrew Solt’s other Elvis productions. It should be a crime to cut Elvis songs. I would much rather see 10 complete performances instead of 25 bits and pieces.

My advice: See the original video versions of The Great Performances (Volume One: Center Stage and Volume Two: The Man And The Music), or, even better, see a real Elvis video like Elvis: That’s The Way It Is or Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii.

Songs include:

  • “Shake, Rattle, and Roll/Flip, Flop, and Fly”
  • “Heartbreak Hotel”
  • “Blue Suede Shoes”
  • “Hound Dog”
  • “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”
  • “Ready Teddy”
  • “Love Me Tender”
  • “Don’t Be Cruel”
  • “Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do”
  • “Teddy Bear”
  • “Jailhouse Rock”
  • “Trouble”
  • “Fame And Fortune”
  • “Return To Sender”
  • “All Shook Up”
  • “If I Can Dream”
  • “Suspicious Minds”
  • “Always On My Mind”
  • “An American Trilogy”
  • “Unchained Melody”
  • “Money Honey”

Rating: 6 out of 10