Close Up

[Sonny]

Short introduction: This 4-cd boxset takes us through four periods of Elvis' musical career. All tracks are previously unreleased and we get to hear stereo masters from the fifties, outtakes from his first 4 post Army pictures, nice alternate takes from the Studio B sessions in Nashville in the sixties and a complete live concert from 1972.

Disc 1 - tracklist:

01. Peace In The Valley (take 9, master)
02. I Beg Of You (take 11)
03. That's When Your Heartaches Begin (take 2)
04. It Is No Secret (take 13, master)
05. Blueberry Hill (take 9, master)
06. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (take 15, master)
07. Is It So Strange (take 12, master)
08. Loving You (take 5, fast version)
09. Loving You (take 15, fast version)
10. Jailhouse Rock (master)
11. Treat Me Nice (take 19, first movie version)
12. Young And Beautiful (takes 21,22, record master)
13. Young And Beautiful (take 3, solo master)
14. Young And Beautiful (take 7, nightclub master)
15. I Want To Be Free (take 12, movie version)
16. I Want To Be Free (take 11, record master)
17. Treat Me Nice (take 13, second movie version)
18. Don't Leave Me Now (first version, Elvis' piano version)
19. Don't Leave Me Now (second version, movie version)
20. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care (take 1)

Disc 2 - tracklist:

01. G.I. Blues (take 6)
02. Doin't The Best I Can (takes 10-12)
03. Wooden Heart (take 1)
04. Pocketful Of Rainbows (takes 15,16)
05. Shoppin' Around (takes 4,5)
06. Frankfort Special (takes 4,5)
07. Big Boots (take 1, fast version)
08. Tonight's Allright For Love (takes 14,15)
09. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (take 2)
10. Flaming Star (take 2)
11. Lonely Man (take 3, solo version)
12. In My Way (take 2)
13. Forget Me Never (take 1)
14. Wild In The Country (takes 1,14)
15. Lonely Man (take 1)
16. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell (takes 14-16)
17. Aloha Oe (take 1)
18. Hawaiian Sunset (take 3)
19. Ku-U-I-Po (takes 6,7)
20. No More (take 11)
21. Slicin' Sand (takes 6,7)
22. Steppin' Out Of Line (take 15)
23. Almost Always True (take 3)
24. Moonlight Swim (take 4, edited)
25. Can't Help Falling In Love (takes 14-16)

Disc 3 - tracklist:

01. Make Me Know It (take 1)
02. Soldier Boy (take 10)
03. It Feels So Right (take 1)
04. The Girl Of My Best Friend (take 9)
05. Surrender (takes 5,6)
06. Working On The Building (take 4)
07. Starting Today (take 1)
08. Kiss Me Quick (take 4)
09. That's Someone You Never Forget (take 7)
10. His Latest Flame (take 12)
11. I Met Her Today (take 16)
12. Night Rider (take 1)
13. Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello (take 4)
14. Echoes Of Love (take 8)
15. Ask Me (take 7)
16. Stand By Me (take 10)
17. Somebody Bigger Than You And I (take 15)
18. Without Him (take 8)
19. Mine (takes 8,9)
20. Singing Tree (take 4, first version)
21. U.S. Male (take 10)

Disc 4 - tracklist:

01. Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. See See Rider
03. Proud Mary
04. Never Been To Spain
05. You Gave Me A Mountain
06. Until It's Time For You To Go
07. Polk Salad Annie
08. Love Me
09. All Shook Up
10. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
11. Heartbreak Hotel
12. Hound Dog
13. How Great Thou Art
14. I Can't Stop Loving You
15. Love Me Tender
16. Suspicious Minds
17. Introductions
18. For The Good Times
19. Burning Love
20. An American Trilogy
21. Funny How Time Slips Away
22. Can't Help Falling In Love
23. Closing Vamp

Recorded - Disc 1: 1957
Recorded - Disc 2: 1960-1961
Recorded - Disc 3: 1960-1968
Recorded - Disc 4: San Antonio, April 18, 1972

CD released: 2003
Essential: yes

Score:
Contents: 8
Sound: 8
Artwork: 8

More information:

[elvisdownunder]

This is a must have boxset. The packaging is beautiful, with informative liner notes for a good read, and each of the 4 cd's have different colours. The booklet features rare photos, and the content of the cd's is brilliant. Of special mention is the complete concert in Texas April 18, 1972, filmed for EOT. Elvis puts on a real dynamite performance for this period, and the sound is great, save a few feedback problems. Overall, you must get this boxset, thats all i can say:D

[easyrider]

Fantastic boxset(y)(y)(y)(y)

[WHITETIGERMAN]

What more can I say....this is a must have.All the great outtakes and then the complete concert in Texas April 18, 1972, filmed for EOT. Which is hot and rockin'.
100% fantastic and then some.

[Wonder Of You]

i love this cd
love to hear him in the studios and the sound on the texas concert is fenomenal!! 1 by 1 I LOVE THIS Box!

[thunderball1963]

wonderfull made cd box with great outakes (y)(y)(y)