Elvis Aron Presley

[Sonny]

Short introduction: back in the early eighties this was the first boxset release (8 LP albums) released by RCA, which contained a very large amount of previously unreleased material. The most interesting things on this boxset obviously were the laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight", the Hawaii 1961 benefit show and the "complete" 1975 live concert.
I still feel that this boxset was one of the better releases.

Disc 1 - tracklist:

01. Heartbreak Hotel
02. Long Tall Sally
03. Blue Suede Shoes
04. Money Honey

05. Monologue

06. Introduction
07. Heartbreak Hotel
08. All Shook Up
09. A Fool Such As I
10. I Got A Woman
11. Love Me
12. Introductions
13. Such A Night
14. Reconsider Baby
15. I Need Your Love Tonight
16. That's Allright
17. Don't Be Cruel
18. One Night
19. Are You Lonesome Tonight
20. It's Now Or Never
21. Swing Down Sweet Chariot
22. Hound Dog

Disc 2 - tracklist:

01. They Remind Me Too Much Of You (take 1)
02. Tonight's Allright For Love (takes 3,4,7,8)
03. Follow That Dream (take 2)
04. Wild In The Country (take 16)
05. Datin' (takes 6-8,11-12)
06. Shoppin' Around (takes 3,5)
07. Can't Help Falling In Love (take 24)
08. A Dog's Life (takes 4-6)
09. I'm Falling In Love Tonight (takes 1-4)
10. Thanks To The Rolling Sea (take 10)

11. Jailhouse Rock (Burbank, June 29, 1968)
12. Suspicious Minds (Honolulu, January 14, 1973)
13. Lawdy Miss Clawdy/Baby What You Want Me To Do (Burbank, June 1968)
14. Blue Christmas (Burbank, June 27, 1968)
15. You Gave Me A Mountain (Honolulu, January 14, 1973)
16. Welcome To My World (Honolulu, January 14, 1973)
17. Trying To Get To You (Rapid City, June 21, 1977)
18. I'll Remember You (Honolulu, January 14, 1973)
19. My Way (Rapid City, June 21, 1977)

Disc 3 - tracklist:

01. Polk Salad Annie (Las Vegas, August 13, 1970)
02. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (stage rehearsal, August 7, 1970)
03. Sweet Caroline (stage rehearsal, August 7, 1970)
04. Kentucky Rain (Las Vegas, February 16, 1970)
05. Are You Lonesome Tonight (Las Vegas, August 26, 1969ms)
06. My Babe (Las Vegas, August 26, 1969ds)
07. In The Ghetto (Las Vegas, August 24, 1969)
08. An American Trilogy (Las Vegas, February 25, 1972)
09. Little Sister/Get Back (Las Vegas, August 13, 1970)
10. Yesterday (Las Vegas, August 24, 1969)

11. I'm Leavin'
12. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
13. Hi-Heel Sneakers (single version)
14. Softly As I Leave You (Las Vegas, December 13, 1975)
15. Unchained Melody (Rapid City, June 21, 1977)
16. Fool
17. Rags To Riches
18. It's Only Love
19. America The Beautiful (Las Vegas, December 13, 1975)
20. It's Still Here (unedited version)
21. I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
22. Beyond The Reef
23. I Will Be True

Disc 4 - tracklist:

01. Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. See See Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Love Me
05. If You Love Me Let Me Know
06. Love Me Tender
07. All Shook Up
08. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
09. Hound Dog
10. The Wonder Of You
11. Burning Love
12. Introductions
13. Johnny B Goode
14. Introductions / School Days
15. T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
16. Why Me Lord
17. How Great Thou Art
18. Let Me Be There
19. An American Trilogy
20. Funny How Time Slips Away
21. Little Darlin'
22. Mystery Train / Tiger Man
23. Can't Help Falling In Love
24. Closing Vamp

Recorded - disc 1, tracks 01-04 : Las Vegas, April 24-May 6, 1956
Recorded - disc 1, tracks 06-22 : Honolulu, March 25, 1961

Original album release: 1981
CD release: 1998
Essential: yes

Score:
Contents: 9
Sound: 8
Artwork: 8

More information: (I will add more recording info soon)

[elvisdownunder]

Another must have. The content is absolutely A1+. Disc one you have Elvis at 21, just starting out, in his failure engagement in Las Vegas. But he is obviously playing his heart out, some stellar performances that set America on fire. He also shows some humour too
Then you have possibly the most in depth interview Elvis ever gave. I mean it, he bares his soul on tape, talking about the death of his mother, his desire to be a serious actor, and the effects of fame. It is extrememly sincere and touching, the real Elvis is revealed here
Then the last concert Elvis gave for 7 years, the Hawaiian Pearl Harbour benefit concert. The fans go beserk!! The sound on this is not extremely pleasureable, Elvis's vocals are sometimes distorted, the audience drowns him out, or the sound just fades in and out at different times, but for historical significance it is a must! Elvis is on fire in this concert, giving an almost one hour show that shown he still was the King, and that his army time had only strengthened the fan's reception

Then disc 2, a mix of unreleased soundtrack outtakes and various concert performance that are available in other compilations. The first track is beautiful, Elvis's first take of 'They remind me too much of you', possibly his most saddest and most beautiful sound track performance. It all ready sounds close to the master, and Elvis knows he's done a good job as he says 'I'd like to hear it and see what we got'.
Forward to track 5 if you want a laugh. Elvis is recording one of his most ridiculous soundtrack songs. Elvis goes through about 3 takes just laughing as he keeps up stuffing lyrics or just not keeping himself together for 'Datin''. It will make you laugh too, his laughter is infectious. There is further laughter in 'A dog's life', but i feel sorry for what he had to go through doing this mediocre soundtrack sh*t
But then fast forward to the concert performances, with Elvis taking vengeance in 'Jailhouse rock' for the infamous 68 comeback special.
But for special mention, listen to Elvis's 1977 version of 'Trying to get to you'. Being filmed for CBS televison, Elvis must've felt under pressure to deliver something good. The video performance never made it to the special, which is a total wonder, because Elvis SOARS in this song. Despite his health problems and how ill he looked, Elvis's voice is INCREDIBLE, spine chilling. Compare this version to the original version from 1955 at Sun records, and you'll hear how good Elvis really has become. The rest of the live tracks are great to listen to.

Disc 3 is a mix of alternate live performances and lost singles and rare studio perfomances. Polk Salad Annie sounds brilliant when you crank it up on 5.1, Elvis joking and doing army impersonations. The band is cooking hot, especially Ronnie Tutt on drums, which inspired Elvis to move wildly and holler having a good time. The next 2 tracks are rehearsals for the 3rd Las Vegas engagement in August 1970, 'You've lost that loving feeling' is great! Then we have a mix of Vegas engagements from 1969- 1970, and then 1972, all alternate take performances.
Are you lonesome tonight is the infamous 'laughing version', and if this does'nt make you even crack a smile, then nothing will. American trilogy is a very moving performance in great sound, and Little sister/Get back, with Elvis on electric guitar, really rocks along, you have to groove to the beat

Then we have some beautiful singles. 'I'm leaving', sadly, never got the attention it so well deserved, don't know why. Elvis does a beautiful, and very different performance. His cover of 'The first time ever i saw your face' is beautiful, and very much inspired. Great guitar work must be mentioned. 'High heel sneakers' really rocks, one of Elvis's most overlooked rock'nroll singles

And then, possibly the most outstanding track on the CD. Another performance from the 1977 CBS special, but was never recorded, and not shown till 1990. Although a little breathless, Elvis brings an indescribable touch to 'Unchained melody'. His voice borders on the opera like, and he sings with such depth that it could put a chill up your spine or bring a tear to your eye. Crank it up on 5.1, it is the ultimate experience of this song.

'Fool' is overdubbed with strings, which does'nt really help in my opinion, but the emotion can't be masked. 'Rags to riches' is a good performance, with the King on piano, his voice strong and all ready getting the opera strength that would match 'Unchained melody 7 years later. 'Its only love', i have always thought, was an under rated rocknroll love song for Elvis. It was never done live either! Maybe a little strained, but a great vocal performance for this song by our man

The piano songs from 1971 are real highlights. No takes were done of this song, it was just Elvis at the piano, pouring his heart out to the songs he sang. We capture him in a private moment, It's still here, runs for 4 minutes, and with each repeat of the bridge, he gets more and more in to the song. A stellar performance

Then on to the 1975 concert compilation on Disc 4. Elvis opens with energetic performances of 'See see rider', and 'I got a woman/Amen'. Of special note is the dialogue put together with these perfomances, which really puts you at ease, as Elvis laughs and teases the crowd. The whole Cd of the performances is great to listen to, 'How great thou art' especially, although only soundboard quality, a good addition to this boxset

Bottom line: This boxset, with all the comments i ahve made, is a total MUST HAVE. It has remained one of my fave collections since i got it. It is rare to find, but if you get the chance to find it, you would be a fool to miss it. Get it!!!!!!!(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)

[FlamingStar]

The problem is that i don't know where i can get it.

This looks like a great box set, but i've never get any chance to buy it. :hmm:

What a long review elvisdownunder (Haven't read all, but i'll do it soon, maybe around christmas times :lol: )

[Wendy56]

elvisdownunder, great review (agree with FlamingStar) Where can I get this box set?

[Suspicious Minds]

When I bought this boxset it cost me ?30, which was a lot of money back in the early 80's. A few years later it would have cost you ?60. I liked this set as it was the first time you heard the 1961 Pearl Harbour show in full. There were some rare recordings released for the first time on this set. I have the vinyl boxset and have not played it since the CD's come in place of vinyl.

[ThreeCornPatches]

When I bought this boxset it cost me ?30, which was a lot of money back in the early 80's. A few years later it would have cost you ?60. I liked this set as it was the first time you heard the 1961 Pearl Harbour show in full. There were some rare recordings released for the first time on this set. I have the vinyl boxset and have not played it since the CD's come in place of vinyl.

you bought it for 30 back in the days and funny thing is i bought the vinyl version for 30 last year! so i can notice i had a great price for the box set, except for some dust on the vinyl's they are in almost mint condition! i play it every few months (Almost for It's still here, and the awesome pearl harbor concert alone). The 2 re-releases that are coming i decided to take the one For God And Country why? because they give us same content on Vinyl and cd in 1 set. and the vinyl version was done in better quality then the cd,i rather take that one for 5 bucks more then the MRS one that just has the cd and not re-producted elvis photo with elvis handwriting on it and 2 copys of the tickets for the hawaiian concert, plus the vinyl and cd version of this concert.