Whats your limit ?

[veronik]

Okay, this is probably going to sound like a rant, but it's not, just my general opinion and not aimed at Nightrider or anybody in particular (on this board anyway ).

I'd say my limit is REAL LIFE. Things like bills, rent, food, gas, clothes, medication whatever.
My personal belief is that the depth of one's "being a fan" cannot and should not be measured by what one owns of/about one's object of affection i.e. one's "idol".

I've read some threads on "that other board" where some annoyingly obnoxious know it alls and "own it alls" terrorize anybody who "doesn't know what they know" or "doesn't own what they own" about Elvis.
To me that is just pathetic and terribly bigheaded. I'd say that only proves they know shockingly little about Elvis whose motto was "I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated".
Bullying people off a message board because they do not express or experience their fandom the way these "experts" feel everybody should , is something I have a very strong feeling would piss off Elvis royally
But, like I said, that's what I, as a lurker, have seen happen on that other MB which is one reason why I will never join it. I always hate the company of self important nobodys.

So, speaking solely for me: I love Elvis dearly, will try to expand my modest collection with things I find or suspect to be interesting (doesn't always work, some DVD's in particular are disappointing) but my Real Life always comes first and frankly I really don't need to have all that much. I have a (very) little of everything, except FTD's or soundboards whatever the hell those may be : DVD's, official CD's, books, tapes, calendars, commemorative plates... but really nothing compared to what I've read most other fans have. Would I like to have more? Sure. Do I need to have every single release be it DVD, print or Audio? No way
Does that make me any less of a fan? Absolutely not.
He's in my heart, I can visualize him if I need to and I just love him, warts and all

Well said.Same with me I also collect what I can.But is sad to say that a fan stop writing to me because I don't have enough.I am a fan.I love Elvis and that's what counts.The reason that I join this group is because we all love Elvis here.And sure I would love to buy things that I see at www.elvis.com.I love the t-shirts,the tour jacket,but my only income is my SSI and I just can't afford it But I was both sad and angry with the fan that told me that my collection is very poor.God I got posters on my walls,cd's,boxes,lp's,dolls,graceland,the planes,but PLEASE!! DO NOT THINK I LOVE ELVIS LESS BECAUSE I GOT LESS THAN YOU!!
Sorry guys,but I needed to vent.

[Albert]

Fortunately I don't care for Elvis merchandise and first/international pressings, so that saves me quite a few bucks. Currently I'm quite happy with the amount if FTD's being released. And with the new movie DVD's coming out, the "Elvis budget" is quite tight.

So besides the FTD/BMG CD's and the occasional bootleg, I like to buy an Elvis book once in a while. My latest buy is "Such Vicious Minds (a murder detective featuring Elvis)". I can really recommend that book (or any in that series) to any Elvis (or detective) fan

[Captain Elwood David]

Once upon a time, ......... I wanted it all ................ any and every Elvis release, boot or otherwise.

That all changed with the release of crappy and redundant material (in both cases) ...... and the unshakable feeling that I was being royally ripped-off in the process.

I quickly got fed up with most of the AR's (audience recordings), regretted buying after one listen, ................. and such rip-off releases almost soured me completely against boots. Thank goodness better quality releases gave me reason to keep the hope alive. Now, of course, with FTD's ...................... I'm in seventh heaven.

Now, with the web, .......... & other sources, one can evaluate before spending the money. I pick & choose accordingly only what interests me.

Soundboards or decent quality studio outtakes always capture my attention, as does truly unheard material of any kind. The audio, however, must be listenable; this is highly subjective to individuals. I derive no pleasure from having to strain to understand what EP is singing / saying ........... or constantly filter-out other noises to enjoy.

The vast majority of AR's, I've found, are both a waste of time & money. There are a few minority exceptions ............ for venues that are either extremely unique and / or historical. In such cases, I seek them out specifically for those reasons.

----------------------------

I don't necessarily agree with the notion or need that some have to have everything just for the sake of having or completion.

Buy whatever you want, no matter what it is, so long as you are going to actively USE / ENJOY / LISTEN / and truly derive pleasure from it. Otherwise, IMO, ........... you don't really need it and / or one's priorities in life might need a second or revised evaluation.

In other cases, some fans even make their collections into a business ................ further justifying the passions ..................... by selling / taking advantage of / ripping-off other fans / collectors ......... all for the sake of having it all or more.

There is a fine line between "collecting" and mental illness ............... and decadence is never far behind either. I see it all the time in The Elvis World.


- Capt. "EL."

[rickster]

at the start i was guilty of trying to grab a copy of every release that was available until i realised that i wasted some of my time on getting the poor quality audience recordings and i was missing out on studio outtakes/mixing desk recordings . suddenly a whole new world opened up when i realised that there was a lot of superb stuff going around. I won't collect/buy any recording(especially audience source) unless it is in a clear sound and your able to hear what goes on concerning the band and vocals. Take for example 'fight night' as we know this was the night when elvis was attacked on stage, eveyone seems to have this title, it sounds great to read about the events that happened that particular night, so when i discovered that there was a recording of that actual show naturally i went after it like a rat up a drainage pipe, imagine my horror when i got it home only to discover that you could not make out a single thing that happened throughout the entire concert inluding the fighting part, in fact the only giveaway that something is occuring is when you hear the females in the audience start to scream. fight night is the best example of quality i wont buy (I ended up throwing fight night in the bin .

ps. if anyone has good/decent quality recording of that show get in touch coz i'm still looking for one, cheers, rickster.

[Captain Elwood David]

Rickster -

For a minute there, when I first glanced at your post, .............. my initial reaction was -

HEY, I DIDN'T WRITE THIS ........... !!

(Like your avatar ............)

------------------------------------------

"Fight Night", "Pearl Harbor 1961", and a number of other unique concerts ("Neon Lights"), and "Send Me The Light, I Need It Bad" ................. are all some of the "exceptions" to AR's that I as referring to.

While I will agree that the sound on some is horrible, ................ it is also all we got. It is definitely better than .................. nothing.

They do allow a glimpse into how it really was that would otherwise forever be left to conjecture, MYTH, ................ and hype. It's always good to have some evidence as to how the FACTS truly were so that others can form their own opinions about the events, ........... rather than relying completely on others.

After giving some a listen myself, ............. like "Send Me The Light", .............. I come away with a very different opinion than what has generally been put forth by others discussing the topic (I don't think it was as bad as it has been made out to be).

In this regard, some of the more historical AR's help to keep in check & counter-balance the negative overblown MYTH.


- Capt. "EL."

[ComeBackChick]

My limit.... I will never buy an Elvis doll or statue or whatever other appliance with Elvis on it....

Only books, CD's and DVD's. And I am not into audience recordings. Not into jumpsuits. I am more in trying to understand the man, his life, his story.

From time to time I had to take a break from Elvis (just back from a very long break!), cause he can make me happy and his music is balm to the soul, but he also make me very sad sometimes....

[JerryNodak]

What's my limit? Well, first of all I'm not a collecter. I don't have "everything". No "Imports", audience recordings, promos, etc.
As far as the main label and/or FTD releases are concerned I buy them if the
track selection/theme interests me. I could care less about the cover/liner photo etc. I used to care about the liner notes but the print is so small nowadays(except for the FTD 7 inch releases) I can't read it. I'll buy a re-re-re-release of an album for the "improved" sound if it's a favorite album.
Otherwise, no. In short, it al comes down to the music. If the musical content is something I want I buy it. All other factors(except price) are
secondary.

[AKing]

Hi all,
Great thread, love to read all that you want or can't afford. My request was simple to Santa. I wanted a larger hard drive for my computer. Is this an Elvis gift I hear you cry?
Yup as nearly everything I save on my hard drive is either Elvis photo's or music...The bigger hard drive the better. Santa was very good to me this year....Trouble is I might have to spend a day installing it...lol
Thanks
A King

[Mr. Songman]

Years ago, I was one of "those" who collected all concerts regardless of the sound. I had over 600 of them. Then for a few years I put them away and didn't listen to any of them. This is when they were only available on cassette tape. Now days, it is a different story. I'm back at it but with a new outlook. I got rid of every cassette tape that I owned. I did not give them away, I did not sell them, I literally threw them in the garbage and started over. Now I only collect certain CD's. Such as....All FTD's, I have each and every sounboard that is available (the new one called El Goes El Paso is on the way) and good sounding audience recordings. By that I mean if Elvis is talking to the audience and I cannot clearly understand what he is saying...I don't want it. I now have about 200 audience recorded shows but the quality is good to excellent. My main interests are FTD, sounboard concerts, recording sessions and rehearsals, and top notch audience recorded shows. I guess I have somewhere around 400 CD's in all. Quality over quantity is what I prefer. Now you know.....the rest of the story.

[MISSCLAWDY]

I'd Like To Buy Everything!!!everything About Elvis!!! :d But My Limit Is My Budget And I Try Not To Buy The Same Thing Twice Or More....i Said I Try..!!!!!!!

[Albert]

Perhaps, when I have a room where I have my PC, my cd's and Elvis books, I'd like to buy one (or more) of those framed golden records/EP's that are on sale at Elvis.com. Those things look real classy and nostalgic.

Original movieposters is also something that I'd like to have

[P.S. Annie]

My main goal is the music. Love the FTD's, boxsets espacially the ones with outtakes. Like to have good sounding concerts. I buy a Dvd once in awhile. And love to read about the man. I make wishlists of books/dvds/cds, and I keep updating them, take stuff of but mostly put some new on.