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That’s The Way It Is Special Edition

By ElvisNews.com/ Lex, August 27, 2014 | Music

Sony Legacy released two versions of TTWII. A 2CD set and an 8 CD/2 DVD box-set. I went for the full monty.

The package is beautiful. The CDs and DVDs are fit in carton sleeves that covers them for almost half. So unless you put them upside down in the box, they are firmly attached this time.

The book contains all necessary information, an interview with Denis Sanders and an interesting essay by Warren Zanes on the project. This is all printed on high quality paper in high quality print. It benefits the many pictures, most of them in black and white, but a fair amount is full colour. Next to the shots of our man there is space for memorabilia and record sleeves too.

Of course to the hard-core fans the CDs bring nothing new. The 2 (officially) unreleased shows have the top notch quality that you expect from a product with the autograph of Vic Anesini on it.

The 2 DVDs contain the 2001 remake and the 2007 DVD of the original movie. So the second has some bonus tracks that should have ended up on the 2001 one (You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, Farther Along, Oh Happy Day , Stranger in the Crowd to name a few). Unfortunately in the same shitty quality, so hopefully the Blu-ray has them in better quality (still waiting for that one).

Conclusion

Except for maybe the 2 “unreleased” shows this release is not really necessary, or as some said, 15 years too late. Still I felt like a kid in a candy store when I got it. 

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benny scott wrote on August 27, 2014
Unfortunately no better quality on the Blu-ray, according to another Elvis site. They they viewed the bonus material and express their disappointment. Always El.
schemies wrote on August 27, 2014
Hi there, I own the blu-ray, and was also disappointed about the quality of the bonus material, which has the same quality as on DVD (and cannot be seen all at once ("play all") like on DVD). I have not checked the main movie in comparison to the DVD, but on first sight the improvement (sharpness etc.) cannot be too much, but I think the DVD is already great with the 2001 version. For the box set, I am happy I own all concerts with the same mix now, especially since I feel this new mix is much better than (for example) the mix we had before on the Special Edition Set from 2000 (August 12,MS), with James Burton's guitar on the right, piano on the left side. And now the intro of Polk Salad is correct, you get a few seconds (talking) more here and there, for all concerts the complete introduction of the band, but no new music, of course. I also enjoyed the overall packaging and the great book, the pictures are fantastic to me, even not all new, of course - again.
DekeR wrote on August 27, 2014
I bought the 2 cd set version and am happy with that.i will eventually get it but had to preorder the new ftd's.
You Dont Know Me wrote on August 28, 2014
I really enjoyed all the 6 concerts now with band intros and an even sound to them Crazy thing is i only paid A$124 for the set...now price has jumped UP $20 why? Thinking about buying my Cousin this set for XMAS...but why pay more than i already did?
Lefty wrote on August 28, 2014
I love this compilation. For me, it is the ultimate Elvis Live set. Nothing out there tops it. I know that for most of us, there is a bittersweet aspect to consider. We already have all of this product in one form or another. But having it together as one massive set with incredible packaging and a book is amazing. The last time I was this impressed is when the Silver Box set came out on LP way back when.
Lou A wrote on August 28, 2014
I was originally unsure about this release. But I can report that it's a fantastic set. The mixes on the concerts are much better than what we've had before, and the packaging is beautiful. This was always a favorite Elvis period for me , and it's nice to have all of the material in one place in excellent quality. I'll be looking forward to further releases of this type.
You Dont Know Me wrote on August 28, 2014
Yes a COMPLETE 'ON TOUR' 1972 set is something i would buy... but would it ever happen i keep asking, the material is their!
claunath82 wrote on August 28, 2014
Very nice set with pretty colors for cd while keeping the original design RCA, but the bluray should be included here because of the price, so I bought the bluray (German) because the collector is only in area A! so I bought the 2CD version that is great with a very good sound and affordable.
EJF wrote on August 28, 2014
I've said it a thousand times on different posts but all Warner Bros. Region A Blu-ray releases are in fact Multi-Region and play perfectly well on European (Region B) Blu-ray players. There are other companies which also have multi-region Blu-ray releases, even though they say "Region A." If in doubt, there are sites that tell you which ones are good for the European market.
jimsayshello wrote on August 29, 2014
Disc 5, August 12 dinner show, track 16, Suspicious Minds… pump it up as loud as legal and listen to the the way he soars on "we can't go on together" after the first verse, replay several times… never heard him do it like that before - got my money's worth with that one note. It's all gravy after that! It's a beautifully packaged set.
benny scott wrote on August 29, 2014
Hi Jim, I know exactly what you mean !!! A few seconds can make the difference and I never regret the spent money even if it's for a couple of seconds of REAL MAGIC, giving me goosebumps . Take care. Always El.
marty wrote on August 31, 2014
I got my copy a few days ago and still haven't managed to listen to all the cd's! The packaging is better than what we normally get from official releases, I am very pleased to have it in my collection. I wish there was a similar package for 'On Tour' and 'Vegas '69'. Highly recommended.
wildfishie wrote on September 01, 2014
Suggestion for the new boxset: "Elvis In Person", a 10-disk complete collection containing: 08 03 69 - DS - The Return To Vegas (FTD, soundboard) 08 21 69 - MS - Viva Las Vegas (BMG, multi-track) 08 22 69 - DS - In Person (FTD, multi-track) 08 23 69 - MS - Elvis At The International (FTD, multi-track) 08 24 69 - DS - Live In Las Vegas (BMG, multi-track) 08 24 69 - MS - Here I Go Again / Drowned In Sound (bootleg, soundboard) 08 25 69 - DS - ??? (multi-track) 08 25 69 - MS - Hot August Night (FTD, multi-track) 08 26 69 - DS - Live In Las Vegas (FTD, multi-track) 08 26 69 - MS - All Shook Up (FTD, multi-track) All with the special Vic Anesini's magic work. Wouldn't it be awesome?
Tom McAllister wrote on September 03, 2014
Are the 6 previously released shows better quality than the previously released CD's? Do they actually sound any different?
jimsayshello wrote on September 03, 2014
Tom, I usually struggle to notice any difference but on this release I actually picked up a few things, particularly on "I just can't help believing" where the violins are much more prominent in the orchestral break before he says "for more than just a day". It's not much I know, and probably not worth the price of admission on its own but overall it's probably the best Elvis release I've ever seen. The legacy edition has the better of the unreleased concerts with the new Suspicious Minds I mentioned in an earlier post so that's a pretty good alternative… I was tossing up on whether I should buy the Legacy or the Deluxe, but then got a good price and cheap delivery from the UK (about $80 cheaper than if I had bought it in Australia) so went the whole box and dice. If you love this period, it's worth it. Give the ones you currently own to friends and spread the gospel!
Rob Wanders wrote on September 04, 2014
I love it. A wonderful product in a superb soundquality!
Andy_2 wrote on September 04, 2014
well as someone who had previously dismissed this release as just cashing in on what we already have I have to say I agree with the posts on here. It is one of the finest releases regarding packaging and sound and of course the contents are just superb. Fantastic release on every level.
Orion wrote on September 04, 2014
Lex - I hate to disagree with you, but I gotta. When you say this package comes "15 years too late" I'm not sure what you mean. 15 years too late for what ? Too late to top the charts ? 15 years too late for those who have passed away waiting for this to be released ? I'm not sure. I'm just grateful that Im still on this side of the daisies so that I can enjoy this one. I'm not even going to touch on the Blu-Ray vs. DVD debate. I bought this release for the music, and I must say that Vic Anesini did a masterful job on these shows. I'm not sure if it was his idea to mix Charlie out or if that came from higher up the ladder, but regardless these shows sound fabulous and each of the shows contain superb performances. As far as the mix on the rehearsals - I tend to look at it as a 'fly-on-the-wall' experience and that it shouldn't sound like a studio session. Alas, I'm satisfied with the sound as well as the entire package. Bravo to Ernst and his team.
Bob Finkel wrote on September 06, 2014
The Sound is very good and well balanced. Nice package compare to other Releases. One of the best box from sony so far. Get it and have fun like I do.
Boxcar wrote on September 08, 2014
They've edited out some parts of the shows like the 'mike-trouble' you see in the film where he sticks the mikes in his ears. It's not on the CD! There are in fact some more edits I've heard. Can somebody confirm that? Has somebody compared it yet? I'm a little suspicious after I found out that Ernst has heavily edited even the FTD "Pittsburgh" release.
lsp2231 wrote on September 09, 2014
Fantastic set! Worth every cent! On a different note, the Blu-Ray disc is a bit of a letdown. It does not include the fantastic live versions of I Just Can't Help Believing and Bridge Over Troubled Water from the 1970 version, and the bonus footage is extremely poor quality. Why can't they put out a complete TTWII concert on Blu-Ray?
circleG wrote on September 09, 2014
Boxcar - when will they stop editing? such things make you scratch your head when listening to a great boxset like this. You expect something then .. wha..? what happened? Its a shame. Maybe it has something to do with space on the disc, I don't know.
Orion wrote on September 09, 2014
Circle - I can understand some of the editing. It was done to make the concert flow better. I mean without the visual we are all used to, the general public wouldn't wants to hear Elvis drone on for 5 minutes with microphone problems. What I can't uderstand is the elimination of Charlie Hodge's harmony vocal on "I Just Can't Help Believing."
Natha wrote on September 09, 2014
I think the general public is mostly served by not too much talking in between. Jokes or other in-betweens are nice the first time around, but after a few sessions ??? People want to hear the music. This expensive box however is for the fans, so that makes a difference.
Biffx wrote on September 09, 2014
We should have known that the label could not produce anything without cutting parts or playing about with it. It must be the only company in the world that takes no notice of what it's customers want. Why ?because they have no real competitors as they pretty much have access to all the good stuff. Look at the cuts they made to the FTD New Years Eve that we now know thanks to the fantastic Backdraft release. It's a real shame that they have to tamper probably why most of their product is never released on time as they are to busy fooling with it. Please put it out there as it was recorded this is what the fans/buyer wants. Ernst should go into hairdressing if he wants to make cuts or maybe a career in comedy as some of these alterations to history are a joke.
circleG wrote on September 10, 2014
Orion, I wonder if anyone has tried to contact Ernst for a response to that.
AlwaysElvis3577 wrote on September 19, 2014
Beautiful Heavey BOX , It dont get any better thank you RCA/SONY, , , , 6 start from ME
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on September 20, 2014
The stage rehearsals ftd should tell you ernie doesnt know what fans want.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on September 20, 2014
Orion it comes too late because 4 of the show have already put out,2 on the ftd label,there is never a over all plan. Oh i know ,its been unedited here and there well it shouldnt hve been edited in the first place. I skipped the set,and i hate the cardboard holders,there cheap. I am a more wise buyer,tired of rebuying.
Jerome wrote on October 15, 2014
This release marks a personal anniversary as I now have 10 times the original TTWII album!!!!....
Tom McAllister wrote on October 29, 2014
Can anyone that owns the deluxe package tell me if there is a significant sound improvement in the 6 newly remastered Las Vegas shows in the deluxe package versus the previously released versions from RCA,FTD, Audionics & TTWII the complete works?
TheMemphisFan wrote on November 02, 2014
Tom, what's your deal, man? You've already ask this same question and others have answered... Tom McAllister (profile/ contact) wrote on Sep 3, 2014 "Are the 6 previously released shows better quality than the previously released CD's? Do they actually sound any different?"