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The #1 Hit Performances

By ElvisNews.com / Kees, November 03, 2007 | Video
Finally available, the Elvis clip collection, was it worth the long long wait?

Design

This DVD comes in three different designs; one similar to the “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits” CD, one with an additional silhouette of our man and in the UK a completely different design matching the UK edition of this year’s “The King” compilation. We got the boring first one. This style was new and fresh when used on the before mentioned compilation, but several years down the line I expected something a bit fresher.

Content

The concept for this release isn’t new. Bootleggers did it, even creating new clips and there is even a legal budget release entitled "Love Me Tender"featuring clips from the television shows and the “’68 Comeback” and "Aloha" specials. After the first try on the bonus disc compilation on the “Ultimate Film Collection” EPE and BMG stepped up to the plate and gave us this compilation. That it wasn’t that easy to get this product done can be seen in the differences in the fifteen track US and thirty track European release.

I enjoyed watching the “clips” very much. I usually listen to Elvis performing songs, seeing him do a variety of songs only adds to the joy. The compilation is build on the material available so we get the “usual” fifties television appearances with the addition “Blue Suede Shoes” screen test Elvis did for Hal Wallis; a nice colour clip but it looks like Elvis is playing a guitar without strings …? This footage could have been used to actually create a real video clip. The fifties television footage has been remastered and I have never seen this television material in this quality with the exception of the Frank Sinatra special, this contains a lot of distortion.

Following the mainly black and white material are excerpts from his movies. For once I’m glad Elvis made many musical comedies, otherwise we would have even less video material of Elvis performing his songs. The sixties era ends with clips from the “’68 Comeback” special; the stronger material of this part of the compilation since these are actual performances.
The compilation end with the seventies material from “TTWII” and the “Aloha” special. Again, no “On Tour” or “CBS Special” material has been used.

Missing on this set are the clips made to promote the more recent single releases. In Germany a clip was created for “Always On My Mind” in 2000, it would have been nice to actually release that as a special item on this set. Also missing are the clips for “A Little Less Conversation” and the “Rubberneckin’” remixes.

Audio wise there are two problems. The first is that Elvis isn’t lip-sync in several clips, this is annoying. Secondly the sound varies. One might expect the producers to create one coherent sound experience. The clips taken from the movies are Dolby Surround, but most fifties material are not. This should have been corrected for all clips on this compilation.

Conclusion

This release is one disc a lot of fans will enjoy and gives them something to show their friends. The experience could have been a little better if the clips had been mixed a little since DVDs don’t have a shuffle option. Quality wise this is the material the producers have to work with, with that in mind the result is almost the best result possible.

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Mofoca22 wrote on November 04, 2007
i think its crap they didnt use elvis's on tour version of burning love. the aloha version stunk in my opinion he was flat and didnt show the fire he had in 1972 they couldve done a better job on it period
efan4ever wrote on November 04, 2007
He and the TCB band were just learning the song. It was not fined tuned like it was in the Aloha concert.
Steve V wrote on November 04, 2007
Mofoca22 - the whole Aloha concert didnt have the fire the shows of '72 had , but Burning Love was far & away better in Aloha because in On Tour it was almost like a practice session on stage and it wasnt fine tuned at all. The parts he did sing correctly were sung with more fire though, but the song was incomplete.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on November 04, 2007
More proof that Elvis is always first about image and music last,On Tour is left off probally because he doesnt have the perfect tan,aloha to me was flat,i enjoy the rehearsal show alot more!
yelserp wrote on November 04, 2007
Look again Kees, there are indeed strings on the guitar for the screen test of 'Blue Suede Shoes'. Aloha's 'Burning Love' rocks for this fan!
Shaky wrote on November 05, 2007
Just using the footage is a little too easy, take a look at the many fan edited video promos on You Tube plus the major efforts by STAR. I think Elvis deserves some proper Video promos for his work to carry us on through the MP4 generation.
Herman wrote on November 05, 2007
Mofoca22, it is crap ! A lof of these recoding where allready released in 5.1 sound. And guess what this sound is...just surround and not all of them. This could be a very good dvd release but once again they did a very bad job. What a waste...
bajo wrote on November 06, 2007
I haven't got sit set yet! But, we're living in 2007 now. We're living in the video world! And imo the they should have dubbed the original recordings onto the 50's clips. As with Blue Suede Shoes from the screen test. Even for some of the TV special and Aloha clips the original recording would have suited better to create the best of both visual performances and recordings. Even better as some suggest use the video's created for the likes of Always On My Mind, ALLC and Rubberneckin'. Even if I'm going to get this, I have most of the material available already. Maybe I'm just too critical??
JerryNodak wrote on November 09, 2007
I've already got 99.9% of this elsewhere. I'm not buying this.
Brian Quinn wrote on November 13, 2007
Just watched the UK 30 song version and it is nice to have these performances on one disc. The quality, for most part, is excellent apart from 'Stuck On You' from the Sinatra Welcome Home Elvis Special. Personally, I would have preferred 'Baby I Don't Care' to 'Treat Me Nice and would definately have included the 'live' version of 'Suspicious Minds' from the original TTWII. The closer 'American Trilogy' is fantastic as usual and cannot be topped. Well worth the purchase and will make a great Christmas present.
ttwiise wrote on November 16, 2007
It's a nice collection and will sell well to casual buyers. HOWEVER I bought it solely for the msg press conference, and what did I get 7, yes 7, minutes of it! albeit in good quality...why do they never get it right?
SPK wrote on November 21, 2007
Hey Everybody, Are the press conferences complete and previously unreleased? Is the Army Press Conference the same one as on the Graceland DVD? Or do I need to wait for a more complete issue? Any help appreciated. Thanks!