In Asia "Elvis in Concert" is available in a DTS version. Again images of "That's The Way It Is" have been used for another one of Elvis' musical documentary movies, just like a previous DVD releases of "On Tour".
This DVD comes in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1 - NTSC), color, with English DTS, Dolby 5.1.and stereo surround sound.
From the site:
`We're here to entertain you, and to make you happy. So just enjoy yourself, and leave the driving to us,' said Elvis to an adoring crowd in Rapid City, South Dakota on June 21, 1977. Elvis had been doing just that for over 20 years - entertaining his fans and making them happy.
What was to be Elvis' last concert tour began on June 17, 1977 in Springfield, Missouri. The June 19 appearance in Omaha, Nebraska was filmed for the CBS television special set to air that fall. Only three songs were used from the Omaha performance in the `Elvis In Concert' special, which was broadcast posthumously. `If you think I'm nervous,' Elvis said quietly on stage, `you're right.'
Many Elvis fans were interviewed on camera for `Elvis In Concert', which is not officially available on video. Perhaps the most genuine in his responses was a young African-American man who said, `Elvis deserves credit for bringing blues into rock and country. He's the first guy to ever do that, and I admire him for it. He has a lot of courage. He's my number one singer of all time. I hope to name my kid after him some day. I have about four of his gospel albums, and my favorite is ¡¥How Great Thou Art.' It makes you feel good when he sings it. It brings tears to your eyes. I just love the guy. I know that sounds kinda weird, but I just love the guy and I wish him many years of success.'
CBS also filmed his concert in Rapid City on June 21. It was from this performance that most of the songs on `Elvis In Concert' were drawn. `If you haven't guessed by now, you're on television,' Elvis said with a characteristic grin to the audience. `Don't let the lights and cameras throw you, and try not to throw the lights and cameras if you can help it.'
`Elvis In Concert' was Elvis' first filmed production in four years after the blockbuster `Aloha From Hawaii' television special. The contrast in his appearance between the two shows is striking. `He was obviously way overweight,' said Elvis' friend Joe Esposito, a few years after Elvis' death. `Despite his age, only 42, we knew he was in bad health. It was tough for him, but Elvis accepted his appearance and so did his fans.'
Although he did look ill, that special Elvis smile was still there for his fans. The love and magic was still there. He was Elvis. Through all the ups and downs, the fans always loved him and still do.
Joe Esposito said it best, `Just six weeks before his death, he still poured his heart out. To the end, Elvis' greatest gift ¡V his incredible voice ¡V never failed him.'
This is an enjoyably show, which was unfortunately misunderstood because of Elvis' death. One of the best performances in this program was "I Really Don't Want To Know."
Be sure to check out Elvis mouthing the words "Smile, you're on Candid Camera" during a guitar solo early in the show. He may have been ill, he may have even been depressed, but he still put his all into that show...and he still managed to have fun one last time with his fans.
When all is said and done, after all the books have been written, and all the tales have been spun, the only question that will be important is ¡¥What did Elvis do?' He made people happy. That was his life.
Elvis In Concert - DTS Version
October 15, 2004 | Video
Make wrote on
October 15, 2004
I got this dvd a couple of weeks ago. It's about the same quality as vhs both sound and picture wise and even though the sound is presented in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1. it really is mono. The Rapid City concert has the picture cropped in a way that leaves out the running time seen on other versions on bottom of the screen. The menu is animated and you can jump to each of the concerts or the Elvis In Concert special. However, the menu doesn't have a song by song index.
CD King wrote on
October 15, 2004
EPE Graceland owns the complete master tapes but they just refuse to release these Concerts thinking that they will give Elvis a bad image. But these poor quality DVDs /VCDs are already in circulations. It's high time EPE wakes up and put out a revamp special edition of ELVIS IN CONCERT in brilliant quality. Instead what we have now are inferior quality of these shows. The above DVD is now mass circulatated in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Philippines infact it is available all over Asia. What a shame, the $ profit should be going to EPE instead. It is still not too late to counter act with a Special Remastered Version of this historical super ELVIS IN CONCERT. Every fan will want a Brilliant Quality copy of this DVD. They will surely throw away the poor quality copy into the dusbin when the Official version comes out. Meanwhile, everyone will want to buy and hang on the above DVD.
Rich_TCB wrote on
October 15, 2004
Make - can you give more details regarding this release? Does this have the original CBS special plus the Rapid City concert - complete or incomplete? And would you recommend this for anybody that doesn't have this footage? I would like to get this, if it's very good quality.
Jim Semple wrote on
October 15, 2004
I agree. EPE please release the CBS Special as per Aloha / 68 Special format / quality. Think of all the brilliant footage, walking from the limo, dressing room, wonderful presentation by little girl, the walk to the backstage, the nerves, the tension, its all magical viewing !!
Wiebe wrote on
October 16, 2004
I also bought several copies of these tapes. I think the VHS copy I bought in Amsterdam is still the best quality. I too think they should release it. The poor quality makes Elvis even look worse. I don't think Elvis looked that bad. The Rapid City concert is just so good. It's Elvis at his most honest, singing wise. I think that now that we all know more about addiction to drugs as more of an ilness than a weakness or a character flaw, it's OK for people to watch this and look at this as the final stage of his tragic ilness.
CD King wrote on
October 16, 2004
Elvis actually don't look that bad in these last Concerts. It is because of those POOR QUALITY Inferior print that makes Elvis looks worse. EPE Graceland should make their Original Perfect Quality version available, if not to the public..at least on to the FTD label for the fans only. It's a sin to just let these precious master reels rot in the vault!
Jefffirmin wrote on
October 18, 2004
Admittedly, Elvis gave some very good performances during the Rapid City concert but Omaha was very poor, somewhat embarrassing. Seeing the greatest cultural icon reduced to what he became is sad no matter how many times I watch it. As for Elvis not looking too bad, he never looked worse! His face is extremely bloated, giving the impression that he was a lot more overweight than he actually was. From what I understand his weight was the least of his problems. Watching these shows, anyone can clearly see that he was very ill and should not have been on stage. Still, Elvis made his choices in life, some not so good, and the results are all too well known. He ended up paying the ultimate price. A real shame. As much as I would like to see these concerts in their full glory, I'm still not convinced they should be on general release. EPE has worked hard on Elvis' image over the past few years. It would be a great shame to waste that.
Make wrote on
October 18, 2004
Rich - TCB, The dvd has both the Omaha and Rapid City concerts but as in the vhs version I've seen before some of the songs are missing. The dvd also has the original tv broadcast without the commercials. If you haven't seen this footage before then it's a good deal. The quality is about the same as I've seen before on vhs and vcd. The Elvis In Concert is much better quality than the Omaha and Rapid City shows. The problem with the two concerts is that like released before they seem to be copies of copies so the picture isn't too sharp but it is still OK to watch. So if you haven't seen this footage then it's definately worth of getting.
Jim Semple wrote on
October 18, 2004
The 77 stuff needs to be released and released quickly. Yes whilst EPE work hard to protect Elvis's image, in reality it makes little difference. Certain ignorant people no matter what evidence you show them, will always think Elvis was a 30 stone, drug addict who ate 25 cheeseburgers a day, basically big Non Elvis fans. You still read it in the papers or on the net from certain quarters and it would be nice to inform these people that Elvis was indeed, nowhere near as fat as they thought, still sang at times extremely well, but most importantly was ILL at the time and not the monster he can be made out to be sometimes. Yes his face was very bloated in Omaha especially, but the terrible quality videos that you have seen, really exaggerate the problem a lot more, a comment I think CDKing pointed out earlier. And I still say to my dying day, a lot of people will be surprised at Elvis during 1977, and would be left thinking ''well I had no idea he could sing so well during this period'', ''he wasn't anywhere near as bad I thought press suggested'' etc etc. The bottom line is, the longer EPE shy away from it, the more ammunition you give to the ingnorant press / public to continually redicule Elvis.
Sal wrote on
October 18, 2004
I think it goes without saying that most fans want this to be released-especialy the older generation who, without being rude, may think times running out for them! Its got to be done, no doubt and properly like the recent 68' & 73' DVD specials. There is some fabulous footage, not all is detrimental to Elvis' image-i would even say adds to it by making him more human, because he bared his heart & soul! Even the great Laurel & Hardy made one last film described by most as sad and shouldnt have been made, they were old & certainly in Stan Laurels case, quite ill. But that film , Atoll K, 1952, (or Utopia) still has some magic moments only these two had, and is really worth watching. Same goes for Elvis, the CBS Special will enlighten many music fans that he wasnt 40stone, strung-out and all the other ridiculous exagerations made, but a smiling happy guy who still had that gift of making people happy. Release it EPE, and do some good by dismissing these untruths, exagerations etc. If it will happen one day, why are they waiting now?