Import DVD That's Live 1977

I've said it lots of times before and i'll scream it again if i'll have to. EPE.... DO YOUR JOB. Stop the discussion if it is wrong or right to release the june 1977 sessions. Believe me, and thousands of other elvis fans. IT IS RIGHT. So collect every peace of footage of it, and make a nice box of it. We (the fans) have waited long enough now, believe me. R E L E A S E I T . (Chris Tilburg, the Netherlands)

Stay miles away from this thing, it's a mess. First the Elvis In Concert special is not that good quality, I've seen it better a few times. The bonus material is nothing but crap and stolen from things like the George Klein video from decades ago. I bought this thing from a friend of mine who didn't want it anymore. I understand why after seeing this piece of junk. Anybody need it ? I would be happy to sell mine !

I stand for releasing those CBS shows. As for the media, but can't they use, IF THE WANT, those nummerous DVDs with the special and outtakes that has flooded the market worldwide? They certainly can. So the only point left is to give the fans the best possible quality release (and as far as I know, the original quality is just superior!) And c'mon, "This Is Elvis" (a regular EPE production) has enough of the CBS footage to show the meadia "the sick Elvis" to "ruin" the image. So it's not with the media. But it's with us, fans. I agree with Eddy White, that Elvis must have been aware what he looked like and nevertheless he signed it. I mean, that's Elvis, we all know him, so why "hide" something we all already know? Let's be honest, at least with us, fans.

I agree with you, Jim. Those who don't want the 77 tapes to be released are about to DENY ELVIS even before his real death. And it's not supposed to be that way.

Isn't there a kind of hypercrisy when "most fans want it released but not officially"? So actually they do want to have it? Only "official" fuss seems to make the point. Well everybody knows that IF Elvis didn't want to do a show due his health problem, he'd just cancel it (so did he in Las Vegas seasons, in May 1977, to name a few). So he could just say "There's no way for me today to perform in front of cameras". But you know what? Some of you made me think a bit different. Really, it might be a good idea to make a new "Elvis In Concert" DVD with the show highlights. But then, let it be a regular product, coz it will be a nice DVD, no doubt.

Michael Z I couldn’t agree more with you. I think they should release everything of Elvis a true fan will love it. I know I will and I am an Elvis fan for more then 46 years now. So please release it.

Of course it should be released. Everyone knows he had put on weight, everyone has seen pictures of him looking ill at the end it's nothing new but he was still Elvis and us fans still loved and love him now. Ok we have the cd but the video shows so much more. Stop worrying and release it!

If they dont want to release the entire two shows we have. why not take the best of both shows and make a new CBS TV SPECIAL. it would just be awesome to finally see it in Great picture quality. Ive seen it a million times but in poor vhs quality.

we have all seen the cbs concert,plus out-takes and we should be able to see them in good quality, irrespective to how bad elvis looked. This is how he was in the end and to deny this and only accept the 'slim' elvis is sad. If an alternative documentry could be added showing how the pressure of fame of being 'elvis the super star' could turn a happy go lucky boy into what he became in the end,then maybe the concert would be worth releasing. Even george harrison said he must have been lonley going through the early rise in fame, to be that big and not being able to share the pressure, at least they had each other.

How can people say your not an Elvis because you dont want the 77 special released I think thats a bit unfair. I personally would like see it released myself but I can understand why some Elvis fans are concerned about the 77 special being officially released.

I am sorry everybody but DannyB is right it is hard to watch Elvis in the 77 special. I have only watched it a couple of times and it was not very nice seeing our man look that ill. I think Elvis only did this special because he needed the money. Elvis probably did not realise he looked as bad as that.We all know that Elvis always tried to look good and most of his life he did a very good job. I have done that a few times myself. In the past i have put on a bit of weight and still think i look good and i dont. So would Elvis really want to have this 77 special released officially ?

Was it really Elvis' choice to do the 77 special ? We all know that he did not enjoy some of the movies he was in but he still done them. I dont care what Elvis looked liked i am a fan because of his fantastic voice and i love his songs from the 1970s. It breaks my heart to watch him look so ill and in pain. I did not say i did not want the 77 special released and i was only thinking about the king and he would not have wanted this officially released. And why are you not a fan if you dont want this offically released ? Most of the fans said they would like this released but not officially. Everybody on here sounds like an Elvis fan to me.

This is the beginning, I hope that EPE will understand that a lot of Elvis-fans want to have this in a very good quality like Aloha and '68 Comeback. Omaha and Rapid city compleet!! Like M.Luther King said: I HAVE A DREAM! With kind regards, Herman from the Netherlands.

If EPE is afraid for a big official release, I can understand it, its not Elvis at his prime. But for all the Elvis fans, whe want to she this footage in a good quality. So what I don't understand is that EPE has a collectors lable FTD. Why don't they release an official dvd on that lable?? So it can only be bould by the fans. It's just an idea

I hope in future CBS or Graceland release the 1977 Rapid City and Omaha theses two concert on DVD.

I think Elvis was a great entertainer, also in 1977. When you look at the CBS special and when you listen to 'Elvis in Concert', 'Spring tours' and several bootlegs, it's obvious that Elvis was very often in great shape. In my opinion even better than during 1976. When they release the material of 1977 it's everybody's own choice to buy it and watch it. If you don't want to, you don't have to! But you can't convince me about the fact that the world would be shocked by seeing this footage. Every fan has seen some of it, and the in the footage you haven't seen Elvis doesn't look better or worse than in the rest of it. So, make my day and release the stuff. I would buy it. Quaranteed.

I am one of those who agree with EPE on not releasing this publically. FTD, however, might be a good alternative. But people, I've seen all the outtakes from '77. And it's sad, real sad. Before the concert you see Elvis receiving an award or something, and he looks apathetic, drugged out, like a puppet being ordered around by his bodyguards - in other words SICK. I saw it once, and won't see it again. Don't understand why everybody wants to have this on DVD. Yeah, Hurt, How Great Thou Art, Unchained and My Way are great versions, but we have it on CD, that's enough for me.

I am a big Elvis-fan, and my favorite years are 1968 - 1977. It's not about denying a part of the history or not wanting to see the "fat" Elvis. But to me it's not entertainment watching a sick Elvis, obviously in pain, stumbling around on the stage (June 19), mumbling. I feel sorry for the guy. And it's not because I didn't like the '77 Elvis. It's because he so obviously is sick and in pain. Yeah, he agreed to doing the special. But those of you that has read about it knows that Elvis, before arriving at the building, said "how did I get myself into this situation. Hell, I don't even wanna be here". Therefore, to me watching the outtakes is not entertainment.

It's nice to read the different opinions among the fans. It shows that EPE is right not releasing this, as not even the fans can agree upon releasing it or not.

Well said, TCBn. I know, as an Elvis-fan, you wanna have it all - absolutely everything - in your collection. But the bootleg-tapes should be enough. I will say this to all of those who claim people like me are not an Elvis-fan: If you really are a fan, you DO NOT want to see Elvis sick and in pain, doing a tv-special he so obviously did not feel comfortable with (read earlier postings). One posting claim that Elvis did not look any better or worse in the outtakes not included in the tv-special. That person have not seen the show in Rapid City. Even John Wilkinson said it was a bad show, Elvis was unsteady on his feet and did not sing good. Heck, why do you think CBS cancelled the original screening anyway? It's because everyone, except the fans here, could see that Elvis was not well! It's not about not loving Elvis, or respecting his performance in the show - which I do! But like TCBn said, it's more about a morbid and perverse pleasure in viewing him at his worst - when he was SICK and in PAIN. Why does it make you, Jim Semple or Teddy Boy, a bigger fan than me? I'm not denying how Elvis looked towards the end, and I am capable of seeing the carisma and wonderful talent he had - all the way to the end. But I DO DENY watching a sick Elvis, obviously in pain, doing a show he didn't wanna do (read earlier postings).

Quite simply, if you do not want the 1977 shows released, you are not an Elvis fan and so go elsewhere. Elvis had a career from 1954 through to 1977 and its vital we document every year of his career. For me personally, CBS 77 Special on DVD would be the greatest Elvis addition to my collection.

Tony P- what are you protecting Elvis against? Whatever you do or don't do, there will always be a massive group of people who thought Elvis was a cheese burger loving junkie. That will never change in some people eyes whether you release a 1977 DVD or not. EPE advise they wouldnt want to see Elvis humilated in the press etc, but it already happens in some quarters and EPE are happy to sell teddy bears, hound dogs, rubbish like that to make a few quid more. All I say is that Elvis had a career right through to 1977 and its only right we acknowledge that, and get to see everyone possible release. We can't just pick and choose our good moments like 68 Comeback Special, we need to see the whole picture.

Releasing it is disrespectful to the man? Are you serious? Its very disrespectful if you don't want it released. If Elvis had the guts when not in the best of health to stand up and perform in front of thousands of fans, then you should have the guts to watch him perform on DVD. I'm sorry but I'll say it again, your not an Elvis fan if you do not want this released. Life isn't a bed of roses, you can't just have the good times. Elvis had a career from 54 - 77 and you should fully appreciate and welcome every part of it and not just pick out the typical "highlights" 50s, 68 Special and Aloha.

I've been an Elvis fan for probably 17 years now (I'm 31) and before I got into buying his CDs and Videos, I remember reading books about him, biographys etc and I had this vision of a 25 stone giant on stage who had to sit on a stool for the entire concert. Then strangely enough, one of my first ever video purrchases through the Elvis Presley Fan Club was the CBS 77 Special and I was genuinely amazed how slim Elvis was compared to what I had been expecting from the rubbish wrote in the books. As already mentioned on here, his arms, legs and backside were the same as when he was 30. Only the medication he was taking (albeit too much of it), made him look very bloated in the face and in the stomach and you can clearly see the difference with Omaha and Rapid City (only 2 days apart) when he reduces and changes his medication, he looks a stone lighter at Rapid and gives a good performance. What am I saying is that, a good edited version of the tours will surprise many many people, and I guarantee they will say ''well actually, he wasn't that fat at all''. And to those who still think his singing was vocally poor then, just pull out his CBS versions of My Way, Hurt, How Great Tho Art, You Gave Me a Mountain and I bet you, you will be really hard pushed to find better versions from Elvis' career.

EPE/CBS lets get this released as a deluxe addition. Both shows. I to have seen all out tales and both shows and they are great, yes there is a few triing moments, but so what. The shows show Elvis giving it his all, There are more great moments than bad ones I can asure you! This would be a great FTD DVD Start. Rock On Mike.

I'd like to totally agree with 'ep1tcb' here. EPE, if you occasionnaly read these Elvisnews sections, please don't read over these lines here. They are important. I can fully understand why the estate is so carefull with the images that come out. The image of Elvis has been raped far too many times. But you have the opportunity to reach the fans and only the fans by the FTD-label. Release a CBS-Special Deluxe DVD Box on that and than later on, if the worldmarket is ready for it, release a fine compilation of the best moments or something. We fans love Elvis! To me he's like a deceased member of the family. I love him just the way he was, with or without a perfect health. Is it so funny that I want to see these CBS-films in great conditions?

I fully agree with EPE policy in not releasing such material to the general public. Elvis was ill at this time and did not do himself justice. The media would have a field day with such footage, bringing up the old spectres of burgers and drugs. In the last 5 years, Elvis' popularity has grown enormously and it would be a tragedy to ruin this. It must be remembered that FTD releases are now on sale in many of the high street stores and not limited solely to fans. Personally, I think Elvis' voice at this time was phenomenal on the big ballad productions and less so on the rock numbers. However, for reasons stated above I think it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Jim said 'Quite simply, if you do not want the 1977 shows released, you are not an Elvis fan and so go elsewhere'. That's a little harsh Jim. Those that don't want it released do not hold that view because they don't want to see it. They are merely wanting to protect Elvis from the kind of appalling abuse he has received at the hands of the media for the past 25+ years - abuse which thankfully has died down in the last few years. Elvis gets more respect now than he has since well before he died, and those who don't want it released are rightly concerned that some of the good work done in recent years would be undone by the release of this material. The media are scum quite frankly. For the sake of a few headlines, they would sell Elvis down the river in a heartbeat. We all know that as they've done it before. Don't expect a compassionate approach from them as you won't get it. The image of a youthful, on form Elvis is actually beginning to supersede that of the sick, overweight Elvis. There is every reason for fans to want to protect that trend. It's out of love and respect for the man that they take that stance, not because they are 'not fans'. Pretty obvious when you think about it right? My opinion is that, yes I want the material in good quality, but I would want it as a limited release on the collectors' label. It should not be available on the high street and there should be no promotional effort. If it's coming out, it should be a stealth release. That alone may make it commercially unviable. If that's the case, so be it.

I will agree with those who feel that this would be a fine idea for the first FTD DVD. Try to make the best of the footage shot for the CBS special, and let the fans have it! The fans will love and respect such a release! If the world at large miss it, so what! They are treated with TTWII, NBC '68 and ALOHA.

I read that after this show, he flopped on the bed and said, "My fans have seen me at my best. Now they have seen me at my worst !" Check out pictures of him in '77. His arms and legs are normal. He was not fat. He was bloated from all the meds he was taking for his partially paralyzed colon, his glaucoma, and his insomnia. Good thing he practiced karate as long as he did, or we would have lost him sooner. Dr. Nick said his colon condition was discovered in the Army and that he was born with it. Makes sense, since his twin died at birth from whatever problems, that he would've been born with something wrong with him as well. Apparently the colon pain did not become serious until he was in his 30's. He wanted the operation to fix his colon, but no doctor would touch him since it was a new procedure. Today it is routine... He knew he would die if he didn't have the operation. He told others that he wasn't going to live much longer. Everything was hushhush in those days. EPE is legally responsible for protecting his image. While they do show a clip of this show at Graceland in the raquetball building next to his sundial jumpsuit, it is only for the fans who visit. They respect Elvis' own wishes that this show not be released because of the way he himself felt about this particular performance.

Yes, we are very serious, those of us who knew that Elvis did NOT want to perform and was forced to because he would have been sued by contract if he did not. What is your problem if you already have a bootleg anyway? Let him rest in peace. He gave his all and then some for us, his fans. If you loved him the way he loved us, you would certainly respect his own unhappiness with these performances. Of course pay tribute to his excellent performances such as the recent DVD releases. He was thrilled and so proud of those...let's respect his feelings. He would be amazed at all the awards he has won since he's been gone. Seems you want to be morbid and have a perverse pleasure in viewing him at his worst. What a shame.

Teddy Bear, guess you missed one of my earlier comments. Elvis could not simply say he didn't want to perform for the CBS TV show. He was under a strict television contract and would have been sued by CBS if he had not done the show. That is the only reason he did it. Just be glad, everyone, that he did not collapse onstage the way his idol Jackie Wilson did. Thank God we don't have a memory like that with video footage of it. Then again, those of you who are clamoring for the worst of him would pay big bucks for that, wouldn't you?

But isnt this (at least partially) CBS' property, not EPE? If so I guess its a question of $$$, and if they are to release it, CBS want a full release and a potential to earn some cash. And if that is the case, Im sorry to say, I'd prefer its not released. Not yet. Dunno about you guys but I got a pretty good quality bootleg on VHS with both the broadcast version and the two concerts. Try getting that one, it should work for now.

Guys, stop claiming that not wanting to release this means were not fans or "denying" him. Read what DannyB wrote further down here. Personally Id love a high quality copy. But releasing it is disrespectful to the man. This just isnt entertainment. Its painful to watch. Its like releasing an unedited Desert Storm in public. Who would want that? i *do* agree that a release for the fans only, in high quality, would be nice. But I doubt thats possible because of the costs of producing it: Its either full release or nothing. Then I vote for nothing, and suggest everyone get a good bootleg copy of it. It exsist.

Just put it out on DVD 5.1 sound. Fans who want to have it can buy it and the hypocrite fans don't buy it; it's as simple as that.

Elvis knew the way he was physically. If he was that unpresentable to the public he would not have gone on his last tour and would have certainly banned CBS coverage. Elvis did not hide himself away in Graceland so that nobody i.e. his fans could not see him. Elvis, therefore consented to any plaudits or criticism by going on tour. He did the best he could in his last tour and was not afraid of being critiscised. Why should he? He had been critiscised for many things since his early tv and stage appearances. He was used to people criticising the way he moved and dressed and looked. The CBS concert is a testimony to the wonderful charisma and voice of Elvis Presley and should not be treated as some grotesque film that should only be talked about in whispers. The world knows by now what Elvis looked like before he died. They also know what he sang like. Let the people see it.

Dannyb , don't you think that Elvis was tired nearing the end of a tour, or that after 20 years he was used to receiving such awards or that he was nervous about going on stage for a TV special? Its easy to twist things and blame everything on drugs. i've had a lot of apathetic days and the only stimulant I take is tea. Elvis was a quiet and dignified person off stage and he was more than pleasant with the little indian girl giving him the award. As for other people showing him where to go etc, I've seen that in early 70's footage as well, it was their job to take care of the backstage stuff.

Hold on a minute! Whats with all this general public nonsense? Wern't we all the general public once. I was a kid in the 80's and was exposed to all the fat Elvis stuff. It didn't stop me from being a fan. I like Elvis for the way he sings, his humour and personality. If someone does not like him or his music it would make no difference to them if he looked good or bad physically.

I for one feel very strongly that the 1977 CBS material should be released. I actually saw the special that aired on October 3, 1977, but I was only 12 then and I didn't remember much about it, except that he did look heavy. I recently downloaded the CBS Special, as well as the complete Omaha and Rapid City concerts, and after viewing them I concluded that considering his health at the time, the King did pretty well, especially the Rapid City concert, which is a solid show. The King's voice was great, and the TCB band smoked as usual. I do admit that Omaha is hard to watch at times, but there are even some fine performances there, too. One might say that having the bootleg material is enough, but to me the picture and sound quality suffers, especially with the Rapid City concert, with the tape meter running in the center of the screen. I think that original and remastered material would look and sound great in a DVD format. If a compromise has to be reached, perhaps EPE could release both the CBS Special as originally aired, as well as the complete Rapid City concert, and not the Omaha show. The CBS Special includes the strong performances from the Omaha show anyway. There could also be additional footage, such as backstage activity, or any other footage not originally shown. I think it would be great, and I also think it would be a good seller as well, because there are a lot of people who have been waiting a long time for this, and a good promotional campaign wouldn't hurt, either. As for the critics, let them say what they want. Those who are close minded will continue to be so no matter what, and I think that some might even change their views once they view and consider everything in it's entirety. Seeing this made me respect Elvis even more, because he was still pouring his heart and soul into these last concerts, in spite of his health, which I think is very heroic and courageous. Remember: the Elvis concert tour of 1977 was the top-grossing concert tour that year, and it only ran until June 26! EPE, release this already. IT'S TIME!!!