Available on eBay are booted re-issues of the UK K-Tel budget releases "The Ultimate Performance", "Love Songs" and "Inspirations". The CDs come as vinyl discs with grooves, the packaging is also just like the original, high quality in thick, laminated card.Update April 17, 2008: These releases are CD-Recordable re-issues.
The Ultimate Performance (1981)
Inroductory Fanfare (2001) / See See Rider / Blue Suede Shoes / Johnny B. Goode / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / Never Been To Spain / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / The Impossible Dream / Band Introductions / An American Trilogy / In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds / Love Me / Burning Love / Words / Polk Salad Annie / I Can't Stop Loving You / Can't Help Falling In Love.
Love Songs (1979)
It's Now Or Never / She's Not You / Love Letters / Anything That's Part Of You / Surrender / Kentucky Rain / Suspicious Minds / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / I Just Can't Help Believing / The Wonder Of You / Can't Help Falling In Love / Always On My Mind / Love Me Tender / Loving You / I Want, You, I Need You, I Love You / Wooden Heart / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / Just Pretend / Until It's Time For You To Go / Memories.
Inspirations (1980)
Crying In The Chapel / It's No Secret (What God Can Do) / A Thing Called Love / Bosom Of Abraham / In My Father's House / An Evening Prayer / Amazing Grace / How Great Thou Art / Lead Me, Guide Me / The Impossible Dream / (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) / I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs / I Believe In The Man In The Sky / Mansion Over The Hilltop / Padre / Where Could I Go But To The Lord? / He Is My Everything / Somebody Bigger Than You And I / He Touched Me / Known Only To Him.
K-Tel Re-issues
April 16, 2008 | Music
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on
April 16, 2008
Jump on em before they are all gone. (so they can re-issue them again)
Mark wrote on
April 16, 2008
I would like to The Ultimate Performance Cd as i had the lp along time ago
Steve V wrote on
April 16, 2008
K-Tel was one of the cheapest record comanies in the USA. Their LP covers looked like they were designed by a 4 year old & their sound was crap. They were thrown together to simply make a quick buck. To see Elvis once again on these labels is a disgrace. Is this how far we've come in the golden age of digital audio? Disturbing.
James69 wrote on
April 17, 2008
Steve V, if you read the intro it says they are booted versions, bootlegs of the K-Tel LPs. I agree that K-Tel was a cheap label, but guess what?? Many, many people, like myself discovered Elvis music through K-Tel! Once I got past a few compilations, I moved on to the RCA Elvis LPs.
JerryNodak wrote on
April 17, 2008
I actually bought "Inspirations" back in the day. As I recall I quite enjoyed it. I don't recall it sounding like crap. But then it is a loooong time since I've listened to it. As I still have it I'll have to dig it out and give it a listen.
Steve V wrote on
April 17, 2008
James69 - I understand your point that many people discovered Elvis thru these LPs and that is great. But it is nearly 30 years since they were put out. Do we really need these on CD after all the great RCA CD compilations? That was my point. Why would anyone need these in 2008?
James69 wrote on
April 17, 2008
Steve V, u may be right, but these are not official releases, they are bootlegs, so maybe 1,000 copies each?? And for sure these will be sold quickly to nostalgic fans.....like me! LOL...
Harvey Alexander wrote on
April 17, 2008
These will sell to the "I've got to have them because it's Elvis" brigade. Those jokers will buy anything - and the "manufacturers" of these rip-offs know that. So they'll continue to produce more similar garbage, and they'll sell to the loons. And so it goes on. Very sad.
Tony C wrote on
April 18, 2008
These K-tel compilations come into the catagory of "they were good at the time". These digital versions will only appeal to die-hard fans. As for K-tel being a cheap label, although the releases sold at bargain prices, they were advertised on TV in the UK. This is more than RCA or BMG for the majority of their releases. A couple of years ago, a copy of the 1979 K-tel "Love Songs" LP came up for sale on ebay complete with "Elvis'" signature on the front cover! When I reported this to ebay, they did nothing and allowed the sale to proceed. When I pointed out to them that Elvis died in 1977, they replied that they were not experts in such matters! I later received an e-mail from the seller which contains threats of violence.
James69 wrote on
April 18, 2008
Thanks Harvey, so collectors like me are jokers, loosers, and loons!!!!!!
Harvey Alexander wrote on
April 18, 2008
Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure there'll be a CD reissue of that great British LP 'Elvis In The 70s' along shortly. Absolutely ESSENTIAL.
Johnny wrote on
April 19, 2008
I love the idea, much better than a lot of the stuff churned out lately. I say it because this is the set that got me into Elvis in the first place, can't wait for the Reader's Digest box with the Elvis sails bonus on CD as well, real nostalgia for me, I love it big style!!
commoneverybody wrote on
April 19, 2008
Please beware: these k-tel releases are cd-rs. Label printed on vinyl cd-rs!!
JerryNodak wrote on
April 19, 2008
If these releases were being brought out on cd by BMG I might actually consider buying them.
But boots? No. Harvey: If that great British LP "Elvis In The '70s" were to come out on cd released through say HMV I WOULD buy it.
Harvey Alexander wrote on
April 19, 2008
JerryNodak - your Sony BMG Buyer Of The Month Award is in the post to you.
Steve V wrote on
April 19, 2008
Ive tried to sell a mint copy of Elvis In the 70's LP on ebay for as low as 1.00. Several times. No buyers! So much for the appeal of that LP.
JerryNodak wrote on
April 19, 2008
Steve V: My experiences with e-bay have been less than ideal. So I steer clear of them. However, I'd be more than happy to take that LP off your hands (and for more than $1.00.) Providing your asking price is reasonable. How shall we contact one another? I don't wish to make my contact info public on this website. As I'm sure you don't. Any suggesstions? I look forward to your reply.
Steve V wrote on
April 19, 2008
Hi Jerry - if you do a search on Elvis 70's Hits Unique , Im sure you will find me.
Paul Reno wrote on
April 21, 2008
As a lad at school, saving up pocket money was tough. K-Tel was a god-send. I remember the TV promotion which was great - especially the "Ultimate Performance" album. The sound seemed good back then, I didn't notice any problems with the records. I didn't regret buying them for one minute. It stopped me borrowing my dad's collection and started me collecting every Elvis songs I could.