I thought I was a real Elvis Fan but maybe I'm not. I had listened to his music for over 30 years (can still remember his death on News At Ten!) and bought all kinds of records watched all the films but today I feel totally down hearted. As the 30 year anniversary approaches I see no sign of any CD or DVD release to inspire me.
The latest BMG releases of "Live", "Movies" and "R&B" are uninspired, rehashed trash with no thought or brain power put in to their release. Where is the inspiration here? Have we not waited so long for a Remix CD? Where is it? Must we be subjected to the same songs repackaged again and again and again? Is the Colonel still in charge here? I long to have a CD of top producers and DJs (Fat Boy Slim anyone?) giving Elvis a fresh, modern perspective. It has been done twice - highly successfully with Conversation and Rubberneckin' and there are dozens of little known songs out there that much of the public haven't heard. The purists will say to leave it alone but I am totally bored with the 473rd release of Suspicious Minds. The January CD release of the Heartbreak Hotel single was a disaster and he didn't even scratch the UK charts - take the hint BMG. I want Elvis out there to a mass audience - not just the pure hardcore fans.
And what about the long argument regarding On Tour and Elvis In Concert, only available in bootlegs. There is so many hours of On Tour that has never been released when are we getting a new version - like we did with That's The Way It Is?
I also have DVD copy of the full two shows for the CBS Elvis In Concert show, as well as the actual one that was shown. Some of the footage here is outstanding and I was amazed at the performance of some of the songs, most of which is hidden away as we would not be able to cope with the sight of a fat Elvis! What, can overweight people not sing? Barry White?, Pavarotti? Mario Lanza? did they struggle? Fact - Elvis was overweight near the end of his life, fact - Elvis in Concert is actually very good do not believe the negative publicity, these are really great shows and deserve the same full DVD treatment as 68 Special and Aloha.
So let's try and get Elvis back on track here. For next year get the CD remix album out, A new On Tour DVD Deluxe set and a full remastered Elvis In Concert DVD with full out takes and start treating loyal fans with respect and not insult us with boring, unimaginative rehashes of the same stuff.