Details Elvis #1 Hit DVD

Later this year, Sony BMG will distribute a DVD release that could serve to introduce Elvis to new audiences of all ages, perhaps prompting their first Elvis purchase, and encourage some casual Elvis fans to get more serious.

In North America it will be "Elvis #1 Hit Performances" - a 15-song collection of videos of Elvis peforming some of his #1 US and UK hits. In the UK it will be "Elvis #1 Hit Performances and More" - the same content as the North American release and 15 additional performances of songs that were either #1 in the US or UK or are simply Elvis classics. This is sort of a DVD version of the concepts for the ELV1S 30 #1 Hits and ELVIS 2ND To None CDs of 2002 and 2003.

The content is doubled for the UK version primarily because music publishing clearances are standardized in the UK for DVD releases like they are for CDs. In the United States, music publishers can hold the songs they own or represent for ransom because DVD clearance rates are not standardized as they are for CDs.

Release dates to be announced. These are expected to come out sometime in the fourth quarter of 2007, timed nicely for holiday gift sales.

Below is an advance look at the first draft of the back-of-the-box text for both releases and the first draft of the liner notes describing the contents are in a separate article.

ELVIS #1 HIT PERFORMANCES (1 Disc – 15 Songs – USA Release)

What an outstanding introduction to the magic of Elvis Presley! This collection of 15 wonderful performances by the King of Rock 'n' Roll showcases some of his #1 US and UK hits. Culled from his TV guest appearances, movies, and concert films and television specials -- from 1956, the year his star ascended, to the 1970s when he reached the pinnacle of his career -- this is Elvis at his best.

See Elvis perform Heartbreak Hotel, his first gold record award winner, shortly after the single's release. Witness the raucous rendition of Hound Dog that got him into trouble with the press and the morally concerned. See the matinee idol croon one of his greatest love ballads, Can't Help Falling in Love, and sing and dance in one of rock music's all-time greatest production numbers, Jailhouse Rock. Marvel at his "from the waist up only" Ed Sullivan Show performance of Don't Be Cruel. Experience Elvis in Las Vegas with an energetic delivery of Suspicious Minds and in Hawaii performing a version of Burning Love for a global television audience. Also included: Love Me Tender, All Shook Up, Teddy Bear, Stuck on You, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Return To Sender, In the Ghetto and The Wonder of You.

ELVIS #1 HIT PERFORMANCES AND MORE (1 Disc, 30 Songs – International Release)

What an outstanding introduction to the magic of Elvis Presley! This collection of 30 wonderful performances by the King of Rock 'n' Roll showcasing 21 of his #1 US and UK hits and 9 other classics. Culled from his TV guest appearances, movies, and concert films and television specials -- from 1956, the year his star ascended, to the 1970s when he reached the pinnacle of his career -- this is Elvis at his best.

The #1 Hits - See Elvis perform Heartbreak Hotel, his first gold record award winner, shortly after the single's release. Witness the raucous rendition of Hound Dog that got him into trouble with the press and the morally concerned. See the matinee idol croon one of his greatest love ballads, Can't Help Falling in Love, and sing and dance in one of rock music's all-time greatest production numbers, Jailhouse Rock. Marvel at his "from the waist up only" Ed Sullivan Show performance of Don't Be Cruel. Experience Elvis in Las Vegas with an energetic delivery of Suspicious Minds and in Hawaii performing a version of Burning Love for a global television audience.

More #1 hits: Love Me Tender, All Shook Up, Teddy Bear, Stuck on You, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Return To Sender, In the Ghetto, The Wonder of You, One Night, A Big Hunk o' Love, Wooden Heart, Rock-a-Hula Baby, Too Much, and I Want You, I Need You, I Love You. Additional Elvis classics: That's All Right, Blue Suede Shoes, Love Me, Treat Me Nice, Trouble, Bossa Nova Baby, Don't Cry Daddy, An American Trilogy, and If I Can Dream.

Following is a draft of the liner notes for the DVD releases announced in a separate article.

The US release Elvis #1 Hit Performances and the UK release Elvis #1 Hit Performances and More both will contain these songs:

Heartbreak Hotel
On March 24, 1956, in the last of his six appearances on Stage Show, Elvis performs his first new RCA single. Heartbreak Hotel hit #1 for 8 weeks in the USA, peaked at #2 in the UK and earned Elvis his first gold record award.

Don't Be Cruel
On September 9, 1956, Elvis makes the first of his three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and sings one of his biggest hits to date. The single Don't Be Cruel and its flipside Hound Dog each hit #1 in the USA, spending 11 weeks in the top spot. Both songs peaked at #2 in the UK.

Hound Dog
June 5, 1956. Elvis makes the second of his two appearances on The Milton Berle Show and performs a provocative (for that era of television) rendition of Hound Dog. Despite how it was enjoyed by much of the audience, this performance inspired a negative backlash in the press and letters of protest from the morally concerned.

Love Me Tender
On September 9, 1956, during his first Ed Sullivan Show appearance, Elvis performs the title song for his first movie, which was in production at the time. The single, released later that month to advance orders of over 1 million copies, hit #1 in the USA shortly before the film's November opening and peaked at #11 in the UK.


All Shook Up
In June 1968, during the taping of what became known as the '68 Comeback television special which first aired on December 3rd of that year, Elvis performs this gem in a medley of classic hits. The 1957 single All Shook Up hit #1 for 9 weeks in the USA and 7 weeks in the UK.


(Let Me Your) Teddy Bear
From his second movie, 1957's Loving You. Teddy Bear had a 7-week run at #1 in the USA and peaked at #3 in the UK.


Jailhouse Rock
In his third film, 1957's Jailhouse Rock, Elvis and company perform one of the all-time classic rock production numbers with the film's title song. This sequence is considered a primary forerunner of music videos as we know them today. The single Jailhouse Rock hit #1 for 7 weeks in the USA and 3 weeks in the UK.


Stuck On You
On the "Welcome Home, Elvis" edition of Frank Sinatra's series of TV specials, taped on March 26, 1960 for airing on May 12th, Elvis performs his first single release since returning home to America from serving in Germany with the US Army. Stuck on You hit #1 for 4 weeks in the USA and peaked at #3 in the UK.

Are You Lonesome Tonight?
In June 1968, during the taping of his '68 Comeback television special, Elvis performs one of his classic ballads. His original recording of Are You Lonesome Tonight? made it to #1 for 6 weeks in the USA and 4 weeks in the UK in 1960.


Can't Help Falling In Love
From the hit 1961 film Blue Hawaii. Elvis presents one of his greatest love ballads. Can't Help Falling in Love peaked at #2 in the USA and, with its flipside Rock-a-Hula Baby, had a 4-week run at #1 in the UK. Elvis closed virtually all his concerts of the 1970s with this song.


Return To Sender
From the 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls! Return to Sender peaked at #2 in the USA and was #1 for 3 weeks in the UK. The song was not written for the film, but Paramount heard songwriter Otis Blackwell's demo recording and insisted that Elvis include it. Elvis recorded several Blackwell songs over the years, including All Shook Up and Don't Be Cruel.


In The Ghetto
Filmed at Elvis' summer 1970 engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas during production of the concert documentary film Elvis, That's the Way It Is. His 1969 single release of In the