Customer Reviews

Hitstory

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This is the international version of the Hit Story release. It differs from the US version. The first two CDs are the same as the US version, they are the Elvis 30 Number 1 Hits and Elvis 2nd to None CDs. The 3rd CD is where the big difference is. Not only does it include more songs (30 versus 19 in the US version), but it includes many different songs that were hits in other countries but not in the US. In total you get 25 songs in this collection that were not included in the US release. To make room for those 25 songs they ended up leaving off 14 songs, all top 20 hits in the US, that are included in the US release. So while it includes a net 11 more songs on the 3rd CD, it leaves off many songs that US fans may consider essential. This may present a dilemma for some US fans about which version of HitStory to buy. Do you spend a few extra bucks on the import to get some extra songs, or do you buy the US release and get all of Elvis' US top 20 hits? The answer is up to you.

Songs left off this version that were hits in the US and are included in the US version are: I Beg of You, My Wish Came True, Fame and Fortune, I Gotta Know, Flaming Star, Follow That Dream, Ask Me, (Such An) Easy Question, I'm Yours, Puppet on a String, Love Letters, Separate Ways, Steamroller Blues, and If You Talk in Your Sleep.

This collection includes the infamous laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight." This was a live recording where Elvis changed a line of the song to make a joke, which he had been known to do from time-to-time ever since he started performing. But he became so tickled this time that he could not stop laughing. The last half of the song is mostly just Elvis laughing. What makes this recording remarkable is that it was actually released as a single in Europe after his death, and became a hit (which is why it is included here).

This "HitStory" import has the best selling compilations "30 Number 1's" and "2nd to None" as disc one and two. Disc three, "The Story Continues" is not available serperately and is also a seminal Elvis compilation. This import version has a lot more tracks than the US version, 29 versus 19, and it also includes some key tracks such as "Suspicion" that Elvis "best-of's" typically overlook. As an added bounus it also features the infamous "Are You Lonesome Tonight" laughing version. The upshot is that this release has more songs and is a bit more ecclectic than its US counterpart and is a great addtion to any Elvis or music fan's collection. I would go as far to say that this and the US collecion are the best of the best. My only crictism is that they should have included a few more 1970's era singles such as "Raised on Rock", "T-r-o-u-b-l-e" and "If You Talk in Your Sleep (is on the U.S. Version.)

This is the international version of the Hit Story release. It differs from the US version. The first two CDs are the same as the US version, they are the Elvis 30 Number 1 Hits and Elvis 2nd to None CDs. The 3rd CD is where the big difference is. Not only does it include more songs (30 versus 19 in the US version), but it includes many different songs that were hits in other countries but not in the US. In total you get 25 songs in this collection that were not included in the US release. To make room for those 25 songs they ended up leaving off 14 songs, all top 20 hits in the US, that are included in the US release. So while it includes a net 11 more songs on the 3rd CD, it leaves off many songs that US fans may consider essential. This may present a dilemma for some US fans about which version of HitStory to buy. Do you spend a few extra bucks on the import to get some extra songs, or do you buy the US release and get all of Elvis' US top 20 hits? The answer is up to you.

Songs left off this version that were hits in the US and are included in the US version are: I Beg of You, My Wish Came True, Fame and Fortune, I Gotta Know, Flaming Star, Follow That Dream, Ask Me, (Such An) Easy Question, I'm Yours, Puppet on a String, Love Letters, Separate Ways, Steamroller Blues, and If You Talk in Your Sleep.

This collection includes the infamous laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight." This was a live recording where Elvis changed a line of the song to make a joke, which he had been known to do from time-to-time ever since he started performing. But he became so tickled this time that he could not stop laughing. The last half of the song is mostly just Elvis laughing. What makes this recording remarkable is that it was actually released as a single in Europe after his death, and became a hit (which is why it is included here).