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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elvis was different, December 14, 2002
I have always been an Elvis fan. He was/is the greatest performer/singer that ever lived. The Beatles were great, and beyond all others in musical accomplistments, except for Elvis, who far outranks them. In this DVD, one is able to experience him in the "unplugged" setting with a few of his "friends", including Scotty Moore, & D.J. Fontana. I had not seen any of this show since I first experienced it in 1968. Back then, we thought that he did it just to put the Beatles, (then at the height of their influence), in perspective. He did that.But while viewing the program last night, I realized some things that are apparent now to me, that I would not have taken note of back then. I was a little uncomfortable with the way that everyone with him was dressed in red jumpsuits, while obviously adhering to careful agreement to every word Elvis said. They were indeed, the "yes-men" that have been revealed so often in the literature written since his death. After all the technological advances since that time, it seemed strange to see him passing guitars back and forth to Scotty Moore. Fontana used a guitar case as a drum, which gave an annoying "cardboard" sound when the DVD stereo sound was used. If this was done today, there would no limitations observed in the quality of equipment used, even in an "informal-unplugged" setting. Elvis even sang the last song, "Memories", to what sounded like a karaoke tape being played off-stage. Today, there would have been an orchestra behind him for accompaniment. Also, the between song chatter would have been much better planned. At one point, Elvis made reference to the "Music of today", saying that he "liked" the Beatles, and another group,(I cannot remember), before adding "and the rest" in a very flippant, unimportant manner. He really seemed to me to be doing this show as if it had just been suggested to him an hour ago. There was almost no preparation at all. Having said that, let me now say that he pulled it off wonderfully! ONLY Elvis could do a show in this manner, and have it be a classic! His impromptu singing was as remarkable as I remembered it to be. No human voice was ever as beautiful as his! My wife lived all her life in another country until she married me a few years ago, and she had NEVER seen him on video before, till last night. All she could talk about was how handsome he was! He sang one masterpiece after another, and ALL she could talk about was how "beautiful that man is!" Her face seemed glossed over thoughout the whole show, as if she had been hypnotized! She was STILL talking about his appearance when I left for work this morning!! I am not sure that I am comfortable with her reaction to him, even with him being dead! There will never be another performer like he was, and this DVD is proof of that! As long as these films of him exist, there will be people wanting to experience watching him as he was in 1968. There has not been any performer to appear on the horizon of entertainment in the years since his death, that even remotely approach the charisma, and talent, of this man. This DVD is a treasure, and highly reccomended to most people.
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