Elvis: Close Up

by Elvis Presley

Overview

This four-CD Elvis box will lure fans with a previously unreleased concert recording from 1972, which features an incendiary pre-release version of "Burning Love" among its many highlights. The other three discs would seem to be for hard-core Presley devotees only, but listen up. One disc is filled with previously unreleased stereo masters from the '50s, including the movie versions of the theme songs to Lovin' You and Jailhouse Rock, the former especially notable for the swinging, jazzy feel Elvis gave it. Disc 2, titled "Unreleased Movie Gems," culls most of its material from G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii but also features examples of the King's tender side on some beautiful performances from Flaming Star and Wild in the Country. Disc 3, "The Magic of Nashville," is a collection of outtakes from the '60s sessions at RCA's now-fabled Studio B, another CD chock-a-block with some amazing vocal performances that Elvis deemed unworthy of release. At first glance the casual fan may see little of interest here, but Close Up is a worthwhile addition to the Presley library, if only for the clear path of artistic growth it documents, from those '50s takes to the rousing '72 concert performances. Even in what he considered his lesser moments, Elvis was several cuts above the competition, as is asserted by this trove of fine performances.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/13/2018
Label:	Sony Uk
UPC:	0190758269627
catalogNumber:	8269627

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Elvis Presley   Primary Artist

Editorial Reviews

Elvis: Close Up is part of an ongoing series of Elvis Presley box sets BMG has created to keep collectors supplied with "new" material, in a manner of speaking. All 89 of the recordings are previously unreleased mixes and alternate takes, with each disc focusing on a different period of Elvis' career. The first disc contains stereo mixes of recordings from 1957, including "Jailhouse Rock" and "I Beg of You." These mixes, created from the binaural session tapes, will be worth the price for many stereophiles. The second disc has alternate takes of songs from four of Elvis' early-'60s movie soundtracks, with all of the recordings hailing from 1960 and 1961. Disc three is titled "The Magic of Nashville" and features Nashville recordings mainly from the early '60s, but not Elvis Country fare; with the exception of Jerry Reed's "U.S. Male," the songs are pop, rock and gospel tunes that include alternates of the hits "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" and "Kiss Me Quick." The fourth disc presents a live show from San Antonio, TX, recorded on April 18, 1972, which was the final show of the tour documented in Elvis on Tour. Apart from the stereo mixes, there aren't many revelations, but those who never tire of alternate takes will get exactly what they expect. The import-only Follow That Dream label goes into even greater depth for collectors with an inexhaustible passion for all things Elvis, but Elvis: Close Up has the added advantage of being readily available and often at very reasonable prices.

All Music Guide - Greg Adams