Quote:

"Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the 20th century."

(Leonard Bernstein)


Quote:

"If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary; If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible."

(George Klein)


Quote:

"For a dead man, Elvis Presley is awfully noisy."

(Professor Gilbert B. Rodman)


Quote:

"History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono!"

(Jerry Schilling)


Quote:

"Absolute id crashed into absolute superego...as the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest."

(Mark Feeney on the 'Elvis meets Nixon' meeting)


Quote:

"Elvis is everywhere"

(Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper)


Quote:

"...especially in the South, they talk about Elvis and Jesus in the same breath"

(Michael Ventura, LA Weekly)


Quote:

"The image is one thing and the human being is another...it's very hard to live up to an image"

 

(Elvis Presley, Madison Square Garden press conference, 1972)


Quote:

"Elvis was a major hero of mine. I was actually stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something"

(David Bowie)


Quote:

"No-one, but no-one, is his equal, or ever will be. He was, and is supreme"

(Mick Jagger)


Quote:

"I wasn't just a fan, I was his brother...there'll never be another like that soul brother"

(Soul legend, James Brown)


Quote:

"Before Elvis there was nothing!"

(John Lennon)


Quote:

"There were rock 'n' roll records before Heartbreak Hotel, but this was the one that didn't just open the door…it literally blasted the door off its rusted, rotten, anachronistic hinges…. producing....no propelling, an unstoppable, fundamental and primordial shift in not only musical, but social, political and cultural history"

(JNP, BBC website)


Quote:

"Elvis, the musician, is largely a relic belonging to the baby boomer generation...Elvis, the icon, is arguably one of the most potent symbols of popular culture"

( Dr. John Walker)


Quote:

"It [rock & roll] was always about Elvis; not just because he was Elvis, but because he was the big star"

(Bono from U2)


Quote:

""If they had let me on white radio stations back then, there never would have been an Elvis"

(Little Richard)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVD Review: "Born To Rock"

'Elvis' performances visually remixed for the new millenium'

For several years, many fans have been calling on BMG to issue an Elvis greatest hits DVD.

While we are waiting for such a release, enterprising fans have been busy putting together their own DVD compiles, several of which reveal many hours of toil in producing attention grabbing video treats.

Early in 2005 we welcomed the excellent Elvis 1st, 2nd, 4ever, a three hours video DVD extravaganza of Elvis' well known and some lesser known recordings. In the mix was various unreleased and candid footage which gave many tracks a new feel and visual appeal.

The latest unofficial release is Born To Rock, a 24 track pot pourii of eclectic musical and visual offerings. Rock, pop and big ballads are all on display showcasing The King's incredible musical variety, often in a stimulating new way.

From its opening psychedelic assault on your senses to its more subdued offerings, Born To Rock criss-crosses rich musical territory and stimulates your senses. While it won't be to everyone's taste, you can't help but be impressed by the creativity expressed by many of the tracks.

The audio and visual remixing varies between the impressive obvious to small touches which add immense value to our viewing enjoyment.

The DVD comprises four sections. The Rockin' 50's, Swingin' 60's and Killer 70's represent the traditional phases of Elvis' music career while 'Remixed' frontlines the contemporary approach to producing music videos.

The selections in each section are a thoughful and appropriate group:

Remixed

  • C'mon Everybody ("Born to Rock" take)
  • Rubberneckin'
  • Guitar Man
  • Blue Suede Shoes
  • Clean Up Your Own Back Yard
  • Elvis vs. JXL

Rockin' 50's

  • I Was The One
  • Dixieland Rock
  • Let Me
  • Hound Dog
  • Paralyzed
  • Big Hunk O'Love

Swingin' 60's

  • Shoppin' Around
  • Rock A Hula Baby
  • Hard Knocks
  • If You Give Me All Your Love
  • Little Sister
  • Bossa Nova Baby

Killer 70's

  • Burning Love
  • CC Rider
  • Polk Salad Annie
  • Way Down
  • Jailhouse Rock
  • Walk A Mile In My Shoes

Born To Rock is striking from the opening track, the titular remixed version of C'mon Everybody. Using a neo-psychedelic visual, this is surreal stuff! Also included in the Remixed section are the video clips for Elvis vs. JXL and Rubberneckin'....but with a visual twist!

The section Rockin' 50's opens with another neo-psychedelic offering of an underrated classic, I Was The One. Let Me (from Love Me Tender) stands up well on its own as a video track and the video for Dixieland Rock is lifted straight from King Creole with an audio overdub. Paralyzed neatly plays out to a series of still shots of The King, and fittingly we get the "bump & grind" version of Hound Dog on The Milton Berle Show that so outraged parts of middle America.

Not surprisingly, the Swingin' 60's is a collection of videos taken from several of Elvis' movies (OK, Little Sister is from the 1970 release, Elvis That's The Way It Is). The inclusion of If You Give Me All Your Love (from Double Trouble) is arguably a surprise, but it works very well. The laid back Clean Up Your Own Back Yard, itself taken from the most innovatively filmed of Elvis' narrative movies, The Trouble With Girls (and how to get into it), shows some nice flourishes.

The Killer 70's It also includes a nicely constructed visual montage to background Way Down. It is cleverly done. The inclusion in Jailhouse Rock of unofficial concert footage from the 1970s adds real interest to what is a good, fast version. Walk A Mile In My Shoes is sung to a varied and well compiled visual background.

One of the main attractions of releases like Born To Rock is the nice use of visual overlays (sometimes two or three at a time) to add spice to the original visual. As many of Elvis' performances look dated today, contemporary video remixes offer an effective way to give them greater appeal.

The DVD copy we screened came with chapter menu and an attractive picture disc.

Verdict: Born To Rock is a labor of love fused with stimulating visual overlays and montages. While we wait for BMG to release (a long overdue) Elvis' greatest hits DVD compile, Born To Rock will offer us many hours of audio-visual pleasure. Sit back and enjoy!

Click to comment on this review

 

 

 
                    
                   

 

Reviews
Book: Elvis Aaron Presley: A Candle In The Wind
FTD: Too Much Monkey Business
Book: Desert Storm
Book: Elvis On Stamps
Photobook: A Tribute To The King
DVD: Lilo & Stitch 2
FTD: Elvis Today
Concert: Elvis Leaves His Mark
Book: Elvis-UFO Connection
Book: Behind The Image Vol. 2
Book: Elvis on Screen
DVD: Elvis & Me
FTD: All Shook Up
FTD: Tickle Me
CD: Elvis by the Presleys
Book: Warman's Elvis Field Guide
DVD: Why Elvis?
Book: Dewey and Elvis
CD: Black & White Elvis
CD: All Shook Up
Book: Rough Guide to Elvis
FTD: Rockin' Across Texas
FTD: Elvis Is Back
TV Special: "Elvis by the Presleys"
Book: Elvis by the Presleys
CD: Tom Green
Show: Sonny West
CD: A Legendary Performer Vol. 5
Mini-series: Elvis
FTD: Big Boss Man
Articles
Elvis was not a racist!
The Definitive Elvis "blues" album
Elvis on The Creative Edge - Part 2 - The CD
'Elvis Seriously'- Why is Elvis' voice too often ignored
Elvis & Ed Sullivan - The Real Story
It's Over - Gordon Minto on 18 #1's
Elvis - symbol of freedom or not?
The importance of being Elvis
Elvis rules on television! (updated August 2005)
Tribute to Elvis (16 August 2005)
Elvis in the 50s - Maxine Brown
Meeting Elvis & Priscilla
How & where to sell your Elvis collection
Elvis in the 1970s
More on Elvis on TV
"Orion" gunned down!
Elvis Is Back
Elvis - Hero with 1000 faces
Elvis Film Guide
Elvis rules on television! (updated May 2005)
Elvis & other major artists miss out on Grammy Awards
How did Elvis die?
Interviews
Max Pellicano
Ronald King (Elvis On Stamps)
Bernard Lansky
Albert Wertheimer
Priscilla Presley
Marshall Terrill
Lisa Presley on Larry King Show
Tony Joe White
Stanley Oberst
Bud Glass (part 2)
Red & Sonny West
Ed Bonja (Part 2)
Ernst Jorgensen
Phil Aitcheson (Presley Commission)
 
Audio-visual
Elvis On Tour (Hampton Roads) footage
Elvis On Tour
Graceland cam
Listen to the Elvis "strung out" in Vegas audio
The "Real" Elvis off-stage
Unreleased Elvis audio now online
View EPE Graceland tourism ads
View video of "All Shook Up" opening night on Broadway
 
Reference
All about Elvis
All about Elvis tribute artists
All about Lisa Presley
All about Graceland
Elvis books 2005-07
Elvis film guide
Elvis Online Virtual Library
Elvis Presley Research Forum
Elvis was a racist? (archives)
Elvis Week 2005
Links to Elvis' family & friends
Online Elvis Symposium
Sale of EPE "Archives"
6th Elvis Website Survey
Spotlight on The King
"Wikipedia" Elvis bio
 
 

Quote:

"Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture"

(Dr. Gary Enders)


Quote:

" Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together....which subconciously gives our world meaning"

(Anonymous)


Quote:

"Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis"

(humorist Dave Barry)


Quote:

"He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying"

(Greil Marcus, "Dead Elvis")


Quote:

"I think Elvis Presley will never be solved"

(Nick Tosches)


Quote:

"He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here"

(Carl Perkins)


Quote:

"When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybody...hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail"

(Bob Dylan)


Quote:

"When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley"

(Sir Paul McCartney)


Quote:

"You can't say enough good things about Elvis. He was one of a kind"

(Johnny Cash)