Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii

I hadn't seen, even on TV, an Elvis concert performance in 30 years and even though I grew up with "The King" and rock 'n roll, I still was surprised how good this concert turned out to be. I also remember hearing and reading - for years - how fat and bloated Elvis looked in his "last years" but that must have been later because he looked great here.

It also surprised me that Presley did Beatles' songs along with other tunes made famous by other people....and did them really well. Maybe I shouldn't have been because Elvis did Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" way back in the beginning of his career and he liked Chuck Berry songs, which he does in this concert, along with a Jerry Lee Lewis and a Little Richard song. I wish Elvis had done more blues numbers because he sounded very good on "Steamroller Blues," a James Taylor song.

Anyway, whether it's a ballad, or a country song, a gospel tune, a rockabilly number.....whatever, Presley sounded good, showing his versatility. He also had - no surprise - a great band and backup singers. I particularly appreciate the work of lead guitarist James Burton, who's still going strong at age 70.

This concert is available, by the way, on two different DVDs: the "TV concert" and an "extended" version which includes his rehearsals and other bonus features.

This might be Elvis four years before his death and, yes, he's not the super-energetic rockabilly kid from the '50s, but the man wasn't just a legendary performer, this concert shows how well he could sing! I'm only sorry it took me this long to fully appreciate the man's talents.

On Sunday morning, January 14, 1973 a historic concert by Elvis Presley was beamed around the world via satellite. In excess of one billion people watched Elvis play to standing room only at the Honolulu International Center in Hawaii. The special engagement was to raise money for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. A goal of 25 thousand dollars collected was said to be matched and doubled.

Elvis was in peak form musically and physically. He was thin and drop dead gorgeous. His voice was very powerful as he belted out 23 songs, highlighted by 'American Trilogy' and the Kui Lee song that Elvis originally recorded in 1966, 'I'll Remember You'. A top selling soundtrack of the concert was released and is also considered historic.

This was a milestone in the unequaled career of THE KING!

This is it, folks. This is the greatest concert of all time. To me it's to see the light.

Elvis Presley looks more handsome than ever in the film. He sings better than ever, but doesn't do so much rock 'n' roll than he made in the '68 Comeback Special (original name "Elvis"). There he was king of rock 'n' roll, in Aloha from Hawaii he is King of Music.

Special Edition and Deluxe Edition DVD's includes the new edition which is much better than the original US version, which was aired later than the live concert to Asia, Europe and other areas.

10/10

This Was by far the best Elvis Presley Concert I have ever seen, I love the way he moves to the song "Fever" I have every single Elvis Concert on DVD but this one truly takes the cake over the others. I also think that The American Eagle Jumpsuit he wore in this show was his finest. It was cool to see a lot of Elvis' great humor on stage too, like during "Suspicious Minds" he changes the words, "Well don't you know I'm court in a trap I can't walk out "I HOPE THIS SUIT DON'T TEAR UP BABY" and when he spilt water all over his piano player. Fantastic concert. I love it when he sings, "You Gave Me A Mountain" that is one of his best songs.

In 1973, Elvis Presley appeared for two nights in Hawaii and this film of one of those nights was beamed to numerous countries around the world by satellite, the first concert to be so treated. (The other night's concert has been since released as 'Alternate Aloha' and is just as good).

After a crash diet, Presley looks good and is in amazing voice, with his usual backing band and singers (the Stamps Quartet and the Sweet Inspirations). This concert contains gem after gem (including I'll Remember You, a poignant song which fits the moment perfectly).

Perhaps his last great filmed concert (the one in 1977 is simply sad, despite his voice still being in evidence), 'Aloha From Hawaii' is a fantastic memento of an unsurpassed artist who could sing in almost every style. This concert proves that.