Aloha From Hawaii (Deluxe Edition) - Elvis Presley > Reviews > Aloha From Hawaii

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Some great songs from the world's greatest performer
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

ALOHA FROM HAWAII is the soundtrack CD for the television special Elvis made in January 1973. The show was the first ever music concert broadcast live around the world via satellite, and was watched by an audience of over 1 billion people. The show was a fund-raising benefit to raise money for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund and amazingly the event raised over 3 times the estimate, making $75,000 for the fund. Although this sounds small for an event of this kind in this day and age, in 1973 this was a huge sum, and very surprising.

The 25th anniversary CD features the full concert from 14 January 1973, and in addition it features a bonus 5 songs Elvis recorded after the concert, which were added to the US broadcast version of the show. At this time in his live shows Elvis was including an awful lot of chat in addition to his songs, much of which was fuelled by the drugs he was taking. However, in full awareness of what his audience wanted to see in this show, he kept the chatter to a minimum, and instead produced a powerhouse performance of some classic songs.

The range of songs is quite wide. Elvis performs powerful versions of 'Burning Love' and 'Suspicious Minds', and standards such as 'Hound Dog' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. There are also some wonderful cover versions, including Marty Robbins' 'You Gave Me A Mountain' (one of my favourite Elvis songs ever) and Hank Williams' 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry'.

The sound quality on the CD is excellent, and is a fantastic reproduction of a seminal moment in popular music history. This is a recording that should find its way onto the shelf of all Elvis fans. The booklet that comes with the CD features some beautiful photos from the event.

TRACK LISTING
Also Sprach Zarathrusta - See See Rider - Burning Love - Something - You Gave Me A Mountain - Steamroller Blues - My Way - Love Me - Johnny B. Goode - It's Over - Blue Suede Shoes - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - I Can't Stop Loving You - Hound Dog - What Now My Love - Fever - Welcome To My World - Suspicious Minds - Introductions by Elvis - I'll Remember You - Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - An American Trilogy - A Big Hunk O' Love - Can't Help Falling In Love

BONUS SONGS: Blue Hawaii - Ku-u-i-po - No More - Hawaiian Wedding Song - Early Morning Rain