-In The Press - DVD "Elvis: Behind The Image Vol.2"



"Elvis - Behind The Image Vol.2" DVD
(Praytome Publishing/ Bud Glass Production)

When the DVD production "ELVIS - BEHIND THE IMAGE, Vol. I" was released two years ago, it took the fans', collectors' and reviewers' breath away. Praytome Production provided breathtaking, previously unreleased footage of Elvis in pin sharp 8mm quality. We agreed that an augmentation wouldn't be possible.


But a few days ago, Praytome Publishing proved that even 100% are increasable!


"ELVIS - BEHIND THE IMAGE, Vol.II" presents us besides interesting anecdotes of companions the probably wildest concert recordings of the American superstar.


Besides Cynthia Pepper (known from Kissin' Cousins) the two Gospel singers Ed Hill and Ed Enoch , both members of J.D. Sumner's Stamps Quartet, tell about their shared time with Elvis. Nearly one and a half hours we get information from first hand. No rumors, no speculations but facts! Among that worth knowing reports about the legendary "Jungle Room Sessions" in Graceland, the last studio sessions of the great Elvis Presley.


The monologues of the both singers and Cynthia Pepper are being loosened by yet another 8mm material and numerous, superb and unreleased photo works . Besides the message of the death in the American television (CBS-TV, 08-16-1977) we get an emotional statement of J.D. Sumner and several very short 8mm sequences. Among that recordings of the Opening Act of the STAMPS and recordings of "Elvis on the Airport" from 1977.

But already the opening sequence of this DVD makes us guess that it holds something very special, something outstanding ready for us, which tops the sociological aspect of the contemporary witnesses. 2ND TO NONE to other Video and DVD productions Praytome Productions presents us already in the first seconds a brand new futuristic Elvis in the virtual robe of the new millennium. Surrounded by an aura of neon light, we get an idea of what is expecting us…


You thought you experienced Elvis in "Jailhouse Rock" and "Viva Las Vegas", during "That's The Way It Is" and "On Tour" at his dancing climax ? Forget it!


"ELVIS - BEHIND THE IMAGE, Vol. II" shows you in an impressing way, what Elvis was able to on stage!


Compared to that, his dance to "Polk Salad Annie" in TTWII is tame and the "Johnny Be Good" - opening sequence of "Elvis On Tour" is few impressing. When Elvis wiggled with his butt in 1956 in the Ed Sullivan Show he was considered morally harmful to young people. In 1971 it was pure sex!


The fire Elvis was able to raise in November '71, makes us laugh abut the Ed Sullivan-appearance from 1956. Never was Elvis's wildness, his zest for action, his undamped energy and his hot motion sequences documented better, than on this DVD!


Rid of all the necessities of Hollywood Elvis swept over the concert stages of America like a tornado in November 1971. Agile like an athlete and limber like a panther Elvis made thousands of frenetically crying fans become contemporary witnesses of an American phenomenon. "Elvis - Behind The Image, Vol. II" makes us become eye witnesses, too, and helps us to understand (even better) why Elvis is rightly considered as the greatest rock star of the 20th century.


Uninhibitedly he through himself into his hardest rock songs, made his extremely good looking body in peak condition pass through twitches, threw himself on the ground , rocked and rolled and seemed to explode on the stage…
For nearly 20 minutes the breathtaking show recording from November 12th 1971 in Houston, Texas pulsates on our screens, in which Praytome Productions doesn't let us calm down, followed by 15 further hot minutes of wildest stage acrobatics from Dallas, Texas, from November 13th '71.


While our hands grab the arm chair and we don't believe our torn open eyes we experience Elvis letting his body explode from imaginary surges. How else could one explain these wild twitches, which shake his sexy body from tip to toe?


Full of verve Elvis spins in his snow white skintight suit over the boards of the stage, makes his derriere gyrate lasciviously and cuts the air with aggressive karate hits. In the rhythm of the thunderous sound of his beamy TCB Band Elvis rotates around his own axis, makes his legs shake and his arms rotate to the beat of his songs. Subsequent to an abrupt turn he suddenly he takes a startup, rushes over the left half of the stage and throws himself, slipping to the edge of the stage , on his knees. We have never seen anything like that before !!!


The electrifying sound of his rock songs reaches even 33 years after his hot Rock'n'Roll show, without sound, transferred digitally from celluloid to DVD, thousands of avid music lovers in their living rooms.


Never before was Elvis's stage present documented better than on this fantastic live reportage!


After further live recordings from San Bernardino (May 10th 1974), Los Angeles (May 11th 1974) and Las Vegas (September 1st 1974), we get several trailers on further products from Praytome Productions. Trailers, which are so excitingly produced, too, that already this commercial spots have more quality, than some of the loveless and quickly produced Elvis DVDs of the past.


The high excellence of this DVD justifies without a doubt the price of 48 €, which features a correct cost/performance ratio. The picture quality is so high, that only the missing sound might remind us that these are no official TV recordings.

© 2005 by Review by Björn Bergmann (http://www.collectors-service.de.vu)

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