Elly Roberts reviews
Elvis Presley: Elvis ‘56
Distributed by
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: WNRD7020
- Released: March 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 10/10
- Running time: 61 minutes
- Region: 2, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Dolby Stereo 2.0
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English
- Retail price: £5.99
- Extras: None
For those of us unfortunate not to have experienced it the first time
around, we can now relive the most monumental period of popular music.
Nineteen fifty six has to be regarded as the year that popular music, and
its culture, truly reached the masses. At its core was non other than truck
driver hillbilly - cat Elvis Presley, who changed the face of popular music
forever: though he did have his ups and downs making the grade. Elvis was
young, (21 years of age), and so was Rock’n’Roll.
In that year he became a
millionaire, on one TV show alone (Ed Sullivan) he performed to 54 million
people – a third of the American population, received three gold records,
was issued a restraining order by a Jacksonville judge for making offensive
gyrations on stage, and dyed his hair jet black. He also signed a seven year
film contract with Paramount Pictures, debuting in Love Me Tender. It would
also be the last year he would be able to walk the streets of America
unnoticed.
This DVD made in 1987, follows the meteoric rise and the
occasional fall of a singer that that set the benchmark for all pop stars to
follow. Even John Lennon admitted, "Before Elvis there was nothing". This
definitive visual and musical feast follows almost every footstep to his
rapid rise to superstardom through exclusive concert footage, black and
white, and colour photographs.
His touring and fame spread throughout
America at breakneck speed, with much of it lovingly compiled here. We see
some incredible early performances both concert and TV shows (Ed Sullivan /
Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show / Steve Allen / Milton Berlle) , with songs
given a full airing rather than the usual edits. The most bizarre being a
clip of Elvis in tuxedo, singing Hound Dog to a dog, poking fun at the TV
critics.
By carefully blending blues, country and gospel he created
rockabilly which soon morphed into Rock’n’Roll. His music, at a time when
‘50s Eisenhower America was conformist, Elvis posed a threat to teenage
delinquency – he looked dangerous with his sideburns, ducktail hair, and
saucy moves. He was constantly defending his stage antics. But even more
challenging was his cross-over appeal for blacks and whites, a cover of
Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti did the trick. This eclectic approach opened
up the floodgates for others to follow.
It was also the time of ‘Colonel’
Parker, who knew a good buck when he saw one. He set up new deals, made
thousands out of merchandise and overlooked the King’s career in military
fashion. A year later he bought Graceland, and lived there for the next 20
years, until he died in August 1977.
A must for music lovers of all ages – worth EVERY penny !
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.