Arriving in Hawaii Jan. 9

Elvis arrived in Hawaii on January 9, 1973 and begun rehearsals at the Hawaiian Village Hotel while the Aloha set was being constructed.

These rehearsals lasted almost up to the first concert (The Alternate Aloha) on Friday January 12. The following night, at 12.30 a.m. January 14, Elvis took to the stage for the 'main event', Aloha From Hawaii, which was beamed via satellite around the world and seen in more than 40 countries by an estimated 1.5 billion people.

More than $75,000 was raised for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund from voluntary donations on admission to each concert.

The magnitude of the event demanded Elvis step up to a new level ' and he did just that, performing at his vocal best with a power and feeling rarely matched in any other performance, or for that matter any other artist!

Aloha From Hawaii (the first live concert performance via satellite) was broadcast live to Asia and Australia, then on the following night to Europe. Aloha was not shown in the USA until April 4, when an expanded version was aired on NBC attracting 51% of the viewing audience.

Aloha From Hawaii

The resulting RCA double LP, released in February, was the first quadraphonic release to top the charts. It was certified double platinum and spent a total of 52 weeks on the charts.

Now 31 years after the event we are treated to the ultimate 'Aloha From Hawaii' DVD release containing not only the historic January 14 concert but also the rehearsal concert recorded on January 12. Also included is the post concert 'insert song' session where Elvis recorded five songs ('No More' was not used) that were added to the expanded American TV broadcast. The original American broadcast version complete with the original bonus songs has been included for historical purposes.

Disc one starts with Elvis' arrival by helicopter from Honolulu airport and the subsequent greeting of the fans. This footage lasts 17.20 minutes although it takes some eight minutes before Elvis' helicopter actually lands. It shows a relaxed Elvis meeting and greeting excited fans before he is whisked away to rehearsals.

Next up are the two concerts, which have been re-edited from scratch and are complete without any forced omissions due to 'copyright reasons' that have plagued the recent Aloha and 68 Comeback Special DVD releases.

Aloha From Hawaii

Many new camera angles have been included resulting in a vastly improved and cohesive concert experience. Songs such as 'Burning Love' and 'Suspicious Minds' now appear more dramatic thanks to the better camera choices. The camera set up is essentially the same in both shows, yet each contains unique shots and together with a different looking Elvis ' hair cut ' both concerts are special in their own way.

The sound quality is also greatly improved, with all instruments and backing vocals clearer than ever before, complimenting Elvis' fine performance. Elvis is more relaxed in the rehearsal show, smiling and interacting more with the audience than he does the following night. Some performances are not as polished ' for example Elvis misses some of the lyrics to 'Burning Love' - and generally preserving his voice by holding back on some high notes. However songs such as 'Steamroller Blues' benefit from the relaxed approach. Whereas in the satellite performance, 'You Gave Me A Mountain' and 'I'll Remember You' stand out because of a more focused Elvis.

The remastered sound and picture are most welcome and each show now has a whole new contemporary feel. Thankfully the original montage split screen effect that 'plagued' the original broadcast has been significantly reduced.

According to EPE's Todd Morgan, the thing the production team are proudest of is 'Fever'. 'We spent a lot of time on that, doing everything we could to keep you on Elvis so you get to see what he's doing when everybody screams. On the original broadcast show, it's a montage screen, and much of it is on the audience, or you see these little blocks of him in the montage.'

Aloha From Hawaii - Deluxe Edition DVD

Disc two contains the after concert 'insert songs' recording session and the original American broadcast version of the show.

Elvis returned to the stage sometime after the end of the live broadcast to record the following five songs for inclusion in the American TV version. 'Blue Hawaii', 'KU-U-I-PO', 'No More' (not used), 'Hawaiian Wedding Song' and 'Early Morning Rain'.

Here we see a tired but professional Elvis completing his contract for the show. This is a real bonus for the fans, allowing us a unique view of Elvis' recording process. We see Elvis' patience and humor despite the late hour and some technical glitches. Due to how the session was produced to allow for the addition of Hawaiian scenery, it has been possible to present the footage from both cameras on screen at the same time.

Overall, an exciting and nicely packaged set in a deluxe three-fold digi-pack with informative booklet. The front and back cover art is simple yet very effective but needs to be viewed in person to truly appreciate the glittering effect! Thanks EPE!

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