The title of the 1970 documentary That’s The Way It Is might have been plain-spoken, but nothing else was plain about the chronicle of Elvis Presley’s return to the concert stage. And there’s certainly nothing plain about the extravagant treatment being accorded the film and its companion album this summer. Why, we’d even say it’s fit for a – make that, The King. On August 5, Legacy Recordings will team with Warner Bros. Home Video for a massive 8-CD/2-DVD box set including six full-length concerts, rehearsals and rare recordings on compact disc plus two complete versions of the film on DVD.
This new box set has more than twice the audio content of the previous 3-CD Special Edition, released in 2001 by RCA Victor. Whereas that set included the original album with bonus material, the complete August 12, 1970 midnight concert and rehearsals/unreleased tracks, the new box features:
CD 1 – The Original Album plus outtakes and single versions
CD 2 – August 10, 1970 Opening Night concert at Las Vegas’ International Hotel
CD 3- August 11, 1970 Dinner Show
CD 4 – August 11, 1970 Midnight Show
CD 5 – August 12, 1970 Dinner Show
CD 6 – August 12, 1970 Midnight Show
CD 7 – August 13, 1970 Dinner Show
CD 8 – The Rehearsals
The August 11 dinner show and August 12 dinner show are both being released in full for the very first time. The August 10 opening show, August 11 midnight show and August 13 dinner show have only been made available in the past from the collector-oriented Follow That Dream label on, respectively, One Night in Vegas, Live in Las Vegas, and The Wonder of You.
In addition, the two DVDs boast:
DVD 1: 2001 Special Edition, Restoration Featurette, Elvis Career Highlights, Director/Restorer Filmographies, Theatrical Trailer
DVD 2: 1970 Original Theatrical Version, Outtakes
An 80-page book, with photographs, memorabilia, recording data and more, accompanies the set. Also on August 5, Legacy will issue a 2-CD highlights edition of That’s the Way It Is as part of the ongoing Legacy Edition series of Presley reissues.
After the jump, you can read the full contents of Legacy’s press release plus the complete track listing! We also have provided pre-order links!
PRESS RELEASE:
In 1970, Elvis Presley fans were thrilled by the arrival of two cultural milestones: one an album, the other a full-length concert/documentary and each of them called Elvis: That’s The Way It Is. Since then, aficionados of Elvis have been clamoring for a package that included both the album and the film.
On Tuesday, August 5, 2014, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release That’s The Way It Is (Deluxe Edition), the most ambitious Elvis Presley restoration package ever created, bringing together—for the first time ever–the album, the theatrical and home video versions of the film, six full-length concerts (featuring previously unreleased performances), rehearsal highlights and other rare recordings in one astounding and essential package. The result of an historic partnership between Sony Music and Warner Brothers Home Video, the deluxe set combines the video and audio assets of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is with unique and previously unreleased material.
A highly-collectible 8CD/2DVD box set, That’s The Way It Is (Deluxe Edition), marks the first time the 1970 documentary and album have been available in a single package, with bonuses including unreleased material, remixed and remastered audio and a new 80-page book detailing the entire event with facts, songwriter and musician interviews, and photos in a deluxe 8CD/2DVD box set. A 2CD Legacy Edition of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is will also be available. Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (Deluxe Edition) is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
Originally released on RCA Records in November 1970, Elvis: That’s The Way It Is combined eight studio tracks, recorded in Nashville, and four live concert performances recorded in Las Vegas during Presley’s 1970 “Summer Festival” season at The International Hotel in Las Vegas to create what the All Music Guide has called “…one of his best…” and “essential listening for Elvis fans, both die-hard and casual.”
Though never considered a soundtrack album, Elvis: That’s The Way It Is was initially released to accompany the first theatrical run of “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is,” a 1970 documentary feature, directed by Denis Sanders, which combined on-stage, off-stage and behind-the-scenes footage in Presley’s first non-dramatic film since his 1956 Hollywood movie debut. In the documentary, Sanders captured and illuminated a pivotal moment in Elvis’ transformation from teen idol to consummate showman, Memphis meets Vegas via Hollywood, the King’s return to full concert performances after years of film stardom.
Elvis Presley had made a dramatic comeback two years prior to these shows in a transcendent NBC-TV special, which aired in December 1968. The International Hotel, then-newly-built and the largest live venue in Las Vegas, booked Presley for an unprecedented 57 show run in July 1969, a four-week-long residency that would raise the bar and set the standard for superstar entertainment in Vegas and beyond. “There are several unbelievable things about Elvis, but the most incredible is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars,” Newsweek wrote of his incredible new approach to live performance at the time, while Rolling Stone lauded Elvis as “supernatural–his own resurrection.”
Early in 1970, Elvis returned to Vegas for a second engagement at the International, with RCA recording songs for the then forthcoming On Stage, February 1970. Elvis was on a roll and making big plans–including a feature film–surrounding what would be his third Las Vegas engagement, scheduled for the summer of 1970
On June 4, 1970, Elvis arrived at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, where producer Felton Jarvis had assembled a hot new session band featuring Elvis’ on-stage guitar legend James Burton. Five nights of recording generated material for no less than three future albums and four singles, including Elvis: That’s The Way It Is and the essential Elvis Country album.
On July 14, rehearsals for the movie and live shows commenced at the MGM lot in Culver City, California. The Hollywood cameras rolled for five different rehearsals prior to the opening night on August 10, including augmentation run-throughs with the singers and the orchestra at the hotel. Unquestionably, Elvis was keen to broaden his repertoire for the film, as more than 60 songs were attempted during the period, far more than the usual average of 20 to 25 that would normally be chosen. Over the four nights filmed by MGM, Elvis and his band worked tirelessly, trying out a broad variety of musical styles, emphasizing his desire to share the wide range of music he loved with his audience. Director Denis Sanders captured the end result magnificently, providing fans throughout the world with their first glimpse of the new contemporary Elvis performing at the peak of his vocal prowess both in rehearsal and on the stage.
That’s The Way It Is (Deluxe Edition) centers on the six complete shows recorded and partially filmed by MGM. Two of the shows are released for the first time in their entirety; two more have only been available only through the mail-order Elvis fan-club network. The original RCA album is expanded with the four single sides from the period, and a selection of “fly-on-the-wall” outtakes from the June Nashville sessions that produced the majority of tracks for the album. Completing the audio section, a separate disc of insightful rehearsal highlights, featuring unusual song selections showcases both the hard work and the playful atmosphere that governed Elvis’ relationship with his musicians.
The original Elvis: That’s The Way It Is includes fiery renditions of “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” previously a hit for Dusty Springfield; “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,’” made famous by The Righteous Brothers, and a show-stopping rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The original album and singles will fill Disc One of the new edition, with six CDs worth of concert performances and one of rehearsal takes from the Summer of ’70 International Hotel residency.
That’s The Way It Is (Deluxe Edition) puts the original RCA album and the 1970 MGM documentary feature together in a single package for the first time. It includes both the original theatrical DVD version (1970) and the re-edited and extended DVD version from 2000.
Elvis Presley, Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (8-CD/2-DVD Deluxe Edition) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
2-CD Legacy Edition: Track Listing and Links TBA
CD 1
THE ORIGINAL ALBUM (RCA Victor LSP-4445, 1970)
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Twenty Days And Twenty Nights
How The Web Was Woven
Patch It Up
Mary In The Morning
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
I’ve Lost You
Just Pretend
Stranger In The Crowd
The Next Step Is Love
Bridge Over Troubled Water
THE ORIGINAL SINGLES
I’ve Lost You (single version)
The Next Step Is Love (single version)
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (single version)
Patch It Up (single version)
THE OUTTAKES
How The Web Was Woven (take 1)
I’ve Lost You (take 1)
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (take 2)
Patch It Up (take 1)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (take 1)
CD 2: August 10 – Opening Night
That’s All Right
Medley: Mystery Train/Tiger Man
I Can’t Stop Loving You
Love Me Tender
The Next Step Is Love
Words
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Something
Sweet Caroline
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Polk Salad Annie
Introductions
I’ve Lost You
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Patch It Up
Can’t Help Falling In Love
CD 3: August 11 – Dinner Show
That’s All Right
I Got A Woman *
Hound Dog
Heartbreak Hotel
Love Me Tender *
I’ve Lost You
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Something
I Can’t Stop Loving You *
Sweet Caroline *
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Polk Salad Annie *
Introductions *
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Suspicious Minds *
Can’t Help Falling In Love *
CD 4: August 11 – Midnight Show
That’s All Right
I Got A Woman
Hound Dog
Love Me Tender
There Goes My Everything
Just Pretend
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Something
Men With Broken Hearts
Walk A Mile In My Shoes
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Polk Salad Annie
One Night
Don’t Be Cruel
Love Me
Instrumental Vamp
Heartbreak Hotel
Introductions
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
CD 5: August 12 – Dinner Show
That’s All Right *
I Got A Woman *
Hound Dog *
Heartbreak Hotel *
Love Me Tender *
I’ve Lost You *
I Just Can’t Help Believin’ *
Patch It Up
Twenty Days And Twenty Nights
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ *
Polk Salad Annie *
Introductions *
Blue Suede Shoes *
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Suspicious Minds *
Can’t Help Falling In Love *
CD 6: August 12 – Midnight Show
That’s All Right
Medley: Mystery Train/Tiger Man
Hound Dog
Love Me Tender
Just Pretend
Walk A Mile In My Shoes
There Goes My Everything
Words
Sweet Caroline
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Polk Salad Annie
Introductions
Heartbreak Hotel
One Night
Blue Suede Shoes
All Shook Up
Medley: Little Sister/Get Back
I Was The One
Love Me
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
CD 7: August 13 – Dinner Show
That’s All Right
I Got A Woman
Hound Dog
Love Me Tender
Don’t Cry Daddy
In The Ghetto
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Stranger In The Crowd
Make The World Go Away
Sweet Caroline
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Polk Salad Annie
Introductions
The Wonder Of You
Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes
One Night
All Shook Up
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
CD 8: The Rehearsals
Alla En Al Rancho Grande
Ghost Riders In The Sky
Cotton Fields
Froggy Went A-Courtin’
Baby Let’s Play House
I Was The One
Money Honey
Don’t
(Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I
Such A Night
It’s Now Or Never
What’d I Say
Yesterday
Medley: Little Sister/Get Back
Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home
I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
Stranger In My Own Home Town
Farther Along
Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Oh Happy Day
(*) denotes previously unreleased track
DVD 1
2001 Special Edition
Restoration Featurette Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis – That’s The Way It Is Presley Career Highlights
Director / Restorer Filmographies
Theatrical Trailer
Scene Selections
Mystery Train/Tiger Man
In The Studio
That’s All Right
Little Sister/Get Back
Horseplay
Twenty Days And Twenty Nights
Las Vegas
Cattle Call/Chime Bells
Words/You Can’t Say That
Mary In The Morning
Countdown To Showtime
That’s All Right
I Got A Woman
Hound Dog
Heartbreak Hotel
Love Me Tender
I Can’t Stop Loving You
Just Pretend
The Wonder Of You
In The Ghetto
Patch It Up
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Polk Salad Annie
One Night
Don’t Be Cruel
Blue Suede Shoes
All Shook Up
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
DVD 2
1970 Original Theatrical Version
Outtakes
Scene Selections
Credits
Good Morning, Hollywood Camera
Bonafide Fans Of Elvis
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Elvis’ Summer Festival
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (rehearsal)
A Romantic Wedding
Opening Night Jitters
That’s All Right
I’ve Lost You
Patch It Up
When I First Started
Love Me Tender
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Sweet Caroline
I Just Can’t Help Believin’
Presley Fans In Vegas
Elvis Impersonators
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Heartbreak Hotel
One Night
Blue Suede Shoes
All Shook Up
Polk Salad Annie
Audience Mingling
Suspicious Minds
Can’t Help Falling In Love
