Elvis: The Ultimate Performance (1981)

Come with me as we explore this obscure vinyl release from 1981, which is a little unusual.
Check out my Recording Sessions Videos in this Playlist:
• Elvis' Recording Sessi...

[@jimwilliams133]

as usual from you another forgotten Elvis gem;thanks for sharing with us.

[@richardgosztyla697]

Ahhh yes. K-Tel. Elvis live was my first Elvis LP and Cassette that I purchased with my own money. When I was 5, Mum and Dad pulled out their record collection and said, “you can choose 1 record for yourself”. I chose Elvis Rockin” On Volume 1. Mum quickly said no to me choosing any Elvis. What attracted me was the back cover with the blue jumpsuit. Anyway, Dad saw I was upset and he went out and got me that album on cassette. I then went on to listen to that album every waking moment I had, so much so that I eventually wore out the cassette. So I saved my pocket money and purchased Elvis Live. The local Woolworths has a lot of K-Tel records so once I got it home, that’s all that was played. I honestly think I turned Mum and Dad off Elvis because of my incessant playing. I would play it in my bedroom, standing on a small box miming the whole album. I remember Dad opened the door to tell me that lunch was ready and he said, “hey Elvis, your lunch is ready”. Whenever I hear the words K-Tel, I’m always reminded of those days and that album. Thank you Duncan, another great video. Keep them coming.

[@karentranter7806]

Hi Duncan ♥ Great video, very interesting. Thank you Duncan xxx 💝

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks Karen, and thanks for watching!

[@Axeman517]

I remember buying this in a department store in the 80s. (Here in the US). K-Tel sold on tv here as well, though I don’t recall seeing any commercials for this on television. Loved the song selection! Great video, Duncan

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks for your comment AxeMan , that’s really interesting, I didn’t realise KTel were a thing in the States. Thanks for watching!

[@MJTheDJ1964]

Another great video on an album that I never heard of.

[@pintsizedbiker]

My mum bought the cassette for my dad at the time. It was our go to Elvis tape in the car. I now own the record.

[@paulshilton3520]

Nice content on your channel interesting to delve into these topics. Enjoy them here in Brisbane 👍👍⚡⚡⚡

[@paul.grayson1]

I'm from New Zealand and it came out here in 81 excelly the same as your copy , K-tell label and same cover . I haven't listened to it in 30 odd years but I like what's on it . I agree it would have been nice to list where the songs came from and if a RCA release maybe that would have happened. We were very grateful for the record as it wasn't a reissue of his greatest hits e g. Hound dog etc . The songs are great and in 81 like I said we were so grateful

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

It’s interesting to know it was released in other countries like New Zealand, thanks. I agree with your comment Paul about the release, I remember being so excited to get it, back in the day. Thanks for watching!

[@kerrydavidsadler980]

Great video on this live ELVIS album, think K-TEL did a fantastic job with this release. Could you do a video on the 1998- 1999 release ELVIS THE CONCERT on cd it was also released in the U.K. thanks and have a great week.

[@ajsmith5295]

I bought this when it first came out and I thought it never rung good especially the introductions because there's different members in the band that played in in person

[@ADH81]

Enjoyed the video, I do wish they would have included some tracks from the 1974 live Memphis album, especially Steamroller Blues and How Great Thou Art. Also RCA/KTel used this LP cover again on an LP called This Is Elvis Country.

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks TCBKnight. I agree the Live in Memphis album is a great show.

[@Axeman517]

I don’t think Steamroller was on the original live Memphis album… either way RCA was using earlier albums since they got the royalties from that.

[@theking3377]

You could get K-Tel albums in Australia.

[@michaelalker5804]

Hi Duncan I was 11 years old when I got this from Woolworths in 1981 and constantly played it I even remember the Ads for Ultimate performance Inspirations and Love songs By the way did you know there are 2 different back covers ? One has photos One doesnt Great videos keep it up

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Hi Michael, I bought my copy in Woolworths back then as well. That’s really interesting, I didn’t realise there was a different back cover. Thanks for watching.

[@Chydchannelmirage]

Interesting to see a study of this not often mentioned album. I have it but like yourself it has been a long time since I plated it. But you missed one thing, the liner notes do indeed explain from which three live concerts the songs are taken. I liked your video.

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

You’re right the liner notes do mention the 3 concerts tracks are taken from. What I meant though, is that they don’t say which songs are from which concert. Thanks for watching.

[@forestgeorge8855]

It is a interesting concept. Seriously, I’ve been thinking of in terms of good produced material what would be considered an ultimate concert album. I know Splitter AI didn’t exist in 1981, but there could have been a better way to remove the introduction of Blue Suede Shoes 1969. Honestly, if we were using tracks from live releases done back in the day. I’d probably have included On Stage and Recorded On Stage In Memphis albums in the set list. This is tough in 2023 because we have so much material now. If we were pretending to be 1981, and we could only use previously released material … we’d be stuck with I Got a Woman from 1977. This one is tricky …

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

I agree forestgeorge, live in Memphis and On Stage would have been good sources to take tracks from. Thanks for watching!

[@dianekolb3703]

I have the Ktel album The Ultimate Performance. Picked it up recently and i do enjoy it from time to time, not my go to Album! The jacket is very flimsy! I also have Elvis Love songs and do enjoy that also! I agree they could have picked some other tracks if possible!

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks for your comment Diane, and thanks for watching!

[@stephenjerome4135]

A great video on what I think is a rather interesting Elvis live album. I think the track listing on this album is quite good and there's some gems on there like Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto and American Trilogy. However I do feel that including the Introductions by Elvis section was a little odd as if you think about it, some of the members of his band wouldn't have played on all of the tracks on the album. Personally if I was compiling this I wouldn't have included it. Like you I agree the transition from See See Rider into Blue Suede Shoes is a little jarring and doesn't quite go together very well. I think it has a great intro piece and would have been better suited as the opening track to side 2 of the album. What are your thoughts Duncan? For me though, the one track I absolutely love that would have really made this the ultimate performance is You Gave Me A Mountain from the Aloha concert. I think that is a fabulous song and a real missed opportunity not including it in the track list. I quite like this album really and i think K-tel did a pretty good job putting this together. However it's not my favourite go to live album. For me that would have to be Aloha From Hawaii.

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment Stephen. I hadn’t thought about blue suede shoes to start side 2, I think that would have worked better, particularly in the days when everyone listening to it was ‘turning it over’ be it on record or cassette. Thanks for watching!

[@forestgeorge8855]

I’m upset. Too many projects to make on this one.

[@paul.grayson1]

Are you going to post more videos ? Or I'm going to unsubscribe,love what you post but six months at the moment apart .........

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Hi Paul, Thank you for watching. My apologies for not posting for a while. I had an accident several months ago, which has affected my ability to balance the day job and making videos. I want to do more video, and will really try to get new videos up soon.

[@tonytcb4504]

Great video my friend ❤

[@someoldelvisguy2331]

Thanks Tony.