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CONCERT YEARS REVIEWS/TITLE> <meta name="keywords" content="bmg news,BMG News,BMG NEWS"> <meta name="description" content="News on upcoming worldwide Elvis CD / vinyl releases from BMG"> <link href="/scripts/styles.css" rel="styleSheet" type="text/css"> </HEAD> <DIV align="left"> <TABLE border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="600"> <TR> <BODY BGCOLOR="00FFFF"> <TD width="20%" align="center"><A href="ABOUT_.SHTML">WWE POLICY</A></TD> <TD width="20%" align="center"><A href="INTERVIEWS_.SHTML">INTERVIEWS</A></TD> <TD width="20%" align="center"><A HREF="mailto:worldwideelvis@comcast.net"> E MAIL </A></TD> <TD width="20%" align="center"><A href="ORDERFORM_.SHTML">ORDER INFO</A></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <TABLE BORDER=0> <td valign=left width 50%> </TABLE> <TABLE WIDTH="600" BORDER="3" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="3"> <tr> <td WIDTH="375" valign="TOP" height="200"BGCOLOR=YELLOW> <BODY BACKGROUND="yelpaper.gif"> <CENTER><IMG SRC="booksbanner.gif" ALIGN=CENTER></CENTER> <CENTER> - UPDATED: JUNE 3, 2006 - - THE CONCERT YEARS REVIEWS - </CENTER> <IMG SRC="erikskarpic.jpg" ALIGN=LEFT> (Erik Star is the third from the left) BY THE CRAZY CANUCK Where to begin? There are so many good things to say about that book that a review seems rather unnecessary, but excellent material deserves praise and any fans of the concert years has to have this book on his shelf. Mr. Skar certainly worked long hours for several years before having that book published, this is extremely well organized and more importantly,VERY accurate. A few books on this era had surfaced along the years but ALL of them contained too many errors, of which some are totally unforgivable considering how basic was the information, moreover the ' other ' books ' suffered from lack of informations on many levels. Yes, there are a few mistakes here and there in the book, but a work of such magnitude couldn't be possibly mistakes free from beginning to end, yet Mr. Skar produced the reference on the subject and there are no contenders near the throne. There are really something for everybody in the book, you have different press reviews that were originally published in the different cities where Elvis performed, this is also beautifully illustrated with LOTS of Elvis Presley photographs in each chapter, and all from famous photographers like ; Sean Shaver, Bob Heis and Keith Alverson among others, may I also add that the details about the photographs are accurate and noticed that only a few aren't located in the good chapter or wrongly dated.At the end of the book, there are all kind of datas related to every concert tours including the jumpsuits worn by Elvis for every shows from 1970 to 1977, here too there are only a few errors, which is also surprising considering that it's not so easy for gathering all the exact informations related to that, these details about jumpsuits aren't given for Vegas and Tahoe, but this is quite understandable as details for all performances in Vegas and Tahoe aren't available or not documented anywhere.Another part of interest at the end of the book, you can find listings of songs that Elvis performed for each Vegas, Tahoe or on tour venues,this is not a listing for every show but mainly a listing of the songs used frequently by Elvis for a particular stand, with extra details on songs rarely sung during that same stand, and in some cases one liners are also mentioned. Somehow Mr. Skar realized the impossible and produced the BEST Elvis book ever available on the concert years from 1969 to 1977, this is now the reference on the subject and any books that has been released in the past on this period in Elvis' career are pale in comparison, and suffice is to say that future projects on the same theme will have to suffer the comparison too. Who knows? Perhaps Mr. Skar will be able to top himself if he decides to update it in several years from now, until then I HIGHLY recommend that book to any fans of the best performer that ever lived on the face of this earth. BY DAVID NEALE <IMG SRC="skarpic1.jpg" ALIGN=RIGHT> You know you have an excellent publication in your possession the moment you first take hold of 'Elvis The Concert Years 1969 - 1977': it is well bound and has an air of quality about it that you cannot fail to miss. Opening the book you find high quality paper has been used for both text and photos, both of which are well printed, though there is a tendency to excessive redness in some photos. But what an excellent selection of photos! As the title of the book implies, it covers the years 1969 until 1977, concentrating on the tours and seasons that Elvis undertook during this time. There is some general background information, too, but this is, thankfully, limited: anyone buying this book will already have this knowledge, so it would have been silly to present it yet again. The book was originally written in Norwegian and published in Norway in 1992. This English-language edition is therefore a translation, but the contents have been updated and expanded for this 1997 edition. The quality of translation is, like other aspects of the book, high, and only very few language errors and misprints creep into the text and, strangely enough, these tend to be in the reprints of the press reports. It would seem, however, that the publishers did not possess an English-language hyphenation routine, as some word-splits are very strange indeed! Each individual tour and season is described with an account of Elvis's preparations, his health, and anything especially remarkable leading up to and during the tour/season; photos from some of the performances for each tour/season accompany this description, resulting in a plethora of images, mostly in colour, an absolute goldmine for concert fans Ñ more than sixty different stage outfits are reproduced! In addition, most tour/season entries are followed by a number of contemporary press reports, providing an excellent source of reference. But this is not all! At the end of the book, author Skar has included lists of all numbers performed during each tour or season, including one-liners, as well as a list of all accompanying musicians and vocalists, together with a chronological overview, offering the date, location, and attendance figures for each of Elvis's performances during the period covered by the book. Note, however, that the lists of songs and musicians cover each tour/season in general and not by individual performance. 'Elvis The Concert Years 1969 - 1977' is a book to be enjoyed: it can be read from cover to cover or simply browsed through at random. It is produced in the "coffee-table" format and will indeed grace any coffee-table, though it probably won't be left on the table long enough to get stained! Buy it, enjoy it; I am sure you will not regret it! <IMG SRC="skarpic2.jpg" ALIGN=LEFT> BY GEOFFREY MC DONNELL Stein Erik Skar first published this book in Norweigen in 1992. Back then it was still an excellent book to English readers because of the SUPERB Colour pictures, concert song and stage wear listings. In 1997 an up-dated English Text version was published and very well received too. For those of you out there still wondering whether this book is worth buying hopefully my review should help you make up your mind!. This is a larger than A4 sized book with 272 pages printed on GOOD quality paper.The up-dated and expanded version here was published by Erik Skar and Paul Grunland in 1997. This version certainly is better with added information about the songs performed and corrections to Ôstage wearÕ listings , such as for 1976 telling which one of the 2 different Bi-Centennial suits he was wearing at each show. I found some of the beautiful large full page photos from the previous edition are represented here as much smaller photos (i.e. the Indian Feather picture from the 31.5.75 A/S) Also most of the ÔclassicÕ concerts from the 70Õs are not given the Ôrun downÕ-(like in the last printing) yet both the 11.12.76 M/S and the 26.6.77 show are examined in detail. This Book covers the time period from July 1969 Ð October 1977. Every Tour, Las Vegas, Tahoe Season is covered here with each chapter covering one such Season or tour or in the case of the Pontiac 31.12.75 show (Event). Each chapter is nicely presented with a fair balanced Text, FULL PAGE photos as well and the BEST examples of the many PRESS REVIEWS . Here in this book you will find 98% of all the best information in one place about his on stage concerts with many,many superb Colour Photos. In this edition Highlights would have to be the 1.8.71 M/S photo on page 34, The ÔGold VineÕ Suit photo from 1974 on page 102 and a Full page photo of the ÔMemphis SuitÕ from the 20.3.74 show on page 106. Many were seen in the 1992 edition such as the ÔKing of SpadesÕ photo from the 28.3.77 show, but are still very worthy (reflecting that time) again here. Las Vegas this time has Great photos from his last 3 shows (i.e. the 11.12.76 D/S,11.12.76 M/S and 12.12.76 closing show.) Also the DETAILS of this Dec 76Õ Season in this book are VERY detailed and a satisfying read. I couldnÕt find many ÔnegativeÕ things to say about this book at all. So starting with the Suits he was wearing It is now generally accepted that for ElvisÕs opening 2.12.75 show he was wearing the V Ð Neck Puffy Sleeves Suit Ð yet in this book we are told itÕs the INDIAN FEATHER SUIT!- (Wrong!) At the 16.10.76 show Elvis was wearing the ÔRed EagleÕ suit , not just a White Suit!. While most listings of songs performed Ôon tourÕ or at Nevada Seasons are very detailed and extensive the Lake Tahoe 1976 Season listing misses quite a few! - i.e. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL, LOVING YOU from the 6.5.76 show and ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT from the 7.5.76 M/S! Maybe they didnÕt have all the tapes at hand to listen too when the book was written?. Reading Stein Erik Skars text NOTHING IMPORTANT is LEFT OUT . If the show was good Ð he says so, if it was poor Ð he says so. If the tour (as a whole) was O.K. again a balanced view explains why. Elvis was of ÔuniqueÕ Calibre! and if you havenÕt bought this book already-then buy it now - ESSENTIAL Reading for all Elvis fans in 2000!. , and certainly worth spending your cash on- you WILL NOT be disappointed. BY ARMOND JOSEPH <IMG SRC="skarpic3.jpg" ALIGN=RIGHT> Elvis in print is big business with a staggering number of titles, and subject matter ranging from the serious to the ridiculous. Yet with so many titles, only a few address the concert era, and only "Elvis: The Concert Years" is comprehensive in scope. For the concert era fan, it is the ultimate book. Stein Erik Skar is our guide from Las Vegas on July 31st 1969 through Indianapolis on June 26th 1977. His background spin on each tour, season, and event, gives us a look into the quality of the shows, and what was influencing ElvisÕ performances. The press coverage rounds out the story and provides some alternate (and sometimes unflattering) views of our man. Sections that catalog the musicians, songs (including one liner's), costumes, tours, etcetera, make this a great source of reference. ItÕs a Òcoffee tableÓ book, but donÕt get the idea that itÕs the Gutenberg Bible. For such an exhaustive source of information the book is streamline and lightweight. The pictures are incredible! Most of them are color concert photos. The pictures are from 1969 through 1977, and theyÕre entered chronologically throughout the book. No pictures from the 50Õs or the movie era (thank goodness). The most impressive aspect of this book is the author himself. He is both an Elvis fan, and a true journalist. He doesnÕt skirt around ElvisÕ darker side nor is he syrupy about Elvis. In professional journalistic fashion, the information is presented without excuse or pretense. And it is clear that Skar did a lot of research. Plus, he is an excellent writer. In the epilogue, for example, he uses the CoronerÕs official report to undo the many myths surrounding ElvisÕ death. Its fascinating reading, and worth the purchase price of the book. As an American born and raised, IÕm pleased with how some fans from outside the U.S. treat our brightest star. And this book stands out as a shining example of honor and respect for Elvis; the type of respect he often doesnÕt get from those in charge of his legacy. An article by Jon Landau is reprinted in the book. A quote from that article reads, Ò[Elvis] remains an artist; in fact, an American artist and one whom we should be proud to claim as our ownÓ (pg.46). I couldnÕt disagree more. In this fantastic document, Skar shows us that Elvis, the greatest concert performer that ever lived, is an artist that belongs to the world. </BODY> </HTML> </td> </tr></TABLE> </BODY> </HTML>