Yesterday I went to see EPiC in the cinema for my ninth time. It is already streaming yet this is the tenth week of it showing in my local flix. Impressively it was still on one of the biggest screens and was still a third full at the afternoon showing. Sydney must love Elvis!
The publicity for the EPiC Original Soundtrack release explained that the album was .. “Executive produced by Baz Luhrmann, and features twenty-seven tracks from the upcoming film combining newly restored live performances with fresh remixes and medleys created from Elvis’ original recordings.”
It is a packed seventy-four minutes of pure Elvis delight. How funny to recall that some of Elvis’ original movie soundtrack LPs ran for under twenty-two minutes. This soundtrack is way more satisfying!
This original soundtrack genuinely does follow the storyline and arc of the movie and also includes some full-length versions of Elvis’ on-stage performances that were edited for the actual film. So if the movie took you on an emotional journey then this CD is a lovely keepsake of the same trip. It truly captures the glory and power and emotion of Elvis' legacy.
The soundtrack CD starts with Elvis’ That's The Way It Is 1970’s performances leaving out the 50s - 60s history lessons, along with the rehearsals.
EPiC Audio Mix: On this soundtrack Elvis’ live performances are much louder, more compressed and with added reverb compared to the original RCA multi-tracks which were a comparatively ''dry mix''. All the new mixes have the backing-vocals placed across the whole spectrum left<>right with Ronnie Tutt’s drums nice and loud and a thumping Jerry Scheff bass.
To be honest Elvis’ vocals are mixed lower than in the original RCA multitracks but this doesn’t remove any of the power of his performance. The mix reminds me of Matt Ross-Spang’s modern updates and it certainly reminds me of the power of seeing this performance on the big-screen.
As you can see below the audio modulation is pushed to the max-limiters – it does actually sound like the LOUD '‘IMAX'’ mix and to be honest sounds much better played through a good Hi-Fi and loudspeakers than on headphones.
The Package
The cd includes a sixteen page booklet with some appropriate Baz Luhrmann stylised Elvis photos.
There is a lengthy and detailed track-list with credits but which unfortunately never notes which shows Elvis’ performances were actually taken from. This review will hopefully reveal all.
In his enjoyable introductory notes Luhrmann explains… “Elvis was always a musical searcher, looking to different flavours and sounds, different riffs and licks. So we looked at re-orchestrations, at new gospel vocals, at sampling and combined Elvis songs together to create entirely new tracks from Elvis DNA. Along the way, we tried to leave room for you, the listener, to have your own personal response to the music, a personal feeling and direct relationship to Elvis’ sound.
My hope is that you’re able to hear something new in this album, and to come away with an even more intimate experience of Elvis the entertainer, musician, and human.”
The Music
Starting with the same clever scene-setting short introduction of ‘Can't Help Falling In Love / Also Sprach Zarathustra / An American Trilogy’ it’s straight into Elvis’ 1970 live performances of ‘That's All Right’ and ‘Tiger Man’.
'That’s All Right (EPiC Version)' - Kicking off with the power-house version of Elvis’ first Sun single from his August 12 1970 dinner show. The intro is tightened up, featuring a thumping, punchy drum intro, and with heightened audience screams mixed in, it all ups the excitement. With the added reverb and audio-compression it is super-powerful.
As in the movie James Burton’s guitar is mixed left - unless he is soloing in which case it is then moved to the middle - and with John Wilkinson’s rhythm guitar right channel. This is a very nice and unique feature of these new mixes.
Surprisingly Elvis’ deliberate joke of “Love me tender, love me true” as included in the movie is cut from the beginning here making it feel more professional.
Movie Note: This August 12 dinner show track as featured in the movie has never been seen before not even on bootleg. This was definitely a new Baz Luhrmann MGM vaults discovery as even in the fabulous Follow That Dream That’s The Way It Is book-set this footage is noted as ‘'Not Located'’.
The CD then goes straight into the fabulous ‘Tiger Man’ (August 12 midnight show) - unfortunately like the film the 'Mystery Train' first section is omitted - but it again reflects the power and excitement of the film’s tight editing.
‘Wearin’ That Night Life Look (Elvis & Jamieson Shaw)' - In the original That's The Way It Is Elvis walked through the crowd to a lengthy 'Love Me Tender' instrumental but in EPiC we get the joy of Elvis telling the band to “just play the hell out of it” as he decides to jump into the audience. This mash-up, with its fabulous ‘Let Yourself Go’ horn-section intro, is a real delight which so cleverly combines the Las Vegas 'Night Life' lyrics with the shoop-shoop “Loved On Look” all about his loving fans. It so suits the scene of Elvis getting super-close to his audience.
In the movie it runs only eighty seconds but here we get the full three minute thirteen second version. This includes an extra mid-way-through gospel section with ‘I John’ piano and also the Sweet Inspirations’ “hallelujah” mixed in. At the end of the song Elvis’ quote “just play the hell out of it” fits perfectly.
Full marks to music producer Jamieson Shaw for this great concept which truly reflects his knowledge of Elvis’ sessions, as well as some cool bass playing and additional scoring. Non-Elvis fans would have no idea that this wasn’t an original Elvis song! A new classic.
‘Hound Dog’ in the movie features the contrast between 1956 and Elvis in 1970 but here we get the short and sweet ‘Hound Dog (EPiC Version)' from the August 11 dinner show. The song neatly starts with Elvis talking - from August 10 opening show - about originally being “a little bitty guy, with little bitty sideburns and little shaky leg, they said put him on TV and shoot him from the waist up.”
‘Polk Salad Annie (EPiC Version)’ - In the movie this is a real highlight, an incredible mix of various rehearsals and live performances amazingly edited together. It is stunning.
This version similarly starts with the “We’re gonna’ get dirty on you” quote from August 10 opening show followed by the “gotta little morphine, give me a little hish-hash” rehearsal teasing. It is basically the movie version slightly tightened up. The intro is August 10 opening show, followed by Elvis scatting “Hey-hey-umm-umm” / “pick-a-mess-of-what?” and with “That’s all they had to eat, but they did all right” taken and then looped from his August 11 dinner show - before we cut to the explosive August 12 midnight show version including the incredible work-out and the end. Just like the movie it is an incredible edit and a joy to listen to.
Movie Note: In the film ‘Polk Salad Annie’ August 10 dinner show and August 11 dinner show are both previously unseen footage.
‘You’ve Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (EPiC Version)’ another classic, the August 11 midnight show version where Elvis fluffs the line, “There’s no tenderness in your eyes when you reach out for me”! The new EPiC audio mix is super–powerful with some lovely tight percussion and powerful Sweet Inspirations' backing-vocals. The added power of this EPiC mix also helps emphasise the intensity that Elvis puts into his sweaty heart-felt performance. This runs full-length four minutes and twenty-one seconds where in the film it is cut to two and a half minutes.
Movie Note: In the film the August 11 midnight show is yet again more never before seen footage!
‘Little Sister/Get Back (EPiC Version)' - Elvis’ outstanding August 12 midnight show sit-down jam playing his Gretch guitar was always a fan highlight from possibly Elvis' ‘'Best All-Time Performance.'’ This new mix places James Burton on the left and also emphasises more of Elvis’ guitar playing, plus increases the power of the backing-vocals. Running three minutes it is a great jam with great call and response from the Sweet Inspirations. Personally I would love to have the whole sit-down-jam, including the missed out ‘I Was The One’ released in this new audio mix.
Movie Note: Only one minute and thirty seconds of ‘Little Sister’ of this jam was previously released with the That's The Way It Is Special edition - ‘Get Back’ was never included.
‘Burning Love (EPiC Version)’ - Based on the RPO version (which despite my generally not enjoying those Elvis / RPO albums is one of their better re-versions) this actually works in the movie with the mix of rehearsals, the pressure of being on-tour, his loving fans as well as the fun of Elvis’ first live attempt at Greensboro. With audience screams mixed in this truly works as a “soundtrack” song.
‘Never Been to Spain (EPiC Version)’ - Baz Luhrmann has stated that discovering this Hampton Roads version was a real find describing it as a “roaring take on 'Never Been to Spain'”
In the song’s intro Elvis notes, “There’s so many places I haven’t been yet, I’d like to go to Europe” before performing a stunning version. One of my very few disappointments with this soundtrack CD is that this is heavily edited taking out James Burton’s guitar solo and the following two verses (from one minute and forty seconds) and thus cutting the song to a short two minutes and ten seconds instead of three minutes and thirty seconds. The full version would have fitted onto the CD.
Movie Note: This Hampton Roads version is yet again never before seen footage.
‘Love Me (Jamieson Shaw Remix)' - Another impressive new ‘'Mash-up'’ mixing Elvis’ 1956 studio version with a ripping ‘I’ve Got Confidence’ funky bass-line and the delightful ‘It Hurts Me’ violins at the end. This is quite different from the movie version but still remains a super-clever mix emphasising Elvis’ closeness to his fans.
Movie Note: EPiC combines various footage along with Elvis’ Hampton Roads performance - with a fan-thrown bra worn on his head - and with the August 12 sit-down-stool, Gretch guitar ending.
‘I Can’t Stop Loving You (EPiC Version)’ - The absolute intensity that Elvis invests into every word of this August 11 dinner show performance is breathtaking. EPiC only comes in half-way through but still demonstrates Elvis’ on-stage power. This full-length version, once again with added audience applause, helps emphasise how hard Elvis worked for his fans.
Movie Note: This song was not featured in the original That's The Way It Is film but was included in the ‘Special Edition’ version.
The applause continues and segues into Elvis unique sit-down ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight? (EPiC Version)’ - here with James Burton’s guitar left channel and Elvis calling out “Sing it Armond” with his beautiful low-bass then emphasised it’s an excellent updated version.
‘Always On My Mind (EPiC Version)' - In EPiC this notably features touching footage of Lisa Marie as a child – but only runs ninety seconds. Taken from Elvis’ March 30 1972 RCA studio rehearsals but with newly added strings and rhythm section the CD version runs a longer two minutes and thrity seconds and is a lovely alternate version. As in the movie it is shortened removing the final repeated choruses.
Movie Note: In the film Elvis’ final comment, “It’s weird isn’t it? On headphones” is actually his comment at the end of the ‘Johnny B Goode’ rehearsal just before they started trying out ‘Always On My Mind’.
‘How Great Thou Art (EPiC Version)’ - Elvis’ stunning Hampton Roads version. It is superb but when seen in the film with the fascinating interaction between Elvis and his backing-singers, it is even more impressive. The RCA recording placed the backing-vocalists on the right channel whereas EPiC increases their involvement by placing them across left<>right. It is a super-powerful mix.
Movie Note: Previously seen in The Lost Performances but not in this new stunning close-up quality.
‘Oh Happy Day (EPiC Version)' - A true highlight of both the movie and this soundtrack. Totally upgraded from the original rough-sounding rehearsal to a full-blown studio sound. With added backing-vocals and gospel organ, Jamieson Shaw has again created a stunning “new” Elvis recording. The beautiful ‘a cappella’ section at the end is also newly created.
In the film it runs for one minute (the original rehearsal ran one minute and fifty seconds) but here it is beautifully looped to create a stunning three minute version. Brilliant.
‘A Big Hunk O’ Love (EPiC Version)’ - Taken from Elvis’ excellent Greensboro concert this version rocks. With the Sweet Inspirations' soulful hand-claps emphasised, plus more Ronnie Tutt and Jerry Scheff, this mix adds more power to the original.
Movie Note: The original Elvis On Tour featured Elvis’ Hampton Roads version while this Greensboro version was only available via low-quality bootleg - another great find by Baz Luhrmann.
‘Bridge Over Troubled Water (EPiC Version)’ - The beautiful and powerful Hampton Roads version where Elvis intensely concentrates on every word and every harmony from the backing vocalists. With more bass and percussion, plus louder orchestra and added crowd involvement this version sounds like an almighty “Arena concert” compared to the original RCA recording. It truly does sounds like ‘'IMAX'’.
Seeing Elvis’ intensity on film and that amazing "stage-jump" of satisfaction at the end makes this recording even more powerful to listen to.
Movie Note: This Hampton Roads filmed version is again never before seen footage - not even on bootleg - yet another brilliant discovery. Disappointingly in the movie this live version starts two minutes into the song, which was surely a difficult decision to make when editing down the movie to fit into the convenient ninety minute production decision.
‘In the Ghetto (Jamieson Shaw Remix)’ - Some fans were upset that EPiC used Elvis’ isolated studio vocal for this ‘live” performance but this song is more about the narrative arc of the story - “I prefer to keep my personal views to myself, I’m just an entertainer” - than the power of Elvis on stage. As in the movie the song includes Elvis, “Men with broken hearts” poem.
With Elvis’ solo voice, sparse percussion and swirling strings in minor keys, this version has a lovely poignancy that brings some quiet reflection to the film - “So help your brother along the way no matter where he starts” - before the powerful finale.
The same remix was used in Luhrmann’s ELVIS biopic but with an added ‘ghetto rap’ to make it more contemporary. It is far, far better here.
‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes (EPiC Version)’ - Performed only three times during his That's The Way It Is season this is the The Lost Performances version from August 11 midnight show. In EPiC it has the second verse omitted but here it is full-length, the perfect song to segue straight into.
‘Suspicious Minds (EPiC Version)’ - This cd version, running four minutes and forty-five seconds, interestingly differs from the multiple-edits movie version. Kicking off with Elvis announcing “Suspicious Minds” we start with the August 11 dinner show version (here it includes the “So if an old friend I know” second verse and chorus edited out of the film) before cutting at two minutes and twenty-two seconds to the more powerful August 12 midnight show version. In the film but not included here you see Elvis walking over to The Sweet Inspirations from the August 12 dinner show.
This version continues with the stunning August 12 midnight show until it finally cuts to the August 12 dinner show “Elvis shaking climax” used in the film and also the dramatic end of this soundtrack version.
It is a stunning ‘new’ edit and sounds great - even if rather oddly missing out that Sweet Inspirations' mid-song interaction.
Movie Note: The That's The Way It Is original film featured Elvis’ August 12 midnight show performance which interestingly was not used in the new EPiC movie.
‘Bring the Curtain Down (EPiC Outro)’ Another perfect soundtrack ‘mash-up”. In the film this delightfully concludes the arc from the very start of EPiC with “Glory, Glory Halleluiah..” to the finale “so hush little baby, don’t you cry, you know your daddy’s bound to die” which then combines the ‘I’m Yours’ soliloquy with ‘Lonesome Tonight’ “then they can bring the curtain down, and I’ll be there” - with the film noting the unbelievable fact that...
The fact that Elvis gave so much for all his fans - and with such intensity - is one of the truly emotional moments in the film.
‘Can’t Help Falling in Love (EPiC Version)’ From his opening show Elvis is still putting in all his energy while obviously exhausted, with an a Capella start it cleverly moves to one of Elvis’ more intense finales.
Movie Note: This is also never before seen footage, the original That's The Way It Is featured his August 12 midnight show performance, the Special Edit used the August 11 midnight show.
Finally, in the short gold-curtain-coming-down section EPiC combines footage of the opening Show / August 12 midnight show / August 12 dinner show / August 12 midnight show with the exhausted Elvis getting in the lift from August 12 dinner show. It is stunning editing.
The epitaph..
‘American David (EPiC Version)’ - The decision to include a drastically edited Bono’s American David poem was an interesting choice. Apparently Bono and Baz are friends. For me it worked ok as a famous outsider’s point of view on the power of Elvis – but surely Luhrmann should have stuck with Elvis’ “Every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.”
That would have worked even better.
‘A Change of Reality (Do You Miss Me?) (Elvis Presley & Jamieson Shaw)' - The movie credits hit with yet another marvellous ‘'Mash-Up'’ (also used earlier in the movie in the ‘'crazy-60s-movie-montage'’) starting with the Charro orchestra mixed with the funky Change Of Habit bass-line before slipping into ‘Edge of Reality’ and 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?'s “Do you miss me”, Elvis also provides his own “cha-cha” beat-box lifted from his 'Polk Salad' work-out. Jamieson Shaw certainly knows his Elvis sessions and what obscurity might fit with another to create something new. This is perfect Elvis’ funk to play over the final credits.
‘Don’t Fly Away (PNAU Remix)’ - PNAU, from Sydney Australia, created a huge-selling number one with their ‘Cold Heart’ mash-up of Elton John’s 'Sacrifice / Rocket Man' featuring Dua Lipa and set to any easy-disco-beat. So it was no surprise that Baz Luhrmann hoped they could do the same with ‘Don’t Fly Away’ a mash-up of ‘Any Day Now / Suspicious Minds'. It was featured in his biopic ‘Elvis’ and is repeated here and works rather nicely as the audience file out of the cinema.
The lyrical mix is clever - especially as the general public will have no knowledge of 'Any Day Now' – but to me it’s the least interesting mash-up perhaps due to the rather obvious “stars-on-45” beat. I also found Elton John’s ‘Cold Heart’ rather dreary. Shame this wasn’t a chart-topping hit though!
On a final note, I would have been more than happy for it to have been a double CD including some of the missed songs (ie ‘Stranger In My Own Hometown’, ‘Twenty Days and Twenty Nights’) and the rehearsals in full. I hope the sales keep increasing as people discover the movie on the various streaming platforms.
Overall Verdict
I loved the movie and similarly love this new soundtrack. With four “new” Elvis songs (mash-ups) by Jamieson Shaw plus the extended ‘Oh, Happy Day’ along with some brilliantly remixed live performances from 1970 and 1972 this is a stunning new Elvis collection presenting Elvis at his very best.
Running a packed seventy-four minutes and twenty-seven tracks there is little you can fault with Elvis’ performances sounding more intense than on previous RCA versions.
The full-blast audio mix sounds excellent on loud-speakers and it’s great for playing in the car.
If you were moved by the EPiC movie then this is the perfect listening experience and great value for money. Congratulations to Baz Luhrmann, Jamieson Shaw and Ernst Jorgensen.
(In-Depth Review by Piers Beagley - Elvis Information Network)
