Out next week is the new Straight Arrow release “Chicago Double-Strike”, which contains both Chicago 1977 concerts from a newly uncovered audience recordings which have not been in distribution previously (completely different tapes from previous Chicago ’77 release). The sound-quality is surprisingly good and you will feel that you are right in the middle of the crowd, cheering Elvis on as he delivers two solid, no-nonsense shows with plenty of highlights. His voice was strong and he was particularly impressive on songs like ‘Fairytale’, ‘Trying To Get To You’, ‘My Way’ and ‘Hurt’, with his voice really soaring on the high notes. Whatever the reason may have been for Elvis ‘upping his game’ on those two nights – some have suggested that it may have been due to the presence of several CBS execs – the Chicago ’77 concerts now stand out as genuine highlights from those final, sad months in the life and career of Elvis Aaron Presley. Both recordings have a tremendous ‘you are there’ feel to them. Presented with the professionalism that you have come to expect from us, don’t miss this terrific release that will bring you back to those final glimpses of greatness of the greatest entertainer ever.
Tracklisting:
CD 1 / Sunday, May 1, 1977, 8:30pm, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider / When The Saints Go Marching In (excerpt) - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Fairytale - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Jailhouse Rock - 08. O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never - 09. Tryin' To Get To You - 10. Little Sister - 11. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 12. And I Love You So - 13. My Way - 14. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 15. Early Mornin' Rain - 16. What'd I Say - 17. Johnny B. Goode - 18. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 19. Bass Solo (Battle Of New Orleans theme, Jerry Scheff) - 20. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 21. Electric Piano Solo (Bobby Ogdin) - 22. School Day - 23. Hurt (with reprise) - 24. Introduction of Joe Esposito - 25. Hound Dog - 26. Can't Help Falling In Love - 27. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
CD 2 / Monday, May 2, 1977, 8:30pm, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Fairytale - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Jailhouse Rock - 08. O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never - 09. Little Sister - 10. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 11. My Way - 12. Polk Salad Annie (with false start) - 13. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 14. Early Mornin' Rain - 15. What'd I Say - 16. Johnny B. Goode - 17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 18. Bass Solo (Blues theme, Jerry Scheff) - 19. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 20. Electric Piano Solo (Bobby Ogdin) - 21. School Day - 22. Hurt (with reprise) - 23. Hound Dog - 24. Can't Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Straight Arrow is very proud to present Left A Good Job In The City – Elvis’ First Show In New York, June 9, 1972. We couldn’t believe our luck when we were offered an original tape as recorded by a member of the audience that special night. For many years there was a recording in circulation that was basically unlistenable. With great anticipation we purchased this new tape, and imagine our excitement when we could hear for ourselves that this tape is indeed much better and clearer, and with a good bass definition. This must be the most historically important audience tape to have turned up in recent years from the concert years. The MSG Garden shows were a true career highlight for Elvis, and opening night on June 9, 1972 was The Night. Moments before this recording started, Jackie Kahane was booed off the stage, but all that was forgotten once Elvis stepped on stage. He gave New York a night to remember. In fact, this may well be the best of the four MSG shows. Elvis’ performance is super-tight and his voice is just incredible. THIS is the show that the New York media all attended; and now, after 40 years, you can finally hear the actual performance that got him so many glowing reviews.
This new Straight Arrow release is the perfect companion to the recent Sony set ‘Prince From Another Planet’, and one that you simply must own. This is one of Elvis’ best and most critically acclaimed shows, and we consider it a sensation that this tape has turned up after all these years. The recording was carefully enhanced by some of the best audio people in the business (don’t worry, no ‘No Noise’ or other forms of audio squashing were used… A historical recording like this deserves respect, so we went the full nine yards to present this show in the best and most natural audio possible). By the way, the show includes a stunning ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ – the only time he sang it in New York. Presented in the usual Straight Arrow fashion with topnotch 16-page booklet with photos from all four NYC shows as well as a terrific essay, this new release is a beauty that you can’t afford to miss.
Tracklisting:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. That's All Right - 03. Proud Mary - 04. Never Been To Spain - 05. Until It's Time For You To Go - 06. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 07. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ - 08. Polk Salad Annie – 09. Love Me – 10. All Shook Up - 11. Heartbreak Hotel - 12. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 13. Love Me Tender - 14. Blue Suede Shoes - 15. Hound Dog - 16. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 17. Suspicious Minds - 18. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 19. For The Good Times - 20. An American Trilogy - 21. Funny How Time Slips Away - 22. Can't Help Falling In Love - 23. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Charts
'It's Christmas Time' drops from #60 to #64 on the Billboard Top
200 Album Chart for the week ending December 1, 2012 with sales of 8456 units. Total sales to date: 1,416,367 units. It also drops from #3 to #5 on the Catalog Album Chart but remains at 9 on the Holiday Album Chart.
'The Classic Christmas Album' jumps from #174 to #152 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and from #26 to #22 on the Country Album Chart with sales of 4,007 units. Total sales to date: 9,026 units. It also jumps from #142 to #126 on the Top Current Album Chart (top 200 minus catalog albums) and enters the Holiday Album Chart at #33.
The song "Blue Christmas" jumps from 19 to 17 on the Holiday Songs Chart.
The "Prince From Another Planet" set debuts on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #187 and at #148 on the Top Current Album Chart (Top 200 minus catalog albums) with sales of 3,423 units.
The "Elvis – Prince From Another Planet – As Recorded At Madison Square Garden“ entered the Austrian Album chart at #62. In Belgium, in the Wallonian part of the country, the set jumped from #196 to #117. The set fell off the charts in the Flemish part of Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. The set entered the French Album charts #126.
John Is Home Again
Excellent news from our dear friend Johnny! After a 6 month stay in several hospitals, John Wilkinson is home again, in the comfort of his own seat together with his wife Terry. There are still some medical challenges ahead, but the fact that John is home, makes a world of difference.
(Source: FECC / The King's World / ElvisMatters)