November 17 - Lightning Strikes Where The King Hold Court

The Straight Arrow import-label announced two new releases. "Lightning Strikes Twice In Portland! From - The Rick Rennie Master Tapes Vol. 2", containing featuring the November 11th, 1970 and April 27th, 1973 Portland shows and "The King Holds Court" featuring the Tuesday, August 28, 1973 Dinner Show and Wednesday, August 29, Dinner and Midnight Shows as recorded in Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

From the producers: 
Details: Lightning Strikes Twice In Portland! From „The Rick Rennie master tapes“ Vol. 2. Wednesday, November 11th, 1970 & Friday, April 27th, 1973, Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR

Coming out soon is the new Straight Arrow's double-digipak CD release, called "Lightning Strikes Twice In Portland!", featuring the November 11th, 1970 and April 27th, 1973 Portland shows. These shows may well represent some of best of Elvis Presley live in the 70s. The Nov. 11th, 1970 recording really captures the raw excitement and electricity of those early tours. Elvis delivers a high octane performance that drives the audience in a frenzy. In parts he sounds a bit unfocused, but overall both Elvis and his audience are having such a ball that any criticisms of his performance are nothing more than nitpicking. The April 27, 1973 concert in the same city may well be his best show of the year, and is a serious contender for "Elvis' best concert performance in the 70's". Compared to the '70 show, his performance here is tighter, more focused and far more varied. Elvis is vocally strong and he delivers the goods in a knock-out performance.

Both shows were first released by the Live Archives label (1991) using slightly incomplete and inferior sounding copies of original Rick Rennie tapes. Memory Records issued those shows in 2004 ("On The Road Again" and "Shining In Portland" CDs). Those Memory Records releases were engineered and mastered using now obsolete hardware and software. 10 years have passed, and it is right time for the ultimate re-release of these special recordings - in a new, crisp, dynamic sound. Straight Arrow’s release of the November 11th, 1970 show appears - for the first time - totally complete. The Opening Vamp and the famous "Elvis has left the building" announcement at the end of show were restored. The 1970 show is taken directly from the original stereo master tape. The 1973 show is taken from better of two existing 1st generation copies made back in 70s (the master tape got lost thru the years). Original tape transfers made in March 2004 have been used. Every second was digitally restored from scratch to achieve optimal listening pleasure. Ask your local dealer for samples. As with every Straight Arrow’s release, this beautifully designed double-digipack edition is limited to 500 copies. If you enjoyed "A New Decade, A New Sound", you will enjoy "Lightning Stikes Twice In Portland!" too. These shows never sounded better!

Tracklist: CD 1: 01. Opening Vamp - 02. That's All Right - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Monologue (incl. „I Walk The Line” and „Tiger Man” excerpts) - 05. Love Me Tender (with false start) - 06. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 07. Sweet Caroline (short version) - 08. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - 09. Polk Salad Annie (short version, with impersonations) - 10. Instrumental Intermezzo - 11. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 12. Johnny B. Goode - 13. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra continues (incl. „Blueberry Hill” excerpt) - 14. How Great Thou Art - 15. The Wonder Of You (short version) - 16. Heartbreak Hotel (with 2 false starts, and „How Great Thou Art” fragment) - 17. Blue Suede Shoes - 18. Hound Dog - 19. Bridge Over Troubled Water (with 4 false starts) - 20. Suspicious Minds - 21. Funny How Times Slip Away - 22. Can't Help Falling In Love - 23. Closing Vamp / Announcements - 24. Rick Rennie & friends „after” show chat.

CD 2: 01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me Tender - 05. You Gave Me A Mountain - 06. Steamroller Blues - 07. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 08. Love Me - 09. Blue Suede Shoes - 10. Heartbreak Hotel - 11. Little Sister / Get Back - 12. Help Me Make It Through The Night - 13. Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - 14. I'm Leavin' - 15. Hound Dog - 16. Fever - 17. What Now My Love - 18. Suspicious Minds - 19. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 20. I'll Remember You - 21. I Can't Stop Loving You - 22. An American Trilogy - 23. A Big Hunk O' Love - 24. Can't Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

Details The King Holds Court - Tuesday, August 28, 1973 Dinner Show & Wednesday, August 29, Dinner & Midnight Shows, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Following the remarkable success of our earlier 3CD set "On A Winning Streak", Straight Arrow is pleased to announce another 3CD collection featuring three more unreleased shows from the Summer 1973 engagement in excellent quality audience recorded audio. The three shows are all strong shows, with Elvis vocally strong (much more than in February '73) and delivering a very varied selection of songs at each of the shows. It's clear that he is in his element here, as his entertaining interaction with the audience and his knock-out vocal performances amply demonstrate. The presence of his daughter Lisa Marie inspires Elvis to give his best. These shows are a delight, and especially in this clear vibrant audience recorded audio that gives you a true "you are there" feel, they make for captivating listening. The August 28, 1973 D/S and August 29, 1973 D/S and M/S are previously unreleased. A few highlights from the (previously released) August 28, 1973 M/S were added. All 3 shows are taken from 1st generation copies of original audience recorded cassettes, made back in the 70s by English super-fan Rex Martin. Every second was digitally restored, every click manually removed, every drop-out fixed to achieve optimal listening pleasure. Ask your local dealer for samples to judge for yourself! If you enjoyed the "On A Winning Streak" set, then you will definitely not be disappointed by its sequel, "The King Holds Court"!

Tracklist CD 1 - Tuesday, August 28, 1973 Dinner Show
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Love Me Tender - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Blue Suede Shoes - 08. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip, Flop And Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog - 09. Fever - 10. What Now My Love - 11. Suspicious Minds - 12. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 13. Release Me (incomplete) - 14. Johnny B. Goode (incomplete) - 15. Introduction of Lisa Marie Presley - 16. My Boy - 17. I Can’t Stop Loving You (with false start) - 18. An American Trilogy - 19. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 20. Heartbreak Hotel (with false start) - 21. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don‘t Be Cruel - 22. How Great Thou Art - 23. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 24. Closing Vamp / Announcements. Bonus tracks (August 28, 1973 Midnight Show): 25. Steamroller Blues - 26. Trouble - 27. My Boy (false start) / What A Friend We Have In Jesus (excerpt) / My Boy (false start) / Release Me / My Boy - 28. Mystery Train / Tiger Man.

CD 2 - Wednesday, August 29, 1973 Dinner Show
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Steamroller Blues - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Blue Suede Shoes - 08. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip Flop And Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. Fever - 11. What Now My Love (with false start) - 12. Suspicious Minds - 13. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 14. My Boy - 15. I Can’t Stop Loving You - 16. An American Trilogy - 17. A Big Hunk O‘ Love - 18. Introduction of Lisa Marie Presley - 19. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (with false start) - 20. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 21. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

CD 3 - Wednesday, August 29, 1973 Midnight Show
01. C. C. Rider - 02. I Got A Woman / Amen - 03. Love Me - 04. Steamroller Blues - 05. You Gave Me A Mountain - 06. Trouble - 07. Blue Suede Shoes - 08. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip Flop And Fly / Hound Dog - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. Fever - 11. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 12. Bridge Over Troubled Water (reprised from 2nd verse) - 13. Suspicious Minds - 14. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 15. My Boy - 16. I Can’t Stop Loving You - 17. An American Trilogy - 18. Introduction of Lisa Marie Presley, Vernon Presley and Felton Jarvis - 19. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 20. How Great Thou Art - 21. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp / Announcements. 

(Source: FECC)