From the press-release:
The new product respects the previous one present Elvis moving toward the third and fourth tour of the year. Carrying the weight of his problems but still unbelievable concentrate in his music as a final product to delivery to his fans ... through the tape, and maybe thanks to its limitation is possible to feel the incredible enthusiasm of the crowd ... For sure Elvis is still a legend.
In the Bloomington show, Although Elvis was not looking good and In spite, the lack of renewal, in the repertoire are still included some strong numbers to make the concerts of a very good quality. Surprisingly in some of the more demanding artistically songs, Elvis builds his show, He is still able to delivery in the right way, songs like You Gave a Mountain, America the Beautiful, Burning Love, Polk Salad Annie and last single Hurt. Without a doubt, this is the focus of the show and the audience appreciated that, making the concert atmosphere still incredible experience..
Moving to Providence we are instead in the middle of the fourth 1976 tour , the show is shorter respect to the previous one (Elvis performed even an afternoon show on the same day), also the repertoire is very basic, some of the rockers like Burning Love and Polk Salad Annie have been dropped, but the show remains surprisingly well performed in all the songs… and the participation of the public is incredible. Elvis is still a legend!!
The sound is very good for an ambient recordings, considering that this kind of recording is coming from a big hall no the intimate Las Vegas showroom… We have on our hands the original mono tapes of extremely good quality enabling us to carry out a simple re-mastering work, concentrating on the reduction of noise trying to achieve a more clear sound balancing the channel and put at the right speed the tape. The result a pretty dynamic tapes with a great definition of the background music and for sure you can live the atmosphere of a Elvis’ concert in the seventy.
This is the fourth special product for this label. This new double set will be housed in a deluxe four panel digipack, containing a 6 pages booklet with focus and details on the tour shows, including a collection of live photographs, newspapers clips plus a high quality glossy poster on 135 gram paper (50x26 cm.) and a high glossy art card on quality paper (25x13 cm).
To make it a special collector item, the 400 copies will be presented with four different sleeves variations. All the copies will come hand numbered and individually sealed so there will be four deluxe editions with exclusive content. Each one limited to 100 copies.
Tracks recorded live in Bloomington IN. University of Indiana May 27, 1976 (73.00 minutes):
01. 2001 Theme 02. See See Rider 03. I Got A Woman/Amen 04. Love Me 05. If You Love Me 06. You Gave A Mountain 07. All Shook Up 08. Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel 09. Steamroller Blues 10. And I love You So 11. Fever 12. Polk Salad Annie 13. Band Introductions 14. Early Morning Rain 15. What’d I Say 16. Drum Solo 17. Bass Solo 18. Piano Solo 19. Electric Piano Solo 20. Love Letters 21. School Days 22. Hurt 23. Burning Love 24.Funny How Time Slips Away 25. Little Darlin’ 26. It’s Now Or Never 27.Hound Dog (cut ,fade out ) 28. Can’t Help Falling In Love (missing)
Tracks recorded live in Providence RI. Civic Center June 26, 1976 ES:
01. 2001 Theme 02. See See Rider 03. I Got A Woman/Amen 04. Love Me 05. If You Love Me 06. You Gave A Mountain 07. All Shook Up 08. Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel 09. And I love You So On 10. Jailhouse Rock 11. Fever 12.America The Beautiful 13. Band Introductions 14. Early Morning Rain 15. What’d I Say 16. Johnny B Goode 17. Drum Solo 18. Bass Solo 19. Piano Solo 20. Electric Piano Solo 21. Love Letters 22. School Days 23. Hurt 24. It’s Now Or Never 25. Can’t Help Falling In Love (Running-time approximate 60.00 minutes).
Straight Arrow Releases
Due for release from the Straight Arrow import label are three new titles: "Rockín''and Lovin' in Las Vegas" containing the August 17, 1972 Dinner Show Performance, "Stormy Weather Ahead", containing the September 2, 1974 Dinner Show performance and ""Breaking Down Baltimore" containing the May 29, 1977 performance at the Civic Center, Baltimore, MD.
Details Stormy Weather Ahead:
Straight Arrow is pleased to bring you a new double CD dedicated to Elvis' August/ September '74 season. This recording was taken directly from a recently found new source, a 1st generation copy of an original audience-recorded mastertape, never before in circulation! This fascinating, previously unreleased concert was never before available in such excellent sound quality!The penultimate show in Elvis' August/September '74 season was a memorable occasion, especially for British and European fans in attendance. Certain issues in Elvis' personal life influenced what took place on stage at that Labor Day performance.
The set list included several songs unique to this season: "It's Midnight", "Big Boss Man" and "If You Talk In Your Sleep", the latter with a karate demo midway. His song selection demonstrated his expertise in a great variety of musical genres: the sexy 'torch' styling of "Fever"; the sing-a-long "The Wonder Of You"; the poignancy of "You Gave Me A Mountain"; and the feel-good "If You Love Me Let Me Know" and "Let Me Be There". Most of all, perhaps, Elvis touched first base musically with the stirring "How Great Thou Art".
In between songs, he related stories ranging from the amusing to serious topics - the circumstances surrounding his divorce and the overblown stories in the movie magazines. Along the way, Elvis' emotions ranged from undisguised anger (the drug stories) to tenderness - introducing Priscilla and their six-year old daughter Lisa Marie. Usually a private person, it was the presence of his ex-wife that prompted Elvis to speak about his divorce, while making it clear that he and Priscilla were still close.
The liner notes are written by an English fan, who was there. This new release will be presented in a beautiful 4-panel double digipak that includes rare photos taken in Las Vegas in August/September 1974.
CD1: 01. Orchestra intro (taken from different source/same show) - 02. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 03. C. C. Rider - 04. I Got A Woman / Amen - 05. Until It’s Time For You To Go - 06. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 07. Big Boss Man - 08. Fever - 09. The Wonder Of You - 10. Softly As I Leave You (with Sherrill Nielsen) -11. Hound Dog (with reprise) - 12. You Gave Me A Mountain - 13. It's Now Or Never.
CD2: 01. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 02. Introduction of Steve Allen, Charlton Heston, John O’Grady - 03. If You Talk In Your Sleep - 04. Introduction of Ed Parker - 05. Why Me Lord (with reprise) - 06. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 07. Hawaiian Wedding Song - 08. Can't Help Falling In Love - 09. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Details Breakdown In Baltimore:
The second release is called “Breakdown In Baltimore”. It is a new double CD dedicated to Elvis' May '77 tour. This recording was taken directly from a recently found original audience recorded mastertape, taped by Elvis fan Linda from Washington.The Baltimore, May 29th, 1977 show was first released in 1994, on the poor sounding, incomplete CD ”Send Me The Light ... I Need It Bad” In 2011, it was released again in better sound on the 2CD-set ”Baltimoral Nightfall”. Now the Straight Arrow label comes with the ultimate release of this historic night. This concert was never before available in such good sound quality!
When The King made his last visit to Baltimore 40 years ago, no one knew he would be dead less than three months later. But many suspected that something was wrong.
The Elvis Presley who took to the stage at the Civic Center on May 29, 1977, was not the Elvis most of his fans knew. Presley was no longer the sexy, virile, electric presence that revolutionized both the recording industry and live performing in his heyday. Still, his voice and charisma were present.
As usual, Elvis opened the show with “See See Rider,” kicking off a set that included many of the classics, including “That’s All Right”, “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” a rare attempt at “The Wonder of You” and “It’s Now or Never.” It was reported that Elvis left the stage for 30 minutes, actually it was barely 20 minutes and after his return, Elvis performed knock-out versions of “Help Me”, “Hurt” and THE SONG of the evening: a fantastic version of “Unchained Melody”.
The liner notes are taken from recent article, published on Aug. 10th, 2017 in the Baltimore Sun. This new release will be presented in a beautiful 4-panel double digipak that includes rare photos taken in Baltimore. Another essential SA release, providing a fresh insight into what must have been a difficult night for Elvis. Despite obvious health issues, Elvis does his best to ‘deliver the goods’ to the fans, and especially the final part of the concert is both moving and heart-warming… He must have felt terrible, but still he pulled out all the stops to be Elvis Presley for his audience. A must, and a unique insight into the man’s will-power and love for his fans.
Tracks CD1: 01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. That’s All Right - 05. Are You Lonesome Tonight - 06. Blue Christmas - 07. Heartbreak Hotel - 08. Love Me - 09. Jailhouse Rock - 10. You Gave Me A Mountain - 11. Danny Boy (Sherrill Nielsen) - 12. Walk With Me (Sherrill Nielsen) - 13. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel / Elvis leaves the stage - 14. Walk That Lonesome Road (J. D. Sumner & The Stamps) - 15. My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me (Kathy Westmoreland).
Tracks CD2: 01. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra (by Charlie Hodge) - 02. Early Mornin' Rain (sung by John Wilkinson) - 03. What'd I Say (James Burton, instrumental) - 04. Johnny B. Goode (James Burton, instrumental) - 05. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 06. Bass Solo (Blues - Jerry Scheff) - 07. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 08. Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (Bobby Ogdin) - 09. School Day / Elvis returns - 10. Hurt - 11. Hound Dog - 12. Help Me - 13. Unchained Melody - 14. Blue Suede Shoes - 15. The Wonder Of You (part only) - 16. One Night - 17. O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never - 18. Can't Help Falling In Love - 19. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Details Rockin' And Lovin' In Las Vegas:
Finally, the third and last 2017 Straight Arrow release is a single CD with the previously unreleased August 17, 1972 Las Vegas Dinner show. It was taken from a 1st generation copy of an original audience recorded cassette, made back in the 70s by English super-fan and collector Rex Martin. Once again the sound quality is great! Rex taped many shows and usually, his recordings were of very good sound quality. He also filmed portions of shows with 8mm camera. From his memories: “17th August Dinner and Midnight shows - I went in with a couple of UK friends. After also tipping the waiter $30 more, we got seated right down on the front tables next to the stage. I taped the shows from August 17th to the 22nd and even filmed parts of the concerts.”The August 17th Dinner show was another great performance by Elvis. Elvis performs a solid and very entertaining shows. His vocals are outstanding. The liner notes are taken from recent Rex Martin August 1972 personal notes. This new release will be presented in a beautiful 3-panel digipak that includes rare photos taken in Las Vegas in August/September 1972. If you liked Straight Arrows previous 1972 releases - then brace yourself, because this is another keeper!
Tracks 01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. Johnny B Goode - 04. Until It’s Time For You To Go - 05. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me - 06. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling - 07. Polk Salad Annie - 08. Instrumental Intermezzo - 09. What Now My Love - 10. Fever - 11. Love Me - 12. Blue Suede Shoes - 13. One Night - 14. All Shook Up - 15. Heartbreak Hotel - 16. Little Sister / Get Back - 17. Hound Dog - 18. I’ll Remember You - 19. Suspicious Minds - 20. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 21. My Way - 22. A Big Hunk O’ Love - 23. An American Trilogy - 24. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp
(Source: FECC / FECC Forum)