The ReelTrax import record label announced the release of the double CD set 'Elvis Seventy Three' featuring the August 7, 1973 Midnight Show, and September 3, 1973 Closing Show performances.
'Elvis Seventy Three' is a 2-disc set with two complete shows from Elvis' August 1973 engagement at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas: On the first disc of this set you will be able to step back in time with Elvis Presley’s Closing Night performance from September 3, 1973. For the first time, experience this iconic show which easily can be seen as one of the most unusual performances of Elvis´ career in correct speed and superior sound quality, thanks to a meticulous Matrix Mix of soundboard and audience recordings. This new mix reveals intricacies and audience interactions previously unheard, capturing the King of Rock and Roll in his element.
The Closing Night concert is renowned for its humorous touch, for instance, when Elvis had a toy monkey on his back (all through the first two songs of the show) while being carried on stage on the back of Lamar Fike. Or when a red velvet bed had been placed on stage during the show with Elvis sitting on it while singing 'What Now My Love' and pretending to "search" for his love in the bed. And finally when he totally mixed up the music and lyrics of 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', probably just because he wanted to fool his musicians (we called that 'Suspicious Bridge' and gave it its own track on the CD).
But the concert is also known for its heartfelt and rare performances like 'Help Me Make It Through The Night', 'Softly As I Leave You' and a fantastic 'How Great Thou Art' with multiple reprises, among others.
Additionally, to make sure the content of this CD is 100% the “real” Closing Night show we did not use the first 6 songs from the soundboard of the dinner show of the same date (which has been done this way before on an earlier release of the show), but chose to include them from an ambiance recording which has been made at Closing Night. It’s a pity that those first six songs have not been recorded on soundboard back in 1973.
One of only two versions of 'Funny How Time Slips Away', sung during the August 1973 season, and 'Faded Love', performed live for its fourth and final time are real highlights.
But actually the set-lists of both shows in this 2-CD set contrast the energy from the beginning to the end of Elvis’s stint, highlighting both his serious and playful side on stage. The show on CD 2 has previously been released at a wrong speed on ‘Top Acts in Vegas’ 28 years ago. This corrected version now allows fans to hear Elvis as he truly sounded, making it a pivotal release for collectors and new fans alike.
Enhance your Elvis collection with this definitive edition, featuring no less than a variety of 9 bonus tracks that underscore rare moments and the fun Elvis had during the Las Vegas Summer season of 1973.
CD 1: September 3, 1973 – Closing Show, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel (Matrix Recording*): See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Rock Medley - Love Me Tender - Fever - What Now My Love - Suspicious Bridge - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Suspicious Minds - Introductions Of Band And Celebrities - My Boy - I Can’t Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - A Big Hunk O Love - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Mystery Train - Tiger Man - How Great Thou Art (Two Reprises) - Help Me Make It Through The Night - Softly As I Leave You - Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp
*Tracks 1 to 6 were sourced from an ambiance recording, as these songs were not on the soundboard tape
CD 2: August 7, 1973 – Midnight Show, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel (Ambiance Recording): Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Blue Suede Shoes - Rock Medley - Love Me Tender - Fever - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Two False Starts) - Suspicious Minds - Introductions - My Boy - I Can’t Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - Release Me - Mystery Train / Tiger Man - Funny How Time Slips Away - Faded Love - Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp
Bonus tracks:
Make The World Go Away (August 8, 1973 MS) - Tiger Man (August 11, 1973 MS) - Crying Time (August 12, 1973 MS) - Amazing Grace (August 14, 1973 DS) - Something (August 23, 1973 DS) - It’s A Matter Of Time (August 25, 1973 MS) - Johnny B. Goode (August 26, 1973 MS) - My Boy (False Start) - Release Me - My Boy (August 28, 1973 MS) - You Gave Me A Mountain (September 2, 1973 DS).
Note: The August 7th Dinner Show was previously released as 'Top Acts in Vegas 6' by the Top Acts import record label (1995). The September 3, 1973 Closing Show was previously released as 'Closing Show' by the Follow That Dream collectors label (soundboard, 2004) and as 'The Funny Side Of Elvis' by the Claudia records import label (audience recording, 1995).
Trevor O'Sullivan Died
Elvis super-fan Trevor O'Sullivan has died. His Mother posted..
"Trevor passed away last night peacefully in his sleep. Please those of you that have faith please pray for us as a family."
Dublin based O'Sullivan was a journalist who had a passion for Elvis. He described himself as "A passionate fan of Elvis, who through his Facebook group was constantly debunking fake Elvis history. I am passionate about fans of the future being left a legacy of truth. The Elvis story doesn’t need embellishment as it’s a fascinating rags to riches tale."
Read some of his thoughts on Elvis >>> here 'His Truth Goes Marching On: The Living Legacy of Elvis Presley'. And see his popular Facebook Group >>> 'Elvis Presley. His Truth Is Marching On'.
Silver Record Award
The 'G.I. Blues' soundtrack album was certified "Silver" by the British Phonographic Industries (B.P.I.) for selling over 60,000 copies since its (re)release on May 31, 2005.
Happy Birthday!
Estelle Brown, the last surviving original member of The Sweet Inspirations backing group that toured with Elvis until 1977, turned 81 today, congratulations!
History 4 Teens published the 129 page hardcover book 'Elvis Presley: From Poverty to Millionaire as a Musician'.
Synopsis: Throughout his career, Elvis Presley amassed an impressive estimated fortune of US$100 million from varied sources such as record sales, movie earnings, and merchandise. Adjusted for inflation, this sum would approximate to over $490 million in today's dollars.
We invite you to explore this biography of Elvis Presley. Key Features:
- Good for Book Reports! Contains a Lot of Facts!
- Covers Elvis' Birth to Death, including his lasting legacy!
- Unique sketches in Every Chapter! To Keep the reader entertained!
- A Great Gift! A concise and rewarding read about a GREAT MAN!
- Includes a Free Bonus Inside! Gifts to Reward You!
(Source: Reel Trax / Elvis In Concert / Elvis On CD / Amazon / Elvis Information Network)