Publicity for 'The King at the War Memorial - From the Chris Brown master tapes Vol. 1' stated: "My brother, David, a friend from our local church, Stephen Peslar, and I drove to Buffalo on Friday, June 25 to see the first show of a new tour. Buffalo was less than a two-hour drive from Toronto, and there was no difficulty finding the “Aud.” We searched for tickets. I felt the added pressure of needing to find three tickets.
It was a very good show. I heard many songs live for the first time, with the highlights being two complete versions of 'Hurt', 'America the Beautiful' and performances of both 'Polk Salad Annie' and 'Burning Love' not often done in the same show.
It was also the first time I heard the extended 'Amen' following 'I Got A Woman', which of course years later, and dozens of soundboards later, not a highlight anymore. Elvis also performed a new song for me tonight - 'Happy Birthday To You' (to Barbara).
This performance stands out as one of my favourites of the twenty-nine I saw. It was a really wild crowd (so many Canadians), and I think Elvis was surprised at their reaction to him. I miss seeing him in person. Always exciting, always fun, and always entertaining. A real joy. So long ago...” (excerpts from liner notes by Christopher Brown).
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. C.C. Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Love Me
05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
06. You Gave Me A Mountain
07. All Shook Up
08. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
09. And I Love You So
10. Jailhouse Rock
11. Fever
12. America The Beautiful
13. Polk Salad Annie
14. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra
15. Early Mornin' Rain
16. What'd I Say
17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt)
18. Bass Solo (Blues, Jerry Scheff)
19. Piano Solo (Tony Brown)
20. Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (David Briggs)
21. Love Letters
22. School Day
23. Hurt #1
24. Hurt #2
25. Burning Love
26. Happy Birthday (to Barbara)
27. Funny How Time Slip Away
28. Can't Help Falling In Love
29. Closing Vamp & Announcements.
All tracks recorded live from audience on June 25th, 1976.
Note: this audience recordings of this show were previously released as 'One Helluva Night‘ (1993) and on 'The Bicentennial King Vol. 1‘.
Although he would return in two days, it’s surprising that the Colonel had not consented to a matinee and free up Tuesday for another city - but it came to be known later that Elvis was really not up to performing two shows in one day. A matinee would often suffer and would usually be shorter.
This auditorium featured a fixed stage at one end of the building, with no seats behind Elvis or on the very sides of the stage – very unusual. Curtains draped the edges of the stage, and we couldn’t see Elvis until he was on the stage.
The show was good, though Elvis seemed to be really more interested in interacting
with his back-up singers and musicians. The show suffered with what some have
described as the ‘quick close syndrome - only three or four songs after a lengthy break for introductions, resulting in Elvis only singing for 5 to 7 minutes, though it often included the highlight of the show - 'Hurt'.
I was disappointed with this show after having seen the opening show of the previous tour in Buffalo, but perhaps the following two days would be better." (excerpts from liner notes by Christopher Brown).
01. Introduction Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. C.C. Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Love Me
05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
06. You Gave Me A Mountain
07. All Shook Up
08. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
09. And I Love You So
10. Jailhouse Rock
11. Fever
12. America The Beautiful
13. Polk Salad Annie
14. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra
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, Jerry Scheff)
20. Piano Solo (Tony Brown)
21. Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (David Briggs)
22. Love Letters
23. School Day
24. Hurt (with reprise)
25. Hound Dog
26. Funny How Time Slips Away
27. Can't Help Falling In Love
28. Closing Vamp &Announcements.
All tracks recorded live from audience on July 25th, 1976.
Note: this audience recordings of this show were previously released as 'Stormin' Syracuse‘ (1999) and on 'Onondaga Nights‘ (2015).
Set for release on July 19, 2024 from the Fremata budget record label is the 10 CD set 'Milestones of a Legend' featuring 10 original albums with 31 bonus tracks.
(Source: Pascal Matteo)