Elvis' May 23, 1974 Dinner Show performance was previously released on CD as ‘... And The King For Dessert’ (wrongly dated on the Fort Baxter CD from 1998) and ‘Elvis As Recorded Live In Lake Tahoe’ (Elvis Concert Fan, 2014). Now, it debuts on vinyl for the first time as 'Del Webb Presents Elvis Presley'.
Design
The designer follows the format of previous Millbranch LPs, particularly with typography, but this edition stands out due to its retained background elements, creating a lighter, more natural aesthetic compared to previous, darker designs. And that picture, what a great smile! How did RCA never use it for a cover?
The set was intended to include printed inner sleeves, but that plan fell through. Instead, the label compensated with two LP-sized prints with pictures from the Lake Tahoe engagement. A nice gesture, though the cover photo itself would have made a great choice for one of them because - as the Petticoat import record label would say about their artwork - it is “suitable for framing”. Inside the gatefold, we find some more photographs and Tahoe memorabilia.
The LP is available in traditional 140g black vinyl and translucent blue-colored vinyl, I opted for the latter. Ever since ‘Moody Blue’, an Elvis album on blue vinyl carries a special charm.
Audio
For this reissue, the label returned to its original tape copy and crafted a new Stereo presentation of the concert. And it works! The speed corrected mix breathes new life into the once-flat soundboard recordings. Elvis sound more active at the correct speed. The tambourine stands out more prominently than before, though Elvis’ vocals could have been pushed forward slightly. On ballads, he takes center stage, but when the band and orchestra join in, his voice sometimes gets absorbed into the overall mix.
Certain limitations of the original recording remain, for example, the finale of ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ and ‘It’s Now or Never’ sound a bit sharp to these ears. However, JD Sumner’s signature “dive bomb” routine was surprisingly captured without distortion. This new edition brings a deeper sound, perhaps even too much at times, listen to the echo on the “well, well, well’s” before ‘I Got A Woman’, and you'll hear the pronounced effect. But compared to previous soundboards, this version delivers more richness and atmosphere.
Fortunately, there is plenty audience interaction audible to preserve the live concert experience. A particularly fun exchange occurs when a young girl calls out to Elvis, she’s on a mission for her mother to get a scarf, and she succeeds. Before launching into ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’, Elvis playfully responds, “I’ll get you later, mother.”
Content
During this third Tahoe stint, Elvis appeared to be in good spirits, perhaps the change of scenery from Vegas felt refreshing. May 23 also happened to be Linda Thompson’s birthday, which may have added to his festive mood.
Still, he didn’t go all-out during the dinner show, saving ‘Blue Spanish Eyes’ for the Midnight Show, possibly for Linda herself. Some fan reports say Elvis sung more concentrated, with his eyes closed during these Dinner Shows, and saved the more expressive performances for the Midnight performances.
This recording isn’t complete. ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ is missing, and ‘See See Rider,’ ‘Let Me Be There’, and ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ are incomplete. Nothing to be done about that. The setlist itself reflects a standard show for the era, adjusted slightly for a Tahoe crowd, making “easy to digest” over a steak dinner … ? Without ‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Steamroller Blues’, and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, the show loses some of its swagger. These classics were swapped out for more polished pop numbers, such as ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’. On the plus side, he added ‘Big Boss Man’ and ‘Help Me’, the latter performed alongside Sherill Nielsen and Voice.
But the producers helped remedy this somewhat by including two bonus tracks, ‘Steamroller Blues’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’, from May 19th.
Conclusion
This reissue of Elvis’ May 23, 1974 Dinner Show performance is an upgrade in both design and audio, offering a richer listening experience than its CD predecessors. Yet at its core, the concert remains what it is, a standard show performed during dinner service. Elvis may not be rattling the cutlery, but he’s keeping the audience entertained.
The LP is available from the >>> Bennies Fifties webshop.
