Tucson '76
Label:
FTD [FTD 006] [74321 79045 2]
Format:
CD
Number of tracks:
20
Running time:
75:00
Type of album:
Concert
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2000
Recording date:
June 1, 1976
Release date:
October 2000
Singles:
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Tucson '76 is FTD's sixth release. It features Elvis' last concert in Tucson, Arizona, on June 1, 1976. The CD is out of print.
The year 1976 had started well and Elvis was happy with the sessions in the Jungle Room at Graceland. No longer interested in Las Vegas, he preferred to do just one more season in Lake Tahoe, where he had last performed two years earlier, between April 30 and May 9, 1976.
But despite that, it didn't look like Elvis would ever go back to his old ways. His performances were still inconsistent, and he would be slow and sometimes confused at the beginning of concerts. He would improve his performance from the end of June, but it was clear that he no longer had that flame that burned in his core.
For its stagnant attitude, 1976 is not an easy year to review when it comes to Elvis live. There were no major setlist changes, no "emotional roller coasters" and no excitement. Apart from the exceptional explosion of the last tour of December 1976 (inspired by the challenge of new and young love Ginger), in retrospect the year looks like a slow process continuing the inevitable downward spiral.
In the year 2000, FTD had to be fully praised when they released the June 1, 1976 soundboard in Tucson, but unfortunately not because it was a great show - only because it heralded the beginning of a new era of official soundboard releases. A lackluster performance, "Tucson" was saved purely by the extraordinary single rendition of "Danny Boy". For most of the set, Elvis' vocals are lifeless and he seems bored as he has to go through the old routine all over again.
Below is a review of the content available on the CD.
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- 2. I Got a Woman / Amen: "Thank you very much," says Elvis before jumping straight into the song. And it is it that makes the audio edition very evident and tells us that now we are listening to the Tucson concert, since the singer's voice is slightly stronger than on May 30th. The version has nothing new or worthy of comment, ending with Elvis' "striptease" and JD's dive bombs.
- 3. Love Me: A fan screams desperately and the singer comments: "Her lungs, they just ain't goin' hold out, that's all there is to it." After "complaining" that the beginning of the show had been "adequate", Elvis performs one of his greatest classics to screams from the fans and handing out scarves and kisses. The music itself is done in a natural way and equal to others of the period.
- 4. If You Love Me (Let Me Know): "This next song is a song by Olivia Newton-John called 'If You Love Me, Let Me Go'." Elvis getting the title of one of his favorite songs wrong is not a good sign. It wasn't even close to the first time he sang it, on August 19, 1974, which leaves a strange feeling in the air when hearing him get it wrong. The rendition is one of the weakest of that year.
- 5. You Gave Me a Mountain: Elvis goes straight into the song after thanking the audience, but misses the lyrics and stops the performance. After a brief chat with the fans and his backing singers he resumes the song and does a good job using a few different vocal tricks, albeit far from his best.
- 6. All Shook Up: The medley of 1950s hits starts and there's nothing new to add.
- 7. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel: As explained above, nothing different with this version.
- 8. And I Love You So: As usual at the time, Elvis would start waking up his senses towards the middle of the show - and that's what happens here. The rendition is extremely beautiful, performed more slowly than the studio version and sung with far more feeling than Elvis ever put into any song on this performance so far.
- 9. Jailhouse Rock: Despite being sung in a standard way for the time, it features Elvis having a lot of fun. He even misses the lyrics, but he doesn't care and goes on with the fun.
- 10. Help Me: "We did a couple of years ago song... a song a couple of years ago ... Called 'Help Me. I'd like to sing that for you right now." Although it had been in concert since January 1974, it wasn't a song that Elvis resorted to very often. Every time he sang it, it was needed for the moment and it sounded quite heavy, like a real cry for help, but here it is smooth and well-paced, without being anything more than a beautiful praise.
- 11. Fever: One of the most exciting points for fans at shows from August 5, 1972 onwards, the song was neglected in the 1975 and early 1976 performances, but would make a comeback from here on out. Listening to the instruments, it's sometimes thought that Elvis asked his musicians to put a "Pink Panther" feel to this rendition due to his then-adoration of Detective Closeau films with Peter Sellers.
- 12. Polk Salad Annie: Elvis never abandoned the song and it always reciprocated. It is interesting to note that these last versions are much more appreciated than the first ones and have a much more straight rock beat. At the end of the rendition, a fan asks Elvis to sing "The Last Farewell", to which he responds with surprise: "The Last Farewell? Woah!"
- 13. Introductions - Early Morning Rain / What'd I Say / Love Letters / Long Live Rock and Roll: As usual, Elvis introduces The Sweet Inspirations, JD Sumner and The Stamps Quartet (individually), Kathy Westmoreland and Sherrill Nielsen. John Wilkinson plays "Early Morning Rain" and James Burton follows with "What'd I Say", with Elvis singing along on both. Ronnie Tutt, Jerry Scheff, Tony Brown and David Briggs do their solos; Briggs even accompanies Elvis on "Love Letters", which comes from the May 30, 1976 ES show. Finally, Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge and the Joe Guercio Orchestra. The introductions take almost 14 minutes.
- 14. Hurt: The novelties and rarities begin to appear. The song, which was new to the setlist, introduced on March 17, 1976, sends the audience into a frenzy and Elvis performs a full reprise, both without the characteristic high notes at the end. The version heard here is still very close, in terms of tempo, to the one on the LP "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee".
- 15. Burning Love: After being sidelined from mid-1973 to early 1975, this was one of the songs most anticipated by fans. This is a pretty quick rendition and Elvis doesn't miss the lyrics or joke around during the performance. The ending is longer and the song has one of its most enjoyable versions of the year.
- 16. Help Me Make it Through the Night: A fan asks for "For the Good Times" and Elvis even asks the band if it's possible to perform it, but offers this song in the face of denial. Rare since September 1973, it is done in a sentimental way and is very pleasing to the ear.
- 17. Danny Boy: "Ladies and gentlemen, you asked for a song earlier that just came out on the new album...,"Elvis tries to introduce before being interrupted by further requests from the audience and the fan who again requests "The Last Farewell".
The true gem of the show is here, as it has not been rehearsed and both Elvis and his band and backing vocals begin to perform it in the dark. The uncertainty is palpable at the beginning, but the ending is beautiful and very emotional. What makes it even rarer is the fact that it is the only time Elvis sang it live (when it appeared in concerts, it was always Sherrill Nielsen who performed it).
- 18. Hound Dog: The resounding success of 1956 is done in standard fashion for the time.
- 19. Funny How Time Slips Away: After handing out some scarves to fans, Elvis sings the song that on several occasions signaled the end of the show. The version is common and Elvis hands out kisses and scarvers during it.
- 20. Can't Help Falling in Love / Closing Vamp: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to tell you that you are a fantastic audience in Tucson, really." The first chords of the song announce the inevitable end of the show and Elvis performs it while again presenting the fans with kisses and scarves. The final fanfare is partially heard and then it's all over, but the audience certainly wasn't disappointed.
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