Title:
One Night in Vegas
Label:
FTD [FTD 008] [74321 81234 2]
Format:
CD
Number of tracks:
23
Running time:
72:30
Type of album:
Concert
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2000
Recording date:
August 10, 1970 OS
Release date:
December 2000
Singles:
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One Night in Vegas is the eighth CD from the FTD label. It contains the complete August/September 1970 season opener show in Las Vegas on August 10th, first filmed and recorded for the final cut of the film "That's the Way it is", released on November 11th of the same year. The album is currently out of print.
In August 1970, Elvis had been back onstage for a year. The singer had been on a wave of incessant successes since he returned to the music world with the 1968 special, having broken several records in the following months.
The American Sound sessions in January and February 1969 had yielded two LPs - From Elvis in Memphis and Back in Memphis - and several singles, plus some leftovers for future work. The first season in Las Vegas after eight years away from the stage, between July 31 and August 28, 1969, was such a phenomenal success that it deserved an LP (Elvis in Person at the International Hotel) with the best songs performed at the shows.
Elvis kicked off 1970 with another season in Las Vegas, then headed to Houston for his first engagement outside the International showroom. Between February 27 and March 1, the singer made six performances at the Houston Astrodome that broke records and remained the most crowded shows (44,000) until December 31, 1975 in Pontiac (60,000).
With the success of the shows, Colonel Parker, who did not miss any opportunity to earn money, began to set up a cinematographic project that would take Elvis' sales to a level never seen before. The '68 Comeback Special had already worked on TV - and far better than expected, there was no reason why you could say a theatrical movie wouldn't do.
Not even Elvis could refuse to make one more film, despite being extremely tired of his film role. The frustrated Las Vegas shows of 1956 were also behind him, as the fans who had sold out all his shows since July 1969 showed, and that was an added stimulus.
The period from August 10th to September 8th, 1970 was something special and a great challenge for Elvis. Colonel Parker had finalized a contract with MGM and it was already announced that the production company would be filming shows that season.
At the International Hotel, finishing work to create an “Elvis world” idealized by the Colonel lasted until hours before the first show. Triangular banners with the phrase “Elvis Summer Festival” in different colors were hung in the lobby, making the view of the grand entrance even greater.
Inside, a souvenir stand was manned by two attractive girls, one blonde and one brunette, who knew when to smile – and how to take your money. Books with tour photos cost US$1.50; posters, $2. You could even get an original Elvis scarf, just like the ones used on stage, if you were willing to pay $5.
At the casino, the croupiers wore hats with paper bands that read "Elvis Summer Festival". Advertisements for the singer's records were all over the walls. The Colonel hadn't missed a single chance to make a profit and the opening show that Monday, August 10th, promised to be fantastic.
Below is a review of the show.
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- 2. That’s All Right: This is only the second live version of the hit that propelled Elvis to stardom. The entrance is very brief and Elvis recites the first words of the song in a matter of seconds. It's a much faster version than what we'd get used to hearing from a few months onwards (and certainly much faster than those performed from 1975 onwards). Elvis' voice has enormous electricity.
- 3. Mystery Train / Tiger Man: Also with a much faster tempo than usual, the medley is perfectly well executed. Due to the excessive movements (seen in “That’s the Way it is”), Elvis’ voice sounds clearly tired in the central part of the rendition, but this is not a hindrance and the breath is recovered before the end.
- 4. Elvis Talks: “Hello, you big mother... See you put that on the film!”, says Elvis referring to the cameras that filmed the performance.
- 5. I Can’t Stop Loving You: Elvis breathes new life into this Ray Charles song, transforming it from a melancholy scene on the original recording to a triumphant rendition.
- 6. Love Me Tender: “I did a movie about when I was a baby, two or three years old, called Love Me Tender.” This is how the song is introduced, which leads, as usual, to the famous moment when Elvis hands out kisses, hugs and scarves to the crowd. Part of this version is seen in "That's the Way it is", when Elvis teases a man in the audience, hinting at kissing him.
- 7. The Next Step is Love: Sung only in this show, it is one of the songs that many miss in more performances (unlike “Twenty Days and Twenty Nights”, also performed only once on August 12, 1970). The rendition goes flawlessly and magnificently.
- 8. Words: A hit by the Bee Gees, it gains here a new outfit, becoming more melodious. Definitely a song that deserved to appear in many more shows than it was present. At the end of the song, Elvis does a routine joke where he explains (in a humorous and clearly fanciful way) how he got started in his career.
- 9. I Just Can’t Help Believin’: Elvis announces that he will sing a song by B.J. Thomas and the first chords sound divine, promising a great first rendition. And the promise is fulfilled. Depending on your ears and moods, this version probably deserved far more opening on the "That's the Way it is" LP than the one used (from the August 11, 1970 DS). At the end of the song, Elvis talks to the audience and accepts a drink offered by a fan.
- 10. Something: “From The Beatles songbook, ladies and gentlemen” is the opening line to a beautiful and well-received first live version of The Fab Four's song. Kathy Westmoreland's highs (who was already replacing Millie Kirkham) are divinely harmonized with the violins.
- 11. Sweet Caroline: A perfect, clean rendition of the Neil Diamond classic.
- 11. Sweet Caroline: A perfect, clean rendition of the Neil Diamond classic.
- 12. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’: The Righteous Brothers song is sung for the first time and is a pleasure to listen to. The horns are well identified in the mix, as well as the magnificent piano of Glen Hardin and the powerful vocals of The Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials.
- 13. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: This vibrant first rendition of the song brings back the melodious violins mixed perfectly with the horns. Simply a treat for the ears – and the heart.
- 14. Polk Salad Annie: Jerry Scheff's bass announces the beginning of the song where Elvis used to unleash his wilder side onstage. When James Burton's guitar begins a dialogue with the bass, we are already invited to hold on to the chair. It's a standard version, not as crazy as others from the same year, but pretty busy. Elvis kisses a girl in the audience, but not before asking if she was at least 14 years old. “I'd like to introduce the members of my group… These are the members of my group.” The pun elicits laughter from the audience.
- 15. I’ve Lost You: Elvis presents for the first time one of his most recent recordings, which again has a clear mix between brass, piano, strings and vocals. After a few jokes and imitations, Elvis explains that he and the band had to learn a lot of songs for those gigs and that "if we goof these songs up, don't think we're not trying, really... we just don't know what the hell we're doing, it's as simple as that."
- 16. Bridge Over Troubled Water: Glen Hardin's piano rumbles through the opening notes of this iconic song, which is sung here for the first time. A melodious version is delivered to perfection.
- 17. Patch it Up: After a break of two songs, Elvis shakes the public again with this one that appears for the first time here. The rendition is solid, though not quite as wild as that of the 8:15 pm show on August 12, 1970.
- 18. Can’t Help Falling in Love: “You're a beautiful audience, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all very, very much.” The thank you is a signal for the beginning of the performance of the song that was already a trademark of the closing of Elvis' concerts.
BONUS
The following tracks are extracts from the August 4, 1970 rehearsal at the International Hotel:
- 19. Words
- 20. Cattle Call / Yodel
- 21. Twenty Days and Twenty Nights
- 22. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
- 23. Bridge Over Troubled Water
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