The Return to Vegas
Label:
FTD [FTD 135] [506020 975071 2]
Format:
CD
Number of tracks:
18
Running time:
67:00
Type of album:
Concert
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2014
Recording date:
August 3, 1969 DS
Release date:
June 2014
Singles:
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The Return to Vegas is FTD's 135th release. It features Elvis' first known multi-track recording of a 1969 concert, the Dinner Show on August 3. Due to the Follow That Dream archives fire in 2021, the work is out of print.
Only eleven days after astronaut Neil Armstrong took his famous "one small step" on the moon, Elvis Presley took his own giant leap. On that July 31st night in 1969, the singer stepped onto the stage of the International Hotel in Las Vegas and firmly reestablished himself as one of the world's most dynamic performers.
His comeback after years of making movies had already revved into high gear back in December, with NBC's broadcast of the highly-rated and critically-acclaimed ELVIS TV special. He rode the tide of that success into his first Memphis recording sessions in nearly 15 years, resulting in smash hits "Suspicious Minds", "In the Ghetto" and "Don't Cry Daddy".
Elvis was on fire again, and his Vegas engagement was another crown jewel in his comeback. With two shows a night, seven days a week, for four weeks, the concerts represented his first live appearances in nearly nine years - outside of four studio audience shows for his TV special.
RCA started recording the Vegas shows on August 21, capturing eleven complete concerts in all that summer. At that time, some of the best tracks were selected for an album, "From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis (Elvis in Person)". More recently, all shows between August 21 and 26 have been released in full on the box "Live 1969" by Sony Legacy.
The show present in this CD is a soundboard recording (differing from all others officially released, which were recorded in multi-track) attibuted to the Dinner Show on August 3, but the date has been constantly contested. Some researchers say that a few things said by Elvis during the concert indicate that this audio comes from a further date, probably somewhere between August 16 and 19, while others prefer to believe that this is in fact the closest show to July 31st we'll ever hear and a few more consider that it might be a splice of two or more concerts.
In its booklet, FTD affirms that this was recorded to be released as Elvis' first live album but ended up being discarded. Elvis comments that "it's hard to get going on these dinner shows", which makes some researchers believe this is closest to the end of the season than to August 3. The singer introduces "Suspicious Minds" as a song to be released "in ten days or so", which would put the concert inside the August 16-19 threshold believed by others, as the single came out on August 26.
Below is a review of the concert.
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Elvis is effusively applauded as he enters the stage. One of the most interesting things right away is the difference in the song's arrangement when compared to the other concerts of this season we have available. The rendition isn't as energetic as they generally were, though.
- 2. I Got a Woman: The "well, well, well" routine had already started to take form here. There's a psychodelic sound to the song. Elvis sings perfectly and the backing vocals are well placed in the mix. After drinking some water, Elvis shows how tired he is: ""it's hard to get going on these dinner shows, man. I'm trying. The spirit's willing, but the body... It's doing its own thing.""
- 3. All Shook Up: This version clearly shows how tired Elvis is and indicates that it may not be the August 3 concert. He sings with a tired voice and it even seems he's struggling to move.
- 4. Love Me Tender: "Thank you very much. I'd like to welcome you to the big, freaky International Hotel. You know, these little freaky dolls in the wall they got, man." Elvis welcomes the audience and takes some time to rest. The 1956 hit gets an outstanding rendition - even though Elvis sounds tired as hell - and it's a delight to hear with the wonderful arrangement. He does the usual routine of kissing fans while singing.
- 5. Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel: "I'll do a medley of some of my records, uh, of the past few years." Elvis straps his guitar and starts his 1957 hit. His voice is nicely raspy and the second part of the medley sounds good as well.
- 6. Heartbreak Hotel: Elvis' first hit by RCA is next. It's really nice to hear the piano priviledged in the mix, even during James Burton's solo. There's a cut and a fade in the tape between this and the next track, which might indicate that this is a spliced concert.
- 7. Hound Dog: Elvis explains why he has to drink a lot of water during the show while he rests a little. "When I tried to thing of a message song for tonight, this is what I came up with."The singer really gets into the song ans does a nice work.
- 8. Memories: Elvis doesn't introduce the song as we hear in other recordings. The arrangement here is a lot different and again generate doubts about the concert's real date, this time leading us to believe it may in fact be one of the first shows. Elvis sings softly and kisses fans during the rendition.
- 9. Mystery Train / Tiger Man: "Ladies and gentlemen, one of the first records I ever recorded... was terrible. I did about five records before I made 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Hound Dog', and I had three instruments - I had myself, a lead guitar and a bass. And we did a song that went something like this." Elvis complains about his "motor refusing to go" (again showing how tired he is) and starts the rendition of his 1955 hit at Sun. It's a nice little initial version of a medley that'd become a phenomenal part of his future concerts.
- 10. Monologue: "I'd like to tell you a little bit of how I started and when I started, because a lot of it has been so inaccurate that people don't really know." Elvis talks about being a truck driver and studying to be an electrician when he went to Sun Studio and recorded "That's All Right". The story follows as we know today. This segment is four minutes long, a lot shorter than the usual 8-9 minutes, and again has a fade before the next track.
- 11. Baby What You Want Me to Do: Still playing his guitar, Elvis does the song that he had used in 1968 during the filming of his special to make transitions from one part to another or just to relax and have fun. This is also a very good rendition.
- 12. Are You Lonesome Tonight: With Elvis still playing his guitar, this version is just one of the most amazing you'll ever hear. Elvis sings it extremely well and the poignant violinos substitute Cissy Houston's high notes magnificently.
- 13. Yesterday / Hey Jude: The Beatles medley gets a more melodic and restrained version, especially during "Yesterday". Elvis' voice blends really well with the band and backing vocals and the arrangement is simpler but beautiful.
- 14. Introductions: As usual, Elvis introduces The Sweet Inspirations, The Imperials Quartet, James Burton, John Wilkinson, Ronnie Tutt, Jerry Scheff, Larry Mohoberac, Bobby Morris and his orchestra, and Charlie Hodge. The singer explains that he had to learn a lot of songs for the concerts while he takes his time to rest.
- 15. In the Ghetto: "I'd like to do a record for you that did very well for me recently." The 1969 hit has a very different and pleasing arrangement, somewhat alike the record version but with a more "pop" feel to it.
- 16. Suspicious Minds: "I'd like to do a new song for you I just recorded. It should be out in a week or ten day or so." This is a very good but slow version. Elvis sings pretty good, but doesn't do his usual karate chops or dance moves due to being tired.
- 17. What'd I Say: Ray Charles' hit recorded by Elvis for "Viva Las Vegas" is next. This is usually an explosive song and it gets a decent version here, just not as explosive as it could be. The last part of the song has Elvis going down to the audience to kiss and hug fans.
- 18. Can't Help Falling in Love: "Especially for you, I'd like to do a song." The first chords of the song announce the inevitable end of the show and Elvis performs it in a much slower tempo and wonderful arrangement.
- 2. I Got a Woman: The "well, well, well" routine had already started to take form here. There's a psychodelic sound to the song. Elvis sings perfectly and the backing vocals are well placed in the mix. After drinking some water, Elvis shows how tired he is: ""it's hard to get going on these dinner shows, man. I'm trying. The spirit's willing, but the body... It's doing its own thing.""
- 3. All Shook Up: This version clearly shows how tired Elvis is and indicates that it may not be the August 3 concert. He sings with a tired voice and it even seems he's struggling to move.
- 4. Love Me Tender: "Thank you very much. I'd like to welcome you to the big, freaky International Hotel. You know, these little freaky dolls in the wall they got, man." Elvis welcomes the audience and takes some time to rest. The 1956 hit gets an outstanding rendition - even though Elvis sounds tired as hell - and it's a delight to hear with the wonderful arrangement. He does the usual routine of kissing fans while singing.
- 5. Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel: "I'll do a medley of some of my records, uh, of the past few years." Elvis straps his guitar and starts his 1957 hit. His voice is nicely raspy and the second part of the medley sounds good as well.
- 6. Heartbreak Hotel: Elvis' first hit by RCA is next. It's really nice to hear the piano priviledged in the mix, even during James Burton's solo. There's a cut and a fade in the tape between this and the next track, which might indicate that this is a spliced concert.
- 7. Hound Dog: Elvis explains why he has to drink a lot of water during the show while he rests a little. "When I tried to thing of a message song for tonight, this is what I came up with."The singer really gets into the song ans does a nice work.
- 8. Memories: Elvis doesn't introduce the song as we hear in other recordings. The arrangement here is a lot different and again generate doubts about the concert's real date, this time leading us to believe it may in fact be one of the first shows. Elvis sings softly and kisses fans during the rendition.
- 9. Mystery Train / Tiger Man: "Ladies and gentlemen, one of the first records I ever recorded... was terrible. I did about five records before I made 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Hound Dog', and I had three instruments - I had myself, a lead guitar and a bass. And we did a song that went something like this." Elvis complains about his "motor refusing to go" (again showing how tired he is) and starts the rendition of his 1955 hit at Sun. It's a nice little initial version of a medley that'd become a phenomenal part of his future concerts.
- 10. Monologue: "I'd like to tell you a little bit of how I started and when I started, because a lot of it has been so inaccurate that people don't really know." Elvis talks about being a truck driver and studying to be an electrician when he went to Sun Studio and recorded "That's All Right". The story follows as we know today. This segment is four minutes long, a lot shorter than the usual 8-9 minutes, and again has a fade before the next track.
- 11. Baby What You Want Me to Do: Still playing his guitar, Elvis does the song that he had used in 1968 during the filming of his special to make transitions from one part to another or just to relax and have fun. This is also a very good rendition.
- 12. Are You Lonesome Tonight: With Elvis still playing his guitar, this version is just one of the most amazing you'll ever hear. Elvis sings it extremely well and the poignant violinos substitute Cissy Houston's high notes magnificently.
- 13. Yesterday / Hey Jude: The Beatles medley gets a more melodic and restrained version, especially during "Yesterday". Elvis' voice blends really well with the band and backing vocals and the arrangement is simpler but beautiful.
- 14. Introductions: As usual, Elvis introduces The Sweet Inspirations, The Imperials Quartet, James Burton, John Wilkinson, Ronnie Tutt, Jerry Scheff, Larry Mohoberac, Bobby Morris and his orchestra, and Charlie Hodge. The singer explains that he had to learn a lot of songs for the concerts while he takes his time to rest.
- 15. In the Ghetto: "I'd like to do a record for you that did very well for me recently." The 1969 hit has a very different and pleasing arrangement, somewhat alike the record version but with a more "pop" feel to it.
- 16. Suspicious Minds: "I'd like to do a new song for you I just recorded. It should be out in a week or ten day or so." This is a very good but slow version. Elvis sings pretty good, but doesn't do his usual karate chops or dance moves due to being tired.
- 17. What'd I Say: Ray Charles' hit recorded by Elvis for "Viva Las Vegas" is next. This is usually an explosive song and it gets a decent version here, just not as explosive as it could be. The last part of the song has Elvis going down to the audience to kiss and hug fans.
- 18. Can't Help Falling in Love: "Especially for you, I'd like to do a song." The first chords of the song announce the inevitable end of the show and Elvis performs it in a much slower tempo and wonderful arrangement.
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