Elvis Sings Sweet Inspiration (CD - Paradise Road, 2021)

Title:

Elvis Sings Sweet Inspiration

Label:

Paradise Road Records [20202004A500]

Format:

CD

Number of tracks:

33

Running time:

74:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

2021

Recording date:

August 19 & 20, 1970

Release date:

2021

Singles:

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Elvis Sings Sweet Inspiration is a bootleg release by Paradise Road Records. It contains the full concert on August 20, 1970 MS in Las Vegas and a small compilation of the best songs performed at the August 19 and 20 shows.

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 recorded two LPs - From Elvis in Memphis and Back in Memphis - and several singles in 1969 and making a wonderful first season in Las Vegas after eight years away from the stage, wich generated a third LP (Elvis in Person at the International Hotel).

1970 started with another season in Las Vegas and a record selling 3-day gig at the Houston Astrodome (his biggest crowd until 1975). Elvis would then have four months to rest before his next engagement in Vegas in August.

Meanwhile, Colonel Parker was in talks with MGM to film a series of concerts in August and release the best parts in a documentary that would follow Elvis in his triumphal return to stage. The singer was tired of his film roles, but agreed to do it if he could act naturally and wouldn't need to rehearse of fake things to better suit the film's atmosphere.

MGM filmed Elvis during rehearsals and performances in Vegas from July 14th to August 13th, 1970. RCA also recorded the rehearsals and concerts for further use in the film's soundtrack album (although it ended having only four live tracks). Works to create a perfect “Elvis world” idealized by the Colonel lasted until a few hours before the first show. It all went perfectly smooth.

By August 16th, all the cameras and RCA equipments were gone. Elvis was free to have fun, talk dirty, do whatever he wanted on stage and sing any song that came to his mind. There was still the boredom of having to sing the same songs by the Colonel's order and the time limit imposed by the International, but none of this mattered when it came to Elvis being himself on stage.

Below is a review of the show.

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- 1. Orchestra Intro (August 19, 1970 MS): A generic orchestra intro plays while the fans find their seats. The audio from the previous day's midnight performance is placed here for the full show feel.

- 2. Opening Vamp: The August 20, 1970 MS concert starts here. Ronnie Tutt's drums announce that it's time for Elvis and the whole band joins him.

- 3. That’s All Right: The tape sound is amazing and all instruments and backing vocals can be perfectly heard along with Elvis' voice. This is a version very much alike the one seen in "That's the Way it is". "That was the first record I ever recorded, ladies and gentlemen."

- 4. I Got a Woman / Ave Maria / I Got a Woman: Elvis does a quick "well, well, well" routine and the songs starts in a explosive way. The rendition is pretty well done and Elvis sounds great. The singer does one line of "Ave Maria" before laughing at his own antics and ending the song.

- 5. Tiger Man: "The  second record I ever recorded, ladies and gentlemen, before I was too well known." Elvis opts for not doing the usual medley with "Mystery Train" and instead delivers a rocking version of the song he may have recorded in 1955 (it's still unknown if it was indeed recorded).

- 6. Monologue / Playing with laughing box: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Golden Nugget!" Kirk Kerkorian must've been pissed with this little joke that promoted another hotel. Elvis explains all the usual things, like why he has to drink a lot of water and what happens to his Gatorade. He then starts playing with a laughing box (the same seen on "That's the Way it is") and ends his dialogue with the also usual banter before "Love Me Tender".

- 7. Love Me Tender: Elvis does an extra long version of his 1956 hit while trying to make all his fans happy with kisses, hugs and hand shakes. He even apologizes to some fans that are in a dead space in the audience and can't see the stage very well. By his reactions and comments, the female fans are extra sassy tonight.

- 8. I've Lost You: “I have out a new record, ladies and gentlemen. It's called, uh, I've Lost You.” This version is quite similar to the one we hear on the "That's the Way it is" LP. The orchestra does a magnificent work, not to mention Elvis' and the backing vocals'.

- 9. Sweet Caroline: “I did a song when I was here last year, it's in an album called Elvis at the International.” Elvis does a magnificent version of the Neil Diamond hit.

- 10. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin': The song starts quickly and Elvis has a very good voice for it. The audience can be heard enjoying every word until the fantastic finale.

- 11. Polk Salad Annie: Already in the first chords of the song, we can hear the female fans screaming in ecstasy in anticipation of Elvis' pelvic movements that excited them so much. And they were right, because both endings in this version feature the King of Rock showing off his karate chops in a frantic manner.

- 12. Introductions: Elvis does the usual joke of introducing his band members to themselves and then quicky introduces The Sweet Inspirations.

- 13. Sweet Inspiration: He then sings the girls' hit, released on their first album in 1967.

- 14. Introductions: Elvis continues the introductions with The Imperials and Kathy Westmoreland.

- 15. Johnny B. Goode: "On guitar is my favorite guitar player, Mr. Chuck Berry. Hit it, Chuck!" James Burton does his solo with Chuck Berry's song, which would become usual from a certain point on. James' solo is just crazy good.

- 16. Introductions: Elvis continues the introductions with John Wilkinson, Ronnie Tutt, Jerry Scheff, Glen Hardin, "Kate Smith" (Charlie Hodge), Joe Guercio and his orchestra.

- 17. The Wonder of You: "A song that did very well for me this year." Elvis kids a little in a few parts of the song, but it's a very nice version overall.

- 18. Heartbreak Hotel: The first hit of 1956 on RCA has the crowd going wild. Elvis' rendition is impeccable, although he jokes here and there.

- 19. Blue Suede Shoes: Elvis does a good and quick version of another of his hits. After the rendition, he answers a girl who asks him to give her his belt: "Honey, I can't do that. I'll lose the suit!"

- 20. Hound Dog: The singer does his usual joke about how you need to get in the girl's face and "whisper" this "love song". He then asks himself what's the big volume in his waist: "Oh, it's my belt! I thought I'd lost it." Elvis does an amazing version of his 1957 hit. 

- 21. More: Elvis sings a few lines of the 1964 hit song by Bobby Darin. 

- 22. Bridge Over Troubled Water: "We'd like to do a very beautiful song for you now." Fans ask for "Kentucky Rain" and "Its Now or Never", but Elvis is set on his new recording. This is a really beautiful version, indeed.

- 23. Suspicious Minds: Elvis starts the song right away and the fans go crazy. The singer almost loses it and laugh when the backing vocals do his "shove it up your nose" bit, but he really does lose it when the girls start to crowd the edges of the stage and fight for his attention. From then to the end, he mostly laughs and interacts with his fans and the security detail. Perhaps because of all the chaos going on, the ending is one of the most explosive ever heard.

- 24. Can’t Help Falling in Love: The song starts immediately and fans again crowd the edges of the stage to try and get a kiss or hug from Elvis.

- 25. Closing Vamp (August 20, 1970 MS) / Announcements (August 20, 1970 DS): A generic closing vamp plays while Elvis leaves the stage. The announcements part is from the 8:15 pm concert and was spliced to the end of this to give us a really full concert.

BONUS

- 26. Opening Vamp / Tiger Man (August 19, 1970 DS): It's very rare to hear Elvis start a concert with a song other than "All Shook Up", "Blue Suede Shoes", "That's All Right" or "See See Rider". In fact, the only other song that managed to have this honor was "Big Boss Man" on August 19, 1974 OS. His energy is very high in this, but it's a short version.

- 27. Heartbreak Hotel (August 19, 1970 DS): Elvis does five false starts while kidding with the audience and the band. The rendition is short and goes as usual.

- 28. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (August 19, 1970 DS): With no time to lose, Elvis launches himself into one of his new recordings. A standard version, but very well executed.

- 29. I Just Can't Help Believin' (August 19, 1970 MS): B. J. Thomas' hit is done in a nice and smooth way, with Elvis beautifully helped by his backing vocals.

- 30. Alone Came Jones (August 19, 1970 DS): Elvis just says the title of the song.

- 31. One Night (August 19, 1970 MS): A good version along the lines of the one heard on "Thats the Way it is".

- 32. All Shook Up (August 19, 1970 MS): A standard and very good version.

- 33. Memphis Tennessee August 20, 1970 DS): Elvis sings a few lines from his 1964 recording for the first time here. "Forget it. Idon't know that song, man."