Spring Tours '77
Label:
FTD [FTD 017] [74321 92855 2]
Format:
CD
Number of tracks:
23
Running time:
60:30
Type of album:
Concert / Compilation
Linked to:
FTD discography
Year:
2002
Recording date:
March 26 - May 3, 1977
Release date:
June 17, 2002
Singles:
---
- 3. Blue Christmas (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: Although out of season, Elvis decides he wants to sing his 1957 Christmas hit. The audience, of course, has nothing against it and cheers with the choice.
- 4. Trying to Get to You (Abilene, Texas) [March 27, 1977]: Recorded in 1955 at Sun Studio, the song utilized the full power of Elvis' young, high-pitched voice. Here, after long years of vocal training, he could no longer hit those notes (his voice was more of a low tenor), but he modified them to suit his then-self and delivered a spectacular version.
- 5. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Abilene, Texas) [March 27, 1977]: Another from the 1957 batch, this is a remake of the signature song by Fats Domino, one of his favorite singers. One of the welcome changes here is the fact that Elvis used a little more funk in his version, also leaving Tony Brown's piano clearly visible. The King of Rock seems to be having a lot of fun while performing it.
- 6. Fever (Alexandria, Louisiana) [March 30, 1977]: Although it pales in comparison to the version of "Aloha From Hawaii", this one is also very good. Elvis has fun and regains some of his self-esteem with the screaming of the fans, letting himself be carried away by the rhythm near the end of the song.
- 7. Heartbreak Hotel (Saginaw, Michigan) [April 25, 1977]: One of his greatest hits was also a nightmare. Elvis didn't deny that the song had brought him national stardom, but he also made it clear that, after years of singing it, it was no longer one of his favorites. After 1973, it began to appear sporadically, almost always at the request of fans on a day when Elvis was in a good mood to attend to them - which was the case on this occasion.
- 8. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) [Undubbed Master] (Kalamazoo, Michigan) [April 26, 1977]: In the repertoire since 1974, it was one of Elvis' favorites sung by Olivia Newton-John. Unlike what happened with some classics that lost quality in renditions over the years, this song always seemed to improve due to the fact that the King of Rock really liked it.
- 9. O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never (Kalamazoo, Michigan) [April 26, 1977]: For some reason Elvis always seemed to enjoy music of Latin origin and this is evident in his renditions of this song. Sherrill Nielsen's solo is one of the highlights of this version, in addition to Elvis' vocal range.
- 10. Little Sister (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Before moving on to the song itself, Elvis sings a few lines of "Blue Hawaii" at the audience's request. "Watch the musicians in the back panicking", he jokes.
-11. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: This is a medley that you can tell Elvis was tired of doing. He simply couldn't sing without rushing and, in his rush to finish, he misses his entrance and thinks he's finished the rendition when we're still in the middle of "Don't Be Cruel"
- 12. Help Me (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Gospel was one of the things Elvis never disappointed in. This version sounds as clear as the 1973 Master and is moving to hear his devotion.
- 13. Blue Suede Shoes (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: "Let's do something else, something fast... Blue Suede Shoes?",the singer asks Charlie Hodge. The audience goes wild with the first chord of the song and Elvis gives a pure rock rendition reminiscent of those from 1972.
- 14. Hound Dog (St. Paul, Minnesota) [April 30, 1977]: The big 1956 single is rendered in the standard way, but with Elvis trying to move a lot to the sound of Ronnie Tutt's drumming.
- 15. Jailhouse Rock (Austin, Texas) [March 28, 1977]: Much faster than usual, the rendition finds Elvis outdoing himself and with his voice clean and clear. The audience simply can't stop screaming and applauding.
- 16. Polk Salad Annie (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) [April 27, 1977]: A 1977 version with a 1975 or even 1974 flavor, it features Ronnie Tutt's drums leading the song. Elvis, who was in a very good mood, forgets his physical limitations at the time and indulges in a nearly one-minute session of karate chops to the sound of the music and the screams of his fans.
- 17. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Duluth, Minnesota) [April 29, 1977]: The first of three versions in 1977, it is much inferior to the 1970 ones but still surprising. Elvis manages to do a very good vocal job given his limitations.
- 18. Big Boss Man (Duluth, Minnesota) [April 29, 1977]: Recorded ten years earlier, it began to be used in performances from 1974 onwards. Elvis conveyed his message through this song, urging no one to mess with the "boss" and making it clear who was still in control of everything.
- 19. Fairytale (Chicago, Illinois) [May 2, 1977]: Elvis' last show in Frank Sinatra's hometown was one of the best of the year and this amazing version proves it. Not only is the singer in great shape, but the band and backing vocals seem to follow suit, pushing Elvis to give his best.
- 20. Mystery Train / Tiger Man (Saginaw, Michigan) [May 3, 1977]: "Tiger Man" was another nickname Elvis gave himself and he used this song to show that he was still in charge of things. The version we have here is not the best, but it is still charming - and surprising - for coming from a 1977 performance. This would be the last live rendition ever.
- 21. Unchained Melody (Undubbed Master) (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: What we have here is the full version, with intro and outro, of the Master with overdubs that we heard in the opening of the LP "Moody Blue".
- 22. Little Darlin' (Undubbed Master) (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Another one present in "Moody Blue", it was performed 50 times between March 1975 and this one, which is the last one.
- 23. My Way (Unedited Master) (Saginaw, Michigan) [April 25, 1977]: Frank Sinatra's success with this song would not have happened if Elvis had not sung it in his shows, but here it is the King of Rock who attributes it to his "friend".
Spring Tours '77 is the seventeenth album released by the Follow That Dream (FTD) label. It contains excerpts from concerts from March to May 1977 that feature extraordinary, rare or unique performances. The CD is currently out of print on the label.
Elvis' personal situation in 1977 was not the best. The end of 1976 had seen a good New Year's Eve show in Pittsburgh, but the singer was already showing signs of the fatigue that would overwhelm him the following year. February 1977 brought some good performances, but most of them would see a King of Rock with a tired face and voice, struggling to stay on stage long enough to please his fans.
As his health only worsened, his doctor and his band decided it was time for a vacation, leaving aside a possible season in Vegas or Tahoe (although there was never any interest in those places hiring him that year) and heading to the beautiful Hawaii that Elvis loved so much.
The vacation in Oahu, from February 22 to March 22, 1977, worked, in a way. Elvis returned for his Spring tour with more energy and willing to recreate old classics in his performances. Some of the songs performed between March and May of that year became true gems because they were quite rare or had not been performed in an appropriate way for a long time, gaining the new air of a clean and dynamic version.
Below is a review of the content available on the CD.
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- 1. That's All Right (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: One of the signs that Elvis really came into his own was the fact that he noticed - and corrected - the incorrect tuning of his guitar. The singer's first recording, and consequently his first success, sounds very clear in his velvety, deep voice.
- 2. Are You Lonesome Tonight (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: The 1960 hit benefits greatly from Elvis' velvety voice on this night. At times, you can even get a glimpse as if you were listening to one of the versions made in 1972.
- 1. That's All Right (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: One of the signs that Elvis really came into his own was the fact that he noticed - and corrected - the incorrect tuning of his guitar. The singer's first recording, and consequently his first success, sounds very clear in his velvety, deep voice.
- 2. Are You Lonesome Tonight (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: The 1960 hit benefits greatly from Elvis' velvety voice on this night. At times, you can even get a glimpse as if you were listening to one of the versions made in 1972.
Another really cool thing here is to hear the "gay couple routine" that Elvis did with Charlie during the spoken chorus of the song, a joke that was banned in the recordings for "Elvis in Concert".
- 3. Blue Christmas (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: Although out of season, Elvis decides he wants to sing his 1957 Christmas hit. The audience, of course, has nothing against it and cheers with the choice.
In short, it is a good version, although slower than usual.
- 4. Trying to Get to You (Abilene, Texas) [March 27, 1977]: Recorded in 1955 at Sun Studio, the song utilized the full power of Elvis' young, high-pitched voice. Here, after long years of vocal training, he could no longer hit those notes (his voice was more of a low tenor), but he modified them to suit his then-self and delivered a spectacular version.
- 5. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Abilene, Texas) [March 27, 1977]: Another from the 1957 batch, this is a remake of the signature song by Fats Domino, one of his favorite singers. One of the welcome changes here is the fact that Elvis used a little more funk in his version, also leaving Tony Brown's piano clearly visible. The King of Rock seems to be having a lot of fun while performing it.
- 6. Fever (Alexandria, Louisiana) [March 30, 1977]: Although it pales in comparison to the version of "Aloha From Hawaii", this one is also very good. Elvis has fun and regains some of his self-esteem with the screaming of the fans, letting himself be carried away by the rhythm near the end of the song.
Sadly, the King of Rock would cancel the shows for the next three nights due to health problems.
- 7. Heartbreak Hotel (Saginaw, Michigan) [April 25, 1977]: One of his greatest hits was also a nightmare. Elvis didn't deny that the song had brought him national stardom, but he also made it clear that, after years of singing it, it was no longer one of his favorites. After 1973, it began to appear sporadically, almost always at the request of fans on a day when Elvis was in a good mood to attend to them - which was the case on this occasion.
- 8. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) [Undubbed Master] (Kalamazoo, Michigan) [April 26, 1977]: In the repertoire since 1974, it was one of Elvis' favorites sung by Olivia Newton-John. Unlike what happened with some classics that lost quality in renditions over the years, this song always seemed to improve due to the fact that the King of Rock really liked it.
So good, this version became the Undubbed Master of the one we would hear on the album "Moody Blue".
- 9. O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never (Kalamazoo, Michigan) [April 26, 1977]: For some reason Elvis always seemed to enjoy music of Latin origin and this is evident in his renditions of this song. Sherrill Nielsen's solo is one of the highlights of this version, in addition to Elvis' vocal range.
- 10. Little Sister (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Before moving on to the song itself, Elvis sings a few lines of "Blue Hawaii" at the audience's request. "Watch the musicians in the back panicking", he jokes.
One of the hit singles of 1962, it had been appearing in concerts since 1969, sometimes in a medley with "Get Back" by The Beatles, which would have been fantastic if Elvis had repeated it here. That doesn't happen, but the beautiful solo version wins the night.
-11. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: This is a medley that you can tell Elvis was tired of doing. He simply couldn't sing without rushing and, in his rush to finish, he misses his entrance and thinks he's finished the rendition when we're still in the middle of "Don't Be Cruel"
- 12. Help Me (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Gospel was one of the things Elvis never disappointed in. This version sounds as clear as the 1973 Master and is moving to hear his devotion.
- 13. Blue Suede Shoes (Norman, Oklahoma) [March 26, 1977]: "Let's do something else, something fast... Blue Suede Shoes?",the singer asks Charlie Hodge. The audience goes wild with the first chord of the song and Elvis gives a pure rock rendition reminiscent of those from 1972.
- 14. Hound Dog (St. Paul, Minnesota) [April 30, 1977]: The big 1956 single is rendered in the standard way, but with Elvis trying to move a lot to the sound of Ronnie Tutt's drumming.
- 15. Jailhouse Rock (Austin, Texas) [March 28, 1977]: Much faster than usual, the rendition finds Elvis outdoing himself and with his voice clean and clear. The audience simply can't stop screaming and applauding.
- 16. Polk Salad Annie (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) [April 27, 1977]: A 1977 version with a 1975 or even 1974 flavor, it features Ronnie Tutt's drums leading the song. Elvis, who was in a very good mood, forgets his physical limitations at the time and indulges in a nearly one-minute session of karate chops to the sound of the music and the screams of his fans.
- 17. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Duluth, Minnesota) [April 29, 1977]: The first of three versions in 1977, it is much inferior to the 1970 ones but still surprising. Elvis manages to do a very good vocal job given his limitations.
- 18. Big Boss Man (Duluth, Minnesota) [April 29, 1977]: Recorded ten years earlier, it began to be used in performances from 1974 onwards. Elvis conveyed his message through this song, urging no one to mess with the "boss" and making it clear who was still in control of everything.
- 19. Fairytale (Chicago, Illinois) [May 2, 1977]: Elvis' last show in Frank Sinatra's hometown was one of the best of the year and this amazing version proves it. Not only is the singer in great shape, but the band and backing vocals seem to follow suit, pushing Elvis to give his best.
- 20. Mystery Train / Tiger Man (Saginaw, Michigan) [May 3, 1977]: "Tiger Man" was another nickname Elvis gave himself and he used this song to show that he was still in charge of things. The version we have here is not the best, but it is still charming - and surprising - for coming from a 1977 performance. This would be the last live rendition ever.
- 21. Unchained Melody (Undubbed Master) (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: What we have here is the full version, with intro and outro, of the Master with overdubs that we heard in the opening of the LP "Moody Blue".
It's interesting to hear Elvis' piano, which sounds quite basic.
- 22. Little Darlin' (Undubbed Master) (Ann Arbor, Michigan) [April 24, 1977]: Another one present in "Moody Blue", it was performed 50 times between March 1975 and this one, which is the last one.
Nothing new, it was used by Elvis just to count and pass the time during the presentations.
- 23. My Way (Unedited Master) (Saginaw, Michigan) [April 25, 1977]: Frank Sinatra's success with this song would not have happened if Elvis had not sung it in his shows, but here it is the King of Rock who attributes it to his "friend".
A very beautiful version that first appeared on the box set "Platinum - A Life in Music", from 1997.
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