Black Diamond (CD - Generations, 1998)

Title:

Black Diamond

Label:

Generations [GEN 5001/5002]

Format:

Double CD

Number of tracks:

39

Running time:

113:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

1998

Recording date:

December 12, 1976 CS

Release date:

1998

Singles:

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Black Diamond is a bootleg CD from the Generations label. It contains the complete closing show of Elvis' last season in Las Vegas on December 12, 1976. The work is currently out of print.

1976 was a year of more ups than downs and Elvis was happy with the way things were going. His willingness to record was still low, but the Graceland sessions were fun and very productive. He no longer seemed interested in Las Vegas, and Vegas reciprocated, causing the Colonel to cast him for just one season from December 2 to 12 at the Hilton. Instead of the dry Nevada desert air, the King of Rock and Roll chose to do just one more season in Lake Tahoe between April 30 and May 9, 1976.

By the middle of that year, it didn't look like Elvis had returned to his old form or that it was possible. His performances were still erratic and he was slow and sometimes confused at the beginning of shows. But, in fact, the singer would greatly improve his performance from June onwards, culminating in the great show on December 31, 1976 in Pittsburgh, but it was clear that he no longer had that flame that burned in his heart.

These peaks and troughs in his performance would start to level off towards the end of October. His concerts in Fort Worth, Indiana, and Dayton, Ohio, on the 25th and 26th, respectively, were somewhat similar to those of March 1974. The tour which ended on the 27th in Carbondale, Illinois, saw Elvis wide awake and well rested. The short West Coast tour in November also signaled a noticeable improvement in Elvis' health and disposition.

But it was undoubtedly the last season in Las Vegas, from December 2nd to 12th, that most surprised fans and those close to Elvis. The singer was in excellent spirits, had lost some weight since November, and was willing to sing whatever his audience asked, even if it meant breaking the time rule for concerts at the Hilton. In fact, the presentation on December 2nd would last for an hour and forty-one minutes, when the normal time would be a maximum of one hour and five minutes.

During the season, Elvis tried to tweak his repertoire as much as possible with the help of fan requests. This included making the last live version of "I Just Can't Help Believin'", "Softly, as I Leave You", "America the Beautiful", "What Now My Love", "Help Me Make it Through the Night" and "Sweet Caroline", in addition to presenting rarities like "Such a Night" and songs that had been out of the repertoire for some time.

Below is the review of this double CD.

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CD 1

- 1. Also Sprach Zarathustra: The fanfare announces the beginning of the show. For an amateur recording, the quality is very good.

- 2.  See See Rider: Elvis quickly enters the stage to the delight of the fans. It's notable that the standard opening song of his shows since 1972 is being played at a higher speed than usual and that's a great sign. Elvis has a strong voice and doesn't mumble his words, singing everything perfectly and without missing a beat. In comparison, this one even sounds like a 1972 version.

- 3. I Got a Woman / Amen: The "well, well, well" routine is pretty solid and leads to the immediate start of the medley. Again you can hear that the tempo is faster and Elvis sings very well. Listen carefully to Ronnie Tutt's fabulous work and be even more amazed by this version. The "striptease" routine is extremely fun and JD ends the song with two sensational dive bombs.

- 4. Love Me: The King of Rock does his usual version with a delicious ending.

- 5. My Way: Elvis fulfills a request made in advance. The song written by Paul Anka and a minor hit by Frank Sinatra in 1969 had been out of the regular repertoire for some time, having last been performed, also by request, in May 1976.

There's a false start at the beginning, after Elvis realizes the band is playing wrong. The rendition is impeccable and we can hear even the smallest nuances of the band's and orchestra's instruments.

- 6. Fairytale: "This next song is one that we did in an album and it's the story of my life." The music receives excellent treatment, even though it is performed in a standard way for the time.

- 7. You Gave Me a Mountain: Elvis tells the audience that the next song is one of his father's favorites. The rendition of this showstopper is one of the season's best, showing Elvis clearly experiencing the lyrics of the song and showing all his emotion in the way he sings and recites part of it.

- 8. Elvis Talks With the Audience: The band goes straight to the beginning of "Jailhouse Rock", but Elvis interrupts them. "Somebody stole my chains. They stole the chains on my belt!" The singer interacts with fans for a few minutes and receives gifts.

- 9. Jailhouse Rock: "What were we going to do? Oh! My third movie was 'Jailhouse Rock'." The band starts the song, but Elvis stops them again. "Hot danm, I haven't said to start it yet! I just said 'my first movie was Jailhouse Rock'!" The band starts and is stopped - again. "Third one. I don't care. Okay."

This is a full and amazing version. It's always a delight to hear it when Elvis can sing all the lyrics without slurring. Listen to  Tony Brown's piano!

- 10. Little Sister: Elvis complains about his suit: "About the suits... these suits will go, I'm not kidding. You try to get in a one piece suit or out of it real quick, it takes five people."

Out of the repertoire for a year, this request is one of the rarest in this season. The band isn't really sure about it, but it's well done. "It's been a while since we've done this song, ladiesn and gentlemen."

- 11. O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never: "In 1960, when I came out of the Army, we did a song that was taken from 'O Sole Mio' and called it 'Its Now or Never. I'm gonna ask Sherrill - the weird looking kid with sunglasses on - I'm gonna ask him to sing the Italian version."

Sherril Nielsen is known for his screaming and massacre of the Italian language, but here he even does a good job. Elvis excels himself at the end.

- 12. Tryin' to Get to You: "When you sing a real high song, the lower tract stretches and you cn't immediately go back and try to sing low notes. That's why I have five bass singers going 'aaawww'. JD does that all the time, anyway. Hey, I'll tell you what! 'Tryin' to Get to Y'all' - to You!"

This version rocks in so many levels! Elvis' voice is strong and well tuned for this 1955 hit, allowing him to rech those high notes with ease. In some parts, it almost sounds like those delightful 1974 versions.

- 13. Happy Birthday Charlie Hodge: Elvis' band and some fans tell the singer that it's Charlie Hodge's birthday. The singer, his companions and the audience sing Happy Birthday.

- 14. Blue Suede Shoes: As Elvis is still in the peak of his voice for the night, he goes right into his 1956 hit. This is a fast and powerful version, with the singer putting his all into it.

- 15. Elvis Talks About His Birthstone: "Let me explain something to you. How many of you have asked me about this ring? I don't know what it is! No, really, it's just a thing that I... It has a TCB, which is 'Taking Care of Business'. My birthstone, is a black diamond. I swear to God, I have never in my life heard of a black diamond, let alone seen one. So it takes me fourteen years... I got this from a collector in Denver, Colorado. There it is. It doesn't shine, it doesn't do anything! It's just a blind diamond."

- 16. Blue Christmas: Elvis takes his guitar and teases the audience with the intro to "Reconsider Baby". He actually has no plans to do it, so he goes to his 1957 hit. The audience loves it anyways, as long as they can get all the Elvis possible.

- 17. Softly As I Leave You: Elvis tells the audience "the story behind the song" while Tony Brown starts the instrumental part. Sherrill Nielsen joins them singing while Elvis recites the words in a sensational, emotional version.

This is the last live rendition ever.

- 18. Are You Lonesome Tonight: Elvis introduces his 1960s hit and soon Charlie Hodge joins him for the "gay couple" routine. The audience laughs heartily at the pair's antics - and Elvis laughs at everyone and everything! A deliciously fun version.

- 19. That's All Right:  "While I have the guitar here, my first record was 'That's All Right Mama', you know. At that time we didn't have drums or anything, we had a rhythm guitar, an electric guitar, a Fender bass and a shaky leg. So I'd like to attempt to do this."

Elvis does a little false start to correct the band's tempo. The song is very well received by the audience, which claps during the rendition of the 1954 hit.

- 20. Bridge Over Troubled Water: Elvis announces the song and tells the audience that he has to read the lyrics. This is another of the best versions from this period. Elvis is shake at the start, but soon regains his trust and delivers an amazing version of this already rare track.

The show clocks in at an hour long, but Elvis isn't about to stop.

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CD 2

- 1. Band Introductions: Elvis introduces The Stamps Quartet, Sherrill Nielsen and Kathy Westmoreland. The singer also introduces the solos by John Wilkinson (Early Morning Rain) e James Burton (What'd I Say + Johnny B. Goode).

- 2. Drum Solo: "On drums, from down in Dallas, Texas, is hard working Ronnie Tutt." Ronnie does his solo.

- 3. Fender Bass Solo: "On the Fender bass, from Los Angeles, is Jerry Scheff." Jerry plays the Blues.

- 4. Piano Solo: "On the piano, from Nashville, is Tony Brown." Tony does his solo while Elvis does bass notes.

 - 5. Electric Piano Solo: "On the electric clavinet, he's one of the finest musicians in the country, ladies and gentlemen. He is David Briggs." David does his solo.

- 6. Love Letters: "The first time David and I worked together, we did a song called 'Love Letters'. It was his first recording session." A good version, standard for the time.

- 7. Band Introductions / School Days: Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge, Joe Guercio and his orchestra. The singer asks a reprise of the orchestra solo, this time featuring a solo from their guitar player. The King of Rock also introduces Colonel Parker, the head of the American Heart Association, Vernon Presley and Wayne Newton.

- 8. Hurt: After resting a little during the introductions, Elvis is renewed and ready for one more round of songs. This version features a very pronounced orchestra doing an amazing job while Elvis pours his heart and talent over the song. The ending is phenomenal!

Elvis tells the audience that he's been on stage for over an hour and fifteen minutes and hopes hes not boring everybody - which he wasn't, of course.

- 9. Such a Night: It only took one fan to ask for the song and Elvis already started looking for ways to do it. He and the band start shaky, but it seems that it was there in everyone's head just waiting to be performed since the last time it appeaed in a show in 1961. It's a short version, but a welcome addition to the concert.

This is the first live rendition of only two in the 1970s.

- 10. Sweet Caroline: "There's a couple down here, ladies and gentlemen, in the front. They come every time I'm here, and they like 'Sweet Caroline'." What other artist would do a song just because a couple of strangers like it, if not Elvis? Neil Diamond's hit is performed quite well - although Elvis loses the pace or the lyrics here and there - for a song that was done very sporadically by then.

This is the last live rendition ever.

- 11. Can't Help Falling in Love / Closing Vamp: Elvis thanks his staff and musicians before bidding the audience farewell. This has been an amazing concert during all of its hour and thirty minutes, but it is time to go.

The "Closing Vamp" announces the official end of Elvis' last Vegas concert.

BONUS

The last 8 tracks of this double CD bring some rare songs by then to the fans.

 
- 12. If I Loved You: 1966 home recording.

- 13. Baby What You Want Me to Do: Recorded in Elvis' dressing room at NBC Studios on June 25, 1968.

- 14. Separate Ways: Alternate take 25, recorded on March 27, 1972.

- 15. Snowbird: Undubbed Master recorded on September 22, 1970.

- 16. Little Egypt: Remake Master recorded on March 3, 1964.

- 17. Burning Love: Overdubbed Master from April 27, 1972.

- 18. For the Good Times: Take 3, recorded on March 27, 1972.

- 19. Wearin' That Loved On Look: Take 10, recorded on January 14, 1969.