The Last Vegas Opening Night (CD - Straight Arrow, 2009)

Title:

The Last Vegas Opening Night

Label:

Straight Arrow [SA 2009-12A/B-02]

Format:

Double CD

Number of tracks:

38

Running time:

101:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

2009

Recording date:

December 2, 1976 OS

Release date:

April 21, 2009

Singles:

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The Last Vegas Opening Night is a bootleg CD by the Straight Arrow label. It contains the full opening show of Elvis' last Las Vegas season on December 2, 1976. The work is currently out of print. 

1976 had been a year of more ups than downs and Elvis was happy with how things were going. His desire to record was still low, but the sessions at Graceland's Jungle Room were fun and very productive. He no longer seemed interested in Las Vegas, and Vegas was reciprocal, causing the Colonel to cast him for just one season from December 2-12 at the Hilton. Rather than the dry air of the Nevada desert, the King of Rock 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 that was possible. His performances were still erratic, and he would be slow and sometimes confused at the start of the concerts. But in fact, the singer would greatly improve his performance starting in June, culminating in the great show of December 31, 1976 in Pittsburgh, but it was clear that he no longer had that flame that burned in his core.

Concerts in July through September were also a clear sign of his tiredness with everything. October would see a little improvement in Chicago on the 14th and 15th, but the season would unfortunately be inconsistent throughout.

This ups and downs in his performance would begin to stabilize by the end  of October. His concerts in Fort Worth, Indiana, and Dayton, Ohio, on the 25th and 26th, respectively, were somewhat akin to those in March 1974. The tour closing on the 27th in Carbondale, Illinois, saw a wide awake, well rested Elvis.

Before his last Vegas season and the great Pittsburgh concert on December 31, Elvis did a small 7-day tour by the West Coast. Undoubtedly, those were amont the absolute best concerts of those days and it would only get better by December in Vegas. 

Below is the review of this double CD.

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CD 1

- 1. Introduction - Also Sprach Zarathustra: The opening fanfare makes the fans go wild.

- 2.  See See Rider: Elvis enters the stage and the fans rave upon him. He's slightly slimmer than in November and willing to put on a good show. His voice is excellent and he makes an exciting version of this otherwise tiring number which's been his first song in concerts since 1970.

- 3. I Got a Woman / Amen: The singer talks about the size of the showroom and his speech sounds a little slurred, but nothing to worry about. After a good "well, well, well" routine, the medley gets the usual treatment with Elvis doing an average version and his "striptease" routine before having JD ending the song with his dive bombs.

Elvis talks a lot through the last part and the whole thing lasts 10 minutes and 20 seconds - something that would become common place from then on.

- 4. Love Me: After welcoming to the fans and talking a lot with then, the King of Rock does his usual - and average - version of this now boring 1956 hit. The ending is delightful, though.

- 5. If You Love Me (Let Me Know): Olivia Newton-John's hit is next and it excites both Elvis and the audience. It's a cool and smooth version, with Elvis singing perfectly.

- 6. You Gave Me a Mountain: The showstopper of all showstoppers is performed with great energy and we can hear David Briggs' amazing work along with an Elvis with a great, strong voice throughout.

- 7. Jailhouse Rock: "My third movie was 'Jailhouse Rock'. And the words were so fast that I had to... I sounded like Donald Duck." Let's agree to disagree on the Donald Duck thing, but it really is a very fast song. Elvis sings it effortlessly, although it's an average version.

- 8. It's Now or Never / Are You Sincere (Excerpt): "I did a song in 1960." These versions without Sherril Nielsen screaming and butchering the Italian language are always fantastic. There's a nice latin feel to it and a great work by John Wilkinson in the back.

Elvis teases the fans with one line from his 1973 recording at the end.

- 9. All Shook Up: Continuing the 1950s medley, the fast-paced version of the 1957 hit finds Elvis, as usual, kissing fans and handing out scarves.

- 10. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel: A standard and boring version which has Elvis still handing out scarves and kisses.

- 11. Dialogue / Don't Be Cruel (Excerpt): Elvis keeps talking to his fans and giving some scarves out. After handing one to a girl, the singer says that her boyfriend told her to give it back and does one line of "Don't Be Cruel".

- 12. And I Love You So: Present in the repertoire since March 1975, the song gets a very emotional and delightful version here. The slightly slower tempo than usual really helps to make it feel smoother and Kathy Westmoreland's highs are just devine.

- 13. I Just Can't Help Believin': Elvis sings a line from B.J. Thomas' hit and the audience now wants to hear it. "Oh my God, I haven't heard or done that song in several years!"

Performed for the last time on August 12, 1973, it brings some level of difficulty to the band and backing vocals, but Elvis is willing to do it anyways. The version is amazingly good and even Elvis mistakingly singing over the instrumental part is a delight.

This would be the last live version ever. 

- 14. Fever: An average version of the 1960 recording by request of fans. Elvis has lots of fun.

- 15. Softly As I Leave You: With a different arrangement, this song sounds divine and deeply heartfelt.

- 16. Polk Salad Annie: The new 1976 arrangement really helped to update this 1969 hit. Elvis does his best to keep up with the beat and delivers a solid rendition throughout.

CD 2

- 1. Introductions by Elvis of Singers, Musicians: Elvis introduces The Stamps Quartet, Sherrill Nielsen and Kathy Westmoreland. He apparently forgot a lot of people - intentionally or not.

- 2. Early Morning Rain: "From Springfield, Missouri, is John Wilkinson." Wilkinson's solo follows the pattern of the time.

- 3. What'd I Say: "On the lead guitar from Shreveport, Louisiana is James Burton." James does his job as usual.

- 4. Johnny B. Goode: James does a great solo with the guitar on the back of his head.

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

- 6. Bass Solo: "On the Fender bass, from Los Angeles, is Jerry Scheff." Jerry does his Blues solo.

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

- 8. Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo: "Clavinet and the piano, from Nashville, is David Briggs." David does his solo.

- 9. Love Letters: "The first time that David and I worked together, it was his first recording session and we did a song called 'Love Letters'." A good version. Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge, Joe Guercio and his orchestra at the end.

- 10. School Day: The orchestra does its solo.

- 11. Introductions by Elvis of Celebrities: Elvis introduces Vikki Carr and Glen Campbell.

- 12. Hurt: "My latest record, as far as I know, is 'Hurt'." Elvis does a fair version of one of his latest records. In fact, by this time, his latest record in stores was the single "Moody Blue / She Thinks I Still Care".

The show had passed the one hour spot by 18 minutes by now, but Elvis doesn't even mentions anything about ending this concert. He just wants to be there with and for his fans.

- 13. Hurt: Elvis tells his backing vocals to sing higher in this second run. They do a fantastic job, and so does Elvis.

- 14. Hound Dog: The King of Rock does a small false start to his 1956 hit before telling the audience that he was just testing his band members to see if they can do whatever he wants. This is a full version of the song and Elvis really puts his all in it at the end.

The singer then talks about his next song.

- 15. Hawaiian Wedding Song: A small false start tells us Elvis is kidding his band again. This is a much more slower version than usual and it actually sounds funny because of that.

- 16. Elvis Talks: The King of Rock talks to the audience and takes a little time to rest. He then annouces that he'll play his guitar in the next song, another one of his 1957 hits. The singer takes his while to get set.

- 17. Blue Christmas: A slow, but very enjoyable version.

- 18. That's All Right: "The first record that I recorded - 21 years ago, a song called 'That's All Right Mama'. And the omnly thing we had was a rhythm guitar, an electric guitar and a bass. That's all." The song is really welcome by the audience, which claps along while Elvis does a very good rendition of his 1954 hit.

- 19. Bridge Over Troubled Water: "How long have we been on stage?" The fans accurately answer that's been an hour and a half. "Okay. Let's do 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'." This is one of the best versions ever heard from this period. Elvis is centered, putting the keyes in the right places and giving us a fantastic rendition.

- 20. Elvis Introduces His Father, Vernon Presley: Elvis introduces Vernon.

- 21. Can't Help Falling in Love: "I'd like to thank you for making this opening night really fantastic. So until we see you again, may God bless you, and..." The 1961 hit brings a perfect ending for an amazing show after one hour and 40 minutes.

- 22. Closing Vamp: The show is officially over.